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Replacing Exterior Front Door - Scam vs Reality Trevor Retsnef 10-09-2007
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Posted by Trevor Retsnef on October 9, 2007, 8:20 pm
I have an exterior front door that needs replacing.

The former owner put a kick plate on a steel door. That means rust.

I need to replace the door, but frankly I do not want to, nor do I feel it
is necessary to shell out about 2.5K to replace a door and two sidelights.

It seems to me that an 80x36 door is an 80x36 door, and I should be able to
go get one.

Is it a scam that the local hardware stores and local contracters are trying
to tell me that i need to replace the entire unit?

Seems like a steel door is about $140, but perhaps there is not enough
margin on that to make it worth while, so they push replacing the entire
unit.

Can someone shed some light on this?

NOTE: House is 21yrs old.

If I do need to replace the entire unit, why isn't a door a door?

Thanks,

Bob



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Posted by Doug Miller on October 9, 2007, 8:29 pm
>I have an exterior front door that needs replacing.
>
>The former owner put a kick plate on a steel door. That means rust.
>
>I need to replace the door, but frankly I do not want to, nor do I feel it
>is necessary to shell out about 2.5K to replace a door and two sidelights.
>
>It seems to me that an 80x36 door is an 80x36 door, and I should be able to
>go get one.
>
>Is it a scam that the local hardware stores and local contracters are trying
>to tell me that i need to replace the entire unit?

Maybe, maybe not -- but consider that doors are sold by *nominal*, not actual,
sizes, and one manufacturer's 80x36 door may not be exactly the same size as
another's. This isn't an issue with wood doors, because they can be easily
trimmed to fit. Metal doors, on the other hand, need to be pretty much an
exact fit.


--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Posted by DanG on October 9, 2007, 8:48 pm
A door is a door is a door.

Is it a residential metal metal door?
What brand?
Are the hinges set in wood or steel?
What size butt hinges are they? Do they use #10 or #12 screws or
are they wood screws?
What height are the strike(s) for latch and deadbolt?
Is yours a 1 3/8 door or an 1 3/4 door?
Are you planning to reuse your hardware?
Were you going to drill your own holes?
Are there borrowed lite(s) in the door?

Unless you have something quite strange and elaborate I doubt
anyone quoted $2500. Be aware some doors cost well over $1000
without hardware. Make sure you are comparing apples and apples.
I had some pewter faced, walnut trimmed doors that were over $3000
back in the late 70's.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net



>I have an exterior front door that needs replacing.
>
> The former owner put a kick plate on a steel door. That means
> rust.
>
> I need to replace the door, but frankly I do not want to, nor do
> I feel it is necessary to shell out about 2.5K to replace a door
> and two sidelights.
>
> It seems to me that an 80x36 door is an 80x36 door, and I should
> be able to go get one.
>
> Is it a scam that the local hardware stores and local
> contracters are trying to tell me that i need to replace the
> entire unit?
>
> Seems like a steel door is about $140, but perhaps there is not
> enough margin on that to make it worth while, so they push
> replacing the entire unit.
>
> Can someone shed some light on this?
>
> NOTE: House is 21yrs old.
>
> If I do need to replace the entire unit, why isn't a door a
> door?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>



Posted by AZ Nomad on October 9, 2007, 9:29 pm


>A door is a door is a door.

except when it is ajar.

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on October 9, 2007, 9:38 pm

> Is it a scam that the local hardware stores and local contracters are
> trying to tell me that i need to replace the entire unit?
>
> Seems like a steel door is about $140, but perhaps there is not enough
> margin on that to make it worth while, so they push replacing the entire
> unit.

> If I do need to replace the entire unit, why isn't a door a door?

Manufacturers can place hinges differently so one brand may or may not be an
exact fit. If you can find the same brand you have a better shot at just
replacing the door. You also have to find a dealer willing to special order
just the door. In this day of pre-hung units, that is generally the easy
way to do an upgrade.



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