A Door That Failed to Deliver
I'm still fuming about the entrance door I installed in my house, courtesy of Steel Line's Nevada model. To be honest, I was expecting way better quality.
I signed the contract on November 30, 2016, for the production and delivery of the entrance door from the Steel Line factory to a specialized store in Brest, Soviet Street 91. The door model was Nevada, with a 'Tik' finish (dark wood), Series 100U, City Collection. This is a door with an MDF panel covered with a PVC film. It's an exterior door for a house! The final calculation was made on December 29, 2016. According to the preliminary agreement, the door was supposed to remain on the shelf until we were ready to install it.
The cost of the door was 1320 Belarusian rubles, which, according to the National Bank of Belarus, was equivalent to $670. In my opinion, the price wasn't small. We took the door and installed it in the summer of 2017. I want to note that we still haven't moved into the house, so we use the door pretty rarely.
In 2020, I noticed that the special moisture-resistant panels started peeling off at the edges of the door and on the door handles in the curved areas. I was a bit disappointed, but I thought it was a production cost, it didn't affect the functionality, and it wasn't super noticeable. I should note that the door faces east and is under a canopy.
When we were choosing a door, my husband wanted Steel Line, but the model range wasn't great, so the manager convinced us to go with a PVC film, assuring us of the quality of their new moisture-resistant panels! And I fell for it.
In the spring of 2021, I discovered cracks and small holes on the door panel! (photos attached) in areas where the panel doesn't fit tightly to the door: on the decorative facades and at the lock. The process continues. The panel has swelled, started cracking, and is crumbling in weak areas.
I know that the warranty period for the entire door is 2 years. That's very beneficial for the factory, but not for the consumer! The company's own engineering development of the original laminating technology for door panels, which provides increased resistance to high humidity and temperature fluctuations, didn't last 3 years. But it did survive the warranty period, bravo! This type of technology doesn't withstand any criticism. For such a high price, as a consumer, I expected a much higher quality material, especially for exterior use!
The managers insist on the quality of the produced goods. But where is this quality? An entrance door is not just a warm cloth and a strong lock; it should be aesthetically pleasing. When a consumer buys a product in a certain price segment, the level of expectations corresponds to the price of the product (simple logic: don't expect much from a $100 product). When buying a door from the Steel Line factory, I expected it to last at least 10 years, maintaining the declared characteristics, taking into account natural wear and tear. But 3 years have passed!
I should note that replacement panels for this door are also expensive! A panel made of painted water-resistant MDF with handles costs 622 Belarusian rubles, excluding installation costs. A Bork panel made of birch wood veneer with a lacquer coating and handles costs 959 Belarusian rubles. Additionally, these prices are not final, as the complexity of milling can affect the price, and you should also add the cost of replacement. The warranty for replaced panels, regardless of the material, is 2 years!
Thus, the factory is making a significant profit on its doors. The final cost of the doors is 10 times higher than their production cost.
This problem is quite common, and it's not their only weakness. The factory doesn't change its production technology; it's beneficial for them that you'll be replacing the panels.
The door continues to crumble... In a year, I can add to this review to see the dynamics.
This review is not sponsored by competitors. My house with this door is located in the Brest region, village of Vistychi, Luhovaya Street 3B. Feel free to come and take a look!
Don't be fooled by the enthusiastic reviews! Maybe the doors from this company are good for apartments, but they're not suitable for houses. If the OMON doesn't break down your door every week, and you live in a house, don't overpay. You can install doors with similar characteristics much cheaper.
As a consumer, I would advise you to think twice before buying a door from Steel Line. The quality is not what you'd expect for the price. The warranty period is too short, and the replacement panels are expensive. The company's production technology needs to be improved to ensure that their doors last longer and provide better value for money.
Based on my experience, I would give Steel Line's Nevada model a rating of 1 out of 5 stars. The door has failed to meet my expectations, and I'm not satisfied with the quality and durability of the product.
Here are some key points to consider:
The special moisture-resistant panels started peeling off within 3 years of installation.The door panel has cracked and crumbled in weak areas.The replacement panels are expensive and have a short warranty period.The company's production technology needs to be improved to ensure better quality and durability.