SmoothControl Plus Close System Installation Overview | Andersen Windows

[@sunshinemodels1]

This door has been incredibly challenging for us.. we installed it correctly .. and because the "smoothControl" arm is so damn strong.. it puts a lot of pressure on the weakest point of the top of the door, i.e. the highest hinge and those little sheet metal screws.. so opening and closing, and opening, locking, and unlocking, and closing.. over and over and over.. puts a lot of stress on the hinge and actually bent our hinge rail.. and stretched out the screw holes in the top hinge.. so.. Andersen sent us a new rail.. which I installed and reinforced with more screws in the frame.. but now the hinge on the door is getting even more pressure.. and the screws come loose.. so I moved up to #10 sheet metal screws.. which worked for a few days.. but the problem intensified because as the pressure continues on the hinge back and forth, it causes the screws to flex and stretch the screw holes in the door.. allowing the screws to loosen. Andersen, please help!

[@tundrawhisperer4821]

This is disappointing to hear. We are just now looking at this same door. The features sound really nice, but now after reading your comment about the door, I’m not sure about taking a chance. Has Anderson contacted you yet? Thx

[@sunshinemodels1]

@@tundrawhisperer4821 No, I wouldn't buy this door again. They did send us a new hinge rail and I added 4 more mounting screws strategically to the top area to stabilize the weak area. its working better but the larger holes that were bored into the back of the door because of the large holes bored into the back of the actual door because of the initial weakness. Surprised no one else has mentioned this yet.. I guess after adding all the screws to reinforce the top of the hinge rail, I can call Anderson to have them send us another door frame with original smaller hinge rail screw holes.. and it "might" work

[@tundrawhisperer4821]

@@sunshinemodels1 just a couple more questions. Did you adjust the closer pressure down a bit? If I was to take a chance on this door, should I just plan on using bigger diameter screws for the hinge frame? I haven’t seen any other reviews addressing this particular issue. Thx

[@sunshinemodels1]

@@tundrawhisperer4821 the closer pressure is felt more mid open-close than at the extremes (all the way open or closed) and I've changed the tension to very easy and very stiff.. has no impact on when the door is being held open by the arm.. and yes, we bumped up the sheet metal screws to #10 from #8 on the top and second hinges... if you add the strategically placed screws both crossways into the door frame (side to side, front to back) in addition to the factory holes.. it might work. We drilled 4 more holes into the hinge rail after we unboxed it.. but we first measured to determine the strongest equidistant points to drill. In conclusion, I believe it WILL work if you add 3 - 4 more screws to the hinge rail and tighten the #8s very well.. or immediately go to #10s

[@paulgreen2618]

How do you engage the smooth control arm so that it keeps the door open? No mention in the directions and I don't want to experiment. Thx

[@donsmith4170]

what you forget to say and do is to level the door after you install it, before you install the screws on each side. Once you screw the door in and release the orange brackets your screwed if the door isn't level. I think the orange braccket on the bottom of the door should come off before you install it that way the side brackets arfe both touching the floor plate.

[@shpirt1ilir]

What series is this door?

[@andersenwindows]

This is a 10 series door

[@saulbernal7015]

Cómo se llama esa puerta