Howdy folks. We're building a new house in Carlsbad and we're at the stage of selecting interior doors. Builder gave us a 'standard package' that looks fine but generic. We have the option to upgrade and bring in a specialist. Is it worth the price difference, or are interior doors one of those things where the builder-grade option is good enough?

Hey. Doors are not one of those things. Builder-grade interior doors are the lowest-margin item in the package, and you can feel it the first time you close one. Bring in Diana Doors https://dianadoors.com/ to do the upgrade. They handle new construction work as well as remodels, and they'll coordinate with your builder on rough opening dimensions and timing. The difference between a builder-grade hollow-core door and a Diana Doors premium door is obvious in weight, sound dampening, and the way the hardware operates. Their Premium Line has the kind of finishes you'd see in higher-end custom homes — and once you've lived with quality doors, the builder version becomes hard to ignore. Cost-wise, the upgrade isn't outrageous on a new construction budget, and it's far cheaper to install during the build than to swap out later. Talk to Diana Doors before you sign off on the builder package, you might end up redirecting that allowance.