Few garage door companies earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality. Even fewer can also claim an owner who has two decades of industry experience, but that’s exactly the case for AAAA Quality Garage Door. “My experience has given me a high level of technical proficiency, but it has also taught me exactly what it takes to please a customer,” explains owner Darren Hodges. “It’s often the little things. For example, I give a two-hour window for appointments instead of the usual three- to five-hour window. I’ve learned that a customer’s time is just as important to them as the price.”

AAAA Quality Garage Door has been selling and installing all types of garage doors for homes, businesses and industrial sites throughout Contra Costa County since 1994. The company’s main area of expertise is sectional metal doors, but it also works with wood, metal and custom carriage-style doors. “We can do rolling steel doors for commercial applications as well,” adds Mr. Hodges. “We like to take on challenging jobs and perform complicated work that we can proudly stand behind.”

Unlike garage door companies that have numerous employees and have to adjust their service charges to cover overhead costs, Mr. Hodges performs all AAAA Quality Garage Door’s work himself, which enables him to bid lower than most of his competitors while still maintaining a high level of quality. “Price makes a big difference in this business,” he says. “Because I work by myself, I can afford to provide quality products at lower costs.”

Another distinguishing feature of AAAA Quality Garage Door is its comprehensive approach to quality control. At the end of each installation, Mr. Hodges conducts a complete walkthrough to make sure the work has been done correctly and the customer is completely satisfied. “Before I leave a job, I go over every point of maintenance, explain how the garage door works and make sure it’s free of defects,” he explains. “That’s just another example of my dedication to customer satisfaction.”

Perform simple safety and maintenance tests to maximize the efficiency of your garage door. Like most mechanical devices, your garage door and its operating system need to be properly adjusted and regularly maintained in order to function correctly. Some tasks are best left to trained service professionals (spring repair and replacement, track/roller repair and replacement, door installation), but there are several basic maintenance tasks you can perform yourself:

Monthly visual inspection. Stand inside your garage with the door closed. Look over the garage door’s springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and mounting hardware (such as hinges) for signs of wear, damage or fraying. Is the mounting hardware becoming loose? If something doesn’t look or sound right, it could be the symptom of a more serious issue.

Monthly door balance test. If your door is equipped with an automatic opener system, close the door and disconnect the automatic opener. Once you’re able to lift the door manually, it should lift smoothly with little resistance and remain fully open. If it’s difficult to open or doesn’t remain open, it may be out of balance and should be serviced by a professional.

Monthly reversing mechanism test. (Garage door openers manufactured after January 1993 are required by federal law to be equipped with a reversing mechanism to prevent entrapment. If your system doesn’t have this feature, consider replacing it with a new model.) With the garage door fully open, lay a piece of wood on the floor in the center of the opening where the door would touch the floor. Push your garage door opener’s transmitter (wall button) to close the door. When the door strikes the wood, it should automatically reverse. If it doesn’t, call a service technician.

Monthly photo eye test. (Garage door openers manufactured after January 1993 are required by federal law to be equipped with a photo eye or edge sensor to prevent entrapment. If your system doesn’t have this feature, consider replacing it with a new model.) With the garage door fully open, push your garage door opener’s transmitter to close the door. Wave a broomstick or long object in front of one of the door’s photo eyes so it “breaks the beam.” The door should reverse and reopen. If it doesn’t, pull the broomstick out of the door’s path and let it close. With the door in the closed position, clean the photo eyes with a soft, dry cloth. Gently adjust the photo eyes by hand if they appear to be out of alignment. Open the door and repeat the test. If the door doesn’t reverse and reopen, call a service technician.

Monthly force setting test. With the garage door fully open, push your garage door opener’s transmitter to close the door. As the door is closing, hold up the bottom with your hands. If the door doesn’t easily reverse and continues to close, pull your hands away immediately. This type of closing force is excessive and the door should be serviced by a professional.

Semi-annual lubrication. Apply a small amount of spray lubricant to the door’s hinges, rollers and tracks.

Q: What garage door brands do you install?

A: I prefer to install C.H.I. doors, but I also offer doors from Amarr, Clopay, Wayne-Dalton, Carriage House and other leading manufacturers.

Q: Other than style, aren’t all garage doors essentially the same?

A: No, there are numerous functional and quality differences between garage doors. Some things to consider are insulation and window options, various types of automatic opening systems, and color and style differences. I can walk you through the available options and choose the door that’s right for you.

Q: How soon can you get to my house?

A: I can usually be onsite either the day you call or the day after.

Q: Do you also sell and install garage door openers and other door-related products?

A: Yes, I can install garage door openers and accessories that provide the highest levels of convenience, safety and security. I utilize factory-installed hardware and tracking systems to install ceiling- and wall-mounted garage door openers; wired or wireless infrared safety sensors and accessories; quiet, all-steel tracking systems; state-of-the-art, multi-function control panels; and more.

Q: Do you offer any warranties or guarantees?

A: Yes, I provide a written warranty that protects against manufacturer defect for one year and a lifetime guarantee that covers any faults in my installation services.