Planning Guides
Spring Door Replacement: What Winter Revealed and When to Order
By March, a winter of drafts, ice and salt has shown you which door is failing. A custom door is built after you order it, so here is what to check, when to confirm an order for spring 2027, and how to plan the install.
By EHI Custom Doors
Key Takeaways
- Spring is when winter damage shows: drafts, water at the threshold, a door that sticks, worn seals and a dull finish. Sort them into fixes and replacements.
- At EHI Custom Doors the standard lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from a confirmed order, plus 1 to 2 weeks for custom glass. Work backward from the date you want the door in.
- For a door in by the Victoria Day weekend in 2027, confirm the order by about April 9 for a standard build, or March 26 with custom glass.
- Quote, design and approval come before the order, so start earlier than those dates.
- Install days are booked once the door is ready, and weather can move them.
Spring door replacement starts in the last weeks of winter. By March you have lived with your doors through a full Toronto winter. You know which one let in the draft, iced up at the threshold or would not latch on the coldest mornings. A custom door is built after you order it, so the weeks between now and the warm weather decide when the new one goes in.
We are EHI Custom Doors. We manufacture and install custom fiberglass front doors and back doors from our workshop in Whitchurch-Stouffville. This guide covers what winter shows you, how to decide between a fix and a replacement, and the dates to work back from for spring 2027. Our guide to fall door replacement covers the same planning for the season before winter.
What Winter Shows You
| What you noticed | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A draft, or daylight around the edges | Worn weatherstripping, or a frame that has moved | Test the seals. See our guide to energy efficient entry doors. |
| Water or staining at the threshold after snowmelt | A failed sill seal, a damaged threshold or water getting behind the frame | Check for soft or stained wood around it. See when to replace an exterior door. |
| A door that stuck all winter and frees up in warm weather | Seasonal movement of the door, the frame or the ground under the step | Watch it through the spring. If it sticks year-round, the frame may be out of square. |
| A lock that is hard to turn, or a door that no longer latches | A sagging slab or a frame that has shifted | Tighten the hinge screws first. If it persists, look at the frame. |
| Salt marks and a dull finish | Winter residue, or a finish that has aged in the sun | Wash it. See fiberglass door care and maintenance. |
| Cracks, soft spots or rot | Damage that a clean and a new seal will not fix | Plan a replacement |
Freezing and thawing can move the ground under steps and entrances, and a frame that sits on moving ground can shift. Toronto still sees frost and snow in April, so it is worth checking a sticking door again once the ground has settled. If several doors and windows in the house stick, it is worth asking a foundation professional to look at the house as well.
Fix, Wait or Replace?
Wash the door, replace worn weatherstripping and tighten loose screws first. Those are cheap and quick, and many drafts end there. If the draft returns, the slab is warped or the frame is soft, replacement is the fix that lasts. Our guide on when to replace an exterior door has a 10-minute check and a repair-or-replace test. We replace doors and do not repair them, so if a repair is enough, a carpenter or handyperson is the right call.
If you are deciding between now and next fall, note that a failing door keeps costing you heat and comfort every week. Our fall guide covers whether to wait in more detail.
Your Spring 2027 Timeline
The lead time runs from the day your order is confirmed. The table works back from four dates, using the long end of our range: 6 weeks for a standard build and 8 weeks when custom glass adds time.
| Door in by | Confirm the order by (standard, 6 weeks) | With custom glass (8 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 26, before Easter weekend | Friday, February 12 | Friday, January 29 |
| Friday, May 7, before Mother's Day | Friday, March 26 | Friday, March 12 |
| Friday, May 21, before Victoria Day weekend | Friday, April 9 | Friday, March 26 |
| Friday, June 4 | Friday, April 23 | Friday, April 9 |
These are estimates. Installation is booked once your door is ready, so weather and scheduling can move the day, and we cannot promise a date in advance. Quote, design and approval happen before the order is confirmed, so leave time ahead of each date for them. Spring in 2027 begins on March 20, and the calendar will not wait for a decision.
What Slows a Spring Project
- Late design decisions. Settle the style, glass, finish, hardware and lock type before you confirm.
- Custom glass, which adds 1 to 2 weeks.
- Changes after approval, since a built door cannot be changed like a sketch.
- Unclear measurements. Send clear photos and let us confirm at the final measurement visit.
- A permit or heritage review, when the opening changes or the home is designated. See our guide to heritage home door replacement.
Spring Weather and Installation
Spring installs work when the forecast is mild and dry. Sealants and foam cure best in moderate temperatures, and an opening should be exposed for as little time as the work needs. Early spring can still bring cold nights and snow, and April brings rain, so the installer picks the day. Ask any company how it handles a wet or cold day before you book.
Fiberglass also helps through the seasonal swings. Wood swells in humid air and shrinks in dry air, so a wood door's fit changes through the year, while fiberglass resists warping, swelling and rot. Our guide to the advantages of fiberglass doors explains why.
Plan the Door Around Other Spring Work
- Do the door before you paint the porch, add planters or lay new landscaping, so nothing is disturbed on install day.
- Clear the entrance and the space inside the door so the crew has room.
- Decide house numbers, lighting and hardware finishes together. Our guide to front door curb appeal shows how they work with the door.
- Order the door first, then the trims you want to match. Our guide to front door colours helps you choose a finish that suits your brick and siding.
Cost and What to Ask
At EHI Custom Doors a custom fiberglass single door starts at $2,500 installed and a double door starts at $5,100 installed. Glass, finish, hardware, lock type, sidelights and size change the final price, and a frame that needs replacing adds to it. Our guide to custom exterior doors cost in Toronto explains each factor. Our guide to choosing a door manufacturer or dealer lists what to ask any company.
How to Get Started
Browse the door catalogue and photos of doors we have installed, then send photos of the door that gave you trouble this winter. Call EHI Custom Doors at 647-952-2311 or request a quote. We are open Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and there is no pressure to book on the spot. Read what customers say on our reviews page.
Spring door replacement comes down to counting weeks backward from the day you want the door in. Sort the fixes from the replacements and settle the design early. The door that troubled you this winter can be a new one by the time the patio chairs come out.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I order a door for spring?
Work backward from the date you want it in. The standard lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from a confirmed order, plus 1 to 2 weeks for custom glass. For a door in by the Victoria Day weekend in 2027, confirm by about April 9 for a standard build, or March 26 with custom glass.
Is spring a good time to replace a front door?
Yes, if the forecast is mild and dry on install day. Winter has just shown you which door fails, and a new door is in before summer. Start earlier than you think, because quote, design and approval come before the order.
Why does my door stick in winter?
Doors, frames and the ground under steps can move with cold, moisture and freezing and thawing. If it sticks only in winter and frees up in warm weather, it may be seasonal. If it sticks all year, the frame may be out of square.
Can I just replace the weatherstripping instead?
Often, yes. Worn weatherstripping is a cheap fix for many drafts. If the draft returns after a new seal, or the slab is warped or the frame is soft, replacement is the fix that lasts.
How long does a custom door take?
The standard lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from a confirmed order, plus 1 to 2 weeks for custom glass. Installation is booked once the door is ready.
Should I replace my door now or wait until fall?
A failing door keeps costing you comfort and heat, so waiting has a price. If the door is only a little worn, a clean and new seals may carry you through. Our fall guide covers the question in more detail.
Do I need a permit to replace my door in spring?
Not when you replace a door in the same opening of a detached, semi-detached or row house with one dwelling unit, and the opening's size, location and structure stay the same. A changed opening or a heritage property is different, so check with the City.
How much does a spring door replacement cost?
At EHI Custom Doors a custom fiberglass single door starts at $2,500 installed and a double door starts at $5,100 installed. Glass, finish, hardware, lock type, sidelights and size change the final price.
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