This steel entry door installation in Mississauga was a memorable one—and not just because I did it solo. Some projects throw unexpected challenges at you, and this one had its fair share. Block and brick walls, no studs, an uneven concrete subfloor—all the fun quirks you get with homes that are over 35 years old. But with some sweat, a bit of swearing, and a whole lot of espresso, the door went in beautifully!
A few days later, I came back to install some custom house numbers and got to admire the finished look. The sleek black door looked fantastic against the home’s exterior, and the numbers added a nice finishing touch. I still need to check in with the client to see if they ended up updating the railings as planned. A clean black railing would really tie everything together and complete the modern aesthetic.
A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
Now, every project teaches you something, but this one gave me a lesson I’ll never forget. 98% into the installation, I checked the doorbell wire—only to realize it had no power. Turns out, while chipping away at some block pieces inside the wall, I accidentally nicked the wire. Not exactly the kind of surprise you want to discover after installing all the trim at 11 PM!
There was no way around it—I had to pull the casing off inside, dig through cured expansion foam, and track down that damaged wire. Twenty minutes later, success! I spliced in a new section, ran it outside, and got everything back in working order. The client was using a Ring doorbell, and I know from experience that running those on battery alone isn’t ideal.
This was one of those moments where you make a mistake so annoying that you never forget to check the wires again. Lesson learned!
The Final Look
Despite the challenges, the end result was worth it. The steel door transformed the home’s entryway, adding durability and security while maintaining a sleek, modern design. If they follow through with updating the railings, the whole front entrance is going to look even better.
Have you ever made a mistake that immediately turned into a habit because you never wanted to repeat it? Let me know—I’d love to hear your stories!