Storm Door

dpg · 03-29-2011, 06:11 AM

I'm thinking about buying one of these doors at Lowes (or one very similar) Anyone have a Larson Door or have any experience with them?

Is there a better made door to considor?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_140622-53-34...7C1%26page%3D3

MarkinNH · 03-29-2011, 06:42 AM

I don't have a Larson, but have installed one Larson for a client and have installed 2 of the Pella "Select" (Lowes) on my own house.
I will take the Pella over the Larson any day. The Larson is still a darn nice door but the Pella was way more thought out in the ease of installation.
The biggest thing I did not like about this particular Larson door was the need to drill the holes in the door for the handle and latch assembly. Granted they give you a template but you only have 1 chance to get it right and when your drilling Big holes in a brand new storm door that cost almost $300, you don't want to screw it up. There is No moving a hole and Lowes isn't going to take the door back.
The Pella door on the other hand has ALL the necessary holes already there.
All said and done I felt the Pella door was a little less expensive then this particular Larson door and was a better factory design. The fit and finish of both brand doors was excellant
In case your not familiar with it, with the Pella "select" series you choose your door size (32" or 36") and color (several to choose from), you then pick your glass (several to choose from) and finally your handle hardware, again with several finish's to choose from. Right hand or Left hand swing is universal, it just depends which way you flip the door. (the Larson was the same way)
Very nice quality aluminum doors.
Either way, whether you choose a Larson or a Pella, you will be getting a nice storm door. The new ones are nothing like the old aluminum storm doors of days past.

SIKSUKR · 03-29-2011, 07:32 AM

I put 2 similar Larsons on my house 16 years ago and they still look new except for the hardware. The clear coat that is put over the brass plating has failed and the brass finish looks weathered. But that's after many a moon. I installed one similar to what you have on my Gf house. Absolutely love the retractable screen. Very cool and usable feature.

ghfromaltonbay · 03-29-2011, 11:55 AM

My parents and I both had new Larson storm doors (purchased at Lowe's) installed last year and we are very pleased with them. Had the same guy install them for each of us and he had no problems with the installation and said he liked the door himself. The self-storing screen is terrific. Plus, I got a $93 tax credit from the IRS for the $310 door. A nice bonus!

dpg · 03-30-2011, 01:04 PM

Thanks all for your comments. I also loved the retractable screen and etched glass. I will also look at Pella and Anderson also as their definite industry leaders or at least major players. I do feel safe now with the Larson as long as my person (not doing it myself) drills the holes right on the first time.

ishoot308 · 03-30-2011, 03:17 PM

I just put a new Larson in at my camp last year and love it! It's a very well made door that installs easily. The hardware is very good and functions well. The retractable screen is great. I would highly recommend.

Dan

dpg · 04-01-2011, 06:40 AM

Thanks Dan that's good to know. I'm generally not a "big box store" person but noticed a nice door there with etched glass and the retractable screen. Sounds like I just may get that one.

jeffatsquam · 04-01-2011, 05:42 PM

I have purchased many Larson doors at A&B lumber right in Moultonborough

Argie's Wife · 04-01-2011, 07:13 PM

We have two Larsen doors - my only gripe is that the pneumatic arms give out after two years and have to be replaced. The rest of the door is fine...

lawn psycho · 04-02-2011, 11:12 AM

We have an Anderson storm door on our house and it's built like a tank. I don't recall the model but we picked it out at the lumber yard when building the house and was in the $350+ range.

The hardware, gas arm, glass, and hinges are all high quality. Was put in by the builder so don't know about the ease of difficulty to install it.

MarkinNH · 04-02-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

We have two Larsen doors - my only gripe is that the pneumatic arms give out after two years and have to be replaced. The rest of the door is fine...

The Pella's can suffer from the same issue. I am in need of a tan colored pneumatic closer and they are not readily available in that color.

fpartri497 · 04-02-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

The Pella's can suffer from the same issue. I am in need of a tan colored pneumatic closer and they are not readily available in that color.

crylon spray paint

MarkinNH · 04-02-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpartri497

crylon spray paint

I hadn't thought of doing that, that idea would work just dandy. Thank You.

03-29-2011, 06:11 AM	#1
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,597 Thanks: 153 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Storm Door I'm thinking about buying one of these doors at Lowes (or one very similar) Anyone have a Larson Door or have any experience with them? Is there a better made door to considor? http://www.lowes.com/pd_140622-53-34...7C1%26page%3D3

03-29-2011, 07:32 AM	#3
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I put 2 similar Larsons on my house 16 years ago and they still look new except for the hardware. The clear coat that is put over the brass plating has failed and the brass finish looks weathered. But that's after many a moon. I installed one similar to what you have on my Gf house. Absolutely love the retractable screen. Very cool and usable feature. __________________ SIKSUKR

03-29-2011, 11:55 AM	#4
ghfromaltonbay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clifton, NJ, Alton Bay Posts: 827 Thanks: 255 Thanked 225 Times in 131 Posts	Vote for Larson My parents and I both had new Larson storm doors (purchased at Lowe's) installed last year and we are very pleased with them. Had the same guy install them for each of us and he had no problems with the installation and said he liked the door himself. The self-storing screen is terrific. Plus, I got a $93 tax credit from the IRS for the $310 door. A nice bonus!

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03-29-2011, 06:42 AM	#2
MarkinNH Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 392 Thanks: 177 Thanked 146 Times in 76 Posts	I don't have a Larson, but have installed one Larson for a client and have installed 2 of the Pella "Select" (Lowes) on my own house. I will take the Pella over the Larson any day. The Larson is still a darn nice door but the Pella was way more thought out in the ease of installation. The biggest thing I did not like about this particular Larson door was the need to drill the holes in the door for the handle and latch assembly. Granted they give you a template but you only have 1 chance to get it right and when your drilling Big holes in a brand new storm door that cost almost $300, you don't want to screw it up. There is No moving a hole and Lowes isn't going to take the door back. The Pella door on the other hand has ALL the necessary holes already there. All said and done I felt the Pella door was a little less expensive then this particular Larson door and was a better factory design. The fit and finish of both brand doors was excellant In case your not familiar with it, with the Pella "select" series you choose your door size (32" or 36") and color (several to choose from), you then pick your glass (several to choose from) and finally your handle hardware, again with several finish's to choose from. Right hand or Left hand swing is universal, it just depends which way you flip the door. (the Larson was the same way) Very nice quality aluminum doors. Either way, whether you choose a Larson or a Pella, you will be getting a nice storm door. The new ones are nothing like the old aluminum storm doors of days past.

03-30-2011, 01:04 PM	#5
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,597 Thanks: 153 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Thanks all for your comments. I also loved the retractable screen and etched glass. I will also look at Pella and Anderson also as their definite industry leaders or at least major players. I do feel safe now with the Larson as long as my person (not doing it myself) drills the holes right on the first time.

03-30-2011, 03:17 PM	#6
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,275 Thanks: 2,400 Thanked 5,288 Times in 2,059 Posts	I just put a new Larson in at my camp last year and love it! It's a very well made door that installs easily. The hardware is very good and functions well. The retractable screen is great. I would highly recommend. Dan

04-01-2011, 06:40 AM	#7
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,597 Thanks: 153 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Thanks Dan that's good to know. I'm generally not a "big box store" person but noticed a nice door there with etched glass and the retractable screen. Sounds like I just may get that one.

04-01-2011, 05:42 PM	#8
jeffatsquam Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: moultonborough/sandwich Posts: 187 Thanks: 173 Thanked 77 Times in 50 Posts	I have purchased many Larson doors at A&B lumber right in Moultonborough

04-01-2011, 07:13 PM	#9
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	We have two Larsen doors - my only gripe is that the pneumatic arms give out after two years and have to be replaced. The rest of the door is fine...

04-02-2011, 11:12 AM	#10
lawn psycho Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: On the move... Posts: 987 Thanks: 113 Thanked 248 Times in 133 Posts	We have an Anderson storm door on our house and it's built like a tank. I don't recall the model but we picked it out at the lumber yard when building the house and was in the $350+ range. The hardware, gas arm, glass, and hinges are all high quality. Was put in by the builder so don't know about the ease of difficulty to install it.