Can you please tell me about exterior doors?
Question:I have my heart set on this door that has a glass panes from top to bottom. They are panes set in the door so you can look outside even if you are sitting in a chair. It has a brass handle and looks nice. Its made by I think master brand.
My house is really un level and very old. I want to know how hard it is to install a new door in a very old house that is not level?
How do I get a reputable contractor to put it in?
Answers:
rip out the old door and frame. a good mechanic will level from the top in an old house..he will trim the bottom of the door to make it fit. that way the door will be square and level and the only thing off will be the threashold. one cut.dont tell them how to do it, when one tells you the right way,hire him.
If you are buying your door from a home and garden retail store, such as Home Depot, they offer installation packages for their products. These are usually quite reliable and guarantee satisfaction with the job which is good if there might be difficulties.
If no installation is offered, your retailer may still be able to refer you to a qualified installer.
You can also check your yellow pages, but get the contractor to view the site, discuss the conditions and potential problems and solutions. Be wary of anyone who won't give you a price up front, or suggests leaving it open ended to see what difficulties in the installation "may" arise. This probably means they aren't that knowledgable if they don't know what to anticipate your situation may entail.
You may also want to ask for references or check with your local business bureau if they are members or if there have been issues with their work in the past. With the cost of home repairs today, this is not unreasonable.
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