Entry door repair/replacement

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  • Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,687
    Anyone do this kind of thing? The bottom of my door is rotting.

    Could probably find enough other issues to make a full day's job, or more.
     

    parttimer

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 10, 2013
    1,321
    Calvert
    Don’t waste your time (or money) calling the big window and door places. Go to the hardware stores and find a door you like and hire a contractor to install it. It will save you thousands of dollars.
    We wanted out front door replaced at our old house. There was no rot on the door or the floor. It was just a cheap looking builder grade bottom of the barrel door that was about 10 years old. I called Wheaton door company (or something like that). The estimator came out and we discussed a simple metal door with a small window at the top. No side panels nothing special and he quoted me $8,000. He said $8,000 and I told him to get out of my yard. An hour later I got a phone call saying they could do $7,000 ..... nope. Over the next week I got 5 more phone calls from them each one with a lower price each time I told them not to call me again. After the 5th call I told them if they called again I was going to press charges for telephone harassment and contact every agency I could find to report them. BTW the last price they offered was $4,800
    I found a local contractor that charged $500 to install and paint it. We ended up with a much nicer door that the one the big company quoted for less than $1,000 and $500 for the install.
    I know this doesn’t specifically answer what you asked. I just wanted to pass my experience along so one of the big companies doesn’t rip you off.
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,687
    Don’t waste your time (or money) calling the big window and door places. Go to the hardware stores and find a door you like and hire a contractor to install it. It will save you thousands of dollars.
    We wanted out front door replaced at our old house. There was no rot on the door or the floor. It was just a cheap looking builder grade bottom of the barrel door that was about 10 years old. I called Wheaton door company (or something like that). The estimator came out and we discussed a simple metal door with a small window at the top. No side panels nothing special and he quoted me $8,000. He said $8,000 and I told him to get out of my yard. An hour later I got a phone call saying they could do $7,000 ..... nope. Over the next week I got 5 more phone calls from them each one with a lower price each time I told them not to call me again. After the 5th call I told them if they called again I was going to press charges for telephone harassment and contact every agency I could find to report them. BTW the last price they offered was $4,800
    I found a local contractor that charged $500 to install and paint it. We ended up with a much nicer door that the one the big company quoted for less than $1,000 and $500 for the install.
    I know this doesn’t specifically answer what you asked. I just wanted to pass my experience along so one of the big companies doesn’t rip you off.

    Thank you; info is appreciated.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,729
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I did the same thing with a local fix it guy. We put in one of those plastic wood contraptions and it really looks nice. The guy was able to stain it the right color and it didn't cost and arm and a leg.
     

    toppkatt

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 22, 2017
    1,185
    We actually had our front door replaced by the people who did our roof (they did a great job on the roof). They eventually had to send 3 different people out to install. Not sure what the problem is but apparently the first 2 didn't know how a door works.
    I installed a new door in a room I was upgrading in the basement, actually it was a second door to the room which previously only had one door, and it went very smoothly. Not sure what the problems were on the front and cellar doors.
     

    silver78

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 18, 2009
    2,311
    I had a friend go through this door replacement process. What parttimer said above is spot on. He got several quotes. The big companies come out and quote super high prices and then lower it as time passes. Some of them will even give you the "must sign today to get this price" line of crap. Completely untrue. They will also call back with lower prices.

    I consider their sales tactics to be completely unethical.
     

    Dalebert

    Active Member
    Apr 15, 2020
    105
    Baltimore County
    me too

    Where are you Bob?

    Could ask user jaybeez. Depending on location he may be able to knock it out..

    Also looking for a front door and it looks like jaybeez is in Darlington? I'm in Perry Hall, any positive reviews for anyone in my area? I put a front door on my last house and I want this one to turn out better than I'm apparently capable of :)
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    OP, I don’t know you, I don’t know anyone that’s posted thus far, I don’t know maybe Jaybeez, heck, I am 450+ and 8hr drive away from you but, based on a lot of fortunate and unfortunate experiences with exterior door repair and repairs and replacements, my advice is to,

    CALL JAYBEEZ!

    I posted a lonnnnng reply to another member here needing someone dependable and competent to replace a storm door for him and I’ll try to locate it but, SINCE JUST LAST WEEK when I posted that another “development” unfolded down here, “on the lake.”

    Turns out there is some pathetic pos who “resettled” down here in our neck o’ the woods operating under the guise of “Howard & Sons” who relocated down here from NY (people whose homes he has already damaged and who are tracking down his last think Long Island?)

    What he does is “haunt” the “pro desk” checkout area inside and outside of the local Lowe’s Home Depot’s Ace hardwares, you name it he parks his truck right outside the entrance ... and he literally seeks out home owners with “that look” in their eyes. Elderly? All the better. Single mom with apparently no one to assist with diy projects? Bring it! From what I’ve learned, I guess a real “score” for this pos is an elderly widower with lots of savings

    He singlehandedly is leaving ... a ... path ... of ... DESTRUCTION ... in his wake!

    My point is, just like the “big, national” companies are a ripoff, you can’t be too careful hiring just anyone with a tool belt on, a pencil behind their ear and sawdust in their eyebrows!

    ALWAYS GO WORD OF MOUTH RECOMMENDATIONS!

    Just one more reason MDS rocks!
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,687
    I sent Jaybeez a PM. He hasn't posted since July, so I don't know if it will reach him. If anyone can PM me his phone number, I'd be glad to give him a call.
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,687
    Sadly, Jaybeez is unable to assist - he's far too far away.

    Anyone have a MoCo guy who you'd recommend for the job?
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,687
    Still hoping for a contractor to evaluate whether the door can be repaired. It's ugly trying to find specific info online - a whole lot of vague, no real pricing info, and big companies wanting my contact info. No thanks; just an honest repair person who can look at it and offer options.

    Surely there's someone in this neck of the woods?
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    Ask ... a ... top-performing ... local ... realtor.

    I promise ya, THEY KNOW the local craftsmen.

    Whatever you do, DON’T “rely” solely on any of the “Pro Desks” at the big box chains; last year a single mom relative of ours - up there in So MD - had an exterior entrance door installed by “the pros” referred to her from the home supply big box where she ordered the door and the work was so shoddy my next trip up there I took photos to the store and asked to speak with the mgr. Wound up dealing with an asst mgr who was so embarrassed by the photo documentation we had they wound up refunding her the price of the door. A retired builder relative of hers drove several hours from Western MD to pull and rehang the door for her.

    I know it’s aggravating but You’re smart and you’re doing the Right thing not making a hasty hire ...
     

    markgrutz

    Active Member
    Feb 1, 2011
    764
    Ellicott City, MD
    Bob, I can't help you on the contractor front, but as far as looking at repair vs replacement, there is a guy on YT that has a good primer on door construction. I learned a lot. Especially when it comes to materials used in the manufacture. It might be helpful to watch it and go into the conversation with a good education on what you want. I get the vibe from that video, that getting a pre hung door and replacing the entire thing is much easier than replacing just the door slab.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TokaBOiBLSk&t&ab_channel=MattRisinger
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,687
    Bob, I can't help you on the contractor front, but as far as looking at repair vs replacement, there is a guy on YT that has a good primer on door construction. I learned a lot. Especially when it comes to materials used in the manufacture. It might be helpful to watch it and go into the conversation with a good education on what you want. I get the vibe from that video, that getting a pre hung door and replacing the entire thing is much easier than replacing just the door slab.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TokaBOiBLSk&t&ab_channel=MattRisinger

    Thanks, Mark. I'm currently in communication with a poster here about getting the job done.

    If it doesn't work out, I'll be back begging for help again!
     

    PapiBarcelona

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 1, 2011
    7,343
    Just find a word of mouth guy who will do it on the weekend real quick if you don't want to install 1 door yourself.
     

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