MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
In an attempt to capture the dullest thread of the year award, I give you the following:
We recently had some new aluminium doors fitted. They're very nice.
When we specced them, we asked for restrictors to be fitted so they wouldn't whip round and hit the stone wall on the RHS or the protruding render corner on the LHS if caught by the wind.
We were told we had to spec them before fabrication as they couldn't be fitted afterwards.
Cue doors being fitted, and very nice they look too. When the installer was taking me through how the locks etc worked, I asked about the restrictors, as I couldn't see them and wondered if they were some nifty internal mechanism. However, I was told no, there were no restrictors fitted.
I queried this with the company, who have said that their supplier stopped fitting them and they haven't been able to source a replacement.
I am irritated by this, as I would have appreciated at the least a 'heads up' when the spec was confirmed that the restrictors wouldn't be available, as we may have had a re-think on alternatives.
For example, in hte current warm weather it'd be nice to leave the doors open but we can't at present without using a chair etc for fear they'll be caught by the wind. Rather takes the shine off them, don't you know?
As it stands the suppliers have told us there is no aftermarket alternative which would work - for example, I queried whether or not this might work, and I've been told it won't:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mila-door-restrictor-satin-stainless-steel-100mm/5325p
(but there's been no explanation as to why).
The doors are powder-coated aluminium with large glazing panels so I'm not keen on having them smack into the walls if caught by the wind as I can foresee large bills for replacement panes in my future.
Similarly I don't really want bump door stops fitted as i) it's going to mar the finish and ii) given the only likely locations we could fit them might well end up damaging the doors in any event.
So - does anyone know of any aftermarket door restrictors that fit aluminium doors? I've considered having a go at fitting those myself but the doors have a 10 year warranty so I don't want to jeopardise that.
If it is that much of a problem and it sounds like any aftermarket fit will be problematic maybe tell the supplier they’re not what you ordered and ask for your money back?
maybe tell the supplier they’re not what you ordered and ask for your money back?
Problem being they're installed and the supplier took away our old doors to dispose of....
We use a large plant pot and plant - the pot looks ceramic but is in fact plastic.
Problem being they’re installed and the supplier took away our old doors to dispose of….
Ah that is a pisser, I reckon a large plant pot and plant – the pot looks ceramic but is in fact plastic, might work.
I also invisframed the door where it brushes the harling.
Have you settled the bill? If not hold it back until they fix it.
Can't see why what you linked to wouldn't work as long as there is a suitable chanel in the aluminum.
matt_outandabout
We use a large plant pot and plant – the pot looks ceramic but is in fact plastic.
kilo
Ah that is a pisser, I reckon a large plant pot and plant – the pot looks ceramic but is in fact plastic, might work.
😂
I also invisframed the door where it brushes the harling.
Aha! I hadn't thought of this - but could well be the temporary solution. Great idea, thanks.
Have you settled the bill? If not hold it back until they fix it.
No, there's £500 or so outstanding, so I do have some leverage.
Can’t see why what you linked to wouldn’t work as long as there is a suitable chanel in the aluminum.
Yes, that was my thinking, but I'd assumed they knew better...
I'd tell them to find an equivalent supplier that does fit restrictors, order them up and then replace the 'Not as agreed and paid for' items once they are available.
I assume your order documentation includes the restrictors, might be a challenge to prove they didn't advise you subsequently but sounds like the evidence is in your favour.
Hopefully they'll see a means to sort it, if not then a formal letter setting out what you expect them to do and if not, small claims is easy enough
Problem being they’re installed and the supplier took away our old doors to dispose of….
I'd say that's the installers' problem not yours. I'd be pushing them for a suitable solution or asking for a full refund.
Hopefully they’ll see a means to sort it, if not then a formal letter setting out what you expect them to do and if not, small claims is easy enough
Should be, I'm a construction lawyer!😂
’d be pushing them for a suitable solution or asking for a full refund.
I think it's unlikely I'd be able to get a full refund, but certainly the cost of getting the issue rectified.
Would you be OK with them always being left open to the same degree? If so my dad just has what seem to be called cabin hooks on his conservatory doors so they can be left open and not move, like these https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUIMALL-Stainless-Cabinet-Latches-Mounting/dp/B08F1T4VBM/ref=sr_1_23?dchild=1&keywords=Gate+Hooks&qid=1622647712&sr=8-23
That said one end is attached to the frame of the conservatory, not sure if you have something suitable
It would work for one door, but not the other - but the issue is I suppose if I drilled the door to fix a hook on it, could the supplier say I'd voided the warranty in the event of any problems down the line? (And, of course, this was the very point specifying restrictors was supposed to solve!)
Door wedge?
Rather than drilling can you bond on the fixing?
Don't pay, they'll soon be trying to resolve it. I had French doors fitted and said I'd like cabin hooks so they could be hooked back wide open. They fitted the doors and I queried why the cabin hooks were fitted to hold the doors at 90 degrees, and it turned out they'd recessed the doors so they hit the brickwork.
I asked the fitter to raise it with the office, it turned into a big slanging match and they said I should have specified 'flush fitting' and me saying the surveyor should have specified flush fitting as I'm not an expert at fitting doors, otherwise I wouldn't be paying them to do it for me. They wouldn't agree to resolve anything until they wanted paying, at which point they came round as 'goodwill' to take them out and refit them flush with the brickwork. The fitter refused to relocate the cabin hooks so now I have an extra set of holes in the doors as I had to move them.
I then left a suitable and fairly mild review on checkatrade which resulted in a full blown rant from the salesman...I have no doubt that if I had paid in full, the issue would never have been resolved.
PS I don't think the restrictor would stop the door blowing back and forth in the wind, just from hitting the brickwork. I think cabin hooks would be a much better solution if you want to leave the doors open, or perhaps a magnetic retainer or wall mounted catch.
Been after a couple of these myself for a while now, but seemingly out of stock everywhere.
Elho Corsica Door Stopper Planter
Stuck on a boat somewhere? Or a shortage of raw materials?
My father in law makes these from his u it, sells them all over the world.
https://www.uniqueweldingservices.co.uk/patio-door-stops