Eden Coast's Blog

In an effort to share with you some of the many outstanding garage door dealers in the country, I would like to introduce a recurring segment on our blog: The Dealer Spotlight.

Allied Doors West Florida, Inc.

Contributed by Steven Romanelli

Allied Doors West Florida, Inc. has been serving Southwest Florida’s garage door needs since 1991. We are a family owned and operated business who specializes in garage doors, garage door openers and garage door repairs. Allied Doors West Florida, Inc. is one of the largest sellers of garage doors and garage door openers in Southwest Florida, and our commitment to customer service is unsurpassed. We proudly offer Amarr, C.H.I. and Eden Coast doors and are a LiftMaster ProVantage dealer. We furnish and install doors rated for all wind code areas including Miami-Dade.

In addition to our dedication to customer satisfaction, Allied Doors West Florida, Inc. is also committed to our community. We have installed many garage doors for Habitat for Humanity in Lee and Collier Counties and also contribute to various local charities such as Builders Care, KidsCan and Naples Equestrian Challenge.

Our business is fully licensed and insured and all of our technicians are full-time employees. Our highly trained and qualified staff is dedicated to superior standards of product installation, service, and dependability. From quality steel garage doors to custom made wood and composite garage doors we are a one stop shop.

Because change and innovation are constant, Allied Doors West Florida, Inc. strives for consistent improvements in policy, procedures and technology to promote continuous growth toward new levels of excellence. Our showroom is “second to none” and a good example of this principle.

If you’re unfamiliar with Allied Doors West Florida, Inc., take a few moments to surf over to their site. They are extremely knowledgeable and a fine example of a quality garage door dealer.

If you are a dealer interested in being put in “The Spotlight” please email me directly at Brian@EdenCoast.com

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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Let’s pick up on our discussion about all the choices surrounding the selection of a composite garage door that I began a few weeks ago in our first blog post.

 
There are several well-informed decisions that have to be made when choosing to go with a composite garage door.

 
After choosing a composite door, many people think, “Alright, we don’t have to worry about rot or insects! Now we can move on to the next decision.”  If a rot-free door is your only concern, then you will have more options available to you in the composite garage door arena. 

If you want to take your information gathering to a deeper level, then one of the most important considerations is going to be the ongoing cost of owning a composite garage door.  

For the sake of this discussion, let’s limit our focus to stained doors.  Most composite doors are faux stained or stained with a wiping stain just like wood. While that, in itself, is not a problem, most people forget that their research started with the words, “rot free and maintenance free”.  

So, if a composite door is finished with the same materials that are used on wood, then the clear coat becomes the most important factor. 

What is the clear coat? It is the clear coating that is applied over the stain to protect it from the elements and to block the harmful UV rays that cause fading and damage.  Some of the clear coats need to be reapplied annually based on your UV exposure to keep the finish from fading, cracking or peeling and just as important, to preserve your warranty.  

So, while some composites have no wood in them at all and will not rot, the maintenance becomes about the preservation of your look and finish.  When considering your finish, ask yourself:

• Will it be stained?
• Who is going to stain it? 
• What will it be stained with?

Remember that the most important factor about finishing is what will be applied as the clear coat. 

My best advice in searching for the door that most meets your needs, is to make sure you define specifically what you are looking for. Important issues to consider are:

• Are you looking for the same architectural detail that wood offers?
• Are you looking to have the same stained effect that wood offers?
• Do you want your doors to be only rot free?
• Do you want your doors to be rot free and maintenance free?

Each of these questions, and answers more importantly, will narrow the focus of your search as you move forward.

When it’s time to decide, ensure that you are armed with as much information as possible.  There are some great composite materials out there, each with their own benefits. However, there are very few different types of finishing techniques out there. I would encourage you to search for the finish technique that is head-and-shoulders above the rest.  I hope I have helped you feel better equipped to find the best one for you. 

Keep in mind that just because your architect or designer has suggested a wood door, doesn’t mean that is your only choice.  Remember that there are quality alternatives that provide the look and feel of wood. 
 

Image:  graur razvan ionut