Lowes

[carpetman]

Was a recent thread someplace about Lowes. I thought--glad our Lowes is pretty good,I've had no problems. I bought two storm doors. Paid pretty good money for them. Outside of box it says read instuctions first. Open box--no instructions. Open second box--no instructions. Back to Lowes. Guy acts like instructions not needed--just hang it up. He gets the instuctions faxed in---6 pages of critical info that a person that has never installed this door would have no way of knowing. Even with the 6 pages of instructions,lots of critical stuff not included that requires lots of head scratching to figure out. One very critical item required another trip to Lowes to measure their display model. First step was to install a cover on the hinge side of door as door designed to be installed hinge to either side. Mentioned cover missing in both boxes. The sweep has a weather strip on bottom that was missing both boxes. Trip back to Lowes. They said if they didnt have it in hardware that would work,would order it and take couple weeks. I said that aint gonna happen. I got the strip off two of their displays and they can wait the two weeks on theirs. Door requires a 3/4 hole be drilled in metal. I could have done this on my drill press,but with door hung cant do it and my 3/4" bit doesn't fit my 3/8" drill. I'll probably complete one door today and do think I'll like the door,but it's been an exercise in frustration. I do think my do it yourself talents are above average and I doubt the average homeowner could do a satisfactory job of installing this door. For $111 I could have had it installed and it might have been worth paying that.

[C1PNR]

As part of the remodel of our Boise home I've had new front and rear doors installed.

I want a "security" type screen door on the back entrance for several reasons. I've been looking at the "big box" stores and think I've found what I want.

BUT, I think I want that door installed by a "Carpenter" who knows what the heck he is doing. I'm not that accomplished at carpentry and am willing to both admit it, and pay for the "professional" to do the work.

Carpentry and auto mechanics are two of the MANY things I do not do well. I will admit, though, that I'm pretty good at surfing both the "Cast Boolit" sites on the Internet!

[carpetman]

I finished the front door installation today. There was a small gap on the sides at the top that was not installer error. I temporarily duct taped em and will most likely come up with a legit fix. I did put a couple of scratches with my drill that I will touch up. These were installer errors and would be difficult to prevent. Probably start on the back door tomorrow--who knows might even complete it. Doubt I get a very early start on it---a guy just doesn't rush into these things.

[C1PNR]

Amen Bro! Rushing into things is what got me where I am today! I really do need to learn to SLOW Down!

[45nut]

Ahh,,storm doors
I have sold dozens and even installed a couple. Trust me when I tell ya cheap is gonna cost a lot more than a quality door . We sell http://www.larsondoors.com/ and They are not the cheesy fifty dollar Home Cheepo garbage,but the quality doors last long after the cheap doors fail. I especially like the "CALL US FIRST" verbage on their boxes,rather than the "see your dealer" on others.

Quite simply,we have limited space and the parts we can carry is limited.
But we know that and refuse to sell the garbage that requires the need to stock umpteen hundreds of parts.

Patience is the first tool required in installing these doors. Larson states everything else very blatantly on their
packaging,drills,screwdrivers,level,ect.
Kinda like the Fram commercial of the old days,"you can pay me now,or ....

[C1PNR]

Kinda like the Fram commercial of the old days,"you can pay me now,or ....

Yeah, I don't mind paying a good price for work or product, BUT, I only want to pay ONCE!!

[Magnum Mike]

When i decided to replace the back door on my house last summer i also replaced the el cheapo pos storm door that was about 10 years past its prime. I decided on a storm that was made of vinyl covered wood that was a stock item at the local Lowe's. This door was similar to carpetman's in that it was universal and had to be completely user assembled. The directions were included in the box and were easy to understand and follow. Installation (including complete assembly) took about an hour. I couldnt be happier with the final product. This door not only looks better on the house but also offers some insulation, unlike the previous pos aluminum door, against the elements when the real door is open and also has screen in place as well as the storm windows year round, no "stored" windows or screens. I am no eggspurt do-it-yourself'r but found this to be a simple task as compared to installing the door on this old house.

[carpetman]

45Nutt--Ken the doors I bought are Larsons. The Tradewinds models. The front is full view and the rear is a midview---wanted the midview in back as there is more danger of a flying rock from my weed-eater. I do agree they seem high quality. Neither box had been opened,but both boxes were missing the mortise cover (both sides have the mortise since which side is hinged is optional). Both were missing the instructions----unless I had installed one of these before,no way would I have known several key things. To me the instructions did leave something to be desired. Both were missing the weather stripping on the bottom. As I said in another post there were two small gaps at the top that were not installer error. Maybe I got one that was built on Friday?

[carpetman]

Ken--are you familar with Pella doors? If so how do they compare to Larsons?

[StarMetal]

Ray,

I've seen some of the Pella products and thought they were pretty well made. On the old house we moved from in Ohio I had put new storm doors on and I too got them from Lowes and they too were Larsons. Mine came with everything but this kind of work I did for a living when I had just got out of the Navy so not too diffucult. I agree with you that if you take someone that's not too mechanically inclinded installing one of these doors would be a challenge. I also think you had to be pretty aggravated about the missing intructions and parts. There is no call for that, each package should be checked at the factory before it is sealed. Those storm doors make a big difference in a winter state, how's your winters where you live?

Joe

[longhorn]

The wife and I spent almost forever window shopping windows. Can't speak to the storm doors, but the Pella wooden windows and doors are way ahead of their competition in features-enclosed (dust free) miniblinds, hidden screens, etc. Very pricy, (I've owned usable automobiles that cost less than one of these windows!) but the workmanship and functionality are first class-kinda like a Steve Brooks mold. Now if I could just afford more than 1 window at a time.....If you want to look at the Pellas (for Carpetman, of course) I suggest the Austin store-they've made me a much better deal on my one-room-at-a-time purchases than the Ft Worth, Dallas, or OKC stores offered.

[Buckshot]

...............Doors are easy! Like when I built the storage shed out in the back yard (the one I fell off the roof of, twice!). I framed and sheeted 3 walls leaving a space in the front wall studs for the door. Framed the inside of the door leaving about 1/4" between doorframe and the studs on either side, plus top and bottom..

When I was ready I drilled a hole in the upper right corner to start the SawZall blade and then just cut the door out. Cake. Now if I was to come to your house and do it, the 1/2" roughout siding on the outside might clash with whatever you have there now. But, you could always re-do the house all in roughout siding and no one would be the wiser.

..............Buckshot

[nighthunter]

This is for Magnum Mike
It is all your fault that Carpetman didn't get no instructions with his doors. You should have returned the ones that was in your box when you got dun with them. Then Lowes coulda lent them to Carpetman till he was dun. C'mon guys .... REAL MEN DON'T NEED NO INSTRUCTIONS OR MAPS.

[Magnum Mike]

This is for Magnum Mike...
... REAL MEN DON'T NEED NO INSTRUCTIONS OR MAPS.

Notice my install was painless?? I READ instructions, LOL!

[carpetman]

Nighthunter---You are correct that it was Magnum Mikes fault that I didnt get instructions with my door. I'll talk it over with Wills and see what damages we can come up with. For sure failure to recycle and probably not rendering aid.

[carpetman]

I think now that I have storm doors up,I'll go for storm windows next. Here our air conditioning season is longer than the winter season,but you need good insulation for air conditioning as well. I did look at them and think I'll go with Larsons.

[Magnum Mike]

Dont look at me, my house had storm windows before i bought it!