Why are my fiberglass door quotes ranging from $7k to $23k?

$23k for four standard-sized back doors is absolute insanity, even if they are ProVia. You're basically being quoted a "we don't want this job" price or dealing with a high-pressure sales company that has massive overhead. ProVia makes an incredible door, but for standard 32 and 36-inch openings in the back of a house, you shouldn't be paying more than $3k to $4k per door fully installed and finished. The jamb situation is where they're trying to confuse you. Pushing pine for the doors with Phantom screens is likely becasue it's easier to screw the screen tracks into solid wood, but it's a terrible trade-off if you want 30 years of zero maintenace. If you're worried about rot, stay away from wood jambs entirely. Go with **composite or PVC** across the board. If the installer can't figure out how to mount a retractable screen to a composite frame, you need to find a better installer. Therma-Tru is usually the sweet spot for most residential projects. They are the industry standard for a reason—parts are easy to find and the doors hold up well. But keep in mind that painting fiberglass isn't like slapping a coat on a bedroom wall. It requires specific primers and alot of patience to get it looking factory-smooth. If you don't do it yourself, that $10k quote is going to climb once you hire a profesional painter, so factor that into your budget. I'd suggest finding a local lumberyard or a dedicated door and window dealer rather than a big franchise. Ask for a quote on a **ProVia Heritage** fiberglass door or even a high-end steel door. High-quality steel is often cheaper than fiberglass and, if it has a good factory finish, it'll easily last 30 years in a backyard setting. Avoid the $7k EcoView option; those budget brands often use flimsy hardware and poor weatherstripping that will fail long before the door slab does.

That $10k quote not including paint sounds like a huge headache waiting to happen. If I go with fiberglass, is it actually possible for a regular painter to make it look decent, or does it always look like a DIY project? I keep hearing that factory finishes are way more durable. Also, if I go with the local lumberyard like you mentioned, do those places usally have installers they recommed, or am I on my own to find a contractor? I'm worried about buying a $4k door and having some random guy ruin the install because I didn't go through a big franchise.

Factory finish is the only way to go if you want 30 years out of fiberglass. Field painting is a nightmare becuase the sun eventually bakes the oils out of standard paint, causing it to flake off the smooth grain. I’ve seen $10k jobs look like trash after three summers because the painter didn't use the specific kit the manufacturer requires.

Also, ask about the sill and hinges. If you're spending that kind of money, make sure you're getting an adjustable threshold and heavy-duty ball-bearing hinges. Those heavy fiberglass slabs will start to drag on the sill after a few years if the hardware isn't up to spec.

Honestly, I'd check the warranty on that $7k quote. ussually, those budget PVC jambs are thin and can warp if they get direct sun. If these doors are in the sun all day, the $10k Therma-Tru with a factory finish is probably your best bet.

Also, make sure whoever you hire is actually pulling the old frames. Some of these low-ballers just do 'inserts' where they slap a new door in an old, rotting frame. If you want 30 years, you need a full-frame replacement, not just a slab swap.