The Disadvantages To Pre-Hung Doors You Should Be Aware Of Before Installing

Are your doors feeling drab? There are several creative ways to give your doors a fresh new look, but sometimes replacing an outdated door is your best option. When you start browsing for options, you'll come across pre-hung and slab doors as the two primary types. The main difference is that a pre-hung door comes with the frame and is already attached. When you're finding your perfect front door, you may prefer pre-hung doors for their ease of installation and protection against weather elements. However, pre-hung doors do come with some disadvantages and drawbacks you should be aware of before installing, including the cost, weight, and the difficulty getting the frame positions correctly.

Both pre-hung and slab doors have holes cut for a doorknob, but the knob isn't included. A pre-hung door is essentially a slab door that's already been attached to the frame, which means it comes with hinges. The setup also comes pre-cut for the strike plate. It's an attractive option for DIYers who don't want to build a door frame themselves. In a perfect world, the frame and door would slide into the spot and you'd attach them quickly. In reality, the configuration can be difficult to maneuver and doesn't always align perfectly with the rough opening.

Pre-hung doors may come ready to slide into the rough opening, but moving the door to the installation spot requires heavy lifting and is usually a two-person job. The weight of a pre-hung door can range from 50 to 100 pounds or more, depending on the types of doors you're installing. You also have the bulkiness of the frame to manage as you carry the door to its spot. Once you get the door to the rough opening, you still have to maneuver the unit into the correct positioning, which can be challenging due to the heftiness of it.

You'll also pay more for pre-hung doors than slab doors. The average price for a pre-hung door is $125 to $400 for the materials, while slab doors tend to cost between $60 and $300, according to Angi. That makes sense considering you also get the frame and hinges included. Keep in mind you'll need to buy more hardware for a slab door, which increases the price, and you may need materials to build the frame if there isn't one already in place.

Despite the higher price point, pre-hung doors often come with fewer size options, which can make it challenging to fit doors that are non-standard sizes. Even with a correctly sized pre-hung unit, you'll need to shim around it to get a proper fit. If you make an installation mistake, the door might not open and close properly. Installation is more challenging if the frame moves or becomes damaged during shipping. Because of the different parts, pre-hung doors have a higher chance of defects.