9 problems when ordering loft doors you may encounter

1. mistake in measuring the door opening

Problem: Bad measurements taken

If you incorrectly measure the opening into which you intend to install a loft door, you may encounter serious problems.

Consequences:

• The door may not fit into the opening, making it impossible to install.

Solution:

• Masonry or plastering corrections if the opening is too large.
• Order a new door with the appropriate dimensions.
• Sending the door for reworking by specialists.

How to guard against the problem:

• Use the measuring guide e.g.. here
• Use a proven measurement tool.
• Check the diagonals of the opening.
• Make sure the floor is level at the installation site.

2. mistakenly accepting the wrong documentation

Problem: Customer acceptance of faulty documentation

If we accept door drawings that contain errors or do not take into account our needs, we may have serious problems after delivery.

Consequences:

• The door will be manufactured according to the wrong documentation.
• The customer is responsible for accepting erroneous drawings, which may result in wrong dimensions, opening direction, color or arrangement of muntins.

Solution:

• If we accepted the wrong configuration, we may have to accept it.
• Paid redesign of doors or ordering new ones.
• Consult with the manufacturer when in doubt and report corrections.

How to guard against the problem:

• use the measuring guide
• Check site documentation, measure holes again
• Report any corrections to the documentation, if any come to light

3. doors damaged in transit

Problem: The door was damaged in transit and I have no protocol

In transit there is a risk of damage to loft doors, a claim may not be possible if a protocol is not made in the presence of the driver who delivered the door.

Consequences:

• Larger damage may make installation impossible.
• Failure to sign a damage report with the driver may prevent a claim.

Solution:

• File a claim with the manufacturer or supplier, remembering that the company should have insurance.
• If you were the organizer of the transport report to this company

How to guard against the problem:

• If there is damage, write up a report and document it with photos.
• Ask the driver to stay on site until the inspection is complete.
• Carefully check the door when unloading.
• Carefully ensure that the documents are signed.
• Remember the cut-off dates for reporting the damage to the supplier.

4. the glass in the door broke during installation

Problem: Glass broke during door installation

Cracking the glass during installation can complicate the subsequent installation process or prevent it from being completed.

Consequences:

• Cracked glass can prevent the door installation from being completed.

Solution:

• Apply to the door manufacturer and ask for the dimensions of the panes and the type of glass.
• Order glass from a local glazier or door manufacturer.
• Have the glass replaced or send the door back to the manufacturer for repair for a fee.
• Order the manufacturer’s service and ask them to replace the glass if necessary.

How to guard against the problem:

• Carefully install the door according to the instructions.
• Be careful when transporting indoors.

5. doors rubbing against the floor

Problem: The door rubs against the floor

Hinged doors, may rub against the floor if the floor has not been checked for straightness or they have been installed incorrectly (for example, the door frame has not been leveled correctly).

Consequences:

• The door may rub against the floor, which will prevent it from opening and closing smoothly.
• Rubbing doors can damage the floor, creating scratches.

Solution:

• It may be necessary to adjust the door hinges.
• In some cases, reassembly will be necessary.
• If the problem lies with the floor, appropriate adjustments can be made to level the surface.

How to guard against the problem:

• Check that the floor is flat where the sash is installed.
• Take into account the tolerance at the design stage, for example, you can give a higher gap under the sash.
• Remember to level the frame when installing it

6. it is impossible to bring the door through the too small elevator/staircase

Problem: It is impossible to bring the door into the premises

If the door turns out to be too large to pass through the stairwell or elevator, this can lead to serious problems or make installation impossible.

Consequences:

• The doors are too big and do not fit in the stairwell or elevator.

Solution:

• It may be necessary to transport the door to the outside of the building using a crane.
• Send the door back to the manufacturer for a chargeable rework reducing the door components

How to guard against the problem:

• Check whether the designed doors, especially the largest elements, will fit in the rooms on the way to the apartment.
• Make sure that the dimensions of the elevator allow you to carry the door.
• Take into account possible amendments to the project, if the limitations are due to this problem.

7. no assistance in bringing the door to the floor

Problem: I didn’t prepare an aid to bring in the door

If we don’t plan for adequate assistance in bringing in the doors, it can lead to delays and difficulties.

Consequences:

• In the case of an oversized delivery by a shipping company, the driver will not bring the door.
• Assistance from the driver may be limited and depends on his personal decisions

Solution:

• Schedule a few people to help carry the door in.

How to guard against the problem:

• Arrange for the help of 2-3 people to bring the door to the premises where it will be installed.

8. doors do not face the division of patterns on the floor

Problem: Loft doors are thinner than masonry or drywall walls, and I hadn’t planned how deep I would set the door in the wall axis.

If you don’t properly consider the thickness of the wall when installing the door, it can lead to uneven floor joints.

Consequences:

• The doors will not face the floor joints.
• The recess of the opening will remain to be finished.

Solution:

• It is necessary to determine with the fitters how to embed the door.
• A threshold with a suitable wall thickness can be used.
• Floor improvements can be made

How to guard against the problem:

• Measure the door opening after the floors have been laid
• Plan how deep into the wall of the opening you will embed the door

9. mistake in choosing the opening direction

Problem: The door opens in the wrong direction

If the door opens the wrong way, it can significantly affect comfort.

Consequences:

• The door loses its planned function.

Solution:

• Check whether the confusion is due to the manufacturer’s website or to the wrong documentation provided by you.
• Have the door reworked or order a new one.
• File a door complaint.
• If possible, turn the door 180 degrees.

How to guard against the problem:

• Carefully review the documentation and make sure you have correctly marked the opening directions on the measurement card.

In conclusion, when ordering loft doors, it is worth being prepared for potential problems, but also pay attention to detail and accuracy. Taking advantage of the measuring guide, careful measurements, thorough inspection of documentation and proper preparation for installation can help avoid many problems and ensure satisfaction with the end result. Remember that a well-planned and installed loft door is not only a decorative element, but also a functional element of our apartment.