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Doors in French-speaking Switzerland: fitting, replacement and repair

Front, interior and garage doors: when to call a professional in French-speaking Switzerland, what a quote should detail and the legal warranties.

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Doors are among the parts of a building we use most and notice least, until the day they rub, no longer close or let the cold in. Whether it is a front door, a cellar door, an interior door or a garage door, the work ranges from a simple adjustment to a full replacement including removal of the frame.

SOS Travaux is a neutral matchmaking service: you describe your project, your request is passed on to craftspeople and companies in French-speaking Switzerland, who will contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

What door work covers in French-speaking Switzerland

The term “doors” covers very different situations, which call for different skills. A carpenter or a windows-and-doors company works with wood, wood-metal, PVC or aluminium; a locksmith or a security specialist deals with locks and security systems; a garage door company handles sectional, up-and-over or roller doors and their motorisation.

The most common jobs:

  • replacing the front door of a house or apartment;
  • fitting or changing interior doors, with or without the frame;
  • planing, adjusting the hinges or changing the hardware when a door rubs or no longer closes;
  • replacing or adding a lock, a cylinder or a locking system;
  • fitting sliding doors, notably to save space in a narrow room;
  • replacing a garage door or its motorisation;
  • renovating an old door: stripping, repair, repainting or re-staining.

When to call a professional for your doors

A small hinge adjustment can sometimes be done yourself. As soon as a frame has to be removed, an opening reworked, airtightness or watertightness guaranteed, or burglary resistance ensured, a craftsperson is the better choice. A badly fitted front door can cause draughts, condensation, leaks around the frame or a closing mechanism that deteriorates quickly.

A few signs that justify professional advice:

  • the door swells, warps or no longer opens freely depending on the season;
  • water or air gets in around the frame or under the threshold;
  • the lock sticks, or the key no longer turns properly;
  • the wood is rotten at the base, or the metal is rusted;
  • the garage door jams, opens crookedly or its motor stops partway;
  • you want to improve the security or insulation of the entrance.

If the frame is the problem, the repair affects the masonry, the insulation and sometimes the façade paintwork: several trades may then be involved.

Doors and building trades in Switzerland: training and standards

In Switzerland, the trades of carpentry, locksmithing and metal construction go through an apprenticeship and the Federal Certificate of Proficiency (CFC). That does not remove the need to ask questions: experience with front or garage doors, mastery of the chosen material and comparable references matter as much as the qualification.

For a front door, ask what the company plans for the airtightness of the joint between the frame and the masonry, for protection against damp and for the hardware. For a motorised garage door, ask about the safety devices and about maintenance.

By canton: permits, energy and heritage

A simple interior door replacement has no regulatory consequence. Changing an exterior door, especially on a visible façade, can however affect the appearance of the building, its insulation or its heritage protection. Rules differ from one canton to another: always check with the municipality or the relevant cantonal office.

  • Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton (Office des autorisations de construire). Many rental buildings are run by managing agents, who must be approached before any change of front door. The old town and protected districts call for particular attention. On energy, the cantonal law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) govern the subsidies of the Buildings Programme. See the page canton of Geneva.
  • Vaud: the permit is issued by the municipality; the file goes through the cantonal permit centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services must give an opinion. Old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, call for caution regarding façade appearance. A cantonal subsidy programme exists for energy. See canton of Vaud.
  • Valais: the permit is issued by the municipality within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. For chalets and second homes, the federal law on second homes applies in the municipalities concerned. The cantonal service for energy and hydropower runs a subsidy programme. See canton of Valais.
  • Fribourg: applications go through the cantonal platform FRIAC; the permit is issued by the prefecture or the municipality depending on the work. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected. See canton of Fribourg.
  • Neuchâtel: the cantonal counter SATAC receives applications, and the decision is made by the municipality. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, a UNESCO site, means you should enquire before altering a façade. See canton of Neuchâtel.
  • Jura: the permit is issued by the municipality or the canton depending on the scale of the project. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne deserve a preliminary discussion with the municipality. See canton of Jura.
  • Bern and Biel/Bienne: the permit is issued by the municipality or the prefecture depending on the project; the cantonal office for the environment and energy manages subsidies. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual (French and German), which can matter for administrative exchanges. See canton of Bern.

A door replacement that improves insulation may be covered by a cantonal energy programme: find out before signing, as the conditions must be checked before the work begins.

Preparing your quote request for doors

The more precise your description, the more comparable the quotes. Gather these items before filling in the form:

  • the type of door (entrance, interior, sliding, garage, cellar) and the number to be dealt with;
  • the address, the floor, and whether there is a lift or difficult access;
  • the current material and the one you would like, if you already have an idea;
  • photos of what is there, of the frame and of the façade, and the dimensions if possible;
  • your status: owner, tenant (with the landlord’s agreement), co-ownership or company;
  • any particular constraints: protected building, co-ownership, managing agent, preferred timing.

When everything is ready, you can request a quote.

What a reliable quote details for a door

A useful quote says precisely what is supplied and what is not. Look for:

  • the description of the door: material, dimensions, opening direction, glazing, finish;
  • the hardware: handles, hinges, lock, cylinder, threshold;
  • the removal of the old door and its disposal;
  • the fitting, the sealing and the finishes around the frame;
  • any related work: masonry, painting, electrics for a motorisation;
  • the payment terms, the timescales announced by the company and any reference to the SIA 118 standard.

Beware of a one-line quote: it makes any comparison impossible and leaves the door open to extra charges.

What makes the cost of door work vary

The price of a door does not depend on the door alone. The main factors:

  • the material and the quality of manufacture, which affect insulation, durability and upkeep;
  • the dimensions and unusual shapes, notably made to measure in an older building;
  • the level of security and locking required;
  • the condition of the frame and the masonry, which may require repairs;
  • the accessibility of the site and the number of doors dealt with at once;
  • the options: glazing, motorisation, home automation, finishes;
  • heritage constraints, which sometimes point towards more costly solutions.

Only a quote prepared for your case can put a figure on the work.

The Code of Obligations (CO) governs the warranty in case of defects. For a work on immovable property, which is the case for a door built into the building, the warranty lasts five years under art. 371 CO; for a movable work, it is two years. If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its rules apply in addition: reread the quote to see whether this is the case.

After delivery, check the door and report visible defects without delay, in writing. Keep the quote, the invoice, the technical data sheets and the photos: they will be useful in the event of a dispute.

Doors near you: cantons of French-speaking Switzerland

Choose your canton to find local information and start your request:

To describe your door project and receive a free, no-obligation quote, use the page request a quote.

Updated 29 October 2026

Free, no-obligation quote request

Describe your project: your request is passed on to tradespeople in your area.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace a front door in French-speaking Switzerland?
It depends on the building and the canton. A like-for-like replacement is often handled more simply than a change to the façade, but a protected building, an old town or a change of appearance may require a permit. Always check with the municipality or the relevant cantonal office before ordering.
Can a tenant have a door replaced?
Only with the agreement of the landlord or the managing agent, especially for an apartment entrance door or a landing door. Interior doors and locks also fall under the tenancy agreement. Get the agreement in writing before asking for a quote.
What should a quote for a door include?
It should describe the material, the dimensions, the type of glazing if any, the hardware, the lock, the removal of the old door, the fitting, the finishes and the disposal of waste. Related work, such as making good masonry or paintwork, must be clearly shown, whether included or not.
How long does the warranty on a fitted door last?
The Code of Obligations (CO) provides five years for defects in a work on immovable property under art. 371 CO. A door built into the building generally falls under this rule. For a movable work, the period is two years. The contract may refer to the SIA 118 standard, so check the quote.
How do I request a quote for doors?
Describe online the type of door, the number of doors, the address and the condition of what is there, with photos and measurements if you have them. Your request is passed on to craftspeople and companies in the region, who will contact you with a free, no-obligation quote.