Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for garage door contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For 1A Garage Doors, Inc., the key to keeping clients happy is simple: focus on their needs from the very beginning of their projects. “We treat our customers the way we’d want to be treated,” says co-owner Vince Kalenyuk. “They know they can trust us to fix their garage door issues, and if they need us for anything in the future, we’ll be there to help.”

1A Garage Doors has been installing and repairing garage doors for residential and commercial clients throughout Sacramento County and the surrounding areas since 2016. The family-owned and operated company is qualified to work on everything from hinge and spring repairs to full-scale door replacements, and it also installs hi-tech garage door opener systems made by industry-leading manufacturers like Genie and LiftMaster.

Unlike less experienced garage door companies that try to upsell their customers on unnecessary products or repairs, 1A Garage Doors gives its clients exactly what they need for their particular situations. “We don’t sell products just to benefit ourselves—we find out what the customer needs and show them options that fit within their budget,” explains Mr. Kalenyuk. “It’s the same for repair work. Once we do a thorough inspection and determine what needs to be fixed, we explain the process to the client so they understand what’s going on.”

1A Garage Doors further differentiates itself from its competition by not overbooking itself so it can help customers with emergency services and warranty work. “We spread out our scheduled work so when a client has an emergency, we’re usually available to get there within a few hours,” affirms Mr. Kalenyuk. “We don’t want our customers to have to wait for weeks when they really need help, so we try to get to them as quickly as possible.”

Think twice before hiring a garage door company that uses proprietary parts and equipment.

When you hire a garage door contractor, you probably know to ask about license, insurance, installation and repair experience, and budget. But did you know that you should also ask about the products they install? Obviously, it’s a good idea to verify that a company installs quality parts, but some companies sell their own lines of garage doors and parts, which can lead to unexpected issues down the line. “The problem is that if you need a specific part and the company is no longer in business or you can’t get a hold of them for several weeks, you’re simply out of luck,” says Vince Kalenyuk, owner of 1A Garage Doors, Inc. in Fair Oaks.

Even larger companies use proprietary hinges, cables, springs and rollers. It can be frustrating and expensive if these parts break or wear out and must be replaced with factory parts or serviced by factory-authorized technicians. In worst-case scenarios, companies discontinue certain models, making parts unavailable for existing doors when components break and requiring homeowners to replace doors that would otherwise only need repairs or new parts. For these reasons, many garage door companies suggest purchasing doors that have standard interchangeable parts so any contractor can work on them.

How to protect yourself and your garage doors
The best thing to do is avoid buying garage doors that use proprietary systems or parts. Ask whether the doors come with standard interchangeable parts before you make a purchase, and be cautious if the answer isn’t “yes.” If you do buy a garage door with proprietary parts or systems, verify whether the brand is easily serviced by many different garage door contractors. Ask how often makes and models are discontinued, how long the model has been on the market, and whether replacement parts are easy to get. If the only company that can service the door is the one you’re dealing with, or if replacement parts are expensive or rare, consider choosing a more common brand or model.

Q: Can you install smart garage door openers?

A: Yes, and they’re very popular. With these openers, you can actually program your smartphone to open your garage door from anywhere in the world. If you have to open the door for someone else, you can do it without giving them a key or code.

Q: Do you use proprietary parts and equipment?

A: No, we make sure all the brands we use can be serviced and repaired by other companies. There are companies that use proprietary products, but if you need a part and that company is no longer in business or they can’t help you for a couple of weeks, you’re simply out of luck. We prefer to use high-quality, well-known brands so you have multiple options for repair and service.

Q: Why are the products you install more expensive than the ones at big-box hardware stores?

A: The products found at big-box stores tend to be lower quality and pieced together. Our products cost more, but they’re contractor-grade, so they’ll last much longer and give you a better value.

Q: Are garage doors getting more expensive?

A: Yes. Especially with COVID, prices aren’t going to be the same as they were two or three years ago. Steel prices have gone up a lot, so you should expect to pay more for certain products.

Q: Are there any new codes I should be aware of?

A: After the wildfires in 2018, all garage door opener motors are now required to have battery backups. That means if you decide to replace your garage door, your contractor can’t legally remount the old motor or opener unless it has a battery backup.