Replacing your internal doors might seem straightforward: choose the doors you like, order them and find somebody to fit them.
In some homes, it can be that simple. In others, incorrect measurements, unsuitable door sizes or unexpected fitting requirements can turn what looked like an easy purchase into a more complicated project.
This is where a supply and fit internal doors service differs from buying the doors yourself. Instead of separating the purchase and installation, one company takes care of the process from measuring and selecting suitable doors through to fitting them in your home.
But is that convenience worth it?
The answer depends on your property, your experience and how involved you want to be. Here’s what to consider before deciding.
Buying Internal Doors Yourself vs Supply and Fit: What’s the Difference?
If you buy your own internal doors, you’re responsible for selecting and ordering the correct products. You then need to fit them yourself or arrange for a carpenter or door fitter to install them.
That can work well when you know exactly what you need and are comfortable taking responsibility for the measurements and specifications.
By employing one company to supply and fit internal doors, you bring the two stages together. The company fitting the doors is also involved in making sure suitable doors are ordered for the property.
At The Door Fitting Company, for example, once you’ve chosen your doors, a home survey is arranged to confirm sizes and requirements before an installation date to supply and fit internal doors is booked.
The main difference, therefore, isn’t simply who buys the door. It’s who takes responsibility for managing the process.
1. Measuring Internal Doors Isn’t Always as Simple as It Looks
Accurate measurements are one of the biggest considerations when ordering your own doors.
You aren’t simply trying to find a door that looks approximately the right size. The new door needs to work with the existing opening and frame, and the installer needs to know whether it can be appropriately adjusted to achieve a good fit.
This becomes particularly important in older homes, where openings and frames aren’t necessarily perfectly square.
Professional door fitting services will generally assess the existing openings before the doors are ordered or installed. That reduces the risk of discovering on fitting day that the doors you’ve purchased aren’t suitable.
It can also help identify potential complications earlier.
If you’re buying your own doors, it is sensible to speak to your intended door fitter before placing the order, particularly if you’re unsure about the dimensions.
2. The Door Needs to Be Compatible With the Opening
Size isn’t the only consideration.
Different internal doors have different constructions, finishes and specifications. Some can be trimmed more than others, while the weight and construction of the door may also affect the hardware and fitting requirements.
The doors available from The Door Fitting Company, for example, include hollow-core and solid-core designs as well as oak veneer, white-finished, unfinished, pre-finished and glazed options.
That includes budget-friendly hollow-core designs such as the 6 Panel and Dordogne doors, alongside solid-core oak veneer designs such as the Carini and Mexicano ranges and a variety of glazed options.
Choosing based on appearance alone can therefore overlook some of the practical differences between doors.
When you choose to supply and fit internal doors as one service, the person assessing the opening and the person responsible for installation are part of the same process. This can make it easier to establish whether your preferred door is appropriate before it is ordered.
3. What Happens If You’ve Ordered the Wrong Door?
This is one of the less obvious differences between the two approaches.
Suppose you measure your openings, order several doors online and arrange for a carpenter to fit them. The carpenter arrives and discovers that one or more doors aren’t suitable.
Who is responsible?
If the doors have been purchased separately, the fitter generally isn’t responsible for your purchasing decision. You may then have to speak to the retailer, investigate whether the doors can be returned and potentially rearrange the installation.
There can also be questions around responsibility if a problem develops later. Is it an issue with the product or the installation?
Using one company to supply and fit internal doors can make the chain of responsibility simpler because there are fewer parties involved.
However, don’t assume that every supply and fit company offers the same protection. Before accepting a quote, ask what warranties or guarantees apply to the doors and workmanship, how long they last and what happens if there is a problem.
4. Supply and Fit Can Remove a Lot of the Organisation
Buying doors yourself gives you control, but it also gives you a project to manage.
Depending on the job, you may need to:
- measure each opening;
- research suitable door sizes and constructions;
- select and order the doors;
- choose compatible handles and ironmongery;
- arrange delivery;
- store the doors safely;
- find and coordinate a fitter; and
- resolve any problems with the supplier separately.
None of those tasks is necessarily difficult on its own. Together, however, they can take considerably more time than expected, particularly if you’re replacing several doors throughout a house.
Choosing internal doors with fitting reduces the number of separate arrangements you need to make.
The Door Fitting Company’s process, for example, combines door selection with a home survey to confirm sizes and requirements before installation. Customers can also choose handles and ironmongery as part of the process.
It’s a more straightforward option for homeowners who want the finished result without managing every stage themselves.
5. Is It Cheaper to Buy Internal Doors Yourself?
Potentially, but comparing the price of a door with the price of a supplied and fitted door doesn’t tell you very much.
They aren’t equivalent purchases.
When buying independently, your overall budget may include:
Door price + delivery + hardware + fitting + finishing where required + any additional work
With a supply and fit internal doors quote, some or all of those elements may already be incorporated.
The type of door matters too. A hollow-core primed door and a pre-finished solid-core oak veneer door aren’t directly comparable simply because they’re both internal doors.
Industry cost guides also show that the price of replacing internal doors varies according to factors including the material, hardware, door size and complexity of the installation. For a broader breakdown of typical pricing, Checkatrade’s internal door cost guide provides useful independent cost information.
The sensible comparison is therefore the total cost of achieving the same finished result, not simply the initial purchase price of the door.
When comparing quotes, ask exactly what is included. At The Door Fitting Company, for example, disposal of existing doors isn’t included within standard pricing, so this is something homeowners should account for separately.
Transparent quotes make this comparison much easier.
6. What About DIY Fitting?
If you’re an experienced DIYer with the necessary tools, fitting your own doors could reduce labour costs further.
However, hanging a door accurately requires more precision than many homeowners expect.
The door needs to sit correctly within the opening, hinges need to be positioned accurately and the latch and handles need to align properly. Excessive trimming or errors during installation can also damage a door you’ve already paid for.
Professional fitting therefore isn’t only about saving time. You’re paying for the skill required to turn the product you’ve bought into a properly fitted part of your home.
For somebody confident in their abilities, DIY can still be a perfectly reasonable option. If you’re buying expensive doors, replacing several throughout the property or simply want a professional finish, paying for specialist installation may represent better value.
7. Does Supply and Fit Limit Your Choice of Doors?
Not necessarily, although the available range will depend on the company you use.
The Door Fitting Company offers a variety of internal door styles, including modern, oak, glazed and panel doors, with different constructions and finishes available.
For example, homeowners looking for a traditional oak appearance can consider designs such as the pre-finished Mexicano or Carini. Glazed options including the Mexicano Glazed 6L, Vancouver Glazed 4 Light and White Mexicano Long Light can help move more natural light between spaces.
There are also primed white options for homeowners who want to add their own final paint colour and pre-finished doors for those who prefer a ready-finished appearance.
The important thing is to choose a door based on both how you want your home to look and what is suitable for the opening.
When Does Buying Your Own Internal Doors Make Sense?
Buying independently may be the better option if:
- you’re confident measuring the openings correctly;
- you already know the exact doors and specifications you need;
- you have a trusted door fitter who is happy to install customer-supplied doors;
- you want to source a particular product unavailable through a fitting company; or
- you’re experienced enough to fit the doors yourself.
In those circumstances, purchasing separately can give you greater control over where the doors come from and how much you spend.
Just make sure your door fitter is happy with your choice before you commit to a large order.
When Is a Supply and Fit Internal Doors Service Better?
Having your doors fitted and supplied by the same specialist is likely to make more sense when you:
- want someone experienced to confirm the measurements;
- are replacing several doors;
- aren’t sure which door specification is appropriate;
- don’t want to coordinate suppliers, deliveries and fitters separately;
- want a clearer point of responsibility for the overall job; or
- value convenience and professional installation over finding the lowest possible product price.
It can be particularly useful when you’re updating several rooms at once. A consistent selection of doors, handles and finishes can create a much more cohesive appearance throughout the property.
So, Should You Buy Your Own Doors or Choose a Supply and Fit Internal Doors Service?
Neither option is automatically right for everyone.
If you’re confident with measurements, understand door specifications and already have a reliable installer, sourcing your own doors can give you greater purchasing flexibility and may help you control costs.
If you want a simpler process with less risk of ordering unsuitable doors, a professional supply and fit internal doors service has clear advantages.
The biggest benefit is convenience: the measuring, product selection and installation are connected rather than treated as separate jobs.
At The Door Fitting Company, we specialise exclusively in internal doors. Rather than offering general carpentry services, our focus is helping homeowners choose suitable doors and having them professionally fitted through a straightforward process.
Whether you’re changing one door or updating doors throughout your home, the first step is understanding what will work in your existing openings.
Contact us to arrange a free home survey to discuss your supply and fit internal doors requirements, confirm sizes and explore the internal doors available for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy internal doors and get someone else to fit them?
Yes. Many carpenters and door fitters will install doors you’ve purchased yourself. It’s worth checking with your chosen fitter before ordering, as they may want to confirm the measurements and door specification first.
Is it cheaper to supply my own internal doors?
It can be, particularly if you find the doors at a competitive price. However, compare the complete project cost, including delivery, hardware, fitting and any finishing required, rather than the door price alone.
Will a door fitter measure my doors before I order?
This depends on the service. With a complete supply and fit internal doors service, measuring or surveying the existing openings will often form part of the process. The Door Fitting Company arranges a home survey to confirm sizes and requirements before scheduling installation.
Can new internal doors be fitted into existing frames?
Often they can, provided the existing frames are suitable. Their condition, dimensions and alignment should be assessed before the new doors are ordered and fitted.
What should I check before accepting a supply-and-fit quote?
Check exactly what’s included, including the doors, handles, hinges and other ironmongery, fitting, finishing where applicable, delivery and disposal of the old doors. You should also ask what product warranties or workmanship guarantees apply.
