Entry Doors: The Importance of Hiring the Right Contractor
No matter what your renovation project is, finding the right contractor for the job is critical. When the project is your front door—the first thing visitors notice about your home—the need is even greater.
Finding the right contractor may seem like a snap. What’s the big deal? You open the Yellow Pages under “home renovations”. You ask around. No big deal. Dissatisfaction with home renovations contractors ranks among the highest of consumer dissatisfactions. Think about it. You are often not present when the work is being done. You are at the mercy of the contractor regarding costs of material and labor. If the job isn’t done the way you expected, what recourse do you have?
If you do your homework (Pun intended!) you will be a lot more likely to be delighted with that new, renovated entry door project. First, do a background check. I don’t care if your Aunt Mary used this guy to build her front porch. Check to see if there are any lawsuits against this contractor. See if there are any filings against him/her in small claims court. Check for liens. Do a credit rating check. Ask area suppliers about this contractor. The time and money you spend doing this will pay off.
Get things in writing regarding payment plan, estimate, beginning and completion date, specifics of the job he/she will complete, number of hours this entry door job will require. Have the contractor draw up a contract outlining the above information. Make sure it is signed by you both and each of you has a copy.
When it comes to renovations on an entry door, many contractors see this as a replacement, not a renovation job. Make sure you know what you are getting into. Doors can be renovated—sanded, repainted—for a few hundred dollars. There may need to be new hinges and sills. These will cost extra. Sometimes it is cheaper to replace than repair, depending on the extent of the repairs. New doors can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Installation costs can vary widely too.
There is nothing simple about an entry door. Tasks may involve replacing weather stripping, adjusting the way the door hangs, or the fact that it fits too tight or squeaks when opened. Maybe the wood is rotten or decayed and it is necessary to create a new door jam or replace the entire unit. Make sure you know the extent of the renovation, costs and time involved. Perhaps one of the problems involves repair or replacement of the locking mechanism. Now you may be looking at added costs of a locksmith.
Whatever the project, be sure you have on paper a clear outline of what your contractor is going to do, how much time is required, how and when he expects payments and what the entire project will cost. That way both you and the contractor avoid nasty surprises when that renovated front door project is complete!
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