Whenever customers ask if they can just purchase materials (glass, hardware, gaskets, etc.) from us and do the installation themselves, we're happy to oblige. But first, we give them a boilerplate spiel about some of the issues we've run into over the years. A great installation starts with precise measurements, so it's critical that customers provide us with accurate dimensions and out of plumb and level conditions. When we quote a job, we lump measurement, delivery, installation, and warranty into one figure, but we can separate these items to tailor a package that makes sense for our customers. We can just measure, and then have customers pick up the unit and install it, or we can measure and deliver, and then have customers just do the installation. This reduces the total cost, but frequently customers run into issues with installation, and any cost savings get offset by us having to make a trip to salvage the install. That being said, our fees for measurement only and measurement/delivery are as follows:
- $125 - Measurement Only
- $175 - Measurement + Delivery
Now, our preference for doing the measurement, delivery, and installation ourselves is not at all about the money. First, we prefer to have the responsibility be on our shoulders so there's no ambiguity as to whose responsibility it is if something goes wrong. If a client provides us with measurements and they make a mistake, there can be finger-pointing at the time of installation. This benefits no one, so we prefer to have control of all phases of the project. Second, we provide a warranty on the labor when we measure and install (different from the manufacturer's warranty on the materials), and this coverage against leaks and minor adjustments is not available when we don't measure and/or install. The manufacturer's warranty remains intact, but our labor warranty can be indispensable. Third, the installation itself can be a delicate, tedious procedure, and the difference between an A+ installation and a B- is razor thin. We don't try to put the fear of God in people by making it out to be rocket science, but there's definitely some nuance involved in a high quality shower installation. We have over 20 years of experience, so we can efficiently pinpoint and troubleshoot installation issues that would take homeowners and general contractors much longer to address. There's just no substitute for hands-on experience, period.
Please find a map of our service area below, and know that we'll sell a shower door to anyone who needs one, whether we do the installation or not. We genuinely believe that the slight additional cost of having us take care of the labor is well worth the cost though. When we measure and install a custom shower enclosure, it guarantees that we "own" the project so to speak, which means that we'll be there to take care of any problems that arise thereafter. As we always say, custom shower doors should be a once-in-a-generation project when done correctly, and this includes accurate measurement and expert installation. Saving a few bucks in the short-term just isn't worth it in most cases, because if something - anything - goes wrong, you'll be paying more money to have it fixed then you would've paid originally to have us just do the installation. For shower doors in Washington, DC, Western Maryland to Annapolis, Southern Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, we're your guys!
Happy showering!
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