TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:48 pm

Is it just me or are these big $$ Storm Doors mostly crap today?

I've had a rash of jobs putting them in and I've got to say, some brands I'll never recommend.
#1 over priced and over reputation brand?
ANDERSON
It surprised me but everyone I do is short parts in the box, or some other headache.
Most notable? On the full glass the storm panel/screen panel is held in with some plastic snap in extrusion designed by Satan himself!
The storm panel? Not so bad, the screen? Almost impossible.

Where the aluminum side extrusions meet the threshold?
Daylight streams in where the side aluminum extrusion protrudes proud of the threshold.
The sweep is too short to even make it fully across the door bottom!

I advise NO ONE to buy this Anderson crap.

There are several generic no names out there which are better than Anderson, but they have their aggravations with light leakage at the bottom and minimal sweep seal.

My favorite of the lot?
Larson
They have a better thought out product. Still not perfect but they have side rail extensions that seal the lower extrusion light leakage.

On my house?
Good old fashioned wooden screen door with classic squeaky spring loaded hinges!
Love it!

Storm panel?
Eh! What's the point? Thats why you take the time to properly install the exterior entry door.
Plus why hide a nice door behind a crappy storm door?
Build a porch roof if you need door protection.

Dave

Thu Jun 09, 2022 3:25 pm

Funny, I just installed an Andersen 4000 store door on my rear entrance and while expensive, its a great door. So much so I plan on replacing the front with the same.

Not a scratch, all hardware and I love how easy it is to replace the low E glass with a screen.

Thu Jun 09, 2022 3:57 pm

djkeev wrote: ......Most notable? On the full glass the storm panel/screen panel is held in with some plastic snap in extrusion designed by Satan himself!..........

Oh good, it's not just me!, even more frustrating in 15 years when it's crushed beyond use and nobody sells the exact same profile anymore. :twisted:

Fri Jun 10, 2022 4:00 am

I don't recall installing an Andersen door, but I have installed a few others and on all of them, the bottom of the frame needed to be trimmed to fit. It even says so in the instruction sheet no one reads.

Fri Jun 10, 2022 6:27 am

Handy info, as I need to replace our rear storm door.

I have an Anderson I put on the front a few years ago. It went in easy and is a decent door, but the handle has to be tightened every once in a while.

Fri Jun 10, 2022 7:19 am

scottyrocks wrote: Handy info, as I need to replace our rear storm door.

I have an Anderson I put on the front a few years ago. It went in easy and is a decent door, but the handle has to be tightened every once in a while.

A little dab of lock-tite on the handle screw will do the trick.

Fri Jun 10, 2022 7:31 am

djkeev wrote:
It surprised me but everyone I do is short parts in the box….

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Fri Jun 10, 2022 8:26 am

Story time about storm doors:
When I worked in a factory that covered seven acres of ground, the various supervisors wanted an office to sit down and do all the paperwork that was required each day. I was tasked to build several 'portable offices' that could be moved by fork lift to any location throughout the plant as needed. I used Larson storm doors for all of them because they were cheap, included ventilation, with a large window for avoiding opening into people walking by. The night shift started using them for breaks and concerns developed about those same night shift miscreants going through the files! Install locks on the doors, I was told. I went down to the hardware store and bought a dozen lock sets for the doors. Everyone was happy. The secrets were contained, and balance was restored in the universe. I retired and never told anyone that they were all keyed alike.

Fri Jun 10, 2022 8:45 am

What about the quality of the Larson doors, themselves, especially as compared to the competition?

Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:13 am

Home made wooden doors with a coil spring

Try to keep the kids from letting them slam.

Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:38 am

scottyrocks wrote: What about the quality of the Larson doors, themselves, especially as compared to the competition?

I can't speak for the competition, but I do know that the Larsons have the hinges stamped with the hinge as a part of the mounting flange. Aluminum. After a few hundred opening and closings they wear and the door sags until it won't close. There is a kit for the replacement of the hinge and flange, but around here it is not stocked and about half the cost of a complete door. When I replaced a door, there was a woman that wanted the window/screen insert for a potting shed she had.