Eden Coast's Blog

This week, we invite you to read this great article we found in the Fall 2014 DASMA Insider Magazine.  We certainly do appreciate Tom Wadsworth for letting us share.  We at Eden Coast can attest to the value of both Facebook and Houzz.  Both avenues have been great relationship builders for us.  We'd love to hear from you about your experience with Facebook, Houzz or any other Social Media tools you have found helpful to grow new and existing relationships with customers!

Although we have provided the article below, you can click on it to view a larger copy at the dasma website. 

 

If you would like to browse the entire on-line magazine, here is the link:  http://www.dasma.com/PubMagInsider/093014/093014DAS.html.  In addition, if you want to check out the houzz website:  http://www.houzz.com/

We always invite your insight and experience!  Please share in the comment section below!

Until next time,

Brian

Here’s the scenario: You’re at a sales appointment and the customer says “I want to put a car lift in my garage to store another vehicle and I need the door to go up as close to the ceiling as possible.” They go on to ask for specific dimensions and clearances, but you’re not really sure about how it will all come together. Here are a few tips I’ve gathered to help clarify high-lift issues. 

First, let’s define what high-lift is.
Simply put, high lift is the difference between the height of the door and the bottom of the horizontal tracks.

My “Rule of Thumb” for maximum high lift (up to 64” using 2” track) is Headroom minus 10”. Let’s look at an example:

• The door you will be installing is 8' high (96")
• The total front wall height is 12' (144")
• This means the headroom is 48" 
• The maximum high lift would be 48"-10" or 38".(The 10"deducted is the space needed for the horizontal track (2") plus the drums and end bearings). 
• The distance from the floor to the underside of the horizontal track would be the door height plus the high lift. In this example 96"+38"=134" (total front wall height minus 10") 

I hope this helps the next time you need to figure a high lift job. Many thanks to C.H.I Overhead Doors for the majority of the drawing.

Please feel free to download our Headroom Requirements Worksheet for your use. 

If you have any tips and tricks you would like to share, feel free to email me at brian@edencoast.com. As always, we encourage your comments or suggestions in the section below. Thank you!

 

Our thanks goes out to Tom Wadsworth and the DASMA Insider for these great tips to help you when you need your garage door repaired. Please share this with your friends. I’m going to print a copy and tape it to the inside of my garage door right now!

As always, we encourage your comments and suggestions in the area provided below.

 

 

 

From time to time I like to pass along information I have discovered which I find particularly useful and informative. The following is an article from DASMA’s Door and Access Systems Insider eNewsletter.  Many thanks to editor Tom Wadsworth for allowing me to share it.

Visit DASMA's homepage

As always, we encourage your comments or suggestions on this topic in the section below.

When you’re in the market for a new garage door, choosing a good dealer is as equally important as the door you choose. Garage doors are large, heavy, potentially dangerous moving objects which require a level of skill and training to install and service.

If you are a builder and the project is new construction, you may have a dealer (or two) that you work with and trust to do your work. If you’re a homeowner and replacing your existing door, the choice is all yours. In either case, here are a few things for you to consider when choosing a garage door dealer.

 

Referrals:

• Talk to your friends and neighbors. Who have they used in the past? Did they have a good experience with the dealer? Why or why not?

• Speak with a couple of reputable builders in the area. Get their input on the subject. If the builder says they use them because “they’re the cheapest”, move on to another builder.

 

Social Media / Internet:

• Do an internet search for reviews of garage door dealers. Skip the paid ads. The results should include numerous reviews from sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, YP, BBB, etc. PLEASE remember that anyone can write anything on the internet. If you read a poor review, continue reading to see if the dealer has responded, commented or proposed a resolution to the customer’s poor review.

 

Location:

• Is the company familiar with local building codes and regulations? Do you live in an area that they service on a regular basis?

 

How long has the company been in business?

• Longevity is typically a good indicator of a well-managed service company. That doesn’t mean that this should be your only tool in measuring quality. Maybe they have just been doing average work for a long time. There are many newly formed companies who bring a great level of enthusiasm, technical skill and customer satisfaction to the marketplace.

 

Is the company licensed and insured?

• Regulations regarding licensure of garage door dealers vary greatly across the country. But where it is required, some organizations will conduct business without proper licensing, insurance or both. Ask to see copies of the documents required to conduct business in your area.

• If you live in an area that requires building permits to change your garage door, the dealer may not be able to pull the required permits if they are not properly licensed or insured.

 

Are they members of any professional organizations?

• Professional organizations such as IDA (International Door Association) strive to create and maintain quality and professionalism as well as provide helpful programs and services to their door and access system dealer members. There are also regional and local associations which foster these same values on a more local level.

 

What is the scope and quality of products offered?:

• Is the dealer “married” to a particular brand of door? If their manufacturer doesn’t offer what you want, is the dealer willing to step outside their preferred product line, put your needs first and seek out the best products for you? Sometimes this requires extra effort on the part of the dealer to do some homework, but his willingness to address your specific needs speaks to his overall level of customer service. Don’t settle for being pigeonholed into a “cookie cutter” product.

• Does the dealer service what they sell? Make sure the dealer is willing to stand behind his products and workmanship.

 

Most importantly, trust your gut:

• As you speak with representatives from different dealers, take note of their general level of professionalism. Are you being treated respectfully? Is the dealer using a consultative approach and attempting to educate you on your options, or is he/she using high pressure tactics? Take the time to do a “gut check” and find a dealer with whom you can comfortably relate.

 

I always welcome additional comments or ideas via the comment section below. We all benefit from sharing our individual experiences.

 

 

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