Difference between 6 panel oak doors, lowes, home depot, millwork or lumber yard.?

Question

My wife and I are building a house. I was told 225 per 80" x 32" door,6 panel oak door and frame, this was at Chicago Millwork (Millwork store by me) . At home depot and lowes the price is around 135 per door. What is the almost 100 dollar difference in door? I noticed HD had Jeld-wen doors - What is the major difference between these doors? i haven't seen the doors yet from the millwork store, but the doors from lowes and home depot look nice. What am I missing ? thx!

Answer 1

My guess is that the cheaper doors are not oak. Call and ask, if they say oak...go take a look and eye-ball them for workmanship, quality of hard wear, etc.

Answer 2

TWO REASONS.ONE BEING THAT LOWES AND HOME DEPOT CONTRACT WITH SUPPLIERS AND GET VOLUME DISCOUNTS ..

THE OTHER BEING QUALITY. THE MILL WORK STORE IS MORE SELECTIVE OF THE WOOD THEY USE FOR THEIR DOORS. IF PROPERLY FINISHED,YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU EXAMINE THE DOORS CAREFULLY FOR FLAWS BEFORE YOU BUY THEM.  

Answer 3

The Chicago Millwork price is reasonable for a prehung 6 panel oak.  Not saying I would not shop around a bit more, just that it is in the right range.

The HD and Depot prices are much too low for an oak door.  They may have priced pine 6 panels, the price is about right for that.  Could have priced you slab doors without frames.  Possibly a hardboard door with an oak finish.  Certainly not oak.

If you get the correct price on an oak door from the big boxes, you may find that they are a bit less expensive, but I would not expect too much difference.  Maybe $30 - $40 per unit.  If it is much more of a difference, something is wrong.

Your best source for identifying the difference is to ask the millwork shop.  They will be familiar with the competition's product and tell you where the difference is.  Commonly, a millwork specialty shop will use thicker material for the frames, better hinges, nicer molding for the stops.  These doors should have 3 hinges, I have seen the big boxes use 2.

Now, if the big boxes are pricing pine and you actually saw pine and liked it, that may be an option for you.  The advantages of oak doors are purely aesthetic, if you like the look of pine (or a molded door with an oak finish), get those instead.  But do give the millwork shop a chance to price the same thing.  The quality difference is usually worth the extra money, assuming it is in that $30 - $40 range.