The Almost-Never-Ending Saga of my BuildingÕs Front Door
February 2003: After two weeks of looking at condos, our
realtor takes us to see an apartment we end up buying. As we step inside,
the sellerÕs realtor/representative gestures to the buildingÕs front door
and says, ÒOh, donÕt worry about the front doorÑitÕs kind of crummy, but theyÕre
in the process of replacing it.Ó
March 2003: We go to Purchase & Sale on our unit
in the building. Our home inspector notes that the front door needs to be
replaced and that although the intercom works, we cannot buzz someone in from
the front door. Again, we are assured that this will be repaired before we
move in.
August 8th,
2003: After numerous
tenant problems, leak problems, and mortgage problems, we finally close on
our unit. Congratulations! The front door and intercom still have not been
fixed. The front door (both inner and outer) unlocks manually and closes behind
you, but it is not very sturdy.
October 28th,
2003: WeÕve just spent two months renovating and
repainting our unit, and we finally move in. The front door and intercom still
have not been fixed.
November 1st, 2003: WeÕre suddenly told that there will be a
special assessment on all condo units to pay for replacing the front door
and entryway carpet and repairing the intercom system. This was apparently
planned for a year, but never put in the works, and it stinks that we have
to pay it instead of the previous owner, but we pay it promptlyÑitÕs due by
December 1st. By this point, the front door is not closing well
behind people, and itÕs becoming unsafe as well as unsightly.
What follows is a series of emails IÕve exchanged with the head of the condo management company about the door in the last year. All names and addresses have been removed.
Date: January 29th, 2004
From: <Me>
To: <Management Guy>
Could
we please get a status report on the front doors? Both of them still do not
close right, and when both the inner and outer doors are open, it's a real
safety concern. We've been hearing about the new doors for almost a full year
now, ever since we began looking at this apartment last February, and we payed
our special assessment promptly in December. What's the holdup?
Date:
January 29, 2004
From:
<Management Guy>
To: <me>
The status of the front doors has changed. Originally, we had obtained
a bid from a commercial door and glass company to redo the entire front doors
and side panels. The design of work would resemble something of a store front
look. This would be the safest and most durable option, but the trustees have
recently decided that they do not want this look, but instead of something
more of what is there right now.
SO, we are now going to order two new doors and to shore up side
panels. I do not have a time frame of when this will be done, but hopefully
very soon.
Once this is done, the intercom system will be installed as well.
The new carpet should be in next week. Obviously, safety is a priority.
If the doors are not closing properly, let us know and we can repair them
temporarily.
And thank you for sending in your assessment on time.
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2004
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi--just curious about the status of the door/carpet work. I'm
sorry to bother you again, and
I do appreciate your responses. Thanks!
Date:
February 19, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
Thank
you for your patience, I understand if you are frustrated with the progress.
We are meeting at the building next week with a trustee, to finalize plans
for the new door way entrance. At that point, we will also select the color
of the carpet to be installed.
Date: Sunday, March 21, 2004
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi--it's been a month since I last heard an update on the door and carpet, and I just wanted to a) check in again on their progress, and b) let you know that the current, outer front door is once again not closing securely behind people. As the weather gets warmer and people start having more parties, I think it's more important than ever to have a working, secure door. Thanks!
Date:
March 23, 2004 2:47:06 PM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
I
know, this is taking forever. The door should be installed within one month.
The plan is to remove the second entry door and its side panels. We will only
have the front door. Then tile the old vestibule.
We are ordering a new front door and we will rebuild the first side
panels. Then, the carpeting will be installed.
Hope this helps, and again, thanks for your patience. Let me know
if you have any questions or concerns.
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2004
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Just looking for an update on the front door, entryway, and stair/hall carpet. What is the timeframe for completion of the job? We are quite unhappy, at this point, that we paid our special assessment promptly but yet have not seen any progress on the job in five months.
Date:
May 27, 2004
From:
<Management Guy>
To:
<me>
We spoke with the door manufacturer yesterday and because it was
a special order it has taken much longer than anticipated. They said a week
but I would anticipate two. It will then take a few days to install the door
and to rework the entranceway. The carpet will be installed shortly thereafter.
The trustees are still picking out a color for the carpet, but we already
have a contractor selected. The intercom system will go in around this time
as well.
Sorry for the delay, I understand your frustrations.
Date:
July 7, 2004
From:
<Management Guy>
To: <me>
The
front door will be installed next Wednesday or Thursday.
July 10th-July 20th: Time
passes. Nothing is done.
Date:
July 20, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
FYI:
the front door has been pushed back to next week. Our guys want to do it during
the DNC because that week will be slow and they will have time to spend the
time over there. The carpet color has been approved (greenish) and will go
in right after the door is installed. Then we can work on the intercom.
Date:
July 23, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
I am on vacation next week. In the meantime, the door should be
installed and the carpets are still scheduled to go in shortly there after.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Date:
August 2, 2004
From: <me>
To:
<Management Guy>
First of all, I hope you had a nice, relaxing vacation. The DNC
wasn't really all that chaotic in most parts of town, and it was actually
a quiet week in Boston.
Next, I just wanted to check in: the front door seems not to have
made any progress last week, and I'm wondering where we stand on that
Thanks for your continued help.
Date:
August 3, 2004
From:
<Management Guy>
To: <me>
I did have a great week, spent it in the Outer Banks of N.C. Thanks
for asking.
The door wasn't installed because the manufacturer wouldn't deliver
it during the week of the DNC (so they say). So now its been pushed to this
week.
I'll keep you updated.
Date: August 11, 2004
From: <me>
To:
<Management Guy>
Hi --just checking in again about the door. As far as the door goes, as the inner door, especially, becomes progressively more battered, it's been getting harder and harder to get our keys to turn in the lock. Yesterday I spent five minutes fiddling with it, and I'm worried that if it takes much longer to get the door replaced, I will actually not be able to get into the building at one point.
Date:
August 12, 2004
From:
<Management Guy>
To: <me>
The
door has been a comedy of errors up to this point. I thank you and everyone
for their patience. It's been one reason or another as to why it's not in.
I have been told that it will be installed on Monday. I see no reason why
it won't be at this time.
September 7th,
2004: We return from
a weekÕs vacation in Hawaii to discover that the door was installed while
we were goneÑonly a year and a half after we first heard about its install,
and only nine full months after the condo board had the money from the special
assessment in hand to do it. However, the door is raw, unfinished wood; it
is clearly not an outdoor door; and it is installed into unfinished, unpainted,
plastered boards. In addition, the intercom/buzzer has made no progress, and
the door doesnÕt even close very securely.
Date:
October 4, 2004
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi --how's the painting/finishing of the entryway going? All the
unfinished wood and plaster is really attracting dirt and dust, so it seems
better to finish it sooner rather than later. The carpet looks great, of course,
but it would be nice to have things fully finished.
However, a more serious concern about the front entryway is that
we are still just as insecure (if not more so) than we were before the renovation:
the front door doesn't close securely behind you, unless you absolutely pull
it shut; the hinge isn't very tight, which perhaps is part of the problem,
and the rubber strip on the bottom of the door is always getting rucked up
and rubbing, which slows down the door's closing process so it doesn't have
enough force left to click shut. This is a major problem: especially with
the lack of an inner door (not a problem on its own), I really do not like
coming home everyday to find the front door unsecured. You can't tell from
looking at the door that it's open, which is a good thing, but a very light
push reveals that the door wasn't fully closed and is in fact effectively
unlocked.
Given that this is a brand new door, I think this needs to be
addressed now rather than tabled.
Date:
October 4, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
This is concerning. I will have the front door repaired so that
it shuts and locks on its own. I understand this is now the only door so this
door must remain secure.
We
are waiting on a trustee to select the color for the entranceway.
December 9th, 2004: We have the first-ever condo meeting since
we took possession of our unit almost a year and a half ago. IÕm elected as
one of the three trustees. I discover that money has been budgeted for the
repair of the intercom system for almost two years, yet nothing has been done.
After some discussion, since itÕs already an approved budget item, the Management
Guy and the other trustees agree at this meeting that we should, indeed, proceed
and repair the intercom. I mention that the front door still does not close
securely, and everyone also agrees that we should, of course, fix that.
Date: Monday, December 13, 2004
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Well, the new intercom system we talked about at the trustee meeting
sounds great. What's the timeframe for the installation? When would they start
it, and how long would it take from start to finish (1 day, 1 week. . . )?
Date: December 14, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
Installation will only take a day as long
as we have access to every unit.
Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2004
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
okay, and when would that be? as long as you give us notice, anytime would be fine for us, at least.
Date: December 14, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
Not
sure. Unless the other trustees decide not to install the intercom (which
won't happen), the work will be scheduled for sometime next week. When I get
a date I'll let you know.
Date: December 20, 2004
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
The parts are on order. The intercom is scheduled to be installed
on Thursday, January 6th. I will post the building about a week before.
Date:
December 22, 2004
From:
<me>
To:
<Management Guy>
Hi --I'm writing to remind you that our front door _still_ does not close securely or reliably, especially in cold weather. Now that almost all of the residents have gone away for the holidays, once the door gets left open (for instance, because it doesn't close completely behind the mailman or someone else on their way out), it often stays open for an entire day or night. I find this out when I go downstairs the next morning and see the drifts of snow that have blown into the lobby, or when my guests of an evening make their way all the way up to my apartment without needing to buzz me. It's very disturbing, and completely unsafe.
As I recall, the suggestions made at our meeting about this problem
were:
1) add weight to the door with a metal panel on the bottom (this
would also help with durability and scuffs) so it is heavier, and more likely
to swing shut
2) tighten, if not outright replace, the swinging mechanism at
the top of the door
Something _must_ be done--preferably sooner rather than later, as this is an ongoing and pressing problem, and as it doesn't make sense to spend the money and time hooking up the intercom right now if the door itself still won't close and might potentially need repair or replacement. I suggest a diagnosis of the door tomorrow and an attempt at repair the week between Christmas and New Years, or on 1/3 (Monday) at the very latest, so that we can see it in action for at least a couple days before the intercom installation.
No response.
Date: January 9, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi --we returned home tonight from a long weekend away, and I
wanted to check in with you. I see nothing was done with the intercom installation;
when will that be done? Please let me know so that I can arrange to be home
when someone accesses my unit to install the panel.
I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience,
Date: January 10th, 2005
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
I
apologize for the delay, I was on vacation. We needed to wait until I returned
from vacation to schedule the installation. The intercom company will be getting
back to me today on a date to install the intercom system. He wants to complete
the work in one trip, so ideally you would be home. I have requested the installation
for the end of this week or sometime next week to give you enough time. Let
me know what days are good for you.
Date: January 11th, 2005
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
The
intercom company would like to replace the intercom on Monday. Does this work
for you?
Date: Monday, January 17, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi--It looks like we have a new outdoor unit, but that the all-important buzz-someone-in feature
is not yet functional. In addition, though I stayed home all day to be available,
no one entered my unit or attempted to.
When will work be completed on this? I'd like to know ahead of
time. If someone needs to enter my unit tomorrow, for instance, they have
my permission to do so in order to test the intercom and buzzer, but they
do not have permission to remove the current wall unit or install a new one--I
would like to be there for that part (if, indeed, such a step is necessary).
Date:
January 18, 2005
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
There was a problem with the installation. When the intercom company
came in to replace the unit panels they noticed that the building is on a
two wired system and not a three wired system. So they had to order new panels.
They think Friday is the new date for the installation. I will confirm tomorrow.
They will be installing a new panel.
Date: Friday, January 21, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
I've cleared the area around the panel in my unit, and the workmen have my permission to enter today and do the install. Since I won't be home until very late this evening, can you confirm via email this afternoon when the work was done and the intercom functioning?
Date: Friday, January 21, 2005
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
The
intercom repairman canceled today. He said that the new panels haven't arrived
yet. To make matters worse, he is on vacation next week and won't be able
to make the installation until next Tuesday.
Date: Friday, January 21, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Do you mean Tuesday the 25th or Tuesday February 1st? And what
is going to be done about names on the doorbell panel at the front door?
From: <Management Guy>
Date: January 21, 2005
To: <me>
Tuesday the first.
I will put the names of the tenants and owners in the directory.
I just need to make sure I have an accurate list of names. I can do this on
Monday.
Date:
January 27, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
The front door is currently not closing on its own--that is, not unless it is pulled securely shut behind someone. The brass plate that attaches to the frame seems to be gone, and the wood on the door is getting chopped up by closing and smacking against the wood frame. If the intercom install will really be done on Tuesday as scheduled, then we can wait to repair this until then, because they'll obviously need to install a new plate to allow the buzzer to open the door.
No response.
Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
I am home now, and I see no evidence of an intercom install happening today. What is the current status of this?
Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2005
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
The
intercom installation was pushed back to Thursday. I am going to post the
building today. The intercom guy didn't get back from vacation until this
morning. If you took work off specifically for the intercom installation and
you can't be home on Thursday, then he can probably install your panel later
this afternoon and finish the job on Thursday. Let me know what you would
like to do.
Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
No, Thursday is fine--I won't be home, but that's okay. So, by
Thursday evening we should have:
1) all new panels in the units,
2) buzzing-in capabilities, and
3) names on the outside doorbell panel?
That will be wonderful--thanks for letting me know!
Date:
February 1, 2005
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
Yes,
everything will be done by Thursday.
Date: February 3, 2005
From:
<Management Guy>
To: <me>
I
have some news to report. As you know the intercom company couldn't put in
the door release function today. This has to be postponed until early next
week. But the intercom panels did go in.
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2005
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Briefly: When is the intercom/door release for the front door
going to be
finished?
Date: February 15, 2005
From:
<Management Guy>
To:
<me>
The intercom guy didn't get into two units in the building for the
panel install and he was waiting for me to track down those keys before he
returned to drill in the door striker, etc. I have the keys and he will be
picking them up tomorrow. He said he will do it on Friday.
Date:
February 16, 2005 3:30:43 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
I'm looking forward to the buzzer installation on Friday! Will the resident names be updated underneath the glass by tomorrow as well? That should really happen sooner rather than later, because many people's visitors forget the apartment number, and I've been getting lots of wrong-number buzzes. Thanks in advance for your updates,
No response.
Date:
February 18, 2005 9:07:17 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi--it's Friday night at 9:00, and I've just gotten home to find that there was no installation of the door release mechanism today. What's the status of that?
Date:
February 22, 2005 11:24:22 AM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
I spoke to the repairman and he didn't make it to the property on
Friday. He said he's backed up and he had to push it until tomorrow.
Date:
February 22, 2005 12:02:23 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Well, something happened on Friday in any case--our intercom,
at least, and maybe the other units as well, now emits a high-pitched whine
when you attempt to talk or listen. We speculate that maybe a wire was crossed,
because through the whine, when you're in the apartment you're able to hear
a person below just as clearly with the _talk_ button depressed as with the
_listen_ button, something that never malfunctioned in this way before.
I'll look forward to it being in working shape tomorrow. Will
the names on the outdoor plate be up then, too?
No response.
Date:
February 23, 2005 10:31:22 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Hi--just checking in on the door again, as it doesn't look like
it was done today. When will this be finished?
Date:
February 25, 2005 12:56:39 PM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
He said there was an issue with his locksmith. He also said everything
should be done today. I apologize for the delay, I am losing my patience with
this repairman.
Date:
February 25, 2005 12:18:35 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Thanks for the update--I understand, of course, that it's not
your fault and it must be frustrating for you to deal with as well.
No response.
Date:
February 28, 2005 4:56:51 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Any updates?
Date:
March 2, 2005 11:36:58 AM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
Everything is completed except for the directory.
March 2nd, 2005: No, it isnÕt. Surprisingly, nothing new
was done at all.
Date:
March 3, 2005 10:04:29 AM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
An update,
The intercom isn't done, we are still waiting for the locksmith
to install
the door strike. He
promised me by Saturday. Hopefully sooner. The
directory will be updated today.
Date: March 9, 2005 10:14:18 AM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
The door strike, if that's what it is called (the plate the door closes onto) was indeed installed very late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. When will the buzzer be hooked up, though? The directory is also still not done.
No response.
Date:
March 16, 2005 12:05:54 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Again, just checking in about the status of the front door. We still do not have a directory outside, nor a working buzzer. When will the buzzer be hooked up?
Date:
March 16, 2005 12:10:58 PM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
The intercom person said he hooked everything up over the weekend.
He
told me everything was good to go on Monday. I just spoke with him
and
he is coming in today to see what the problem is.
I'll have the directory in later today.
Date:
March 16, 2005 3:48:52 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Okay, well, just for your information, nothing was done over this weekend, or Monday, or yesterday. As of today, though, it does appear to be hooked up. I'm home alone, so I can't verify that it actually works, but it does appear that it could indeed be functional. I'll test it tonight when my husband is home--I look forward to a working buzzer!
Date:
March 16, 2005 3:54:46 PM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
The repairman did stop by this morning after your email and reconnected
a snapped wire. So according to him, everything should be working
properly. Let me know if it doesn't.
Date:
March 16, 2005 7:45:38 PM EST
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
Okay, we were just able to test the buzzer. The electronics of
the buzzer do indeed work, and they appear to release the hitch on the door,
but there is a mechanical problem: there isn't physically enough room for
the door lock to move forward, thereby opening the door. So, we have a system
that still doesn't work.
When will they be able to come out to fix it? Since it's completely useless at the moment, I think you should be able to press them to return tomorrow, for instance. They will need to cut away some of the wood in the door jamb, from the looks of it. Please be sure that this time they test that the buzzer does in fact open the door before leaving.
In addition, the small box outside is hanging by a thread on a single screw. Can this be fastened down securely, so that it doesnÕt accidentally snap or so that the wires arenÕt exposed to rain/snow?
Saturday, March 19th: We have a party on Saturday night, and Robert
gets out there with his chisel and chisels away at the wood when each guest
comes in. We keep testing the buzzer, and when the last guest arrives, it
has enough space chiseled out of the wood to work. Debbie is successfully
buzzed in!
Date: Monday, March 21, 2005 8:56 PM
From: <me>
To: <Management Guy>
the directory is sadly inaccurate and must be changed: it lists
12
apartments in all, instead of 10, including B1, B2, and 1-10.
We are
incorrectly listed as apartment 10. Having _no_ directory was
actually
better than having a misleading one.
Date:
March 22, 2005 4:43:51 PM EST
From: <Management Guy>
To: <me>
Good to hear the door works but I doubt the repairman made it to
the
property. I noticed the box was still dangling this afternoon.
I will have the directory changed tomorrow.
In conclusion--Total
Costs:
In Money:
$10,000 for the carpet
and the door (parts and labor)
$1600 for the intercom
system (parts and labor)
In Time:
Two years and one month
In Effort:
A lot of emailing to check
up on the status (as you can see)
A lot of running down the
stairs to let people in
One afternoonÕs condo board meeting
A lot of pulling the door
shut behind us because until recently it wouldnÕt shut on its own
Some chiseling
In Aesthetics:
Uglier white and beige
plastic, cheap-looking panels in our units instead of the fairly streamlined
stainless steel panels we had before.
In Warmth:
Single door doesnÕt insulate
building as well as double doors did; hallway is much colder, and since door
still doesnÕt shut securely in very cold and windy weather, we often have
snowdrifts in the lobby.
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Created: 3/28/05. Last Modified: 3/28/05.