Your local codes and permit office WILL be concerned with energy efficiency, new header calculations, etc. And may require that the entire structure actually comply with current building codes since you are renovating well over 50% of that ''addition'.

To do what you want properly, yeah, it will cost in the neighborhood of 20-30K in materials only for the millwork. Labor extra. A lot extra.

Who's giving you the door pricing? If it's the contractor, then head down to Lowe's and have them work up a quote for you.

I doubt pre-hung vs. slabs will be enough of a cost difference to offset the extra labor to hang the slabs.

I have a good feeling that a beam holds the roof for that whole wall, considering it is all door and windows on that wall. So structurally it shouldnt be too bad of a reno. I agree with weedy, do some of your own research on the doors. Is that price for just the doors or for the doors installed. If you look yourself you can probably find french doors for around 2.5k-3k each but installed it is probably correct at the 5k. The contractor also has overhead for being responsible for ordering the doors correctly. If you order the door and its wrong its your problem.

I have been looking at replacing two sliding glass doors with Pella French doors. I have estimates from $4k to $5k per door, installed. I am in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Door guy wants $800 labor per door, the rest is the door and taxes. Difference is type of frame, glass and internal or external blinds. Also included is haul off.

I'm talking directly to the Jeld-Wen dealer my contractor directed me to and that is the price for just the doors, not installation. It was their Siteline series for hinged French doors. I was looking over his shoulder at his computer while he was working up the quote so I know the numbers come directly from the Jeld-Wen program, although he said he usually charges about 10% less.

So that price doesn't include installation at all, just the doors.

Labor will be fairly high because in fact the beam does not support the roof. There are four 6x6 supports, two on either end and two around the existing door. Sorry the pic is bad and doesn't clearly show this. I've already discussed the need to move the two supports (they are in fact extensively termite damaged so have to go anyway) with the contractor. He has a plan for how to do it.

Sounds like a teardown would be cheaper.

If you are willing to consider fixed glazed panels, you might as well save some
real money and install tall windows with low sills. That would also allow less expensive installations of heat and electrical receptacles below the glass.

Unless another building code applies, the 2012 IRC, Appendix J, classifies rehabilitation
work on an existing home as a Repair, Alteration, Renovation, or
Reconstruction.

Since this work involves windows and exterior doors it will be considered
an Alteration. If the work involves
modifications to the structure it will also be considered a Renovation. If the work involves reconfiguration of more than 50% of the
total floor area of the dwelling unit, it will be treated as a Reconstruction which would add requirements for stairway illumination, handrails, guards, wall &
ceiling finishes, but work on one exterior wall would not trigger that requirement.

So, it appears that the work for this project is limited to the exterior
wall and if the structure is not modified, it is likely that the windows will only need to meet the current energy code and the wall cavity would probably only need to be filled with insulation but that should be verified with the local inspector.

Thanks, JDS. So you're saying that if I can go with tall windows rather than French doors, I'll save a lot? I'd have to think about that since we wanted a very airy outdoor feeling to the room. I'd love to do a nano wall but that being out of the budget, figured French doors were the next best thing. I still have only spoken with the Jeld-Wen dealer and need to see if it's the same situation with Pella, etc.

Thanks for the comments on reconstruction. Yes, my understanding is that this project is limited only to replacement of the glazing, nothing more, and that that was okay.

Pay attention to where the French doors will rest when open and if the openings need double screen doors. Is the room large enough to need that large an exterior opening?

The room is 26' long and, as I recall, about 14' wide, so it seemed like a large opening would be appropriate...

We do need double screen doors and wanted to go with wood screen doors for the historic look even though the doors themselves will be aluminum clad. I *think* that look will work. The supports for the roof will be rough sawn 6x6's so there will be exterior wood already.

The French doors will swing in. Our hope was to have one of the doors on wide-swing hinges such that, when open, the doors will overlap and both lie flat against the sidelights. Not sure yet whether that can be accomplished.

How many doors will you actually open? I'm sorry I installed so many pairs with both sides operable. Big waste of money.

Actually, this is not a very impressive picture. What is this room? Have you considered tearing out and starting fresh? In-swing sets of doors are going to really limit how you furnish this room. Maybe French-sliders instead?

It's an Arizona room, essentially a sun room. We are tearing out and starting fresh. We're tearing out the whole wall. I wanted in-swing for the historic look. Here are some other pics showing the full room.

How about one pair of French doors in the center, flanked by French door style Windows on the sides? ( not sure what these are really called!). That's what we are doing. We already have a wall of French door windows in another room. It looks beautiful!

Yeah, that might work. I will look into French door style windows...

Will the room have AC? I would go with fixed glass doors with one or two french doors. I have to say that I love your house! the exposed beams, windows, etc. I hope you keep that pretty blue door.

You could try calling Arcadia Window and Door, if you are in Phx. I dont know if they would be any cheaper, but I have had good experiences with them.

We got a decent price on the Marvin Integrity French doors. I like the quality of our Marvin doors. In your case, I would want to know how much was for labour and how much was for the doors.

Carol

Thanks, rocky! Yup, all the interior doors you see are staying.

The room does have one supply and one return but it's not enough for the size of the room. But anyway, the weather is so nice much of the year, we'd like to open up the doors for an airy feeling.

Ontario, I will look into Marvin. I think they are very high quality.

Also check out Milgard windows and doors. I think they would be cheaper than Marvin. For my house, I installed custom commercial floor to ceiling windows and sliders (over 100 linear feet). They are very good quality and very well priced. Unfortunately, the guy who did them is no longer in business. You could google custom windows and see if you can get an estimated price quote over the phone.

On the windows forum Provia is generally regarded as THE exterior hinged door (front or French) to use. You should check over there for window recommendations also.

Okay, I will check out those brands. The dealer I saw today does Fleetwood, La Cantina and Marvin.