This project holds a bit of a special place in my memory—it’s one of the last door insert jobs I completed before taking a break from that part of the business. At this point, full door replacements make up 99% of my work, but every once in a while, an insert project reminds me of why I started in the first place.
This one was completed on a track builder subdivision home—though it was one of the more upscale ones. The door itself was already quite impressive for a builder-grade house: fiberglass slab, multipoint locking system, and a transom that was so massive it took three determined guys to hoist it up.
The goal was simple: add a finishing touch by installing custom-designed metal inserts that would elevate the look and give it that final layer of personality and detail.
But as is often the case, the biggest challenge wasn’t the decorative element—it was the craftsmanship (or lack thereof) of the original installation.
When I came to measure for the inserts, I immediately noticed the door wasn’t closing properly. And with a four-point multipoint lock, that’s a major issue. I advised the client to get the builder to fix it before we moved forward—because once we installed custom components, it would void any remaining warranty.
Well, four months and two service visits later, the builder’s crew had somehow made things worse. The lock still wasn’t engaging properly, and the doors were even more misaligned than before.
It ended up taking me an hour and a half of meticulous adjustments—realigning hinges, shifting slabs, and slowly bringing everything into alignment just so those finicky multipoint latches would catch. For a job that should take three or four hours total, that’s a lot of extra time just to fix someone else’s poor workmanship.
And honestly, this is something I see again and again across all types of homes—from starter townhouses to multi-million dollar customs: a lack of pride, precision, and accountability.
There are many possible reasons—tight schedules, poor training, minimal oversight—but at the end of the day, none of them justify sloppy work. This job was just another reminder that the smallest details are often the most important.
Still, what gives me hope is the number of incredible trades I’ve come to know—both online and in person—who are doing things the right way. People who care. People who learn and grow.
So here’s to everyone in this industry who chooses to take the extra step, ask the extra question, or stay the extra hour to make it right. We may not fix the system overnight, but we’re moving in the right direction—one door at a time.