CLASSIC WINDOW & SHUTTER SYSTEMS

I would like to give this contractor a better rating. In the process of replacing my doors and windows I met the owner, his wife, and his daughter. They were all nice people. Unfortunately my experience with the installation of the hurricane resistant sliding glass doors was not good and I can?t give Classic Window a positive recommendation. I think the primary elements of a home improvement contact are as follows: 1. Was the product ordered the same as that which was delivered and installed? 2. Was it delivered on time? 3. Was the cost of the product the same as that originally agreed? Unfortunately Classic Windows failed on each of these three elements. The contractor unilaterally increased the price. I was originally told that I could pay using my credit card and the $5,000 deposit was paid using my MasterCard. However, after we were already a month past the original estimated date installation date, the contractor told me that he was having financial problems and was not accepting credit payments anymore and I would have to pay in cash for the balance due on the contract ($12,500). This saved the contractor approximately $400 since he didn?t have to pay the credit card fees but it was an inconvenience for me since I lost the rebate or rewards that I would have earned by using my credit card. The contract stated an estimated installation of six to seven weeks from signing. It took thirteen weeks. When we ordered the five sliding glass doors in October, we were assured that everything would be done prior to Christmas. The contact estimated an installation date of six to seven weeks which would have been the first of December. We finally got the doors installed at the end of January, after having the credit card company reverse the $5,000 deposit and also complaining to the Better Business Bureau. The contractor blamed the delays on the supplier but I don?t I agree. I had a contract with Classic Windows and they are responsible for their agents and suppliers. They chose their suppliers and any problems with the suppliers should be their problem and not mine. I don?t think I got the product promised. We had originally looked at aluminum (PGT) doors but Classic Windows recommended a fiberglass door (Neuma). We were told that this was a better product and met all the local codes for windstorm protection. When the doors were eventually brought to our house, I noticed the stickers on the doors stated that they had been tested at Design Pressure 50. The other ?not as good? doors had been tested at Design Pressure 65. When the doors were finally installed, they failed the building inspection as not meeting the Florida building code much less more stringent Miami Dade building code. The installers for Classic Windows were able to drill more holes through the door frames and eventually got the inspection approved under the Florida Building code. I don?t think they could have been retrofitted to meet the Miami Dade code.