Buying a garage door/opener is like buying a project, though most people don’t look at it this way. investing wisely in this project that an individual will only partake in, once or twice in a lifetime on an average; will save you time and money now and for the long run…. let’s get started with some brief buyers q & a’s that make the process a little simpler:
Q. What kind of door/opener should I get?
A. What kind of door/opener do you currently have? Do you like it or are you looking to change it up a little bit? Does the current door meet standards, needs and functions of your demand? Based on your answers to these questions you will be able to move forward quickly.
Q. Why should I get a new garage door/opener?
A. If your garage door/opener is damaged beyond repair (whether by natural or human cause), you should probably get a new one. Maybe you’re selling your home and want increase the value of it by installing a new garage door or garage door opener.
Q. What factors should I consider when purchasing a new door?
A. When buying a door always consider cost, size, material, insulation levels and decorative elements; not to mention the overall purpose for usage of the garage. Also consider the type of weather exposure your garage door will have to survive, and any accessibility needs. Also, don’t forget to consider the warranty!
Q. What are the benefits of getting a new garage door/opener?
A. Getting a new door can improve the appearance of your home, increase value of the home, result in less maintenance to your home and personal property by adding security and aiding in insulation to your door and overall home(like a bedroom that sits above the garage) it. Getting a new opener can improve functionality and support to your door.
Q. I am a visual and hands on person. Where can I go to see or touch my purchase, before I actual buy it?
A. There are retailers that provide opportunity for you to come in a showroom and view samples or models of most types of doors and openers available. some folks like to drive around the neighborhood and look at what others have to get a feel of what they may like… try to learn as much as you can because the more you learn about the upkeep of the garage door and opener, the more money you can save in the long run as well.
Q. What is your budget for this project? How can you save cost?
A. Try to stick you your budget as much as you can, with the least amount of out of pocket cost as possible. Chances are that you can save more on a garage door/opener bundle. Always see what your options are. Maybe you can purchase one at a time if you budget does not allow…..get a quote from your dealer and ask how long the quote/estimate is good for.
Projects don’t have to be a big hassle. They have actually be a lot of fun with the right sources and guides…you may even consider yourself to be garage door and opener knowledge certified when you’re done! The more you know before you buy, the better off you will be in the long run!
Is it worth replacing it? Transforming the appearance of your home can increase your home resale value significantly. In fact, a recent article published states that the installation of a new garage door retains up to 83% of it’s value during resale of the home. Not to mention, a quality insulated garage door can save you hundreds, even thousands, over the time you are in your home thanks to energy savings and fewer repair costs. Isn’t it worth it to you to spend the extra money to get something that will improve the value of your home and make it stand out? The garage door takes up a large portion of the exterior of your home, and can be a great way to make a statement without having to do major renovations.
Parts and Panel Warranties
What is their parts warranty? The manufacturer’s warranty on garage doors is usually 3 to 10 years on panels and only 1 year on parts. If other companies offer a lifetime warranty, be sure to ask them if service agreements are required to maintain your warranty (ours does not). Your garage door is the largest moving part in your home. Don’t you want a garage door you can count on without the hassle?
Plano Overhead orders the thickest gauge steel possible on all of our garage door components. Our lifetime warranty includes the springs, cables, rollers, hinges, tracks, sections and all associated hardware.
Labor Warranty
How long do they warranty their labor on garage door installations? 1 Year (Best), 90 days (Worse), 30 days (Bad), No Warranty- yes they’re out there! (Worst). We stand behind our work and do not require maintenance agreements to uphold our warranties. We strongly encourage yearly service to maintain our garage doors, but if you have any issues we take care of them at no charge.
Spring Styles
How many springs does their two car garage door come with? Two Galvanized (Best), Two Oil Tempered (Better), One Spring (Good), Stretch Springs (Worst). The garage door spring is the most important piece of equipment in your home other than your air conditioner. If you treat your garage door like a front door like most people do, then it should be worth it to make sure you get the most reliable and durable springs on the market. Our Oil-tempered and galvanized spring options both come with a lifetime warranty.
Steel Gauge and Thickness
What thickness of steel is their garage door made from? 24 gauge (Best), 24 gauge nominal (Bad) 25 gauge (Worse), or 26 gauge (Worst). 28 gauge steel garage doors can be bent by hand, and can actually be cut with a standard box knife. Some customers don’t think the thickness matters until a hailstorm comes through! 24 gauge steel garage doors are the thickest available for residential garage doors, and this is why we are able to put a lifetime warranty on them.
Rollers
What rollers does it come with? Nylon Coated Steel 11 Ball Bearing (Best), Steel 10 Ball Bearing (Good), Nylon (Worst). Rollers are like the tires on your vehicle, once they go out you are pretty much out of luck. Utilizing both a nylon sleeve AND a steel bearing core, nylon coated steel rollers are as good as it gets. Nylon coated steel rollers come with a lifetime warranty. Other than good springs, nylon rollers are the next most important in the longevity of your garage door.
Hardware
What thickness of steel is their hardware made from? 14 Gauge (Best), 16 Gauge (Good), 18 Gauge (Bad). We replace broken hinges on competitors’ garage doors every day. The customer is none the wiser until a hinge breaks or a cable snaps because the company chose the builder package when they bought your new garage door from a local supplier. Our hinges and hardware are 14 gauge or thicker and come with a lifetime warranty.
Reinforcing Top Strut
Is a top reinforcing strut included? Yes (Great), No (Worst/Dangerous). Without a top reinforcing strut, the top panel of your garage door can be destroyed when your spring breaks. Most garage door opener manufacturers will void all warranties in the absence of a top reinforcing strut because there is nothing to keep the top panel from folding in half after years of operation. Struts take extra time, effort, and money- but they are a necessity for safe and dependable operation. Our struts are top quality and also have a lifetime warranty.
Consider Noise Level
Is upgrading the rollers worth it? Nylon coated steel rollers can reduce the sound that your garage door makes by almost 65%. If you have rooms above or near your garage, this is a must have! Don’t be fooled by companies that quote “Nylon Rollers” but fail to mention that they are ONLY nylon with no steel bearings. Notice our roller on the right has a steel bearing wrapped in nylon so that you get durability AND noise reduction. Steel rollers with 10 ball-bearings are great, but a nylon coating makes quite the difference.
Insulation Values
Will Insulated Doors Pay for Themselves? Yes! Garage doors are measured by what is called an R-value. The higher the R-value, the more energy efficient the garage door will be. A double steel, sandwich style 2″ polyurethane injected insulated garage door can affect the temperature in your garage by as much as 10 to 15 degrees depending on which direction the garage door faces. Keeping the garage temperature down prevents attics from getting as hot in the summer as well. The more the insulation, typically the quieter the door will operate as well. Thicker panels rattle and pop less as they open and close. Not to mention, they look a lot better from the inside when they’re insulated!
Choose a Manufacturer
Our garage doors are manufactured by an Amish based company called C.H.I. right here in the United States. Our garage doors are 24 gauge steel, have upgraded commercial grade hardware, and are known as being the best in the industry. We install wooden garage doors, insulated garage doors, double-steel garage doors, wood-faced garage doors, steel doors that are painted to appear like wood, full view, fiberglass, and a wide range of carriage house or ranch style garage doors.
We have a large collection of pictures from jobs we’ve done in recent years. As garage doors continue to evolve, we stay on top of emerging trends. We understand the dramatic impact a new garage door can have on the appearance and resale value of your home.
All our service technicians are professionally trained and certified for installation, customer service, and sales. As a family owned and operated company, we make sure that our friendly company technicians can come out and walk you through the entire process. We’ll bring color samples, 2′ by 2′ samples of our garage doors, brochures, pricing information, and pretty much anything you’re looking for. We’ll take measurements, and give you all of the options you have to choose from in order to allow you to choose what suits your needs.
Sometimes pictures just aren’t enough, so we built fully functioning garage doors for our customers to use in person. Being able to hear and touch a garage door is much more important than any brochure or color sample. We have customers who completely change their mind once they come see our selection in person. Our office staff is not commissioned and our customers know them to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Upload a photo of your own garage door, and view any model that we carry on your own home. See what you’re getting before you buy! Please note that colors appear slightly different in sunlight than on a phone, screen, or monitor- but that’s why we have a showroom and give free estimates in person!
Whether you’re building a new home, renovating, or replacing an older garage door; we suggest that homeowners take each of the factors below into consideration. Some people are focused on appearance and cost is no issue, while others want the cheapest garage door possible and could care less what it looks like. The good thing is that thanks to advancements in the garage door industry, there is a garage door out there that suits just about any of your needs. Give us at Plano Overhead Garage Door a chance to exceed your expectations! 972-422-1695
