Eden Coast's Blog

7 Tips on Custom Composite Garage Doors

Posted by Brian Clark on Tue, Sep 16, 2014 @ 09:15 AM

ID 100206688Kristen 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.

 

Image stuart miles

Tags: B2C, b2b, eden coast, finish on composite door, composite garage doors, composite garage door design, home improvement, architect, homeowner, alternatives to wood doors, rot free and maintenance free, garage doors, window design, customized glass options, garage door design, eco-friendly door material

Why should I consider a composite garage door?

Posted by Brian Clark on Tue, Jun 10, 2014 @ 09:22 AM

61014 blogIn the course of my work, I’m frequently asked two questions: “Why do composite garage doors exist?,” and “Why should someone consider installing them?”

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.




Image jscreationzs

Tags: composite garage doors, composite garage door design, alternatives to wood doors, choosing composite vs. wood doors, rot free and maintenance free, eco-friendly doors, better alternative to wood

Making a well-informed decision about composite garage doors

Posted by Duane Laricey on Wed, Nov 02, 2011 @ 11:18 AM

Making informed decisions about composite garage doorsLet’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 

 

Tags: B2C, b2b, ongoing cost of composite door, alternatives to wood doors, choosing composite vs. wood doors, rot free and maintenance free

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