Sticker Shock - ProVia Entry Door

[MomToOne]

So today, our supplier breaks down the cost of the new door.

$5,650.00 for the door
$ 350.00 for labor

Somehow, that just doesn't seem right. The guy said it would take 5 to 6 hours with the storm door for installation. That's way low for labor (at least I would think they'd charge more).

If I remember right, my last contractor charged me $75/hour for one guy. They would have given me what would have amounted to a lower hourly rate if they could have blocked it out at either a half day or a full day, but the job was only going to take a couple of hours so we went with that. So your labor cost really isn't that far out of line, if they are planning only a single guy for the install. Installing a prehung door is pretty straight forward, IF they know what they are doing, the door fits into the existing space and your house doesn't have any buried problems.

 

[bettymae1121]

So today, our supplier breaks down the cost of the new door.

$5,650.00 for the door
$ 350.00 for labor

Somehow, that just doesn't seem right. The guy said it would take 5 to 6 hours with the storm door for installation. That's way low for labor (at least I would think they'd charge more).

So...of course, they can't do any better on the price. Well, we threw it back in their court one more time. We'll see.

Well, why not ask them if you order the door on your own, if they'll still do the install for around $350? If you can find a better price on a door/sidelets on your own (through a big-box store or through a door company directly) then you get the best of both worlds, an affordable door with profesional installation.

We installed a new front door for less than $350, but we had no sidelets and installed it and painted it ourselves. But DH is very handy that way, DIY home improvement projects aren't for everyone!

 

[The 4 "Quay"balleros]

Hi MomToOne -

Thanks for your thoughts. We did a bunch of research and we know we want a fiberglass door, factory painted. Our house is newer so it is pretty standard. I was really hoping we'd just be able to replace the door, (Why replace the whole frame and sidelites?) but apparently, I know nothing about building homes or replacement doors.

Anyway, we have a north-facing house and our door will be under a porch. We should have no issues with weather.

We have researched several vendors, and this supplier is one who has done work for others in our family. Everyone has been pleased with their quality and work ethic. Again, we are comfortable with the door, it's quality and the vendor, and we knew it would be more than we were quoted by Lowes. We just weren't expecting it to be double.

Thanks

If you just want to replace the door, look for the stamp of the manufacturer. It's on the glass very small close to the edge. Look it up online and you may be able to find something that you can put right on the hinges(depending on how old, etc,)

 

[MrsPete]

We've been looking for a new entry door (and side-lites).

I've heard that side-lites add a great deal to the cost. Personally, I wouldn't mind sacraficing them; but I suspect that you're trying to fill an existing space, so you probably don't have a choice.

Trust me - the ORANGE folks will lie to you - delay your order - and never answer the phone to get the problem fixed.

They screwed me over with my new countertops too. That was a good five years ago, and I haven't set foot in their store since -- and they've had LOTS of bad publicity from me.

Thanks for your thoughts. We did a bunch of research and we know we want a fiberglass door, factory painted.

This isn't a topic I know. Why is a fiberglass door /factory paint a good thing? The prices sound awfully high. Does a fiberglass door have metal (steel) on the outside and insulation on the inside?

Personally, I love my door: Wood with leaded glass. But I only love it because it's so pretty. I don't know whether it's energy efficient or anything else. I do suspect it's not the most secure door out there, but I love that the light comes through it. It does show some age, but it's -- how old? -- I think it's 16-18 years old.

 

[SettinSail]

We paid $5,000 about 3 years ago to install a very top of the line door with leaded glass, side lights and transom. Very similar to this:

http://www.doorsbydecora.net/templates/System/details.asp?id=41910&PID=564873

We hired a contractor that came highly recommended in our town. He gave us a catalog to select from and ordered the door himself for us. He did not want us to get the door from any other source and he would never give us an hourly rate for his labor. Red flags I know. We always had the feeling we were getting ripped off but we were too busy at the time to research further options and just paid him to get it done. We paid for the door in advance but did not pay him until he finished installing.

I'll never forget the day he finally finished and left the house. It was a multi- day job but I don't remember exactly how many days it took. I never liked him being in our house and DH told him to please just work and not talk to me. I'm usually never that way with anyone but he was always making comments about us being "rich" and saying bad things about the company I worked for and other uncomfortable comments like that.
More red flags!

So on the day he finally left, it looked beautiful and we loved it and thought it was well worth it. We went out to dinner that night and came home and one of the sidelights had fallen out! It had a tiny crack in it and of course we demanded a new one be installed. He had to order another sidelight and we always felt like it never matched the other one exactly althought most people would probably not notice. Ironically, we ended up selling the house when DH got transferred about a year later. After a year with no problems with the door, it leaked twice during heavy rains (under the bottom) during the Summer we had the house on the market.

It was a gorgeous door though and we thought it helped sell the house. My next door neighbor used this same contractor to reno her kitched and LOVED
him I think he still enjoys an excellent reputation in that town too.

Sorry for the long story and good luck with your new door! If it ends up looking great and you love it, it will be worth it

 

[yeahdisney]

We got our front door and 2 side lights from a lumbar yard they were $5000 all have lead windows in them; the same door was I think $3000 from lowes but different insulation quality. And this is a north west door. Our contractor said the first door would be better quality and we really couldn't compare it to the lowes door.
We have never had problems with the door, installed prob 2.5 years ago. And also had a storm door installed in front of the door.

 

[Anthony1971]

To go back to what Lowes offered. Therma Tru providing it is a custom one not a stock one is owned and made by JELD-WEN and will have JELD-WEN hinges etc and is an absolute bargain.. Price on out that has a Jed-wen box around it. The prices are high due to the Side lites they are very expensive as it is just not a stock door as there are not many houses that have them... If you do buy any door from Lowes or HD it should be custom as their stock doors are not very good for a hundred or so more you get a much better door of course it could be thousands more as well but they have very reasonable options... I have a Thermu Tru and says JELD-WEN and it is a very well made door in every respect. I also have an off the shelf Pella door from Lowes that is absolute garbage.... Both were not cheap the Thermu Tru was more expensive but not by a lot... with the Jed-wen name it would have been more than twice.... Both Lowes and HD do carry custom doors by many Makers just ask.

 

[undertheradar]

Wow, November 2011 bumped to today!

 

[Shughart]

How did this even happen lol.