
First Impression Ironworks
About us
First Impression Ironworks is America’s #1 & Arizona’s largest designer, manufacturer and installer of custom Iron Security Doors, Iron Entry Doors, and Iron & Wood Gates, as well as Sunscreens, Window guards, Iron Railings, and Iron Artwork. Since 1995, First Impression Ironworks has built a reputation of fabricating and selling the highest quality iron products, providing award-winning service, quickest delivery, and overall best value to homeowners and businesses. *Please note that hours may vary with holidays – please check our website
Business highlights
Services we offer
Manufacturing and sales of security screen doors, and solar screens., iron and wood gates, iron entry doors, iron railing, spiral staircases, window guards
Amenities
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
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84% | ||
7% | ||
1% | ||
6% | ||
1% |
"We apologize for the issues you experienced, but are pleased that we were able to work with you to fulfill our customer service promise. Although mistakes are bound to happen over thousands of installations, we do apologize that yours went initially unsatisfactory."
"Thank you for taking the time to review us, [Member Name Removed]. We certainly appreciate it!"
One installer showed up as scheduled (he called en-route to let me know their projected arrival time which was nearly right in the middle of the schedule window). The installer, Danny, was very professional and obviously knew how to install gates. I did not time him, but it seemed less than an hour and the gate was installed. Danny was meticulous to ensure the gate was centered with equal gaps on both sides of the gate. He also keyed the gate to the same key that I used for the other gate.
Before Danny left, I noted that one of my previous gates key would not work. Danny removed the lock and re-keyed it in about 5 minutes.
We are extremely happy with the gates and I highly recommend First Impressions - their people are very knowledgeable, personable, respond quickly and they support and stand behind their products. Their gates are not inexpensive however, for the quality of the product, the price is reasonable. It feels good to work with a US company that manufactures their product in the US with outstanding quality.
First Impression wanted to set up an appointment to look at what we wanted done (security door for sliding door, front security door and door for arched entry way in a courtyard area). We went over all options and decided to go with First Impression due to their responsiveness, price, and the fact that the doors are made in Arizona.
We were told that the actual install date would be mid to late January. Everything was installed on January 19, 2015. The install went okay, but the installer tried to convince me no less than three times that we should not have the door locks keyed like our front door. We opted to have them keyed alike for a reason and i told him each time that we wanted them keyed alike. If a customer tells a contractor that they want something done a specific way, that contractor should not continue to push back. It is my choice, not theirs.
The build quality of the front door and sliding door security doors is better (but there are issues with the door locks) than what
you would buy from a big box store and have to install yourself. However, I cannot say the same for the security door for an arched entry way in our courtyard.
On the left side of the frame where it starts to arch, are minor issues, but that could probably be chalked up to the bending process. However, the right side looked like someone beat it with a sledgehammer. It shouldn?t have made it made it past quality control.
I got in touch with First Impression and explained everything. The person I spoke to wanted to blame it on someone using a grinder too much, even though I knew better based on just looking at the depression and one side bulging out.
They explained that they would take the whole door and frame off, take it back to their shop, determine what needed to be done and get it fixed. Total turnaround time would be about 10 days.
They removed the whole door and frame and turnaround time was about 10 days. However, I was not home when it was reinstalled and the person doing the install did not verify whether or not the deadbolt went into its hole. It did not.
A few days after reinstall, Natalie called to see how things went. I called her back and she not only had a hard time finding my information, she swore up and down that she did not call on the day she did call. I found her to be a bit confrontational and accusatory in her tone and choice of words.
Build issues:
The rear door and front door can be difficult to get the deadbolts set. You have to work too hard to ensure that the door is completely closed, or there is no way that the deadbolts will set. I am not fond of the fact that I just about have to slam the doors just to ensure that the deadbolts will set.
The arched entry way door seems to be good, although it should have been right the first time. They should not have delivered and installed a door that looked as if the frame was beat on by a sledge hammer. They should not have reinstalled the frame and door and not verified that the deadbolt would set.
Recommendation:
The ONLY positives I can say for First Impression is that when I first called them, they were very eager to actually come out to see what we wanted done instead of quoting prices over the phone. I also found the sales person pleasant and easy to work with.
Aside from that, I experienced way too many problems to recommend this company to anyone. While I will still make them abide by the terms of the warranty, I would not use them for any new installs.
Delivered on schedule!
The first window grille was mis-drilled, so they simply took it back and returned another time to install a correct unit. No hassles or 'we'll make it fit'.
The screen door used a narrow integrated lever and deadbolt, avoiding the squarish insert a normal deadbolt requires. The grille however has to use a standard deadbolt, this to allow cleaning the outside of our non-opening window. Otherwise it would just bolt on and look a bit neater.
The price was on the high side, but the materials and workmanship were both excellent quality, including color-matched powder coating. They touched up over the install hardware, caulked everywhere needed, and re-keyed to our existing locks. They also verified no gaps or openings; the screen door seals tight to a felt weatherstrip. Install took around 2.5 hrs, and they both called ahead & met their appointment time. They cleaned up thoroughly.
The perforated-metal grille seems to keep out bugs just fine. We have not yet had a heavy driving rain to test the threshold, but it resists hose sprays.
Licensing
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