Replacing doors in an apartment building. Installing an entry door with a door frame.

Replacing a door in an apartment building seems like a relatively simple task. However, when it comes to installing new door panels, the amount of work often piles up at an alarming rate. Learn as much as you can about replacing doors in an apartment building, and then nothing will catch you by surprise!

The front door to an apartment in a high-rise building serves many purposes. It separates the apartment from the common areas in the hallway, provides basic protection against break-ins, helps you find the right apartment number, and, last but not least, impresses your neighbors with its elegant appearance. An apartment owner does not need anyone’s permission to replace a door in an apartment building. As long as the new door meets specific technical requirements after installation, you have virtually complete freedom. Read on to learn how the process of replacing a door in an apartment building should proceed.

Replacing Doors in an Apartment Building – Door Frames

Door frames often pose the biggest challenge when replacing doors in an apartment building. When a resident of a pre-democratic-era prefabricated apartment building wants to replace a door with a new one, it often turns out that the door frames do not meet current standards at all. Removing them requires considerable skill and professional equipment. Otherwise, serious damage to the walls can easily occur.

Door Frame Width

There is also the issue of door frame width. The most popular adjustable door frames today are installed on walls that are at least 7.5 cm thick. Older door frames on partition walls were often about 6 cm wide. If you’re planning not only to install new doors in your apartment but also to install interior doors with door frames, consider reinforcing the walls beforehand—for example, with drywall.

Is it possible to install a new door on an old door frame?

Yes, replacing an entry door in this way is feasible. However, only under certain conditions:

• the new door must have identical dimensions and hinge placement;
• the old door frames are installed straight;
• the door frame remains intact.

It’s rare for a door replacement in an apartment building to involve just swapping out the door panel. In the past, construction standards were quite different—ranging from the dimensions of door openings to the quality of construction and renovation work.

Is it worth modifying the door leaf?

Often, fitting a new door into an old door frame requires extensive modifications to the door leaf. We strongly advise against such modifications. These changes void the manufacturer’s warranty on the door. An alternative is to use a door frame casing system, which is attached to the door frame with installation foam.

Replacing doors in an apartment building—installing exterior doors in a unit

If you want to do everything yourself, make sure you have the proper installation kit. Before installing the new door frame and door panel, take all necessary measurements. For doors that open outward, the clearance in the hallway is important. When replacing a door in an apartment building, you must leave:

• 120–140 cm of width in the stairwell;
• 80–90 cm of width at exits from other rooms.

The specific dimensions depend on how many people may use a given escape route. If you do not comply with these dimensions when installing the door, the building inspector will require you to restore the stairwell to a legally compliant condition.

Old doors—what to do with unwanted door frames and door panels?

Professional renovation crews, often recommended by door manufacturers, handle the removal of door panels and frames. The basic technique for removing door frames is “wet cutting”—there’s no need to chisel anything away, and it prevents dust from spreading throughout the stairwell. After removing the old doors and door frames, you must properly dispose of the construction and renovation waste. This waste does not belong in any of the regular trash bins—it must be transported to a Municipal Waste Sorting Center using your own vehicle or a rented dumpster. Make sure the company you hire signs an appropriate contract with you, and that the waste removed from your apartment doesn’t end up in the woods!

Apartment Renovation During Front Door Installation

Replacing interior and exterior doors in an apartment building often involves certain complications. During the work, all sorts of construction defects are uncovered that are worth fixing. And sometimes the building inspectorate actually requires that these be fixed. Door replacement in an apartment building is often accompanied by:

• leveling out warped walls;
• correcting floor unevenness;
• removing damaged floor tiles;
• cracks in the wall or concrete slab.

Entrusting the replacement of doors in an apartment building to a professional installation team minimizes the risk of more serious damage.

>>See also: Replacing Your Front Door with a New One—When Should You Schedule Installation?

Are you planning to replace your front door? Check out the Barański Doors catalogs!

You’ll find doors of superior quality and all the necessary accessories. You’ll find the most interesting options in the Barański Smart line. We especially recommend RC2-rated security doors—we can equip every model with reliable security features! In terms of aesthetics, you have a wide selection, ranging from the modern Modern line to the Classic line, which offers the best in classic design. We also manufacture custom-sized doors with finishes and accessories selected by the customer.

New doors for your apartment. What should they have?

Choosing a specific door model is certainly not easy. Here’s what to consider when making your purchase. In our opinion, new doors should:

• provide a high level of thermal insulation;
• effectively dampen noise from both outside and inside the apartment;
• have at least basic burglary protection;
• have a fire safety certification.

Replacing a door in an apartment building takes professionals 2 to 4 hours. The job may take longer if the walls are in poor condition. Sometimes, a simple desire to change the color of a door ends up turning into a full-scale renovation! The quality and durability of the new, improved end result are usually worth it—especially when experts like those at Barański Drzwi are responsible for the installation!