I bought the Therma-Tru fiberglass entry-door system in March through a local contractor hyping Therma-Tru at an Allentown trade show. The contractor (John Dupre of Lehigh Conservatories) has a relationship with Harvey Industries, the regional Therma-Tru wholesaler, and he bought the doors from Harvey. Before I signed the contract with Mr. Dupre, he came to my house, inspected my exisiting front doors, and saw first hand what my problems were with respect to climate exposure and weather. He promised me specifically that the new Therma-Tru doors would be unconditionally weather tight and keep rain from entering my house.
The doors, which Therma-Tru claims are warranted for life, were installed in April. During installation, a manufacturing defect was discovered in the "astragal"; it had been cut too short at the factory and had to be replaced. It took 5 months of aggravation and threats before a new astragal was finally installed. I called Therma-Tru directly no less than 12 times during this period and could never speak to anyone in authority. When the new astragal arrived, it wasn't even the same size as the original, and the doors had to be shaved to accomodate the new astragal. The contractor, Mr. Dupre, botched that part and I had to remove the astragal the next day and re-do his work just to close the doors.
We had our first good driving rainstorm last week since the doors were installed, and water seeped into the house from between the doors' sill and kerfed door bottom.
Gary Fritz, of Therma-Tru, now informs me that Therma-Tru does not warrant the prevention of rain water from under their doors.in spite of what Therma-Tru's own literature claims, despite the contractor's unconditional guarantee, and to the surprise and dismay of Harvey Industries itself... The Therma-Tru representative I spoke to yesterday said it's not Therma-Tru's problem and they will not stand by their warranty. Mr. Fritz suggested I should just bag the $3,700 project, build a portico over my front door area and then buy a different type of door system.
Gary Fritz' boss at Therma-Tru, Al Suzi, won't return my phone calls. Harvey Industries, the Therma-Tru whoesaler, is washing their hands of the problem. John Dupre, the contractor who buys his doors from Harvey Industries, won't return calls.
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