Replies

1. 
   Martin_Greenberger | Dec 10, 1999 02:52am | #1

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   We remodelled our house 12 years ago. We put in Cobb windows and 4 pairs of french doors. With the exception of what I felt was excessive caulking which had to be trimmed, the doors have been fine. The windows I am not nearly as happy with, but I am not sure that some of the problem wasn't installation. We have mostly horizontal sliders for the windows. Some slide easily and some don't. Also the glazing compound on windows which have intense sun exposure dried out and fell out after about 9 years--too soon I think. Yes, they were primed and painted, though not re-painted.

2. 
   Guest_ | Dec 10, 1999 09:51am | #2

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   I recently had a client order a ThermaTru fiberglass door system through TM Cobb. They were responsible for supplying the jamb/frame.

   I took one look and rejected it. The local distributor agreed, and took it back with a full refund.

   The sidelights were mounted in with kerf-in weatherstrip, which eliminates the ability to paint, plus the weatherstrip could not be removed once it failed years later. Neither the sill threshold nor thedoor shoe was adjustable. Zinc chromate hinges. The also trimmed the door, which the manufacturer prohibits.

   No caulk was used in assembly. No pieces were primed. The angle on the jamb stock didn't match the slope of the sill...

   So, my opinion is low. But I'd also suggest that many higher price fabricators build junk too. There are alot of things to look for, so compare closely. What kind of sealing system/astragal are they providing? Will the door be exposed to weather? Will the sealings system be adjustable as parts wear and settle? What kind of lumber in the frame?

   Remember, your hand will touch this item many times a day, and a poorly fitting, flimsy feel will be with you forever.
   I like Pella and Marvin. No experience with Kolbe&Kolbe. Hurd has OK products but abssymal quality control and non-existent customer service.

   If you go with a local shop, make certain you understand what you are specifying and that they understand what your performance expectations will be. Ultimately, that's what my last client did.

   One opinion.

   Adam

1. 
   Guest_ | Dec 11, 1999 06:08am | #3

   *Adam and anyone else:Can someone explain the situation with Therma-Tru doors. I think that when I specify a Therma-Tru door with the adjustable threshold to my building supply, I get a 100% Therma-Tru door/sill/jamb, etc., which, by the way, is more expensive. On the other hand, if I do not make spec as above, I get something else - which I gather is a Therma-Tru door with a locally built jamb/sill. Do I have this right? Anyone care to expand on this? I should probably be talking to my building supply salesman, but he's not handy right now, and besides, my guess is that he only knows how his company does it.Tom:Sorry to sidetrack your thread.

3. 
   Gary_Katz | Dec 14, 1999 09:24am | #4

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   I think Cobb's a fine manf., but I wouldn't suggest using a cobb wood door 1/2 mile from the beach. I've seen too many wood doors fail, even far from the beach. We advise our builders to use fiberglass or clad doors near the ocean or on exposed hilltops. If it were my house, I'd use fiberglass (looks no different than wood, can be stained or painted and then easily stripped and re-stained or painted, and never requires maintanence). And there are many types of fiberglass doors. Shop carefully. Spend a little extra and buy a door with a complete stile, not cripped stile.

   Multi-point locking systems are great, but not worth the money, in my opinion. There are a lot of fine reasonably priced locks on the market.

4. 
   Guest_ | Dec 14, 1999 09:07pm | #5

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   pardon my layman's ignorance, but what's the difference between a "complete" stile and a "cripped" stile ??

5. 
   Gary_Katz | Dec 17, 1999 09:25am | #6

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   Sorry, typo. Crimped. Some fiberglass and steel door skins are crimped into the wood stiles about 1/4 in. short of the edge of the door. With the door hanging in the jamb, it seems as if the reveal or gap between the door and jamb is larger than it really is because of the small step between the crimped skin and the edge of the stile.

   Fiberglass doors are also manufactured with the skins flush to the edge of the stile, which allows them to appear just like an ordinary flush or panel door.

   Hope words worked,
   Gary

6. 
   Guest_ | Jan 05, 2000 05:39am | #7

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   TM Cobb is a Calif regional manufacturer. I'm considering their prehung wood French doors for exterior use (So Calif, 1/2 mile from ocean). The workmanship & design of the doors seems reasonable, to my layman's eye (no cladding, double doors, 6-0 wide)

   Even with some upgrade options (insulated glass, heavier hinges, fancier divided light muntin pattern), the price is "Only" about $1,000.

   The pricing on the "name brand" doors (like Kolbe, Anderson, etc) is $2000-2500 and UP, even for the NON-clad doors. Granted, these name brands have nicer locking multi-point systems & hardware included as part of the price, but even if I spent a few $100s on really nice Baldwin hardware, I'd still be at least $1000 ahead with the TM Cobb doors.

   My questions are, does anyone have comments or experiences with the Cobb doors (especially longevity & durability)?

   How do the big name brand companies justify $1000 and more for their doors? What do you get for that substantial extra cost? (besides paying for their advertising budgets in glossy page magazines).

   (note, I'm planning on living in the house indefinitely; house & neighborhood is higher end construction, so no extruded slidng aluminum doors & windows here!)