Real wood doors · Riverside County
There is no substituteand everyone can tell.
Cedar or mahogany, built to order on a steel backing frame. It belongs on a period or high-end property, and it needs refinishing every few years in Inland Empire sun. We will say so before you buy.
What you are buying
Joinery,not manufacturing.
A real wood door is built as joinery: stiles, rails and panels in solid timber, mounted to a steel backing frame that gives it the rigidity a sectional door needs. Cedar is the usual choice here because it is stable and takes a finish well.
Because it is made rather than stocked, lead times run to weeks rather than days, and the design is genuinely yours. Panel layout, arch, glazing pattern and hardware are all specified rather than selected.
The maintenance is real and we will not soften it. Inland Empire sun is hard on any finish, and a south or west-facing timber door wants refinishing every three to five years. Skip it and the finish goes chalky and then the timber greys.
The specification
- SpeciesCedar, mahogany, redwood
- ConstructionSolid timber on a steel frame
- Lead timeWeeks — made to order
- FinishStain or clear, site or factory
- UpkeepRefinish every 3 to 5 years
- WeightHeaviest of the four tiers
Installed by us
Timber doorswe have actually built and hung.
Before you commit
Three thingspeople wish they had known.
None of these are reasons not to buy timber. They are reasons to buy it knowing what you are taking on.
- The refinishing is not optionalEvery three to five years, sooner on a west-facing elevation. Budget for it.
- The opener may need replacingTimber is heavy. A motor sized for a light steel door will not last under it.
- Lead times are realMade to order means weeks. If your door has failed, this is not the emergency answer.
When timber is worth it
- A period or architect-designed houseWhere a steel door would visibly undercut the elevation.
- A shaded or north-facing openingFar less sun means far less refinishing.
- You want something nobody else hasPanel layout, arch and glazing are yours to specify.
We will talk you out of it if the house does not warrant it. A timber door on the wrong elevation is expensive and no better looking.
Design one properlywith someone who has built them.
Bo has been hanging timber doors in this county for thirty years. He will tell you what the opening can take and what it will cost you to keep.
What we work out first
- Whether the opening suits itHeadroom and backroom on a heavy door are unforgiving.
- Which elevation it facesThat decides the finish and the refinishing interval.
- Whether the opener copesUsually it does not, and better to know now.
Questions
Timber door questions,answered without the sales pitch.
Including the maintenance nobody mentions until after the invoice.
Ring and ask. Bo has been doing this in Riverside County for over thirty years and there is no charge for a question.
(951) 232-9778Mon–Sat · 8am–6pmWhy will you not quote over the phone?
Because a door cannot be priced down a phone line honestly. Weight, spring cycle rating, hardware age and access all change the figure, and none of them can be assessed from a description. A phone number is a guess, and guesses get revised upward on the driveway.
Do you charge for coming out to look?
No. Looking at a door and telling you what it needs is not a service we bill for. There is no diagnostic fee added at the end, and the measure for a replacement is free whether or not you order one.
How long does a new garage door take to install?
A standard single or double door is usually a half-day once the door is on site. Custom timber and full-view glass doors are made to order and take longer to arrive, though the fitting itself is much the same.
Steel or wood garage door: which is better?
Steel for almost everyone. It costs less, resists warping in Inland Empire heat, and modern wood-grain finishes are convincing from the kerb. Real timber looks better close up and suits period or high-end homes, but it needs refinishing every few years.
Do I need a new opener with a new door?
Not usually. A working opener will run a new door as long as the weight is similar. If you are moving from a light uninsulated door to a heavy insulated or timber one, the opener may need upgrading, and we will tell you before you buy.
Do you take the old garage door away?
Yes. Removal and disposal of the old door and hardware is included in every replacement we quote. You will not find it stacked beside the bins after we leave.
How long should a new garage door last?
Twenty to thirty years for the door itself in this climate. The moving parts wear out much sooner: springs at seven to twelve years, rollers around ten, and openers between ten and fifteen. Those are maintenance items, not door failures.
How often should a garage door be serviced?
Once a year for an average household. A service means checking spring balance, tightening hardware, lubricating rollers, hinges and bearings, and testing the safety reverse. It is the cheapest way to avoid the calls we get most often.
Does the heat in Riverside affect my garage door?
Yes, in two ways. Repeated expansion and contraction loosens hardware faster than in milder climates, so bolts and brackets need checking. And an uninsulated steel door on a west-facing garage radiates a lot of heat into the space behind it.