Every home on Long Island has its own personality. A Tudor in Garden City doesn’t want the same entry system as a cedar-shingled colonial in Sayville or a beach house in Long Beach. Salt air, wind off the bay, summer humidity, and winter freeze-thaw cycles all put doors through a punishing routine. If a door installer doesn’t understand our microclimates, the details of local codes, and how houses here actually move over time, small mistakes turn into drafts, rot, swollen jambs, or a lockset that never feels right. This is where Mikita Door & Window has built its reputation: dialing in the right door and the right installation for Long Island’s conditions, not just any conditions.
I first heard the name on a job in Freeport more than a decade ago. The client had inherited a stubborn, misaligned patio slider that another contractor had “fixed” twice. Mikita’s team reset it properly with new flashing, adjusted the rollers, swapped the threshold pan, and left it gliding like a commercial storefront. That job captured their approach. They are particular with prep, honest about what needs replacing versus what can be salvaged, and realistic about timelines. Over years of seeing their work hold up, I’ve watched neighbors and clients move from cautious inquiries to steady trust.
The Long Island difference: climate, codes, and construction quirks
Door installation looks simple until it meets the realities of coastal weather and mixed housing stock. Long Island’s south shore pulls in salt spray. The north shore gets heavy leaf load, shade, and moisture that creep into trim. Many homes have shifts in the sill from minor settling, and older fenestrations sometimes hide surprises like undersized headers or original lead paint on casings. A good installer has to read all of that.
Mikita Door & Window doesn’t overspec where it isn’t needed, but they do plan for abuse. Stainless or coated fasteners, composite or PVC brickmold where trim meets splash zones, and sill pans that actually drain rather than trap water. They lay out air and water barriers so the assembly has a clear path to shed moisture. Plenty of installers do this by the book; the difference here is they do it by the local book. For example, a typical entry door might come with a wood threshold that looks elegant in a catalog. On the south shore, that threshold starts to swell or split within two years unless it’s protected and detailed correctly. Mikita tends to steer homeowners toward composite thresholds and thermally broken sills that resist swelling and reduce condensation.
On the code side, they know the inspection routines of towns and villages from Hempstead to Brookhaven. Hurricane clips, tempered glass near grade, and fire-rated doors between garage and living spaces aren’t up for debate. They handle the paperwork when needed, which saves a lot of anxiety for homeowners who don’t love forms or surprise red tags.
Craftsmanship under the paint
A well-fitted door doesn’t just look good on day one. It’s quiet, secure, and tight when the thermometer swings from August to January. The difference comes from a few tradesman habits that Mikita’s crews follow consistently.
They start with the opening, not the door. If the jamb isn’t plumb, square, and level, no factory spec will save you. Shimming is an art here. Too many installers use shims as filler, stacking them haphazardly until the latch catches. Mikita sets structural shims at hinge locations and latch points, then checks their reveals under real load. They don’t foam until the slab swings and seats naturally, because expanding foam can twist a perfectly aligned jamb. When they do insulate, they choose low-expansion foam or mineral wool so the frame stays true and the cavity breathes.
Weatherproofing is decisive. Flashing tape must layer in a shingle fashion, starting with the sill pan, then jambs, then head, tied into the existing house wrap or vapor barrier. Where older homes have paper or no wrap at all, they improvise a continuous drainage plane using modern tapes and membranes without trapping moisture against the sheathing. The goal is a door system that drains to daylight. It sounds routine, but I’ve opened enough failed installations to know how rarely it’s executed this cleanly.
Hardware matters too. Hinges rated for the door weight, long screws into the framing at the top hinge, and strike plates anchored into solid wood, not just trim. This is the boring part that prevents sag later and makes the deadbolt feel certain when you lock up for the night.
Materials and styles that fit Long Island homes
Homeowners often start with curb appeal, and that’s fair. The aesthetic has to meet the neighborhood and the house’s language. Mikita Door & Window offers the expected spread of fiberglass, steel, and wood, plus specialty doors like impact-rated sliders for waterfront properties. They’re good at translating lifestyle into material choices.
Fiberglass gets the nod more often than not. It handles humidity, resists dents, takes paint or stain convincingly, and insulates better than wood. In older colonials where authenticity matters, high-grade fiberglass with a defined grain and proper stile-and-rail proportions looks right without the maintenance headaches. For contemporary homes, smooth fiberglass with narrow sightlines offers a clean profile that holds paint sharply.
Steel entry doors have their place in security-focused applications or where budget is tight, though Mikita steers clients toward galvannealed skins with better corrosion resistance, given our coastal air. Proper paint prep extends their life, and insulated cores keep them from acting like radiators in winter.
Wood remains an option for historic districts or for homeowners who want the warmth only real wood delivers. When installed well with a storm system and protected by overhangs, a mahogany or fir door can be a joy. Mikita is candid about upkeep and will spec marine-grade finishes and suggest modest design tweaks, like a deeper sill or drip cap, to help a wood door live a longer, happier life here.
Patio doors tend to be the workhorses. For sliders, Mikita pays attention to track design, stainless rollers, and meeting-stile seals. In hurricane-exposed zones, they recommend impact-rated panels or laminated glass, and they’ll discuss the trade-off between heavier panels and ease of operation. French doors with multi-point locks solve air leakage that older two-point systems often suffer, and interior blinds between glass can be convenient for sandy, windy lots where external blinds don’t last.
Sensible guidance, not upselling
What sets a pro apart for me is restraint. A homeowner may come in asking for a triple-pane, custom-finished, security-rated door because they’ve read an article online. Mikita evaluates what the house needs versus what the homeowner wants, then lands on a solution that balances both. On several projects I’ve seen them talk clients out of expensive sidelights when a well-placed transom would bring in better light Mikita Door & Window - Long Island Door Installation with fewer energy losses. They also flag where money is best spent. If the door is solid but the frame is rotting, they don’t force a full replacement. A competent jamb rebuild with new flashing can buy years of service.
Part of that guidance touches on small details that pay off. Split finish hardware for coastal towns, with marine-grade exterior handles and standard interior sets. Dark paint colors work beautifully on fiberglass, but on south-facing exposures with little overhang, they may push homeowners toward lighter shades or a heat-reflective coating to avoid thermal warping. These aren’t scare tactics. They’re the kind of checks a seasoned installer makes after seeing a few tough failures.
Process that respects a home and a schedule
Most people dread tradesmen who disappear midday, leave dust everywhere, or stretch a one-day job across a week. Mikita Door & Window has built a process that keeps the stress level down.
It starts with a site measure that is actually a measure, not just a quick tape pull. They record diagonal checks of the opening, wall depth, storm door clearances, and swing constraints like railings or radiator covers. They note trim profiles and finishes so new casings match or complement what’s there. If there’s a security system, they plan sensor transfer. That prep means fewer surprises on install day.
The crew shows up with drop cloths, boot covers, and the right saws and vacuums for interior work. If you have plaster walls or wainscoting near the opening, they score paint lines and cut carefully to prevent tear-out. Old lead paint is common in pre-1978 homes; they follow lead-safe practices, which keeps dust contained and families safe. Most replacements take a day. Complicated double-door assemblies or structural corrections can run to two days, and they set that expectation up front.
Cleanup is thorough, inside and out. The new door gets a test drive with the homeowner. They go over the lock function, threshold adjustments, and maintenance tips, and they leave manufacturer literature rather than dumping boxes straight into the truck. A week or two later, a follow-up call is typical, which is handy if a seasonal shift suggests a minor tweak to the strike or the sweep.
Energy, air sealing, and the real effect on bills
A common reason homeowners pursue a new door is energy savings. The truth is that a door’s impact on heating and cooling bills is modest compared to attic insulation or a leaky duct system. That said, Mikita has squeezed surprising comfort gains out of thoughtful door upgrades. Foam-filled slabs with tight weatherstripping, properly sealed sill pans, and continuous air barriers reduce drafts that make a room feel colder than the Long Island door contractors thermostat suggests.
Where Mikita adds value is ensuring the assembly performs as a system. An R-7 or R-9 entry door with a poorly sealed jamb still feels drafty. They spend time on the air seal, not just the door spec. And they align homeowner expectations. If your historic home has single-pane windows and uninsulated walls, a new door won’t cut bills in half, but it will improve comfort and security immediately, and it sets a standard for future upgrades.
Security and peace of mind
Security is more than a heavy slab. It’s hinges anchored into framing, a reinforced strike, and a multi-point lock if the slab height or exposure calls for it. Mikita’s crews routinely install 3-inch hinge and strike screws into the studs, which turns a flimsy jamb into a legitimate barrier. For glass in or near doors, laminated glass makes a difference. It resists shattering and slows forced entries. Smart locks are increasingly popular. Mikita handles the fit and finish, aligns the latch precisely so the motor isn’t straining, and ensures the deadbolt throws fully without you having to pull on the handle.
I’ve walked homeowners through post-installation tests: close the door gently and let it catch by itself. If it latches without resistance and the reveal stays even, you know the frame is right. Lock and unlock several times with the door open and closed. If it binds when closed, it means the slab is loading the latch due to misalignment or a slight twist in the frame. These micro-diagnostics are second nature to their teams, and they address them on the spot.
When replacement isn’t the answer
Not every door needs to come out. Sometimes the issue is a failed sweep, a sun-baked weatherstrip, or a seasonal swelling that a hinge adjustment can solve. Mikita Door & Window will service what can be serviced. I’ve seen them reset thresholds, replace worn rollers on sliders, and realign French doors that had sagged. They are transparent about costs versus benefits. When recurring water intrusion shows rotten subfloor or compromised framing, they won’t paper over it, which avoids bigger problems later.
What working with Mikita feels like
Companies can all promise the same things on a website. The difference shows in how they handle edge cases. A homeowner in Merrick had an entry door that faced the ocean winds. After two storm seasons, the door still sealed tight, but the bottom of the casing showed paint cracks. Mikita returned, swapped the lower exterior casing for cellular PVC, touched up the paint, and adjusted the sill at no charge. It wasn’t a grand gesture, just solid stewardship of their own work.
Another job in Huntington involved a 1920s Tudor with an arched masonry opening. Templates were critical. They templated twice, had the factory fabricate a custom jamb to match the arch, and dry-fit it before final finishing. The patience paid off. The door looks like it has always been there, and the homeowner didn’t have to compromise with a straight-top door and filler panels that would have cheapened the facade.
Budget, value, and timing
Door projects fall into a predictable range on Long Island, though the spread is wide. A basic steel replacement, installed, can run to the lower thousands. Fiberglass with decorative glass and matching sidelights pushes upward, especially with factory paint or stain. Historic wood doors, custom arches, or complex patio systems live at the high end. The point isn’t to chase the cheapest sticker, because the long-term cost often hides in callbacks, air leaks, or swelling that demands service.
Mikita tends to land in the honest middle: not bargain-basement, not gold-plated, but priced for professional labor, quality materials, and reliable aftercare. Lead times vary by season and manufacturer. Stock doors can be in and installed within a couple of weeks, while custom orders may take six to ten weeks, particularly around peak spring and early fall seasons. If your schedule is tight due to a move or renovation, tell them. They’ll level with you about what’s achievable.
How to prepare your home and get the most from the install
A little prep makes the day go smoothly and keeps the work clean. Clear the path from driveway to the door. Remove art or mirrors near the opening, since vibrations from cutting and prying can knock them loose. If you have pets, plan for containment during the open-door phases. Decide on hardware finish and style ahead of time so everything is on hand. If you’re painting nearby trim, coordinate colors in advance with the door finish, or request the door unfinished if you want to stain or paint on site.
Here is a short checklist that I share with homeowners before any door installation:
- Verify swing direction, handle placement, and threshold height against rugs or interior steps. Confirm lockset choice, keying needs, and any smart lock integrations. Discuss storm door compatibility and clearances, especially with deeper handles. Ask about sill pan, flashing method, and foam type, so you know how water and air will be managed. Plan for finish work, touch-up paint, or trim matching if your existing casing is being replaced.
Local roots and accountability
There’s a practical comfort in working with a company that has a storefront you can visit. Mikita Door & Window operates from Freeport, and their presence isn’t just a sign on a website. That matters when you need a part, want to match a finish, or prefer to see options in person. Many homeowners like to handle the actual slabs, feel hardware heaviness, and compare glass privacy levels with real light. It’s easier to choose well when you can touch the product.
When storms roll through, local firms are the ones answering the phone. After Sandy, homeowners learned which companies were reachable and which vanished. Longevity counts. Installers who plan to be here a decade from now tend to install like they’ll see you at the grocery store.
Where to find them and how to start
Contact Us
Mikita Door & Window - Long Island Door Installation
Address: 136 W Sunrise Hwy, Freeport, NY 11520, United States
Phone: (516) 867-4100
Website: https://mikitadoorandwindow.com/
A productive first step is a quick call to discuss the door type, exposure, and any quirks of your opening. Photos help. Measurements help more. From there, a site visit can confirm details and produce a clear estimate. If you’re juggling other renovations, loop Mikita in early. Door installation interacts with flooring, baseboards, and exterior siding, and the right sequence prevents rework.
Final thoughts from the field
Trust is earned over time by fixing small issues before they become big ones and by standing behind the job long after the truck pulls away. Mikita Door & Window has won that trust by treating door installation as a craft, not an afterthought. They’ll talk you out of the wrong door, steer you toward the right details, and install in a way that respects Long Island’s weather and housing stock.
If your front entry sticks on humid days, if your slider sounds like a gravel road, or if you’re tired of feeling a draft at your ankles every January, it’s probably time. A properly selected and installed door won’t just close a hole in a wall. It will change how a room feels, how your home sounds when it’s quiet at night, and how you experience coming and going every day. On Long Island, where homes are constantly negotiating with ocean air and seasonal extremes, that difference shows up in comfort and in years of trouble-free service. And that is why so many homeowners here have come to trust Mikita Door & Window for door installation.