Tips
& Advice
What
should you look for when buying a garage door.? Will the advise here
be impartial ?
"The
advise I offer here is Impartial, because, if the customer thinks
about these issues, before calling any garage door company out, everybody
is far more informed and both parties have a better understanding
and it necessarily follows that the whole experience of purchasing
a garage door is more likely to for fill the needs of the customer,
which at the end of the day, is what we have to do to and stay in
business." - Eugene Perez, Managing Director Sussex Garage Doors
Ltd
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Firstly
its extremely important to have a list of your requirements,
think about what you are looking for in a garage door and in
the company you choose to fit it.
Look
at your existing door and make a note of what you don't like
and want to change.
Do
you want more height, more width, more length in the garage.
Make sure to make these points clear to the companies surveyor.
Ask
for insurance details and waste carriers licence, are their
staff trained, are they known to the manufacture for the right
reasons. Phone and ask the manufacture. |
Points
to think about before you call a company out. What do you want ? Not,
what do they want to sell you.
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Low
maintenance, i.e. no painting required -virtually maintenance
free - with just washing the door down being all you want to do
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Insulated
or fully sealing to keep out the leaves and wind. Use the garage
as an office or play room. Sectional and Roller doors are the
better doors for sealing. remember the only doors available that
are fully sealing and air tight are submarine doors. So be clear
and realistic on what you want to achieve, by changing the door.
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Space
saving, this could be by reducing the track space into the garage
i.e. roller doors, or changing to more space saving gear. Optimizer,
maximizer, or canopy .
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To
increase the drive through width or height of the existing opening.
Say fitting the door behind the brick piers. You loose some length
in the garage but in most cases on a single size opening gaining
6" or so in extra width.
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Or
are you looking for the most economical way of replacing the garage
door the most economical option, with little interest in design
on the finish of the door. Basic doors can be fitted for a little
as £275 inc vat - ask, as all garage door companies want
to sell doors.
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Design
and material, have consideration for designs that appeals to you
and the finish of the door, smooth, textured, bright high gloss
or matt finishes. Consider, if a football will be kicked against
the door, you'll want something strong and durable. Visiting the
showrooms is an ideal way of viewing the doors , push them , prod,
open and close them.
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Is
the frame and fascia going to be included in the works, will this
match in with a new door. Always check to see if trimming and
sealing from the frame to the brickwork is included within the
price.
If
you are able to give the company quoting as much information
as you can to your requirements it is much more likely that
the right product can be found to suit your needs and of course
budget. Would you let a decorator, choose the co lour for your
living room , don't leave a garage door company to choose your
garage door .
Secondly,
go and see the real thing, the larger more established garage
doors companies have showrooms where you can go and see full
size working doors, demonstrating finishes, colors, materials
and operating systems. When spending any amount of money it
is important to understand what product you are being quoted
for. Garage Door Companies with showrooms are no more expensive
than the one man bands on quality products . |
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Some
garage door firms are tied into one manufacture and this doesn't always
offer you the customer the best choice, choose an independent company
who are able to offer a wide range of products from different manufactures.
When
obtaining quotations for installations always ask for the specification
in writing, handwritten or typed, be aware if the quotations doesn't
specify the manufactures name, the door size and or a model name and
the finish of the door. All the best companies are more than willing
to detail a quotation out. Some will do it there and then others may
prefer to send a typed one. Usually with a couple of days. When obtaining
more than one quotation be sure to compare like for like products,
there are hundreds of pounds of difference between the various product
ranges. Make sure the quotations are carrying out the same amount
of work, trim's, frames, making good. This can vary the price quite
dramatically. If unsure always ask.
Not
all garage doors are the same quality, a working life of a garage
door can vary tremendously, depending upon how its fitted, so choosing
a company with a proven track record is a good start.
Trading
standards offer advise on who to choose, some companies use independent
organizations like www.checkatrade.com where you can actually go online
and see past customers comments.
I
have two Quotations and one is higher than the other , although the
products specified are the same, why ?
A
major contributory to reputable garage door installation companies
costs are not always appreciate by the consumer.
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For
example , installation staff take a Health & Safety test
run by C.I.TB and all installation staff have a CSCS card and
are industry accredit to NVQ level door service engineer. backed
up by in house training.
Public
and Employee liability insurance to 5 million, . First Aid kits,
hard hats, gloves, steel toe boots, reflective jackets.
Environmental
Health waste Carriers Licence. We dispose of rubbish correctly
. We don't simply dump old doors, in country lanes ! and yes
some companies do- You could be liable if they dump rubbish
from your house ,without a waste carriers licence they can't
go into the tip, so where do they dump rubbish? |
We
MOT TAX and insure our vans, have them regularly check for safety.
they are designed to carry doors.
All
our staff are employed and we pay National Insurance and Tax - we
do not employ those on benefits and pay them cash. I would love to
be able to do this as it would save a fortune, but I don't think the
tax man would like it.
We
are a member of Checkatrade and are willing to be checked and vetted.
We have also undergone a rigorous inspection by Trading Standards
to be registered in their "Buywithconfidence" scheme.
If
you know which manufactures product you want, for peace of mind visit
there web site and find out there recommended installer for your area.
Manufactures such as Henderson , Garador & Cardale will happily
advise you on competent installers in your area. The Association of
Garage Door Specialists also holds a list of their members in your
area.
