contractor damaged door during install

3 years ago

I purchased a $12k bifold patio door and hired a contractor (referred to me by Dixieline - but not through Dixieline). This guy had his team install it. It wasn’t installed right so they had to come back out and remove and reinstall it. It’s still not right. There are also some scratches and marks from filing down that we should not see on a brand new door. We have not paid him yet.

We had someone else come out and look at the door. We were hoping he could help out. This new guy had a laser level and determined it was not level and needs to be taken out again. Supposedly he’s really good and installing doors is all he does. When asked, he would not work on this door because it had already been installed/reinstalled twice.

Now the initial guy I hired wants to walk from the job. I’m afraid I won’t be able to find anyone to fix the issue if he does walk. What rights do I have? I don’t want him to keep messing up the door but if I let him walk I may be in a worse position. Thoughts?

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Comments (8)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
Let him walk. You'll find someone to install it right for the balance.
jenwinston73
Original Author
3 years ago
A few things worry me about that.
(1) I’m afraid I won’t be able to find another installer willing to work on it since it’s already been installed and is no longer brand new out of box.

(2) if I do find someone, I’m afraid I’ll end up spending double because it first has to be uninstalled

(3) In the event that something was damaged during first install I need this guy to be liable.
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millworkman
3 years ago
"I’m afraid I won’t be able to find another installer willing to work on it since it’s already been installed and is no longer brand new out of box."

Well, this guy quite obvioulsy doe not have the skillset to install it correctly. The more times you let him try the more likely the door will never be able to be installed and operate properly without replacing parts.

" if I do find someone, I’m afraid I’ll end up spending double because it first has to be uninstalled"

If he blew the install twice do you really want to give him another chance?

"In the event that something was damaged during first install I need this guy to be liable."

It has been installed twince and damaged. You probably would be better cutting your losses right now and hoping someone else will be able to reinstall ths door. And getting him to give you anything more than a hard time may be close to impossible.
cat_ky
3 years ago
Why would you even consider having this guy install it a third time. He has already botched the job twice. A third time, wont be any better, and the door could end up with a lot more damage. Obviously, he isnt capable of installing those doors. I would ask him to remove them, and just leave them alone after that, and cover up the opening, until you can find someone that is capable of installing them. The more you have the door installed and uninstalled, the more damage it will get. Do not go for a third time with this guy.
rwiegand
3 years ago
Agree with the folks above, time to cut your losses. It's not going to get better going this route. For better or worse, this is why construction budgets have a large line item for unanticipated expenses. Get the seller involved in helping you find a qualified installer.
jenwinston73
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the recommendations. This guy is actually a GC and had 2 guys install the door for him. I do not want those same guys to work on it again. He was trying to find another door installer to sub the work out to. One professional said he would not do it (since it had already been worked on) and the other was not available. This is when he told me he thought we should part ways. I feel like he should be liable for the extra costs…so I’m afraid to “part ways” if there are extra costs.

Side note - does anyone know if the frames or locking mechanism for those types of doors can be purchased on their own (if another installer thinks it got too damaged)?
millworkman
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
" does anyone know if the frames or locking mechanism for those types of doors can be purchased on their own "

Yes typically the parts are all available. Special order most often but available. I also agree with Raimondi, most every issue i have seen or heard with these types of doors is with an installer who is incapable to installing it correctly. These types of doors are definitely better purchased as an installed sale and not by a GC subbing out to other installers as there are so many parts of this installation that must be perfect or the door will never operate properly.
jenwinston73
Original Author
3 years ago
I agree that would have been a better route. It’s a very long story. We have a contractor working on our remodel. He purchased the door for us and has a guy he uses to install these doors. So that was the plan. I didn’t really know anything about it or question that decision. He gets these installed all the time for his clients. Apparently this guy is very good and does nothing but install these doors. Well our construction was taking awhile and this installer was not available when we needed him which kept delaying everything else. So I told my contractor I was going to find another installer as I was tired of waiting…I think I waited a month for the installer to be available and he just never was. Obviously in hind site I wish I had waited for him. So I went to where the door was purchased and asked if they had an installer. They did but it needed to be arranged at time of purchase of door. But the guy there told me there is someone he often refers people to if they didn’t order installation at purchase. So I took the recommendation. I assumed if they were referring customers to him that he must know what he is doing. Anyway, I know now things should have been done differently. But I can’t go back…so just trying to find someone now who will get this installed right. It is good to hear that separate parts can be ordered if needed.