Unreliable Garage Door Brands To Avoid, According To 4 Experts

Well, it finally happened. Your old garage door bit the dust, so now you're in the market for a replacement. The cost to replace a new garage door is not exactly cheap — you can expect to spend thousands, depending on the brand and type of door you choose. So, it probably goes without saying that you want to select one from a reliable brand that will operate seamlessly for years to come. However, while many of us have general knowledge about the most reliable appliance brands, few of us are as well-versed when it comes to garage door manufacturers.

Before you purchase a new garage door, it is essential to learn more so that you can make an informed decision. While there are several reputable garage door brands, there are also many that are not so highly regarded in the industry. To help you learn more about which of these brands you will likely want to steer clear of — and why — we reached out to four home and garage experts. Ahead, you can learn more about why they recommend avoiding certain brands so that you'll be able to choose the best garage door for your home.

If you're looking to replace your garage door, there are likely better alternatives to the Wayne Dalton brand. During their exclusive interviews, two of our experts, Craig Focht, the CEO at All Pro Door Repair, and Leonid Stepchenkov, a garage door repair and installation expert and the director at Berintek, both named Wayne Dalton as a brand they would avoid. "Wayne Dalton was bought out in 2009, and from what I've seen, their products haven't really improved since 2000-2001," explains Focht. While the company was purchased by Overhead Door Corp., which also manufactures garage doors, products sold under the Wayne Dalton brand name remain available today.

The company's TorqueMaster spring system seems to be especially problematic, according to Focht, Stepchenkov, and numerous customers. "Take their TorqueMaster spring system, for instance, which is less durable than a traditional torsion spring and limits the availability of replacement parts, forcing the homeowner to rely on specific suppliers. That means higher repair costs and longer downtimes," says Stepchenkov. Several customers took to Reddit with similar complaints. One noted that they were quoted over $300 just to replace the TorqueMaster spring-loaded lift after only having the garage door for less than two years.

While it sounds like you're best to steer clear of Wayne Dalton, Focht says there are only two models to consider if for some reason you are limited to this brand. "If you're set on Wayne Dalton, the only doors I'd suggest are the 8300 and 8500," he says. These are two steel models from Wayne Dalton which are designed to offer better thermal efficiency to minimize the impact of extreme hot or cold exterior temperatures on the garage or home.

Ideal Garage Door offers a wide range of garage door styles. Whether you're looking for a modern garage door, one that offers a classic wood paneled look, or a commercial-style steel model, you may find something that matches your vision on the company's website. However, according to Focht, you may end up regretting a decision to go forward with a purchase of one of these options. "Ideal has recently adjusted their logistics in shipping their doors and it has not been for the better. No more driver assistance with unloading," he explains.

This process sounds, well, less than Ideal. If you're ordering a new garage door, you want to keep the process as simple as possible. Whether you are ultimately going to be installing it yourself or leaving it to a professional, you don't want to be responsible for figuring out how to unload the door from the delivery truck or get it in place by your garage. Save yourself the hassle and consider a brand that won't leave you to do the heavy lifting.

Unique Garage Door has been in business since 2008. And, while that may sound like a long time, the company hasn't built up the strong and trustworthy reputation that several other brands hold. "They are not well-known at the national level and are not as good or as well-supported as some of the more veteran makers," explains Focht. For being in business for over a decade-and-a-half, the company's website leaves a lot to be desired. There is no phone number to call, only an email address. If you click on one of the garage door styles, there is no pricing or ordering information. You'll even have to hit back to return to the home page to find the email address if you wish to send an inquiry, since it isn't listed on each individual product page.

Perhaps with more time in the industry, Unique Garage Door will build its reputation. Focht does list a few promising signs that could help improve this reputation over the years and give consumers more confidence in what they have to offer. He says, "They're an American company that makes only residential garage doors." However, for the time being, at least, Focht doesn't see Unique Garage Door as being on the same level as other bigger and more trusted brands.

Clopay offers a wide range of garage door options. It also offers products to match different budgets, including higher-end models and more economically-priced options. Stepchenkov recommends being cautious when ordering from Clopay, though, noting a significant difference between their higher- and lower-end models. "While their high-end lines are superb, the base models sometimes use thinner gauge steel and lower-quality insulation that impairs durability and energy efficiency."

Insulating a garage door is important. Not only does it help improve the overall energy efficiency of your home, but it also helps keep the garage at a more comfortable temperature, even when outdoor temperatures are frigid or sweltering. The last thing you want to do is purchase a new door only to have to then look into a garage door insulation kit. You don't want to be forced to buy something else that could have been avoided with the right initial purchase.

Depending on where you're shopping for a new garage door, you may come across some generic or no-name brands. These brands may offer a lot of initial appeal due to their lower price point. However, according to three of our experts, you're likely going to end up regretting purchasing them. "I usually advise homeowners to avoid off-brand or bargain garage doors. They might save money upfront but often use poor-quality materials and can be a headache when it comes to finding replacement parts or scheduling repairs," Andriy Boyko, a seasoned handyman of A.O. Handy Inc., shared with House Digest during an exclusive interview.

Garage door repair can be costly. Stepchenkov outlines some of the specific problems you could encounter — and should be prepared to pay for — with one of these bargain brands. These issues include weak hinges, alignment issues related to the lower-quality construction of the front panels, louder operating sounds, and cheap rollers that don't last. Kevin McLaughlin, the owner of Heritage Exteriors LLC, recommends doing some research before making a purchase. Verify the warranty offered by each brand, and consider how available parts or servicing will be if needed. "Always consider reviews and consult with a trusted professional before making a decision," he says.

Doing your due diligence before making any large purchase for your home — including a new garage door — is important. One company that may come across is Overhead Door. However, before you decide whether they are the right company for the job, you'll want to weigh both the pros and cons. Generally, Overhead Door is widely trusted. However, there have been a few reports of certain prefabricated parts failing. For instance, Stepchenkov shared that his team had to reinforce weak hinges and brackets on a few doors from this brand.

While there are a few stray reports such as those shared by Stepchenkov, the majority of reviews for the company are more positive. Overhead Door provides its services through more than 400 authorized Ribbon Distributors across the country. You can look up reviews for your local distributor, but many seem to be very highly rated. For example, two of the distributors in the Washington D.C. area (Manassas, Virginia and Beltsville, Maryland) have a 4.9-star rating. Similarly, the distributors in Southern California (Poway, California) and Daytona Beach, Florida have a high 4.9- or 4.8-star rating, respectively. Because this brand seems to be hit-and-miss, it's best to check with your installation expert to find out which product models they recommend if going with this brand — or to skip Overhead Door and go for something more consistently reliable.