Amarr vs CHI for replacement garage doors, advice needed asap.

[jackal2001]

Getting quotes from installers for new doors and openers.
Amarr 3138 vs CHI 2216. Both are the same price as the CHI installer matched the Amaar installer price.

I tried to find info on the Amarr 3138 but came up empty. Looks like the 3138 which is a 1-3/8" door, R value is 14.4. 27/27G steel. Paint warranty is lifetime but hardware is 5 years.

CHI 2216 is a 2" door, R value 17. 26/27G steel. Lifetime warranty on door and hardware, or so I was told but a 10 year on rust though?

I've emailed the one installer asking why he isn't quoting me for the Amarr 3200. I haven't heard back yet. I'd like to compare apples to apples.

Anyway, is one brand better than the other? The CHI installer told me he used to deal with Amarr but they started using cheaper thinner steel. It all could be sales pitch.

Advise needed asap.

 

[manwithtools]

I've got 6 CHI insulated doors, 3 are over 20 years old and still doing great. The other 3 were installed 2 years ago and appear to be of similar quality. Can't speak to the Amarr.

 

[slimcake]

Chi !!

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

The door brands are similar in quality. Yes you should be comparing same thickness, same R value to get fair price comparison. Go with the dealer that will give you the best service. One advantage Amarr has is their network of regional door centers. They stock a very large inventory of sections, springs, tracks and hardware. Should you have a situation later on my guess is they could get you going again quicker. I used to sell and install Amarr doors and they are good quality. Just thinking out loud.

 

[gnpenning]

I've seen a Chi but have installed more than a few Amarr. Haven't installed Amarr for a number of years as I feel there are better doors out there. Amarr on the surface is an attractive door. Both manufacturers should be using a 24 gauge steel at that level. And yes it makes a huge difference.

What insulation are they using to get that R per inch? ? Check to see if it's possible. One of the great lies in the garage door industry.

Do they have thermal breaks between the front and back panel ??

 

[Firebrick43]

CHI is a better built door. Not to say that Amarr is junk, just a half step down.

Also I was told by my dealer (bought a pair of 2216 myself a month ago) that CHI has much better and consistently on time delivery. He said that haas and Amarr can be Behind quoted times and lead times were a few weeks longer even if they deliver on the scheduled date.
He sold all three and was happy to sell me which ever one I desired.

 

[Jrad235]

Some installers don't like the hinge setup that most of the Amarr doors use, but if it's a 2" polyurethane door, they are going to be almost identical in longevity. On a 3 layer door, no-one uses 24ga. It's all 26/27ga. The single layer non-insulated doors use 24/25ga. I think the Amarr comes in at a better price for most people. We sell 6 different brands, and Amarr is in the top three, mostly for their carriage doors. Clopay makes a great door for a great price as well.

 

[barnee]

I just priced the Amarr vs Haas for their carriage house overlay door. Originally tried to use Amarr through Costco since you get a 10% Costco cash card, but in the end the Haas door was less expensive (even with the cash card) and better built.

Mt installer also has CHI but said it doesn't compare to Haas.

 

[Firebrick43]

I just priced the Amarr vs Haas for their carriage house overlay door. Originally tried to use Amarr through Costco since you get a 10% Costco cash card, but in the end the Haas door was less expensive (even with the cash card) and better built.

Mt installer also has CHI but said it doesn't compare to Haas.

He probably right on overlay doors. But on stamped doors such as the OP is looking at it would be hard to declare a winner between CHI or Haas.

 

[gnpenning]

Some installers don't like the hinge setup that most of the Amarr doors use, but if it's a 2" polyurethane door, they are going to be almost identical in longevity. On a 3 layer door, no-one uses 24ga. It's all 26/27ga. The single layer non-insulated doors use 24/25ga. I think the Amarr comes in at a better price for most people. We sell 6 different brands, and Amarr is in the top three, mostly for their carriage doors. Clopay makes a great door for a great price as well.

Midland makes 24 gauge doors.

We have different ideas on quality doors.

 

[jackal2001]

I just priced the Amarr vs Haas for their carriage house overlay door. Originally tried to use Amarr through Costco since you get a 10% Costco cash card, but in the end the Haas door was less expensive (even with the cash card) and better built.

Mt installer also has CHI but said it doesn't compare to Haas.

What does that mean. Chi doesn't compare? They better or worse?

 

[barnee]

What does that mean. Chi doesn't compare? They better or worse?

Not as good of value. I guess they are pretty pro-Haas even though they carried all three.

I did compare the Amarr to Haas for the overlay door and their comment makes sense. I didn't look at the CHI so I don't know what their overlay door is like or what their comment was based on.

 

[jackal2001]

Right now I plan on going with the installer that does chi. Has a better warranty and lifetime warranty on hardware.

 

[driftpin]

I bought two Clopay single bay insulated doors, they have to meet the Florida HVHZ rating for hurricane resistance, 175 mph wind gusts. I have them mounted with Liftmaster 8500's. 2" injected foam insulation, thermal break between inside & outside steel skins, hot-dipped galvanized layer, a protective metal oxide pretreatment and a baked on primer and top coat. Braced on the inside. Not sure of the R-value, but south Florida is hot in the summer, and I don't air condition the garage, but I can work out there OK. I'll sweat, but it's not a sauna. They have 2 R-values, 9 and 18. http://clopaypdfs.com/pdf_files/RSDR-PREM3LAYERSS-13.pdf

 

[Doorguy]

If you have the option to by Haas then do it. In my opinion and experience Haas is way better than either CHI or Amarr. If your choice is between CHI and Amarr I would go with CHI.

 

[jackal2001]

The installer for chi also told me that the bottom of the door where the rubber seal attaches is aluminum and not steel so it won't rust but I have a hard time believing that. Any truth to that?

 

[jackal2001]

If you have the option to by Haas then do it. In my opinion and experience Haas is way better than either CHI or Amarr. If your choice is between CHI and Amarr I would go with CHI.

The installer just told me they do install haas also but no further info or price. Any specific reason why haas is better?

 

[Doorguy]

The installer just told me they do install haas also but no further info or price. Any specific reason why haas is better?

Better quality all around. Most CHI doors are styrofoam insulated. Haas uses a urethane injection which is a way better insulator. Everyone exaggerates the R value so look into U values. The lower the better. You will find Haas is very low.

 

[jackal2001]

Chi model was 2216 which uses an injected polyurethane core.

 

[artrem]

Something to consider... I have Amarr Oak Summit doors and found that the bottom seal has a non-standard T-channel width. The Amarr bottom seals have an rigid vertical piece that forms a gap at the bottom corners when the door is closed. This is a recent change; I called Amarr and they said that's the way they are doing it now. I wound up having the seal retainers replaced with standard retainers so that I could change out the seals. Otherwise, I have no complaints about their doors. Mine are insulated with styrofoam panels; possibly not as good as a hollow core door filled with foam.

Not sure if this is true on all of their doors, but you might want to check the spec sheet on the doors you are considering.

 

[walrus]

Not sure the model of my Chi door but its supposed to be R17, I've had no issues with it. Its definitely the weak link in my building envelope though

 

[Firebrick43]

Better quality all around. Most CHI doors are styrofoam insulated. Haas uses a urethane injection which is a way better insulator. Everyone exaggerates the R value so look into U values. The lower the better. You will find Haas is very low.

This is simply a half truth. Does chi sell doors with styrofoam insert with vinyl backed doors, yes but they also sell many polyurathane injected foam doors as well. (As the OP is looking at)

Haas is the same, the 2400 and 2500 door have polystyrene foam and vinyl backing panel.

Also your statements about over inflated r value (and u value) are true. But to whitewash haas? Their numbers are just as preposterous as chi, ammar, and clopays. There is not testing standards so all of them test a panel section in the center of the door, not the whole assembly as installed or they will use a "calculated r value" instead of a tested r value. "Calculated r value" is pulled right from haas's literature.

If any of the doors manufactures r values were close to reality the building industry would be buying sheet insulation from them. Absolute best insulation is going to be r14/15 for two inches not the r17 claimed. To boot it doesn't take into account that the panel are not a consistant thickness but stamped thinner where they have designs stamped in.


Looking at cut always of comparable models of haas and chi there was little difference in construction. The biggest difference was that the haas uses vinyl end caps on the panels and chi uses steel. Haas does this for better performance in regards to thermal bridging but offer steel end caps as an option for better durability

I am not knocking haas doors, they are at the top of the heap. But to knock CHIs comparable models, well that like buying one car over another because it has whitewall tires.