Ok, so guy doesn't show on time, so I call 20 minutes past his arrival time. Takes another 40 for him to get back to me (now an hour past appt. time). I am so bummed out.
He does work a regular job for a window company (has worked in windows and doors as installer for other companies) and he works on the side (he came recommended from a friend).
He forgot our appt.
When we made the appt (last Sunday) he informed me of a big window job he had yesterday that might run into Thurs. But he would call me and let me know.
He forgot.
I'm not going to fire him as he really was sincere in his apology.
I am disappointed, as I don't want to unwrap the door so I can see how it turned out and then leave it in the garage for several days unwrapped. I have 3 teenagers!

That is good to know about the Pella. I am in the market for another exterior door and I hadn't thought to look at Pella. Hope your installation goes well.

Abbey

Installer recommended by friend is fired. I texted him my schedule last Thursday (the day he no showed) and it is Tuesday,and I have not heard back.
I found another guy who actually has a company installing doors. He comes tomorrow (Wednesday)
I did not buy through the Pella store. The lady there was more interested in making a sale, pushing things I was not interested in, and thought it unreasonable to actually have a few squares of the different decorative glass options Pella offers. She kept repeating, "But we offer examples and place orders through our catalog". Small sample pieces of each grain type (mahogany, oak, craftsman, etc)with the different stain colors was foreign language. It blew her mind. She kept thinking door size samples and I was asking about a 6x6 sample or something. She seemed to be missing a few cards from the deck, as it interrupted her trained sales pitch.
Lowes actually had a lot of samples in actual doors. We visited 4-5 times before making the commitment to buy. They also were having a 20% off sale in April. We worked with two guys. One not so helpful and the other, very knowledgable and helpful. We obviously did not go with Pella installation people (you have to buy through them to get it) nor Lowes installation.
I am eager to see how it looks tomorrow. And hope that we do not have to deal with Pella customer service. I hear there is none.

One word of advice... BE CAREFUL and make sure that the clad brickmould isn't installed until the door is correct. I had mine installed 2 weeks ago and it's wrong and I am now being told that this clad brickmould will not come off without damaging the door. I am still researching a way out of this but for the moment I am in trouble....

Cheers,
Brandon

Hi Brandon

I think I just replied to your post on another thread. I thought you were talking about the "Nail Fin" that goes around the door.
I had the pella CSR and a certified installer tell me that there is no way to get the brick mold off once on. I may not even use mine but may go back with Hardie board trim and paint it. I have wood trim now.

ProVia would have been your best choice of doors and peace of mind.

Let us know in 6 months how that door is functioning.

Well, it is not all complete yet, as we have to install the trim molding. But I could not wait any longer. I had a Pella certified installer located in my town do the installation.

Out with the old

In with the new
Fiberglass Pella Entry Door
3/4 lite Flemish Glass with Wroght Iron

Thanks Michael for your positive comments. I'm am sure your products are quite nice and it is great to see you so enthusiastic about them. Thanks for the well wishes regarding my new door.

We are looking at almost exactly the same door (Fiberglass Mahogany wood grain finish with 3/4 lite - flemish glass, alum clad frame and the Carino wrought iron grill). The problem is the Pella dealer says it qualifies for the energy tax credit, Lowes says it does not and Pella's customer service is useless. Since that is worth $1500 (we are also getting sidelights) it is a big deal. Do you still have your NFRC label and if so, what are the U factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient numbers?

Bozz,

We were told as well that it does not qualify for the energy tax credit. My understanding, the tax credit is "up to" $1500, depending on how much you spend. We also put in a tankless hot water heater (not through Lowes or national plumber but an independantly locally owned plumber). Plus two new windows (on garage that had broken). So far, we have not hit the $1500 credit yet, so I went with the door we loved over any tax credit.
Sorry, I do not have any tags or stickers left fron the install. I would call Pella again (not a local pella store)at the toll free number and get a different agent. My first time, not so good. Then I found an extremely knowledgable and helpful rep.
I did not find the Pella Dealers very knowledgable or helpful. Depending on who was in the store (never seemed to be more than 1 person at a time)I got different answers. I suggested to Pella corporate for better training of dealers, and the dealers employees. Not very satified there. Also, WAYYYYYYYYY more expensive going through dealer and I did not feel I was getting any better product than from Lowes. Definitely not service. However, I would not ever let Lowes install even a nut or screw, staple or nail. I found my own installer.
Lowes is correct, it is not energy star rated.

Thanks for the response. I think we are going to end up doing the same. We love the door, can't stand the local dealer (and was way more $$$) and will just wait to see what the sticker says.

We also bought the brick mold to match the cladding on the door but it did not fit. The brick mold is not wide enough. We never snapped it in, because once snapped in, it wont come out. The Lowes guy who sold me the door, told me it was refundable, should it not fit. Though once I returned it, come to find out, it is not refundable (a manager helped with the return, not the salesman). However, the salesman did tell the manager he told me it was, so they did give the refund.
Lowes was able to perfectly match the Pella Brown cladding in a paint that is perfect on the wood trim we put up. We loved it so much, we painted the steel & glass patio doors with it.

I am curious to know how long it took to receive your door after it was ordered? We are ordering ours on Monday and need it asap as we have NO door right now, the opening is boarded up.