top garage door manufacturers and installers

Top Vs. Unknown Companies

Buying from a top garage door manufacturer has advantages. Sectional garage doors are now sophisticated and mass-produced products, with foam cores, superior edge and bottom seals, and features that more traditional companies have difficulty to offer…

Small manufacturers used to respond better to customization requirements, but that's very relative now. The big names are now offering interactive design and sizing tools to personalize garage door choices. Once chosen a model of door, you can select between a wide set of sizes, and define the panel pattern, the colors, the painting and staining, the windows and their placement, decorative hardware, etc. See: Garage Door Design.

Even wood garage doors haven’t to be finished on site anymore. Big garage doors manufacturers are offering the factory finish paint option, and since many of them are selling their products through local dealers or big home improvement stores like Lowe's or Home Depot (which also install the doors) they are now closer to their customers.

Door Warranty

When choosing a manufacturer, pay attention to the warranties of their different door lines. Wood garage doors have a short warranty (usually a year or two) but other doors may have 15, 20 or even lifetime warranties.

Top Garage Door Manufacturers

In USA and Canada, the main garage door manufacturers are Clopay (sold at Home Depot), Raynor, Overhead Doors, Wayne-Dalton (sold at Lowe's), Amarr-Reliabilt (sold at Lowe's) Ankmar, Martin Doors... In Europe or Australia, where some types of residential garage doors (roller shutter, side-hinged, op-and-over...) have more importance than in the American market, there are other big players: Gliderol (Australia), Garador, Select, Hormann, National Doors, LegBud, Cardale, Henderson, Novoferm, etc.

Garage Door Installers

The installation of a garage door isn't a DIY project. It's a highly technical job involving a large number of parts and even some dangers. The installation of the tracks and torsion and extension spring systems require expertise and training, and is risky to DIY. Besides, a proper installation is critical to get maximum performance, and manufacturers may void certain warranties if the installation is wrongly done.

Even if you have time, interest or tools to install your garage door, think twice. There are some instruction kits and videotapes to help DIY garage door installation, and even some companies offering support for do-it-yourselfers, but entrusting the job to a trained installer is a better option. He will get the job done properly in a few hours time.

Manufacturers can recommend trained dealers-installers. You just have to look at the manufacturer's sites, and use their Dealer Locator options. The dealers are also installers (Lowe’s or Home Depot also provide installation services) and provide information, support, insurance, warranties or disposal of old garage doors.

Alternatively, you can look for professional and trained garage doors installers at Door Education Find a Technician and Door Education Find Dealer.