That's the bottom line. But first, I have to tell my sorry story, whether to inform or amuse (jump to the bottom if you just want to help me with my problem). I'm a female homeowner, with no experience in construction. I have 2 sets of 22-year-old Peachtree sliding patio doors, wood inside and out. The frame around the glass has dried and rotted, they're hard to slide, the seals appear to have failed as there is vapor between the panes, and the wind blows through the gap between the doors. I figured I needed new doors. I'm not rich.

The house is rustic contemporary, and window and door trim is ~3" clear pine. I thought I'd go with a pine interior for the one that is the focal point of our 28' living room, and aluminum or vinyl exterior (the other is in finished basement; appearance not as important). I decided on Andersen doors through Home Depot, using their subcontractor for installation. The installer came out and measured (I never did). Then I sat down with millwork guys and selected the doors over the course of several visits. The doors were special ordered, and were delivered about 6 weeks later.

When the installer came (a real nice guy; not the owner, who took the measurements), he tore out the basement door and then came and told me that we had a problem. The r.o. is 75" and the new doors were 70-1/2". He said they could build in the opening by 4-1/2" but they didn't bring the materials (because absolutely no one had picked up on this discrepancy) and could return in 2 days with them if that's what I chose to do. Long story short: I returned them for full refund (hear me roar) and am back to square one.

My Peachtrees are 74" with 32-1/2" of light in each panel. I really don't want to give up light if I don't have to (and I certainly didn't want the Home Depot subcontractor renovating my home), even though I saw that it was going to be very hard to get a comparable door in my price range. The Narroline wood interior Andersen door (not including promotional discounts I used) was about $1,000.

I've searched extensively online and consulted with my local lumberyard. Bonneville makes a nice door for $2,500 (I can't afford). Andersen, Pella, Marvin, Crestline, Peachtree, etc. don't make a 74" door (I haven't priced custom yet -- I'm afraid).

What do I do? Can my doors be repaired to the point of being usable? Could there be salvage available, and if so, how do I find? Is there some way of getting an affordable, decent door close to 74" that I'm not thinking of? Help!

 

>>I really don't want to give up light if I don't have to

You have to. Have the person who heard you roar give you back the door you ordered and have them put it in. If you want to keep the same sized trim (which I would recommend, because super wide trim looks super cheesy), you'll need to have some additional drywall patching and taping done around the opening, plus painting, and also new baseboard / baseshoe on each side of the opening too. You mentioned that you can't afford $2500, so this is the only way to go. Custom sized doors will cost you more than you want to spend. Its unfortunate that things cost so much. If you wanted to try and save some $$$, you might be able to try doing the drywall taping, finishing, painting and trim yourself. Just ask for tips in the appropriate forums here if you have any questions about those steps.

 

The cardinal rule in the installation of window's & door's is ALWAY"S MEASURE YOUR ACTUAL WINDOW OPENING SIZE TO NEW WINDOW SIZE BEFORE YOU RIP OUT THE OLD UNIT.
Does this mean you are still with an empty door opening wooden1942?

XSleeper is right.You'll have to live with 6 foot door size & build it in with stud's & drywall if you want to maintain that 3" casing.The cost of a custom fit is far too expensive.

Most patio door's are 5 or 6 ft standard size's(or slight variation's of) & i would assume your Peachtree was put in when the house was built.

The amazing thing is that place's like Home Depot make it sound easy to "just take out the old & put in the new" when the reality is every opening is not created equal & most require expert installation to make that final finish.

Disappointing how you were quite aware of that & HD & it's sub-contractors still dropped the ball.

 

That sounds like a sensible cardinal rule. Fortunately, I think I mispoke to some degree. The installer ripped off the old brick molding and removed the doors. I don't think he removed the frame. So he put the doors back in (good thing -- I live in upstate NY), but sealed them in some fashion, because the operating unit had gotten so bad that he may not have gotten it back on the same track. He also installed a temporary molding that he made on site out of pine 1x4 or such thing.

The Peachtrees were installed when the house was built. I wasn't aware at all of their non-standard size. In retrospect I'm embarrassed, but I never really noticed that they were anything but 6' doors. The "expert" took the measurements. About HD dropping the ball. I tried to cut my story short, but you may find a little more of it interesting.

When the installer was here, he had already spoken to the owner before he gave me the news. After I balked at his offer, the owner wanted to speak with me on the phone. This guy actually told me that 74" doors aren't made any more and that the new doors were 72" (I had the paperwork in front of me that said 70-1/2" -- I was stunned that he was lying to me). I cut the call short and got on the internet. I actually found some doors available in 74" that I ultimately didn't pursue for one reason or another. Fyi, Ellison makes 3 models of sliding doors that are 74 3/4" x 79 1/2" 74 and made for openings of 75 1/2" x 80". My only problem with them is that the only dealer near here supplies only to contractors and builders, and I can't see an actual sample. The website shows drawings of the doors and doesn't even use a photo.

I then called HD while the installer was still here (closing up the opening!). After explaining the situation to guy in millwork, he did some research and called me back to say they didn't deal with anyone who made the larger size. Shortly after, he called again to say HD was offering me $85 off the doors. I hadn't even made any demands yet, so I knew they were in the wrong. I declined. Then a woman in management called to encourage me to go forward because the proposed construction was no big deal and I was "almost there" with the doors already here. I told her I was pretty amazed that I'd worked with 4 different sales guys and not one of them noted the discrepancy or called it to my attention. She acknowledged that but added that she was surprised that the installer "signed off" on the order. I didn't even realize that was a step in the process. Now I knew that everyone had blown it. That was obvious, or the installer would have come with the necessary materials.

Over the next 2 days, I carefully read every word of the contract and realized that even HD's language favored me. Most notably, its return policy for special orders contained an exception for items "incorrectly ordered by" HD or the installer. After I gave notice that I didn't want the doors, the woman in management actually had the nerve to remind me that I signed a statement acknowledging that special orders were not returnable. That was the first time I lost my temper, and I told her that that assumed that the item was correctly ordered. She conceded. According to you guys, though, it was a Pyrrhic victory.

 

That's an amazing story that does'nt surprise me at all.

Ironically,I have worked with a contractor(who at the time did'nt know a damn thing about installing door's) as his right hand man with HD...After far too many problem's with wrong order's,incorrect measurement's & even door's & sill's manufactured in reverse....Not to mention all the excuse's & promise's from HD installation topdog's & rep's.

I threw in the towell thankfully.

For the most part,HD does compensate the customer in the end.

It is true that a standard 6' or 5' opening is never exactly that,nor is the door going in or coming out.

I have seen the same dilemma you have experienced with trying to work in virtually 6 inches on both side's of the apparent 6' opening.You need to be creative at time's.

No doubt the fault of the "recheck" person was the culprit of your whole fiasco.

Hope everything turn's out well for you in the end.

 

Thanks so much for your feedback. I found this forum when I first started shopping, and read discussions about HD vs Lowes, and Pella vs Andersen. Glad I finally joined so I could ask for advice (albeit a little late).