Having Trouble Finding the Right Local Houston Door Installers? Don’t Skip These 5 Must-Read Tips
Finding local door installers and finding the right local door installers are not the same thing. Anybody who lives nearby and has a half dozen doors stored in his garage could be a local door installer. But if he or she just a guy or gal with a door and a screwdriver, well, they might not be the best choice for you.
Doors are extremely important components of a house. We hardly notice them until they start going wrong, yet they offer security from intruders, protection from the elements, and style and beauty that turn houses into homes. Whether you’re looking for French doors in Houston, entry doors, patio doors – or any other kind of door – you want to get it right the first time.
With that in mind, here are our top five tips to consider, when selecting the right local door installer:
1: Does the Business Owner Understand the Climatic Challenges your Doors Will Face, Here in Houston?
One of the biggest strains on a door – aside from the regular opening and closing of it – is the climate. Houston is not known for gentle weather. A door that works in milder Los Angeles may not be suitable here in Houston because it cannot handle the scorching heat and humidity of a Houston summer.
Residents ordering Houston patio doors don’t want their installer to just buy generic doors from his local hardware store.
Why?
Because, even though generic doors are sold locally, many do not survive their first summer. Unfortunately, people go this route, because they don’t know any better.
Luis, they’re just doors, aren’t they?
The right installer understands that not all doors are created equal, and he knows which materials will not break down in our climate. They know the difference between wooden doors and Fibercraft composite doors and can explain to you which door might better serve your needs. They will ensure that, whatever they install, their customers will never have to worry about their door’s ability to stand up to Houston summers.
2: Is the Business Within Reasonable Distance of Your Home?
You want a door installer who can get to you easily, and whose shop, store, supplies, and equipment are nearby, rather than an hour from you. Does work stop for half a day, when your installer needs to make a 100-mile round-trip journey in our Houston traffic, to pick up a part or tool that he needs to complete your installation? It happens, and that’s bad news if the door they’re installing that day happens to be an entry door to your home.
3: Is the Business Owner Technically Competent?
Can their business offer you advice and suggestions for selecting your new door? Can they make recommendations that are custom-tailored to your specific needs?
An installer who is tied to a single manufacturer is pretty much only going to offer you products from that manufacturer.
The downside of that is:
For example, you need a custom sized French doors, and they’re tied to one supplier of French doors, the choice they can offer is limited to what that manufacturer offers. They will sell you a stock standard size door and make the door fit your opening.
On the other hand, a competent, customer-focused installer finds out exactly what you want, considers factors such as where the door will be, what weather it will face (sunlight or shade?), how often it will be used (heavy-duty use or occasional?), security considerations, and so on, and then makes a sensible proposal that is best for you.
4: Is the Business set up With the Customer in Mind?
Some businesses consist of the owner, some casual workers, and a cell phone. So, if an installer is busy and you call, you won’t get an answer. But, adjustments made to your home, like window and door replacements, are important to you and your family, and your installer should realize that.
The right installer for you is a part of your local community who takes pride in offering top-notch customer service. If you call, they answer. If you need advice, they give honest feedback. People in your area know them. They rely on a good reputation and positive word-of-mouth referrals to maintain his strong business standing, and they go the extra mile for their customers, including offering financing for customers. At Mr. Windows, our team has worked hard to achieve this level of excellence, and we treat our clients like family.
5: Does the Business Offer Solid Value for Money?
You replace doors so rarely that, while opting for the cheapest choice may seem like the right choice initially, this is (very) rarely the right course of action and will cost you more money, in the long run. The cheapest doors wilt, buckle, and bend so quickly that you’ll find yourself with problems not long after installation, as most of the cheaper options last less than a year in Houston.
On the other hand, you may not be made of money, so you need the right door at the right price. Businesses that have the ability to get you what you want and what you need, at a price that makes sense for your budget, are the right kind of local installers. We are proud to be local door installers who offer free estimates, so that our customers never feel pressured to buy products or to make quick decisions.
