Maryland Doors FAQ: 31 Questions Answered
31 answered questions for Maryland and Virginia homeowners covering exterior door cost, ProVia materials, energy efficiency, security, warranties, financing, and permits. Sourced by JDH Remodeling, a ProVia Certified Installer contractor with MHIC #137491 and VA Class A #2705192986. Real per-door pricing, fiberglass vs steel guidance, ProVia warranty terms, and the trade-offs we walk every Maryland homeowner through.
ProVia Certified Installer Contractor
MHIC #137491 (Maryland) and VA Class A #2705192986. Jim Dodson, owner. Three-generation family operation since 1986.
31 questions, 8 categories
Pulled from real homeowner questions across Maryland and Virginia. Cost, materials, energy and security, ProVia warranties, financing, permits.
Free in-home consultation
JDH is not paid on commission. Consultations include a full door inspection, ProVia line walkthrough (Embarq, Legacy, storm doors, patio), and itemized quote; no obligation, no sales pressure.
Cost & Pricing
Real Maryland and Virginia pricing for ProVia exterior doors by type, single-door vs whole-house swap, and what big-box installers charge vs JDH's fixed-price model. For the full breakdown, see our Doors Financing page.
What is the average cost to replace an exterior door?+
Exterior door replacement runs $3,500 to $12,000 per door installed for a ProVia custom unit. That price includes the door slab, frame, threshold, weatherstripping, hardware, exterior aluminum capping, interior trim, haul-away of the old unit, and warranty registration. Variables: door style (a flush steel slab sits at the lower end; a custom fiberglass with sidelights or transom lands toward the upper end), glass package, and whether the existing frame needs replacement or just a slab swap. Storm doors run $700 to $2,000 installed depending on size and glass package.
See full answer on the Doors hub →Can you just swap out an exterior door without replacing the frame?+
Sometimes, yes. If the existing frame is sound, level, and free of rot, a slab swap is the right answer and costs significantly less ($1,200 to $3,500 vs $3,500 to $12,000 for a full unit). JDH's Design Specialist inspects the frame, threshold, and weatherstripping during the free consultation and recommends slab-only when the frame can keep going. Most Maryland frames over 25 years old have rot at the threshold or hinge side, in which case full replacement is the lasting fix.
See full answer on the Doors hub →How much does Home Depot or Lowe's charge to install an exterior door?+
Big-box exterior door pricing varies widely because the store is a middleman: it sells the door, then assigns a subcontracted installer whose crew you do not meet until install day. Quoted installed prices commonly land between $1,500 and $5,000 per door depending on brand, size, and the local subcontractor. JDH is not a middleman. We install ProVia Entry Doors with our own crews on JDH payroll, at $3,500 to $12,000 per door installed. You meet your Design Specialist at the quote and the same company stands behind the 5-year workmanship warranty.
See full answer on the Doors hub →What is the average cost of a financed door replacement?+
Most Maryland and Virginia door projects finance between $4,500 and $14,000 (single-door replacement to a small whole-house swap with storm doors). Monthly payments at typical APR: $4,500 over 5 years lands around $95 to $115/month; $14,000 over 10 years lands around $165 to $195/month. ProVia entry doors run $3,500 to $12,000 per door installed, storm doors $700 to $2,000.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Materials & Lifespan
What JDH installs (ProVia only), fiberglass vs steel for Maryland weather, how long exterior doors last, and what sidelights and transoms are.
What door brand does JDH install?+
JDH installs ProVia doors, exclusively. We are a ProVia Certified Installer contractor, the top tier of ProVia's certification program. We carry one brand on purpose: it lets our crews master a single product, and it means every door on your house carries the same warranty from the same manufacturer. The lines we install most across Maryland and Virginia: ProVia Entry Doors (Embarq fiberglass, Legacy steel) and ProVia Storm Doors.
See full answer on the Doors hub →Fiberglass vs. steel entry doors: which is better for Maryland homes?+
For most Maryland and Virginia homes, ProVia Embarq fiberglass is the practical answer. Fiberglass does not dent, rust, warp, or peel; it holds up to humidity and salt air better than steel; it accepts woodgrain finishes that look like real wood; and it carries a longer factory warranty. ProVia Legacy steel is the better choice for high-impact security applications and tighter budgets. JDH's Design Specialist will spec the right material to your home's exposure, your security priorities, and your finish preferences at the free consultation.
See full answer on the Doors hub →How long do exterior doors last?+
Quality fiberglass and steel exterior doors last 30 to 50 years in Maryland's climate when installed correctly with proper flashing and threshold work. ProVia Embarq fiberglass carries a Lifetime Limited Transferable warranty on the door slab and frame. ProVia Legacy steel carries a 20-year transferable warranty on the slab and a 10-year warranty on the factory finish. Common 25-year failure modes (threshold rot, weatherstripping compression, hardware fatigue) are JDH workmanship-covered for the first 5 years, then maintenance items. Storm doors typically last 15 to 25 years.
What are sidelights and transoms?+
Sidelights are narrow glass panels on one or both sides of the door slab, framed into the door system as a single unit. They add daylight to entryways and visual symmetry to wide openings. Transoms are horizontal glass panels above the door, common above 8-foot openings or in tall foyer walls. ProVia builds both as integrated units (factory-glazed, factory-trimmed, energy-rated as a single assembly), which performs better than aftermarket additions. Adding sidelights or a transom typically adds $1,200 to $4,500 per panel to a door project depending on size and glass package.
Energy Efficiency & Security
ProVia ENERGY STAR options for Climate Zone 4 (Maryland and Virginia), and how secure modern ProVia entry doors actually are.
Are ProVia doors energy efficient?+
Yes. ProVia exterior doors are available in ENERGY STAR qualified packages with insulated cores (polyurethane foam for steel, full polyurethane for fiberglass), Low-E insulating glass on units with sidelights/transoms, and argon gas fill on glass packages. Every ENERGY STAR door is rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). For Maryland and Virginia's Climate Zone 4 climate, target U-factor 0.20 or lower on a door slab without glass, 0.27 or lower with glass. ProVia Embarq fiberglass hits both targets.
See full answer on the Doors hub →How secure are ProVia entry doors?+
ProVia entry doors are rated against industry security standards for residential exterior doors. Steel slabs use 20-gauge minimum sheet steel over a polyurethane foam core with reinforced lock blocks at the deadbolt and knob. Fiberglass slabs use a continuous polyurethane core with composite stiles and lock blocks. ProVia's optional security upgrades include 4-inch reinforced strike plates (vs the 1-inch builder-grade default), multi-point locking systems on tall doors, and impact-rated glass for sidelights. These upgrades meaningfully change forced-entry resistance and are worth specifying during the JDH consultation if security is a priority.
Process & Timeline
When JDH installs, how long a typical door swap takes, and whether JDH does repairs or only replacements.
Does JDH repair doors, or only replace them?+
JDH installs replacement and new doors. We do not do glass repair, hardware swaps as standalone work, or weatherstripping replacement on third-party-installed doors. If your door is rotting at the threshold, drafty, failing to latch, or has hardware sagging the hinges, a ProVia replacement is the lasting fix and it is what we do. That said, we are not going to talk you into a replacement you do not need. If your door has years of life left, the Design Specialist will tell you that at the free in-home consultation. Honest assessment first, quote second.
See full answer on the Doors hub →How long does exterior door replacement take?+
There are two timelines. First, custom manufacture: because every ProVia door is built to your exact opening, production typically takes 4 to 8 weeks after you approve the order. Second, installation: once the door arrives, a typical entry door is a 4 to 8 hour install. A whole-house door swap with 3 to 5 doors is usually a 1 to 2 day install. The crew works one opening at a time, so your home is never left open to the weather. Storm doors install in 2 to 4 hours per opening, often same-day with the entry door.
See full answer on the Doors hub →Do you install sliding glass doors and patio doors?+
Yes. JDH installs ProVia patio doors in both sliding-glass and hinged-French configurations, with the same custom-fit, single-brand-warranty approach as our entry doors. ProVia's Inspirations Patio Door line carries Lifetime Limited Transferable on the frame and vinyl with 20-year glass seal coverage and accidental glass breakage on the Aeris/Endure-equivalent panels. Patio door projects run $4,500 to $12,500 per unit depending on size and glass package.
See full answer on the Doors hub →Can you finance one door at a time?+
Yes. JDH's lender platform finances single-door projects starting at $3,500. Most homeowners choose to do the whole-house door swap at once to capture the install crew on a single visit (one mobilization fee, one warranty start date, one set of paperwork), but phased projects work too. Common phased pattern: front entry + storm door now, side and rear doors next year.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Warranties
Full coverage: JDH 5-year workmanship plus ProVia Lifetime Limited Transferable on Embarq fiberglass plus accidental glass breakage on storm doors. For complete terms, see the full Doors Warranty page.
What does JDH's door warranty cover?+
JDH's door warranty is two stacked warranties. JDH covers installation workmanship for 5 years from the install completion date: shimming, anchoring, flashing, threshold caulking, exterior weatherproofing, and hardware adjustment. ProVia's manufacturer warranty covers the door unit itself: Lifetime Limited Transferable on Embarq fiberglass materials, 20-year transferable on Legacy steel slab + 10-year on factory finish, and accidental glass breakage on ProVia storm doors and patio doors with Super Spacer glazing. Both warranties run in parallel.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →How long is JDH's door workmanship warranty?+
JDH carries a 5-year transferable workmanship warranty on every exterior door installation, covering install defects, water intrusion caused by install error, threshold sealing failure, weatherstripping installation defects, hardware mounting failure, and trim or flashing failure caused by our work. The warranty transfers once at no charge if you sell the home within 5 years of install. ProVia material warranties (Lifetime Embarq, 20-yr Legacy steel) run separately and cover material defects regardless of who installed them.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →Does ProVia's warranty cover accidental glass breakage on doors?+
Storm doors: yes, on Spectrum and Decorator lines with Super Spacer glazing, ProVia covers accidental glass breakage for the lifetime of the original purchaser, free of charge, for accidents not covered by homeowner's insurance. Patio doors with Inspirations glass packages: yes, same coverage. Entry doors with sidelights or transoms: case-by-case depending on glass package; standard Super Spacer-glazed sidelights are covered, decorative or specialty glass may carry separate terms. The benefit is non-transferable on all door lines; it stays with the original purchaser.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →Is the door warranty transferable to a new owner?+
Yes, with one nuance. JDH's 5-year workmanship warranty transfers in full to a new homeowner for the remainder of the coverage period, no paperwork, no fee. ProVia's base manufacturer warranty (materials, slab, finish, glass seal) transfers once to a subsequent purchaser within 30 days of closing (paperwork provided by JDH at sale). The accidental glass breakage benefit on storm and patio doors is NOT transferable and ends at sale of the home. When listing your home, the surviving transferable warranties can be marketed as a value-add to buyers.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →What voids my door warranty?+
The most common voiders: third-party modifications to the JDH-installed door (e.g., a security company drilling for an alarm sensor without proper flashing); cleaning the door slab or hardware with abrasives or solvent-based cleaners not approved by ProVia; aftermarket paint or finish applied over the factory finish; failure to maintain weatherstripping (visible compression that JDH-warranty covers in year 1 only); and acts of God (hail breaking glass, lightning strike, tree-strike) which are excluded but route to homeowner's insurance.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →How do I file a door warranty claim with JDH?+
Call the JDH office. Jessica Commodore pulls your install file and documents the issue. Send photos or videos to speed the evaluation. Steve Dean, JDH's Production Manager, inspects the door on-site within 2 business days. Steve's evaluation determines the cause: workmanship (shimming, flashing, threshold caulking, hardware mounting) is covered under the 5-year workmanship warranty by JDH; material (slab defect, glass seal failure, hardware mechanism failure) routes to a ProVia claim filed by JDH on your behalf. Most repairs completed within 7 days of confirmation.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →Are interior repairs covered if a door leak causes damage?+
Within the first year of install, JDH covers interior trim and drywall removal + re-installation up to a no-cap limit if a door leak is traced to JDH workmanship. Years 2 through 5, JDH covers trim and drywall removal + re-installation at no charge but at standard scope (i.e., does not cover repainting beyond the affected area or full floor refinishing). Furniture replacement, carpet replacement, and personal property damage are not covered under workmanship; those typically route through your homeowner's insurance.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →Does JDH cover the door hardware?+
Yes. JDH's 5-year workmanship warranty covers hardware mounting and installation alignment. ProVia's material warranty covers the hardware mechanism itself (deadbolt, knob, hinges, multi-point locks) per ProVia's hardware warranty terms (typically 5 to 10 years on standard Schlage-grade hardware; lifetime on premium upgrades). If a knob or deadbolt fails to latch or lock smoothly within the first 5 years and the cause is install-related, JDH covers the rework. If the mechanism itself is defective, JDH files the ProVia hardware claim on your behalf.
See full answer on the Doors Warranty page →Financing
Six-lender platform, ProVia-specific paths, 0% intro plans, bad-credit options, and contractor financing vs credit-card tradeoffs. For full lender comparison, see our Doors Financing page.
Can you finance entry and patio doors?+
Yes. JDH Remodeling carries six vetted lenders that finance door-replacement projects from $3,500 single-door jobs up to $30,000 whole-home packages. One soft-pull application returns offers from all six lenders without affecting your credit. Most door tickets land between $4,500 and $14,000, and over 90 percent of applicants approve on the first soft pull. The headline plan is 12 months no interest, no payments.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Does JDH finance ProVia doors specifically?+
Yes. ProVia financing routes through the same JDH lender platform that covers entry doors, storm doors, sliding glass doors, and patio doors. ProVia does not run their own consumer lending program. Because door projects are typically $3,500 to $14,000, most homeowners take a 5 to 10-year term to keep the monthly payment in line with their budget. Service Finance Company is the most common pick for door financing because of their 0 percent intro plans on qualifying credit.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Can you finance doors with bad credit?+
Yes. JDH's lender platform serves a wider credit range than most banks. Service Finance Company approves door financing as low as 550 FICO. Foundation Finance has a second-look program for the 580 to 620 band. FinanceIt approves down to 620 with longer terms (up to 15 years) that bring the monthly payment in range. The APR is higher at the lower end of the range, but the path exists. The soft pull surfaces your actual qualified offer in 60 to 90 seconds without affecting your score.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Do any door companies offer 0% financing?+
Yes, but the term gets used two different ways. A true 0% APR loan, like Wisetack offers on qualifying short-term plans up to $25,000, charges zero interest no matter when you pay it off. A deferred-interest promo, like the 12-month no-interest plan we run through Service Finance Company, charges zero interest only if the balance is paid in full before the promo window ends. Both are useful for door projects, but the mechanics are different. JDH presents the exact terms in writing before any signature.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →How long can you finance a new door for?+
The lenders we carry offer door-replacement loan terms from 24 months up to 15 years. Service Finance Company and FinanceIt both go to 15 years on qualified loans, which gives the lowest monthly payment but the highest total interest paid. Synchrony and GreenSky run 3 to 12 years. Wisetack tops out at 60 months for short-term plans. The right term is whichever monthly payment fits your budget without stretching past the expected service life of the doors themselves: ProVia Embarq fiberglass carries a lifetime limited warranty on the slab, so 10 to 15 years is a sensible cap.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Is contractor door financing better than a credit card?+
Yes, almost always. Standard consumer credit cards carry APRs of 20 to 30 percent for purchases above the 0-percent intro window. Contractor financing through JDH's lender platform runs 8 to 17 percent fixed APR (or 0 percent intro for 12 to 18 months on qualifying credit). For a $7,500 door project paid over 5 years, that APR difference saves $1,200 to $2,500 in total interest. The exception: if you can pay the full balance within a credit card's 12 to 21 month 0-percent purchase window, the credit card matches contractor financing.
See full answer on the Doors Financing page →Permits & Code
Maryland permit rules for door replacement, when permits are required vs not, and what JDH handles automatically.
Do I need a permit to replace an exterior door in Maryland?+
Most Maryland counties do NOT require a building permit for a like-for-like exterior door replacement where the rough opening size is unchanged and the wall framing is not modified. That covers the typical slab + frame swap JDH performs most often. Permits ARE required when: the rough opening size changes (widening to add sidelights, raising for a transom), wall framing is modified, the door is in a historic district (Annapolis, Leonardtown, Chesapeake Beach CBCAO), or the door is a load-bearing structural element. JDH handles any required permit as part of the project at no additional charge above the published permit fee, which typically runs $50 to $200 in Maryland.
Choosing a Contractor
How to verify any door contractor in Maryland and what makes JDH's MHIC + ProVia Certified Installer + single-brand-mastery model different from big-box subcontractor chains.
Are you licensed in both Maryland and Virginia?+
Yes. JDH carries Maryland MHIC #137491 and Virginia Class A contractor license #2705192986. Both are verifiable on the state licensing portals: the Maryland DLLR portal for MHIC and the Virginia DPOR portal for Class A. We have been licensed and family-owned since 1986.
See full answer on the Trust & Credentials page →How do I find a reliable door contractor in Maryland?+
Verify three credentials before any door contract in Maryland. First, an active MHIC license (Maryland Home Improvement Commission; JDH is #137491) is legally required for any project over $500. Second, a manufacturer authorization for the brand they recommend (ProVia Certified Installer for JDH; equivalent certifications exist for Therma-Tru, Pella, and Andersen and verify directly with the manufacturer). Third, a verifiable physical address, multi-platform review history (Google, BBB, Angi), and proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Avoid storm-chasing pop-ups, door-knockers offering same-day quotes, and any contractor who installs a brand they cannot show a manufacturer authorization for.
See full answer on the Trust & Credentials page →Save these answers to your AI assistant
Save the JDH Doors FAQ positions to your AI assistant so when you next ask ChatGPT, Google AI, or Bing about Maryland exterior doors, the AI knows our credentials, ProVia warranty terms, and security positions.
Have a door question we didn't cover?
Schedule a free in-home door consultation with a JDH ProVia Certified Installer installer. We'll inspect every opening, walk through your Embarq / Legacy / storm / patio options, and quote the project at fixed price. No commission. No pressure.
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