From the Factory Direct Montreal team — more than 35 years measuring, selling and installing windows and doors across Greater Montreal, Laval and the South Shore. RBQ 5735-2130-01.
A front door does three jobs at once in Montreal: it has to look right from the street, keep January out, and survive twenty years of slush, salt and slammed deliveries. After thousands of entry-door replacements, these are the seven decisions that actually change the result — in the order we discuss them at the kitchen table.
1. Pick the material for the job, not the brochure
Steel is the workhorse: strong, secure and the most budget-friendly, with a huge range of panel designs. It can dent under a hard hit and needs its finish maintained where scratches expose metal. Fiberglass resists dents, rust and warping, insulates well and can be textured like wood — the choice most homeowners land on for a south- or west-facing door. Wrought iron is the statement door: heavy, ornate, extremely durable, with operable glass for ventilation, and priced accordingly. We carry all three — see our steel, fiberglass and wrought iron collections, plus the Novatech, Trimlite and Summit catalogs in the showroom.
2. Replace the frame, not just the slab
A new slab in an old, twisted frame is the most common regret we see. Air leaks live at the frame and threshold, not in the panel. It also matters for rebates: Rénoclimat only recognizes a door replaced with its frame in an existing opening — a door without its frame does not qualify (Québec.ca).
3. Decide how much glass — and how private
Glass brings light into a dark entry, but choose the pattern with the street in mind: decorative, textured or frosted glass gives daylight without a view in. Sidelites and transoms change the whole façade; they are also where a cheap unit loses heat, so insist on sealed, Low-E glass units. Our decorative glass entry doors page shows the current families.
4. Insulation and ENERGY STAR are not optional here
A door that is comfortable in Toronto can frost on the inside in Montreal. Look for an insulated core, a thermally broken threshold, compression weatherstripping and an ENERGY STAR certification for the Canadian climate zone. ENERGY STAR certification is also the condition for Rénoclimat’s $150 per opening financial assistance.
5. Security is hardware plus installation
A multi-point lock, a reinforced strike plate and long screws into the framing matter more than the material label. Ask your installer how the frame is anchored — a beautifully built door in a poorly shimmed frame can be pried. This is where a licensed installer (RBQ 5735-2130-01 in our case) earns the fee.
6. Style and colour: match the house you have
Contemporary flush panels with a long pull, carriage-house styles, traditional six-panel doors, arched wrought iron — each reads differently on a Montreal duplex, a Laval bungalow or a South Shore new build. Bring photos of the façade to the showroom; deciding the style with the actual brick and trim colours in front of you avoids a door that fights the house.
7. Ask who installs it and what they warrant
Two warranties matter: the manufacturer’s (ours is a 25-year transferable warranty on windows and patio doors, with the door manufacturer’s terms on entry doors) and the installer’s own warranty on the work. Ask for both in writing, and ask who you call in year three. Our service department is the same team that installed it.
Quick checklist before you sign
- Material chosen for exposure and budget (steel / fiberglass / wrought iron)
- Full unit with frame, in the existing opening
- Sealed Low-E glass in any lite, sidelite or transom
- ENERGY STAR certified — keep the label and invoice for Rénoclimat
- Multi-point lock and anchored frame
- Written manufacturer and installation warranties
Ready to look at options in person? Book a free in-home estimate — or visit the showroom at 1190 Rue Bégin, Saint-Laurent.
Related: Doors · Front entry doors · Patio doors · Windows
