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Summit Door Inc. in Corona, Calif., has been manufacturing quality wooden garage doors since 1961.
SUMMIT DOOR INC. Adds Value In Wooden Garage Door Niche Product

By Jimmy Hudson

Corona, Calif.—Summit Door Inc. has been manufacturing quality wooden garage doors since 1961. The Greenway family first became involved in the garage door industry by opening a sales, installation and service company for commercial and industrial garage doors in Los Angeles, Calif. “Seeking to meet the demands of the booming local real estate market, our family ventured into residential sales and installation in the late 1980s, opening another location in Orange County,” owners Janet Greenway-Rader and Mike Rader said.

During this time, the trends of the residential garage door industry dictated a shift from wooden tilt up doors to steel overhead applications. “It was the design limitations of traditional steel sectional garage doors that inspired us to begin Summit Door,” the Greenways explained. “From its inception, our company sought to create a garage door which combined both aesthetic appeal and function. Since then, Summit Door has become an industry-leader in the quality design and creation of customized wooden sectional garage doors. Today, we operate out of Corona, Calif., serving customers world wide.”

Summit Door purchases approximately 160,000 board feet annually In Softwoods, they offer Western Red Cedar, Redwood and Spruce-Pine- Fir.
Summit Door purchases approximately 160,000 board feet annually in Softwoods, they offer Western Red Cedar, Redwood and Spruce-Pine-Fir. They also carry hardwood doors comprised of red and white oak, birch, walnut and knotty alder. In imported woods, they purchase mahogany, teak, koa and sapele.

Summit Door Inc. continues to be committed to service and quality. Throughout three generations, the company has maintained a reputation for offering distinguished wooden garage doors with a history of craftsmanship, innovation and dedication. The firm offers several options in wood species, designs and sizes.

Increasing the value and reliability of its products, Summit Door inspects all lumber as it’s received for moisture content, density, color variation, grain pattern and knot characteristics to ensure all design elements and expectations are met. The doors are manufactured with a 1-3/8” solid frame and true 1x facing with a fully integrated drip cap system to guarantee each door is as durable as it is aesthetically appealing.

The production team at Summit Door Inc. has the ability to create or re-create nearly any design envisioned. Maintaining complete control over every aspect of production, each door is completed from start to finish at the Corona facility.

The doors are checked for quality assurance with an eleven-point inspection throughout the manufacturing process. The production manager personally oversees the final evaluation of each door.

The doors by Summit are manufactured with a 1-3/8” solid frame and true 1x facing with a fully integrated drip cap system to guarantee each door is as durable as it is aesthetically appealing.
Summit Doors have been utilized in applications from airplane hangers in Nevada, wineries in Napa to a personal castle in Massachusetts. They can also be found showcasing a mural in San Diego, in a race-car themed restaurant in Maryland and serving as exits for a firehouse in Los Angeles.

The newly introduced Vintage Collection was designed to better fit the needs of budget-conscious individuals looking for a quality crafted product at a reasonable price, according to Mike Rader. “Summit Door has simply created a wood garage door for the masses, appealing to both million dollar tastes and realistic budgets,” he said. Of six collections, the newly introduced Vintage Collection features nine classic designs which can each be interchanged to create a unique look with various options, such as custom glass, decorative hardware and insulation. This collection comes ready to paint or stain.

Summit Door has made many changes during the last few years to keep pace with technological advances. In 1997 the company expanded from a regional manufacturer to reach both national and international markets. By 1998 they relocated to the current larger facility in Corona to accommodate sales growth. Building Products Magazine cited the firm with two Top 100 Products Awards between 2000 and 2001. Also, in ’04 The Mediterranean Collection was introduced with 10 new trademarked garage door designs. 2007 brought about the fabrication of matching gates, entry doors and swing doors as standard options available for any project.

In late 2008, Summit Door Inc. participated with the Emmy Award winning PBS television series, This Old House. The popular home improvement show partnered with New Hampshire-based custom homebuilding company Bensonwood to build a new prefab timberframe home in Weston, Mass. Summit Door provided the garage doors for the project. The episode of This Old House included a segment with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, Weston project homeowner Pete Favat and Mike Rader, owner of Summit Door Inc. The three men discussed the custom garage doors, unique hardware and garage door openers used on the Weston project.

Increasing the value and reliability of its products, Summit Door inspects all lumber as it’s received for moisture content, density, color variation, grain pattern and knot characteristics to ensure all design elements and expectations are met.
The Weston project was designed to reflect the rustic look of an old New England barn. Approximately 75 percent of the home was built in Bensonwood’s controlled workshop environment. These components were then assembled on site in Weston and once the home was built, Summit Door installed the garage doors.

The two garage doors were handcrafted and designed to compliment the barn-style architecture. Made from Western Red Cedar, the doors were customized with trim and detailed on both the exterior and the interior of the garage door making it an exclusive design.

Summit Door Inc. is a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Assoc. (DASMA), and the National Assoc. of The Remodeling Industry (NARI). For more information visit www.summitdoorinc.com or contact 888.SMT.Door (768-3667).



Summit Doors have been utilized in applications from airplane hangers in Nevada, wineries in Napa to a personal castle in Massachussetts.


In late 2008, Summit Door Inc. participated with the Emmy Award winning PBS television series, This Old House, and provided the garage doors for the home.

 
 
 
     
 
 

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