Edinburgh Door Fitting Service


Door fitting


Door fitting is a common job for an Edinburgh joiner. None-the-less it is still a good test of carpentry skills with pitfalls to catch out the inexperienced.

When we say “door fitting” we are including trimming doors, reversing doors and also the fitting of ironmongery.

For a professional door fitting service in Edinburgh contact HomeForce. We provide time served joiners with a proven reliability record. Call us on 0131 315 0000, email info@homeforce.co.uk or complete the form on this page.

Read on to find out more about our Edinburgh Door Fitting Service.

What does it cost? What affects the price?

Door fitting can take from under an hour to up to three hours depending on the circumstances. Door hanging will usually be charges “time and materials” basis but a free quote can always be provided.

HomeForce accredited Joiners charge a minimum of £50 which covers the first hour of work (NB There are no “Call Out Charges”). Rates are £50 / hr after the first hour charged to the nearest 30 mins. VAT may be applicable in some instances.

Each situation will be different but the following are factors that will affect how long fitting / hanging a door takes and therefore how much it will cost:

  • Rehanging a door in the same location as previously using the same hinges is a relatively quick job.
  • Fitting a new door in a new frame will require much more work
    • Cutting checks for hinges
    • Trimming door to size
    • Fitting door stops
    • Fitting Ironmongery (Handle, latches etc)
    • Additional draft proofing
  • Trimming a door following carpet fitting will usually take up to an hour per door
  • External door fitting takes longer than internal doors due to the need for more ironmongery & letter box slots being cut.
  • Reversing a door (i.e. changing the side it opens) would normally take up to two hours.
  • Tenement stair doors are heavy and most of the time require two people to hang them (as much for safety as muscle power). Allow at least three man hours but could be up to eight depending on what needs to be done.

Tips for checking your doors have been correctly fitted

If you have doubts that your doors fitting has been done correctly here are a few things to check:
The Fit

  • There should be an even 2mm gap all round the door. You can check the gap by sliding a 2 pence piece in to the gap on each side.
  • The door should not rattle. If it does it may be that the door stops are not plumb or the latch has been incorrectly fitted.
  • Doors should not drag on the floor once fitted. Of course the floor could slope but also the hinges could be incorrectly fitted.
  • A joiner would usually check that angles are square and floor is level before starting to hang the door and then adjust accordingly.

Hinge position

  • The “correct” position for hinges when hanging internal doors is 6 inches down from the top, 9 inches up from the bottom and the third hinge bang in the middle between these.

Properly bedded hinges into the door or frame

  • This can be done with a chisel or router but the hinge should sit flush within the door and door frame.
  • Edges where the hinges are fitted should be neat with no splintered wood.
  • Transposing the position for the hinges from the door to the frame or frame to the door should be done with joiners folding rule not a flexible / retractable measure tape.

Pilot Screw Holes

  • Screw holes should be piloted either with a small drill bit or a bevel.  Failure to do so could result in the door splitting or weakening.

Hinge Quality

  • With hinges, as with anything, you get what you pay for. Cheap hinges may bend or sag. Equally, so with hinges that are too small for the door being hung.

Use our Edinburgh door fitting service