Is $3,000 to sand, prime, and paint custom hardwood doors a fair price?
Project Details
I had custom hardwood doors made overseas in the Philippines from Tanguile wood. The doors were built to order and needed to be milled down to fit US standard door jambs, a service I paid for separately. I believe the milling process left waves in the wood. I hired a general handyman to sand, prime, and paint these doors, paying $160 per door, totaling $3,000 for the lot. I am frustrated because the sanding job appears sub-par; despite the contractor claiming to have sanded with all grits, visible and palpable waves remain, which they incorrectly attributed to wood grain. I thought the contractor should have addressed these issues or at least communicated them before priming and painting. I acknowledge some responsibility for purchasing "dirt cheap" doors. I've already paid the contractor and am now looking for advice on how to fix the issue, though I plan to work with them to correct the most noticeable doors, as lighting significantly influences their appearance when installed.
Quote Details
The quote covers the sanding, priming, and painting of multiple custom hardwood doors. The doors were originally custom-made in the Philippines from Tanguile wood and had previously undergone milling to adjust their width to fit US standard door jambs. Water-based paint was used for the finish. The homeowner noted dissatisfaction with the sanding quality, observing visible and palpable waves in the wood that the contractor claimed were sanded out.
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