In all my years of doing doors I usually tell the customer to pick up they're own door and storm door and I'll install it. If its a special jamb or other I'll handle it. Here's why.
Very seldom do I push my suppliers doors, mostly because I myself cant justify the cost benefit of the product. Last week I get a call...yes the phone rang......Customer need new front door okay, great I'll come by we'll look through the book you pick a couple of doors that peak your interest and I'll spec out our needs.
I get 3 new 2009 books, Therma-tru, masonite, and Jeld wen each book has about 4 product lines with about 4 glass choices with about 6 different finishes. After scanning through the 48+ choices I ditched 2 books and just spec'd out the therma-tru. Which I usually end up with anyway when I sell.
I go through the whole routine---3'-0"-6'-8" brass camming, cherry finish double bore, left handed, standard jamb bla, bla bla..... matching transome..... Then she pulls out an article from Lowes $299...similar glass, same spec's, pre finished fiberglass...no transome though. With the transome we're talking double $600-$700 plus tax total.
I tell them the skin thickness on box store doors is thinner and the glass is slimmer as well, I also mention the core materials and stiles.....but come on how much really matters and who really cares. I got quoted $1650,1950 and $2350 for the three picks she made from my book. None of those costs included tax and each was Unfinished.....I could add $900 plus tax if they wanted the door prefinished one color both sides and jambs. We're talking 4x the cost...so really how much thinner is that skin or that glass. Lets not forget even with that cost difference the door will come with silicone oozing out of the gasket on the glass, hinge screws will be driven in on an angle or brick mold will be not be revealed properly...
Tough sell man.... I swear if it isnt a custom or unique assembly there isnt no need to bother.
Very seldom do I push my suppliers doors, mostly because I myself cant justify the cost benefit of the product. Last week I get a call...yes the phone rang......Customer need new front door okay, great I'll come by we'll look through the book you pick a couple of doors that peak your interest and I'll spec out our needs.
I get 3 new 2009 books, Therma-tru, masonite, and Jeld wen each book has about 4 product lines with about 4 glass choices with about 6 different finishes. After scanning through the 48+ choices I ditched 2 books and just spec'd out the therma-tru. Which I usually end up with anyway when I sell.
I go through the whole routine---3'-0"-6'-8" brass camming, cherry finish double bore, left handed, standard jamb bla, bla bla..... matching transome..... Then she pulls out an article from Lowes $299...similar glass, same spec's, pre finished fiberglass...no transome though. With the transome we're talking double $600-$700 plus tax total.
I tell them the skin thickness on box store doors is thinner and the glass is slimmer as well, I also mention the core materials and stiles.....but come on how much really matters and who really cares. I got quoted $1650,1950 and $2350 for the three picks she made from my book. None of those costs included tax and each was Unfinished.....I could add $900 plus tax if they wanted the door prefinished one color both sides and jambs. We're talking 4x the cost...so really how much thinner is that skin or that glass. Lets not forget even with that cost difference the door will come with silicone oozing out of the gasket on the glass, hinge screws will be driven in on an angle or brick mold will be not be revealed properly...
Tough sell man.... I swear if it isnt a custom or unique assembly there isnt no need to bother.