In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, James looks at one of those problems that can turn a straightforward garage door survey into something much more complicated - low headroom.

Most homeowners don't think too much about what's above their garage door. They see an opening, choose a door they like and expect it to fit.

James talks through why headroom matters, what installers are actually looking for during a survey, and why having limited space above your garage doesn't necessarily mean you've run out of options.

There's also a look at the importance of understanding how a customer actually uses their garage. Sometimes the door they've asked for isn't necessarily the best solution for the building - and sometimes a problem that initially looks impossible just needs a slightly different approach.

Because a garage door isn't simply a door that fills a hole.

It's a system that needs to work properly within the space you've got.

And sometimes, when you walk into a garage and think “there's absolutely no way we're getting a door in here”, there might still be a solution.

In this episode:

• Why headroom is so important when surveying a garage
• What installers actually mean by “low headroom”
• Why measuring the opening alone isn't enough
• How beams, pipes, lights and other obstructions can affect an installation
• How sectional doors can be adapted for restricted headroom
• Where roller doors can provide an alternative
• Why side-hinged doors can sometimes solve an overhead space problem completely
• When a customer's preferred door genuinely won't work
• Why the survey is such an important part of the garage door buying process
• Why sometimes the best solution isn't the product the customer originally asked for
• And why some of the most interesting installations are the ones that make you stop and think...

Got a garage door problem?

If there's a garage door problem, product or installation you'd like James to cover in a future episode, get in touch.

And if you've got your own story from the garage door industry that you'd like to share on the podcast, we'd love to hear from you.

Garage Door Installers Podcast Real products. Real installations. Real stories from the garage door industry.

Our Sponsors

The Garage Door Installers Podcast is proudly supported by our industry partners.

The Door Industry Journal

The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted specifically towards the garage door industry.

To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost, contact the Door Industry Journal to get added to the mailing list.

ToolTrade

For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade.

ToolTrade is a leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants for trade professionals.

To open a trade account and access customised pricing, contact the ToolTrade team.

About The Garage Door Installers Podcast

The Garage Door Installers Podcast is built for garage door installers, business owners, manufacturers, suppliers and professionals working within the UK door industry.

Hosted by James Williams of Fast Fit Garage Doors, the podcast covers the products, people, challenges and business realities behind the garage door industry.

From installation and product knowledge to marketing, sales, customer experience and business growth, each episode is designed to provide practical insight from people working in the industry every day.

Whether you're a one-man installer, running a growing garage door company or working within the wider door industry, this is a podcast built to help you learn, improve and grow.

From Dad’s Driveway to a £1m+ Business

How do you turn a garage door business started from the family driveway into a £1m+ company?

In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, James takes a step away from the usual product, installation and industry discussions to tell the story behind Fast Fit Garage Doors.

Started by his dad in 1985, Fast Fit began as a small family business and has grown into a £1m+ garage door company with a growing team, multiple installation teams, a showroom and much bigger ambitions for the future.

But the journey between those two points hasn't always been straightforward.

James looks back at what it was like growing up around the business, joining after leaving school and eventually taking on more responsibility as the company grew.

He talks about the realities of working with your family, the arguments and challenges that come with it, the mistakes made along the way and some of the biggest turning points that helped take Fast Fit from a small family operation to the business it is today.

And finally, James looks at what's next for Fast Fit and whether it's possible to continue growing a family business without losing the values that made it successful in the first place.

In this episode:

• How Fast Fit Garage Doors started in 1985
• What it was like growing up around a family business
• Joining the business after leaving school
• The reality of working with your parents
• The challenges of growing from a small family business
• What £1m+ turnover actually looks like behind the scenes
• The mistakes and lessons learned along the way
• What James learned from his parents about running a business
• The importance of reputation and customer service
• When a family business starts to become a much bigger company
• The future plans for Fast Fit Garage Doors
• And whether you can grow a family business without losing its family values

This is a slightly different episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, but hopefully one that gives you a genuine insight into what goes on behind the scenes of building a garage door business - and maybe gives you a few things to think about in your own business along the way.

From Dad's driveway to a £1m+ business. This is the Fast Fit story.

Our Sponsors

The Garage Door Installers Podcast is proudly supported by our industry partners.

The Door Industry Journal

The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted specifically towards the garage door industry.

To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost, contact the Door Industry Journal to get added to the mailing list.

ToolTrade

For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade.

ToolTrade is a leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants for trade professionals.

To open a trade account and access customised pricing, contact the ToolTrade team.

About The Garage Door Installers Podcast

The Garage Door Installers Podcast is built for garage door installers, business owners, manufacturers, suppliers and professionals working within the UK door industry.

Hosted by James Williams of Fast Fit Garage Doors, the podcast covers the products, people, challenges and business realities behind the garage door industry.

From installation and product knowledge to marketing, sales, customer experience and business growth, each episode is designed to provide practical insight from people working in the industry every day.

Whether you're a one-man installer, running a growing garage door company or working within the wider door industry, this is a podcast built to help you learn, improve and grow.

Your garage door is probably one of the largest moving parts in your home, but how often do you actually think about maintaining it?

In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, James takes a look at the simple things homeowners can do to keep their garage door working properly, spot potential problems early, and avoid expensive repairs further down the line.

From strange noises and worn seals to safety features, lubrication and garage door balance, this episode covers the essential maintenance checks every homeowner should know about.

In this episode, we cover:

• How often you should be checking and maintaining your garage door
• Why unusual noises can be an early warning sign
• What to look for when inspecting the moving parts
• Keeping garage door tracks clean
• Why you shouldn't just spray WD-40 on everything
• How to identify a garage door that's out of balance
• Why you should never attempt to adjust garage door springs yourself
• Checking your automatic garage door's safety features
• Inspecting the seals around your garage door
• What to look for if you're experiencing water ingress
• Checking your remote controls and manual release
• The biggest mistake homeowners make with garage door maintenance
• When it's time to stop DIY maintenance and call a professional
• Our simple five-minute garage door health check

The key takeaway

Don't wait until your garage door breaks before you think about maintenance.

Small warning signs - a new noise, a change in speed, increased resistance or a damaged seal - can often indicate that something needs attention.

Catching those problems early can save you money, extend the life of your garage door and, most importantly, help keep it operating safely.

If you've got a garage door, this is one episode you'll want to save and come back to.

Listen to the Garage Door Installers Podcast

The Garage Door Installers Podcast is for garage door installers, industry professionals and homeowners who want to know more about the garage door industry.

From installation and products to sales, marketing, business and everything in between, we're bringing you practical advice and real-world experience from the industry.

Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Our Sponsors

The Door Industry Journal

The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted towards the Garage Door Industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost send your details to pr@cvgroup.co.uk to get added to the distribution list.

ToolTrade

For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. A leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants. To open a trade account and have some customised pricing email your enquiry to info@tool-trade.co.uk