Eden Coast's Blog

Kristen Bosse of Georgia State Homes was kind enough to do an interview with Brian Clark, our Director of Sales and Marketing in an effort to get to know more about our business and why we do what we do.  We have copied a part of the interview here and have included the link where you can read the article in its entirety.  Thank you Kristen, for taking the time to get to know about us! Enjoy the article!

Can you briefly go over the main options that homeowners need to decide on when they're considering a new custom garage door?

Whether it is a replacement door or for new construction, a great place to start is your local garage door dealer who's familiar with what's out there. Here are some key topics for discussion with your dealer about your composite door purchase:
Can I have any design I want?
Would I like to add windows to one or more sections?
Can I have any color that I want?
Can I match a wood that I like or that is already on my house?
What level of insulation is appropriate?

What are some of the most popular garage door styles and features for most homes?

In terms of style, customization is what distinguishes us from the rest. Our attention to detail and dedication to quality are the cornerstones of our success. We do have some designs that are requested more frequently than others, but when it comes to a custom composite door, the design and finish are as individual as the owners and their homes.

As for features, you may wish to incorporate windows into your door or embellish the door with some decorative hardware. It's totally dependent on your vision.

How well do your garage doors stand up to the environment?

We have a large number of our doors installed in Florida. That is one of the harshest environments anywhere with its extreme heat, humidity and coastal exposures. The main advantage of using composite materials to clad the door is that it is fully customizable and it is a better alternative than wood. The composites we use will not rot or decay. The finishes we apply, be it paint or stain, are from the highest quality manufacturers and are designed to stand up to all temperatures and harmful UV rays.

And for the rest of the story, click on the link next to "Check out my interview" below....

Check out my interview, 7 Tips on Custom Composite Garage Doors on Georgia State Homes, one of the top sites for Georgia homes for sale, including Douglasville, GA homes for sale. Georgia State Homes also services Florida real estate and North Carolina homes for sale.

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Emails scams have been around for as long as there has been email. I’m sure all of us have been declared winners in the Nigerian lottery, but some scams are not so preposterous. Here’s one that came to my inbox just last week:

From: Kevin Lance [mailto:officeofkevin47@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:03 AM
To: Brian Clark
Subject: Qoute needed

Hello Sir/Mardam,

I am Mr Keven.I am contacting your company to make an order of 16 by 7 Non Insulated Garage Doors.I will like you to get back to me with the price of 13 units the specs below including tax to be picked up at your location.I also would like you to advice me on the terms of payment that you accept.

Below are the specs.

16 by 7 Non Insulated Garage Door

Thank you
Kevin.

I did not alter his message and as you can see, the grammar and spelling are a dead giveaway. He couldn’t even spell his name correctly from the hijacked email account. Below is a great article from the DASMA Insider on how to spot such scams and what to do if you fall victim. Please forward this message to make others aware.

As always, I encourage your comments and suggestions to further the discussion. Thank you!

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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The market for composite garage doors has been a real phenomenon over the last 6 years or so. It was not born of the desire to create a less expensive alternative to wood. Remember, aluminum widows are more expensive than wood windows. But why? Both were born of the desire to create a longer lasting alternative to wood without all the maintenance and worries of wood-related issues such as rot and insects. Once “non-wood” materials first became more readily available and people started to see their advantages, all sorts of materials were stuck on the outside of garage doors. Unfortunately, most offered limited success.

Wood is popular because it can be cut, planed, shaped and made into just about any type of design that you can visualize. However, wood has limitations when it comes to durability. Some of today’s composites are machined in the same ways as wood, easily lending themselves to customization. Yet, some people just don’t get it. “Cookie cutter composite” is a manufacturing reality in the garage door industry today offering only a few designs with limited colors. These doors are mass produced in a factory on an assembly line with little, if any, room for personal touches. But not all composite garage door manufacturers operate that way. Fortunately, for you, the consumer, the list of true composite craftsmen in the market is short.

So why choose composite, and how do I decide which one to go with?

The answer to the first part is easy; hands down, it is a better alternative to wood. Many new composites are available, and there are innovative companies combining traditional craftsmanship with beautiful, durable finishes. While nothing will ever take the place of wood for its unique graining and beauty, there are comparable alternatives. Wood is popular because different types of woods can be used to achieve many different types of colors. The same is true with warranted durable finishes available from a true composite manufacturer.

So, how do you decide which one to go with? This answer is a little more detailed. You should consider going with someone that puts as much thought into the building of your door as you do the decorating and the designing of it. Do a little research and ask these questions:

• Can I have any design I want?
• Will someone help me or my architect come up with a design that is unique and compliments our home?
• Can I have any color that I want?
• Can I match a wood that I like or that is already on my house?

Once you’re comfortable with the answers to these questions, then it is time to find a dealer. We’ll explore ways to help you find the right value added dealer for your needs in our next discussion.

If you’re looking for a reason to purchase a composite door, remember the most important reason composite doors exist: to be a longer lasting alternative to wood. And when you purchase a composite door, choose a manufacturer that offers true craftsmanship, not a “Cookie cutter” approach to design and finishing.

As always,I encourage and welcome your comments or questions on this topic to further the discussion.

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All of us at Eden Coast welcome our newest team member, Brian Clark, effective May 5, 2014. Brian serves as Director of Sales and Marketing in our Lawrenceville, GA home office and reports directly to Duane Laricey, President.

Brian brings over 23 years of experience in the Garage Door industry. Brian started in the carpenter shop building wood doors for Electronic Door Lift in Ft. Lauderdale, FL way back in the early '90s! He was responsible for rendering ideas from the sales department and creating garage doors in full scale. He was then promoted to Installation Field Supervisor. Eventually, he made the natural transition to sales for the next four years before accepting the Area Sales Manager position with Allied Doors South Florida in 2001.

For the past 13 years, Brian has worked diligently to develop and maintain strong relationships with builders, architects and homeowners. We are excited to add his creative talents as we continue to increase the Eden Coast brand recognition.  Several of Brian's Eden Coast designs are featured in our brochure, on our personalized delivery truck-wrap and in our photo gallery at www.edencoast.com.

Brian earned his Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University where he dual-majored in Sociology and Criminology with a minor in Psychology.

We appreciate you joining us in providing a warm welcome to Brian. You may reach him by calling 1-888-407-2114 or by email at brian@edencoast.com

With excitement,

Your partners at Eden Coast

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