Aluminum Associates Sloan Corporation

Aluminum Associates Sloan Corporation is a door supplier and installer based at 2907 Mannerchor Rd in Temple, Pennsylvania, just north of Reading in Muhlenberg Township. The company works primarily with residential and commercial customers across Berks County and the surrounding region, handling the supply, measurement, fabrication and installation of entry doors, storm doors, garage doors and related exterior products. It can be reached by phone at +1 610-921-2201.

The business operates from a facility on Mannerchor Road, a light industrial and mixed commercial corridor close to Route 61 and convenient to Temple, Laureldale, Muhlenberg, Blandon, Fleetwood and the northern Reading suburbs. Parking at the site includes wheelchair accessible spaces.

What the Company Does

Door work makes up the core of the company's trade. That covers both the product side, selecting and sourcing units suited to a given opening, and the labor side, removing old doors and frames and setting new ones so that they seal, swing and latch correctly. Common categories of work include:

• Residential entry doors, including steel, fiberglass and aluminum units with a range of glass inserts, sidelights and hardware options
• Storm doors and combination doors, including models with self storing screen and glass panels that let homeowners switch between ventilation and weather protection without storing extra panels in a garage or basement
• Garage doors and openers for attached and detached garages, along with replacement of worn panels, springs, tracks and remote systems
• Patio and sliding glass doors
• Commercial and light industrial doors for warehouses, shops and service buildings
• Service calls and adjustments on previously installed units, including weatherstripping, closers, latches and alignment

Because the company works with aluminum products as its name suggests, related exterior items frequently fall within its scope as well. Homeowners in the area often approach the business about awnings, railings, columns, shutters, soffit and fascia, gutter work, window replacement and enclosed porches. The common thread is exterior metal and millwork that has to stand up to Pennsylvania winters, summer humidity and the freeze and thaw cycles that tend to loosen hardware and crack seals over time.

How a Typical Project Works

Door replacement is rarely a matter of pulling one unit out and sliding another in. Older homes in Berks County, including the brick row houses in Reading, the farmhouses scattered through the townships and the mid century ranches in between, frequently have openings that are out of square, framing that has shifted, or thresholds that have rotted where water collected. A measurement visit establishes what the opening will actually accept and whether a standard size will work or a custom unit is needed.

From there the customer selects a style, finish, glass configuration and hardware. Lead times vary with the manufacturer and whether the order is stock or custom, and the company schedules installation once materials arrive. Installation crews handle removal of the old unit, preparation of the opening, setting and shimming the new door, insulating and sealing the perimeter, fitting trim and installing locks and hardware. Debris and packaging from the old and new materials are removed at the end of the job.

Installations in this trade do not always wait for comfortable weather. Storm damage, failed locks and broken garage door springs create situations where a home cannot be left open, and the crews here are accustomed to working through cold snaps and poor conditions when a job cannot be postponed.

Local Standing

Aluminum Associates Sloan Corporation is a long established name in the Reading area, and a notable share of its work comes from repeat customers and from referrals passed between neighbors, family members and contractors. In a trade where many companies come and go, continuity matters: homeowners who had a door installed years ago can often call the same company for an adjustment, a replacement screen or a second project on the same house. That kind of continuity also means the staff tends to be familiar with the housing stock in the area and with the quirks of particular neighborhoods and builders.

The company handles both the sales and the installation sides in house rather than brokering the labor out, which gives customers a single point of contact from the first measurement through the final walkthrough. Office staff field questions about product options, scheduling and service calls, while field crews carry out the installations.

Choosing a Door

Customers weighing options generally consider a few practical factors, and these are worth thinking about before an estimate visit:

• Material. Steel doors resist dents less well than people expect but hold up to impact and are economical. Fiberglass handles moisture and temperature swings without warping and can be finished to resemble wood grain. Aluminum is common for storm doors and frames.
• Glass and light. Full view, half view, decorative glass and sidelights change how much daylight reaches an entryway. Low emissivity coatings and insulated glass affect comfort near the door.
• Energy performance. Weatherstripping, door sweeps, insulated cores and properly sealed frames do more for drafts and heating bills than most homeowners anticipate.
• Security hardware. Deadbolt grade, strike plate reinforcement and multipoint locking options vary by product line.
• Screen configuration. Self storing screens, retractable screens and fixed screens each suit different households, especially where storage space is limited.
• Exposure. A south or west facing door takes far more sun and weather than a sheltered one, which influences both material and finish choices.

Service Area and Practical Information

The Temple location puts the company within a short drive of Reading, Muhlenberg Township, Laureldale, Leesport, Blandon, Fleetwood, Shillington, Wyomissing, Sinking Spring, Mohnton, Birdsboro, Kutztown and the broader Berks County area. Customers should call ahead to confirm current hours, product availability and lead times, and to arrange a measurement appointment rather than arriving unannounced with an opening to fill.

For service on an existing door, it helps to have the approximate installation date, the brand if known and a description or photograph of the problem ready when calling. For a new installation, rough measurements of the opening and a note of any obstacles such as storm doors, sidelights, security systems or unusual trim will speed up the initial conversation.