When Bilt Rite Garage Doors was founded in 1971, Richard Nixon was president and eight-track tapes were the norm. While a lot has changed over this half century, one aspect that has remained the same for this family-owned company is its commitment to people — both the people the company employs and the people who buy their products.

Andy Davis is the third generation in his family to lead the company as its owner and president. “Bilt Rite started in 1971 when my grandfather, Jesse Davis, started the company with my dad and uncle, Edwin and Marion Davis. It’s been a blessing to bring the company into its 50^th year, and we look forward to celebrating with our amazing team of employees who all are an extension of our family. This is a significant milestone for any small business which we do not take lightly, and we are grateful for our loyal customers throughout Columbia, Greenville, and the surrounding communities.”

Bilt Rite sells, services, and installs residential and commercial garage doors and openers. The company has an extensive selection of commercial dock and door equipment along with residential door styles and designs, including custom garage doors. “Our mission statement is ‘to open homes and businesses to the world with quality products and services and to exceed our customers’ expectations in all aspects of our business,’” Andy says. “Our valuable employees are a significant part of our success, as is the support and repeat business of our faithful customers over the years. Our 50^th anniversary is a huge milestone spanning three generations for the Davis family — and for our entire Bilt Rite family. We’re excited to see what the next 50 years will hold.”

After 50 years, Bilt Rite has become the largest garage door company in the Columbia market with a growing customer base in the upstate after expanding there in 2017. Statewide, the company employs about 35 people.

“We seek to serve our customers with humility and gratitude,” says James Bagwell, general manager. “We strive to be the best in quality and value, and we select team members who live up to our values in the way they treat our customers and suppliers.”

Bilt Rite has received the prestigious Ruby Award for “Exceptional Sales and Customer Service” from C.H.I., a major residential and commercial garage door manufacturer and is the largest full-service installation and service company for C.H.I. products in the Southeast. James says that when they interview installers, they use a theoretical example of how they want their employees to interact with customers. “We tell them if they were to replace a door for an elderly couple, and they notice the couple setting up chairs in the driveway to watch the new door being installed, rather than think ‘these folks are going to slow me down,’ we want them to say to themselves, ‘I may be the only person these folks see all week. I am going to embrace this opportunity to let them ask all the questions they want. In fact, I will ask them questions about their day and their family.’”

James tells a story of installing a new door for a family’s garage early in the pandemic. It turned out the family was using the garage for a classroom during quarantine. “The customer said she knew several families who were having to home-school their kids due to the pandemic but could not afford to take off work to stay with their kids. So she volunteered to teach the kids while their parents were at work. She wanted an insulated door to try to help keep her garage warm.”

When the company management realized the ministry the customer was providing to the families in her community, they quickly decided to install a new insulated door at no charge. James says, “We then reached out to our local builders and were able to accumulate several boxes of school supplies, an iPad and more than $200 to help her with getting supplies for the kids and food. We believe this was a wonderful example of someone in our community going above and beyond to serve a need, and we were blessed to play a small part in helping her.”

Call (803) 744-DOOR to schedule service with Bilt Rite Garage Doors in Columbia or (864) 232-DOOR for the Greenville office. Learn more about the products and services Bilt Rite offers at BiltRiteGarageDoors.com.