Hello all –
I have an inside unit town house – meaning the storm door on the front of the house is a significant part of the natural light to the house. We leave the main door open year round to let the light in (and occasionally the breeze). The current door is pretty torn up, doesn’t open properly and leaks like a sieve.
Our HOA only allows white/cream doors – so no wood.
As far as I can tell, the Anderson 3000 at HD is just as good as anything else. Is there anything better? Not that money is no object – but this is a main focal point of our house and with two kids and a dog needs to hold up over time.
I checked out some older posts – but just got that Emco is owned by Anderson and is a lower line. Lawson (at Lowes) is ok – but no real consensus.
Thanks!
Replies
Is the 3000 the one with windows that operate? I put in several, and only had one problem. It was replaced on warranty. Lowes also sells Pella.
I got a new 2" side door for my home last year & it has the hidden screen on it
Its like a venetian blind sort of , and sure saves the screen ( i have a 120 # dog & a 20 # cat )
Larson has one that will cover your deductable in case of a break in. It is (almost) burglur proof. I have put a lot in and they are good doors but the glass will not open. All we have is a Lowes and a McCoys which both sell Pella and Larson so my knowledge is only those two. (besides the cheapies)
I like Larson only slightly better because they are a little less. Otherwise they are the same IMO. I have two Pella's BTW because I thought they would be better but my neighbors 2 larsons are just as old and they are great too.
Doesnt help much probably.
Due to the recent state of the economy, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off
The Anderson Emco 4000 Series is by far the finest out there.
You can get it with thermo glass and the retaining system for the
glasss and screen is just plain wonderful engineering. The
hardware pkg is top shelf also. Approx $350 at HD full view door.
Larson has three different lines of increasing quality.
I doubt you'll see their best stuff at HD
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Allright - So I think the takeaway is to check out the Emco 4000 at HD. (I thought Emco was the lower line - though I heard the and...I already have a couple calls into local door/window places. I figured I would give them a chance to tell me why I should buy from them. It was unclear to me if they have access to any lines that HD/Lowes don't carry. Any suggestions in particular?As for installation - I am aware that this can make or break the whole thing. Generally speaking I prefer to do things myself because I care way more than the people I can find to do it. However, I have installed storm doors before and I really, really hate doing it."One experiment is worth a thousand expert opinions"
Is the Anderson your looking at the one with full glass you takeout to install the screen?
Installation on the 1st one i did was 1 1/2 hours. After a few it took about 45 minutes.
I put 2 of those on my house this year. I thought it was me that was making it take so long!>G<
Another vote for the 4000series of Anderson.
Emco at one time had the rep of being a lower quality door. I don't really know if it was deserved. I know that the top of the line is as good a door as I can find. Expect to pay dearly if you need a custom size, but on the other hand, at least they will make them!!!
Mine were 89" tall, over $500! More than the 2 doors they were covering.
Yes - full glass. The one I have now slides glass/screen - but we don't really use the screen very often. I would rather it be less parts, more efficient, cleaner look of the one-piece glass."One experiment is worth a thousand expert opinions"
Y;ou can remove that glass and put a screen in. Screen is supplied with door. Most people in Florida throw the screen away, or I hauled it off.
By the way the expression is "One TEST is worth one thousand expert
opinions". At least where I come from.........
"It was unclear to me if they have access to any lines that HD/Lowes don't carry. Any suggestions in particular?"In general, the way the big box marketing/distribution thing works is that the national corporation works to beat up the manufacturer to keep prices down. Theory is that large volumn begets discounts tot he big box.So some makers respond by providing a cheaper line to that box store, and some say sure we'll give a discount if you buy X thousand of this model every month or whatever.The box is by a large volumn of only one line of the makers product and does not carry all that is available. big boxes are famous for screwing up special orders so don't even think about that.By contrast, I can go to my local yard, and select one of the best Larson makes from the catalouge, and it will be delivered to my job within a week or so. Go to the other yard and get that 4000 Andersen and wait maybe three weeks.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Of course - the reason big boxes are in business is that yesterday morning (a Saturday), I called some local places. Most are only open for a few hours sat morning - and none answered their phones. None had decent web-pages that told me what they had.I am no fan of HD - but for those of us who work 10 hours a day during the week....I'm just saying."One experiment is worth a thousand expert opinions"
HD where I am stocks the Emco Anderson 4000 series, although not always
with the thermo glass, which does qualify for the energy credits.