SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.

On Tue 07 Oct 2008 03:32:20p, rmorton told us...

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.


You usually can't go wrong with Pella products. All things being equal, I
would check out and compare all the warranties.

--
Wayne Boatwright
(correct the spelling of "geemail" to reply)

*******************************************
Date: Tuesday, 10(X)/07(VII)/08(MMVIII)
*******************************************
Countdown till Veteran's Day
4wks 6dys 8hrs 10mins
*******************************************
He can't be a man cause he does not
smoke the same cigarettes as me

On Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:32:20 -0400, rmorton
wrote:

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.

I live in the Mojave desert. The entry door faces west, so a
fiberglass entry door will not stand up to the constant summer heat.

Your area may be a milder climate.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Tue 07 Oct 2008 03:32:20p, rmorton told us...

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.


You usually can't go wrong with Pella products. All things being equal, I
would check out and compare all the warranties.

Should have mentioned the warranties - all lifetime. Also should have
mentioned location - Eastern North Carolina.

On Tue 07 Oct 2008 04:27:48p, rmorton told us...

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Tue 07 Oct 2008 03:32:20p, rmorton told us...

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the
web except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any
and all constructive comments.


You usually can't go wrong with Pella products. All things being
equal, I would check out and compare all the warranties.

Should have mentioned the warranties - all lifetime. Also should have
mentioned location - Eastern North Carolina.


They all appear to be quality doors. I would next check the specifications
for each door regarding heat range of exterior material, insulation value,
etc. Overall, I don't think you could go wrong with any of the choices,
but there might be variations in these characteristics. If they're
comparable, I'd go with the appearance that appeals most.

--
Wayne Boatwright
(correct the spelling of "geemail" to reply)

*******************************************
Date: Tuesday, 10(X)/07(VII)/08(MMVIII)
*******************************************
Countdown till Veteran's Day
4wks 6dys 6hrs 53mins
*******************************************
Pound forehead on keyboard to continue.
*******************************************

On Oct 7, 5:32*pm, rmorton wrote:
SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. *After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. *Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. *Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? *The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. *I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.

What is your door now, I am looking at Menards fiberglass doors but
they have to be finished, unfinished the sun will degrade it. I am
looking at fiberglass over metal for winter insulation, but wood is
about as good. For a home wood looks best.

On Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:27:48 -0400, rmorton
wrote:

Eastern North Carolina

Dang. Can you get "green" peanuts?

Nothing like a bawled peanut.

"ransley" wrote in message
...
On Oct 7, 5:32 pm, rmorton wrote:
SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.

What is your door now, I am looking at Menards fiberglass doors but
they have to be finished, unfinished the sun will degrade it. I am
looking at fiberglass over metal for winter insulation, but wood is
about as good. For a home wood looks best.

=================================================

After my wood door got kicked in by a burgler I've omly bought metal
exterior doors.

rmorton wrote:
Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Tue 07 Oct 2008 03:32:20p, rmorton told us...

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing
absolutely nothing about these doors and finding very little of any
use on the web except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few
bitter homeowners comments, I decided to place the question to you.
Are there any known problems or support issues with the following:
Pella, Therma-Tru or Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are
very similar and to my untrained eye the doors appear very similar.
I would appreciate any and all constructive comments.


You usually can't go wrong with Pella products. All things being
equal, I would check out and compare all the warranties.

Should have mentioned the warranties - all lifetime. Also should have
mentioned location - Eastern North Carolina.

My wife and I have been looking for an entry door also. We have decided on the
Pella. The warranty seems to be about the same as the others. The one person
that we talked to that has a Pella door, has not had any problems with it.

Just as a side note we were shopping for a new storm door (went with a Larson)
for the back door when it was decided that we would be replacing the front entry
door also. I was so told. By the way we are in North East N.C. and not to many
places to buy doors here. Lowes and a few other lumber companies.

Chris

ransley wrote:
On Oct 7, 5:32 pm, rmorton wrote:
SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.

What is your door now, I am looking at Menards fiberglass doors but
they have to be finished, unfinished the sun will degrade it. I am
looking at fiberglass over metal for winter insulation, but wood is
about as good. For a home wood looks best.
Our current door is metal but the boss is not happy with the appearance.
In previous house had replaced with fiberglas and a gel stain sure
made it easy to get the proper color. Thought might need to redo every
few years but it lasted 12 years before we moved. I agree that the wood
does look best but this door will get baked by the sun and beat on by
rain. looking for as maintenance free as can get.

Chris wrote:
rmorton wrote:
Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Tue 07 Oct 2008 03:32:20p, rmorton told us...

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing
absolutely nothing about these doors and finding very little of any
use on the web except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few
bitter homeowners comments, I decided to place the question to you.
Are there any known problems or support issues with the following:
Pella, Therma-Tru or Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are
very similar and to my untrained eye the doors appear very similar.
I would appreciate any and all constructive comments.


You usually can't go wrong with Pella products. All things being
equal, I would check out and compare all the warranties.

Should have mentioned the warranties - all lifetime. Also should have
mentioned location - Eastern North Carolina.

My wife and I have been looking for an entry door also. We have decided
on the Pella. The warranty seems to be about the same as the others. The
one person that we talked to that has a Pella door, has not had any
problems with it.

Just as a side note we were shopping for a new storm door (went with a
Larson) for the back door when it was decided that we would be replacing
the front entry door also. I was so told. By the way we are in North
East N.C. and not to many places to buy doors here. Lowes and a few
other lumber companies.

Chris
The one warranty tidbit I managed to pick up is that Pella is the only
company to supposedly honor their warranty if a stormdoor is used over
it. Don't know for sure this may have just been salesman talk.

On Oct 7, 9:51*pm, "retired53" [email protected] wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

...
On Oct 7, 5:32 pm, rmorton wrote:

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.

What is your door now, I am looking at Menards fiberglass doors but
they have to be finished, unfinished the sun will degrade it. I am
looking at fiberglass over metal for winter insulation, but wood is
about as good. For a home wood looks best.

=================================================

After my wood door got kicked in by a burgler I've omly bought metal
exterior doors.

Its not the door its the hardware the thief broke, with the same
hardware you will be just as insecure.

rmorton wrote:
SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass
one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has
narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely
nothing about these doors and finding very little of any use on the web
except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners
comments, I decided to place the question to you. Are there any known
problems or support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or
Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my
untrained eye the doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and
all constructive comments.
Thanks to everyone the replied. Now off to the stores to let the boss
pick out which one she wants. Thanks again for the insight.

ransley wrote in
:

On Oct 7, 9:51*pm, "retired53" [email protected] wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message


... On Oct 7, 5:32 pm, rmorton wrote:

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a
fiberglass one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one
she has narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing
absolutely nothing about these doors and finding very little of any
use on the web except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few
bitter homeowners comments, I decided to place the question to you.
Are there any known problems or support issues with the following:
Pella, Therma-Tru or Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are
very similar and to my untrained eye the doors appear very similar.
I would appreciate any and all constructive comments.

What is your door now, I am looking at Menards fiberglass doors but
they have to be finished, unfinished the sun will degrade it. I am
looking at fiberglass over metal for winter insulation, but wood is
about as good. For a home wood looks best.

========================
========================
After my wood door got kicked in by a burgler I've omly bought metal
exterior doors.

Its not the door its the hardware the thief broke, with the same
hardware you will be just as insecure.


For my own doors I usually make a piece of wood to fit between the stud
and door jamb, glue and screw it.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=16jq0qe&s=4

That way the deadbolt is into solid wood attached to the RO. But you're
right, couple of whacks with a framing hammer or a size 14 workboot and
the hardware is toast.

Red Green wrote:
ransley wrote in
:

On Oct 7, 9:51 pm, "retired53" [email protected] wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message


... On Oct 7, 5:32 pm, rmorton wrote:

SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a
fiberglass one. After I don't know how many hours shopping for one
she has narrowed it down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing
absolutely nothing about these doors and finding very little of any
use on the web except manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few
bitter homeowners comments, I decided to place the question to you.
Are there any known problems or support issues with the following:
Pella, Therma-Tru or Benchmark by Thermatru? The price of all are
very similar and to my untrained eye the doors appear very similar.
I would appreciate any and all constructive comments.
What is your door now, I am looking at Menards fiberglass doors but
they have to be finished, unfinished the sun will degrade it. I am
looking at fiberglass over metal for winter insulation, but wood is
about as good. For a home wood looks best.

========================
========================
After my wood door got kicked in by a burgler I've omly bought metal
exterior doors.
Its not the door its the hardware the thief broke, with the same
hardware you will be just as insecure.


For my own doors I usually make a piece of wood to fit between the stud
and door jamb, glue and screw it.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=16jq0qe&s=4

That way the deadbolt is into solid wood attached to the RO. But you're
right, couple of whacks with a framing hammer or a size 14 workboot and
the hardware is toast.
A quality deadbolt won't shatter. What shatters is either the edge of
the door, if it is a cheap door, or more commonly, the cheap
finger-glued door jamb. I've repaired plenty of both over the years.
Filling the cavity between jamb and RO, using real screws on the strike
plate and door edge, and even lagging the jamb through a block into the
stud, make a big difference. Real metal door in real metal frame is most
secure, of course, but usually considered unacceptable by the homeowner
due to the look. They sell all sorts of extended-vertically strike
plates, and metal cups, and wrap-around-the-door trim plates to
repair/reinforce cheap doors. For a side or garage door, a hidden-screw
shield to keep crowbars away from lockset, and a tubular guard around
the knob, to keep it from getting vise-gripped, are often effective.
Kicking is LOUD- if you can pull a car up to the door and use legs or
jack to apply point-force against the latch, it breaks a lot more
quietly. If there is nothing to push against, a pair of size-huge
vicegrips and a pipe on the knob stem or outside of deadbolt, can twist
it right out of the door.

You learn a lot being a gopher on apartment construction projects. Empty
but near-finished buildings, supply shacks, and tool cribs, are thief
magnets.

--
aem sends...

One word, Pella.

I have a therma tru. The glass started leaking after a couple of years.
Yes they will replace the door but what a pain in the but. My Pella is not
leaking and if it did the glass is removable.

Pay attention to the weatherstripping and threshold. Aluminum thresholds
dent easily. My Pella uses a composition material.

"rmorton" wrote in message
...
SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass one.
After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has narrowed it
down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely nothing about
these doors and finding very little of any use on the web except
manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners comments, I
decided to place the question to you. Are there any known problems or
support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or Benchmark by
Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my untrained eye the
doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and all constructive
comments.

By the way, fiberglass doors require a gel stain if you are going to stain
it. Forget minwax gel stain on a Pella door. It works poorly. Use google
to search for fiberglass door stain and you will find all kinds of comments
from this and other groups. But stay away from minwax on a Pella door.
Also I used a water based exterior polyurethane and so far it is holding up
well.


"rmorton" wrote in message
...
rmorton wrote:
SWMBO has decreed that front door must be replaced with a fiberglass one.
After I don't know how many hours shopping for one she has narrowed it
down to 3 different brands and styles. Knowing absolutely nothing about
these doors and finding very little of any use on the web except
manufacturers/vendors ramblings and a few bitter homeowners comments, I
decided to place the question to you. Are there any known problems or
support issues with the following: Pella, Therma-Tru or Benchmark by
Thermatru? The price of all are very similar and to my untrained eye the
doors appear very similar. I would appreciate any and all constructive
comments.
Thanks to everyone the replied. Now off to the stores to let the boss
pick out which one she wants. Thanks again for the insight.