Door and Window Installation in Raleigh and the Triangle
Entry doors, patio sliders, interior doors and replacement windows set plumb, flashed properly and sealed against Carolina storm driven rain.
A door or window is only as good as the opening it sits in, and most openings in an older house are not plumb, not square and not exactly the size on the label. Setting a new unit into a bad opening without correcting it just moves the problem: doors that stick in summer, windows that whistle in a winter wind, and sills that let water in behind the trim instead of shedding it.
RK Renovation checks the opening before ordering anything. We shim to plumb and square rather than trusting the framing, flash the sill and jambs so water sheds outward, and choose low expansion foam at the gap so the frame does not bow under insulation pressure. On a full frame replacement we tie the new flashing into the existing wall assembly rather than caulking a gap and calling it weatherproof.
One patio door with sticking rollers or a full house of replacement windows, you get a written scope, real U factor and SHGC numbers for our climate, and one crew from removal to the final adjustment.
You probably need this if
- A door sticks in summer and swings free in winter, or the other way around
- You can see daylight around a closed door or window frame
- A window will not stay up or latch fully at the lock
- The sill or trim below a window feels soft or shows a stain
- A patio door drags, jumps the track, or will not stay latched shut
Free Estimate
Tell us about the project and we will get you a written number for door and window installation.
What the Written
Price Covers
No line item appears halfway through the job that was not on the quote you signed.
Opening inspection and correction
Plumb, level and square checked at every corner, with rot, shims or minor framing correction addressed before a new unit ever goes into the hole.
Removal and disposal
Old doors, sashes and frames removed carefully to avoid damaging siding or interior trim you are keeping, hauled off the same day.
Flashing and sill pan installation
A sill pan or flashing tape system that sheds water out and away from the framing, installed before the new unit goes in rather than relying on caulk alone.
Setting, shimming and fastening
Units set plumb and square, shimmed at the correct points, and fastened per the manufacturer instructions so the frame does not rack under its own weight over time.
Insulation and air sealing
Low expansion foam or backer rod and sealant at the gap, sized to the manufacturer specification, so the frame is not bowed inward by foam that expands more than the jamb can take.
Trim, hardware and adjustment
Interior and exterior trim reinstalled or replaced, hardware set, and doors and sliders adjusted so they close, latch and lock without being forced.
Choices worth making early
Full frame replacement versus insert
A full frame replacement removes the old unit down to the rough opening and resets flashing correctly. An insert window fits inside the existing frame, is faster and cheaper, but only makes sense when that old frame is still sound.
U factor and SHGC for our climate
North Carolina climate zone 3 and 4 conditions call for a moderate U factor and a lower solar heat gain coefficient on south and west facing glass, so summer cooling load does not outweigh the winter heating benefit.
Entry door thresholds and sweeps
An adjustable threshold and the correct door sweep close the gap under an entry door without dragging on the floor, and matter more to comfort and energy loss than most homeowners expect from a strip of vinyl.
Patio slider tracks and rollers
A sliding door that drags or will not stay shut is usually worn rollers or a dirty track rather than a bad door. We adjust or replace the rollers first before recommending a full slider replacement.
How the work runs
Four stages, each one finished before the next starts. Typical duration is 1 day to 2 weeks.
Measure and inspect the opening
We check plumb, level, square and the condition of the framing and sill before ordering anything, since a bad measurement means a bad fit no matter how good the unit is.
Order and confirm lead time
Doors and windows are built to spec, so we confirm sizes and options before ordering and set a realistic install date around the actual lead time rather than a hopeful one.
Remove, flash and set
Old unit comes out, the opening gets corrected and flashed, and the new door or window is set plumb and square with the correct fastening and insulation.
Trim, seal and adjust
Trim goes back on, gaps get sealed, and every door and slider gets adjusted and tested through a full open and close cycle before we call it done.
Why homeowners pick RK for this
Three bids for door and window installation will look similar on paper. What separates them is what happens on the days nobody photographs.
Get Your NumberWe correct the opening, not just the unit
A new window in an opening that is out of square will bind, gap or leak within a year no matter how good the product is. We shim and correct before we set anything, which is the step a fast bid usually skips.
Flashing is a system, not a bead of caulk
Sill pans, flashing tape and the housewrap tie together so water sheds out of the wall assembly rather than pooling against the framing. Caulk is the backup, not the plan.
We size the product to the climate, not the catalog
U factor and solar heat gain coefficient get matched to our climate zone and the wall the unit sits in, on a west facing wall as much as an east facing one.
How we actually do it
Most window and door problems trace back to the opening rather than the unit itself. A house in Raleigh built more than thirty years ago has usually settled a little, which means the rough opening is no longer plumb, level or square even if it started that way. Setting a new unit into that opening without correcting it forces the frame to twist, and a twisted frame binds a door or leaves a window that will not latch fully. We shim to true plumb and square at every corner rather than to the existing framing, and install a sill pan under the unit so any water past the exterior seal drains back out instead of sitting on bare wood at a Wake County crawl space or slab edge.
The insulation packed around a new door or window jamb matters as much as the unit itself, and it is easy to get wrong. Standard high expansion spray foam can generate enough pressure to bow a jamb inward, which is why a brand new window can start binding within a week of installation. We use low expansion foam rated for doors and windows, or backer rod and sealant on tighter gaps, so the frame stays true. On the glass side, U factor and solar heat gain coefficient matter more in Raleigh than most realize, given our climate zone carries a real winter heating season and a long, humid cooling season. A lower SHGC on west facing glass in Wake County cuts summer heat gain without losing the winter benefit.
Homeowners in Raleigh often assume a window replacement means tearing the wall open, and it usually does not. An insert window fits inside the existing frame and trim, which is faster and less invasive, but it only works when that old frame and sill are still structurally sound and square. When the frame has rot or the opening has shifted, a full frame replacement is the honest recommendation even though it costs more and takes longer. Entry doors have a smaller version of the same problem: an adjustable threshold and the correct sweep close the gap at the bottom without dragging, and get overlooked far more than the door itself. Patio sliders in Wake County houses usually need adjusted rollers and a cleaned track before full replacement.
Straight answer on price
Most door and window installation projects we quote land between $1,400 and $26,000. We measure on site, then put a fixed number in writing.
Call (919) 335-7730Answered before you ask
How long does a door or window installation take?
A single entry door or patio slider is usually a one day job. A full house of replacement windows typically runs one to two weeks, depending on count and whether we are doing full frame replacements or inserts.
What does door and window installation cost in the Triangle?
Most projects we price land between 1,400 and 26,000 dollars. A single replacement door sits at the low end. A full house of new construction style windows with full frame replacement sits at the top. You get a fixed number after the actual opening is measured, not a per window estimate over the phone.
Should I choose a full frame replacement or an insert window?
It depends on the condition of the existing frame and sill. If the wood is sound and square, an insert saves money and time. If there is rot, an out of square opening, or you want a wider glass area, a full frame replacement is the honest answer.
My patio door is hard to slide. Does it need to be replaced?
Usually not. Worn rollers or a track full of grit account for most sticking sliders. We clean, adjust or replace the rollers first, and only recommend replacement if the frame or glass seal has actually failed.
What insulation do you use around the jambs?
Low expansion foam or backer rod and sealant, matched to the gap size and the manufacturer specification. Standard high expansion foam can bow a jamb inward and cause a door or window to bind right after installation.
What homeowners say
Pulled straight from our Google Business Profile, and updated as new reviews come in.
Door and Window Installation near you
Pick your town for local detail: what the housing stock is made of, which office issues the permit, and what we run into most often there.
All service areasOther work we take on
Most projects touch more than one trade. Keeping them under one crew is what keeps the schedule honest.
Bathroom Remodeling
Walk-in showers, custom tile, vanities and full layout changes, waterproofed to last decades.
ExploreKitchen Remodeling
Cabinetry, stone countertops, backsplash and lighting designed around how you actually cook.
ExploreTile Installation
Porcelain, marble, mosaic and large format. Dead-level substrates and razor-straight grout lines.
ExploreFlooring Installation
LVP, engineered hardwood, laminate and tile, over subfloors flattened so seams disappear underfoot.
ExploreInterior and Exterior Painting
Real prep work, premium coatings, crisp cut lines. Walls, trim, cabinets and full exteriors.
ExploreDrywall Installation and Repair
Invisible patches, ceiling repairs, full hangs and Level 5 finishes ready for the roller.
ExploreReady to replace your doors and windows?
Free estimates, honest pricing, and a crew that shows up when it says it will.