Month: October 2018

Garage doors come in two primary types: single panel and sectional. While sectional garage doors have separate panels, single panel garage doors come in one large piece.

Most people use sectional garage doors because suppliers sell more of them than they do single panel doors. However, single panel garage doors also have plenty to offer homeowners. Learn the difference between sectional and single panel doors to choose which type of garage door to buy.

Sectional and Single Panel Garage Door Prices

Many homeowners consider price the deciding factor when it comes to a type of garage door. While scarcity drives up the prices of single panel garage doors a little, they tend to cost less than sectional doors. A single panel door usually has a much lower price than a sectional door created with the same materials.

If you plan on installing your garage door yourself, a single panel door has fewer parts to manage. You can save money with a DIY single panel garage door installation.

Differences in Appearance Between Single Panel and Sectional Doors

Both types of garage door come in a variety of attractive materials and designs. However, sectional doors must have a layout that includes the segments required to make the door work. Meanwhile, single panel garage doors have one section with many aesthetic options.

People with old homes often use single panel garage doors to make their buildings look historically accurate. Some homeowners with modern homes simply enjoy the vintage appearance.

The Functionality of Sectional and Single Panel Garage Doors

Single panel doors often have better cost and appearance options than sectional doors. However, sectional doors often have more modern features than single panel doors. They provide more safety than single panel doors because of their lack of extension springs. If you don’t maintain extension springs, they can break and cause injury or let in intruders.

Also, a sectional door has a smaller opening clearance than a single panel door, making it suitable for small-space scenarios. It also stands up better to intense weather.

Should I Buy a Single Panel or Sectional Garage Door?

The two main varieties of garage door each have their own strengths and weaknesses. In summary, you might prefer a sectional garage door if you:

• Want a bigger selection to buy from
• Have small space requirements
• Need superior durability
• Prefer less frequent maintenance

A single panel door could suit you better if you:

• Plan to “DIY” your installation
• Want to enhance an older home
• Have a tight garage door budget

This post first appeared on https://customoverheaddoors.net

A garage door being one of the most used, and hardest working components in a home requires maintenance, and check ups every now and then. Opening and closing a garage door several times a day requires a considerable amount of force which eventually causes garage door components to undergo a general check up, leading most homeowners to realize that their garage door springs is the component that requires immediate replacement.

It’s extremely important to understand that a broken garage door spring is just flat-out dangerous once it is broken. This is because stress is placed upon a garage door spring once it is opened and closed causing an overused garage door spring to become a projectile that can either harm a homeowner’s property, or even threaten the life of anyone found in the vicinity if such an event occurs. It is obvious that this is something to be avoided at all cost and in order to accomplish this, we will talk about the different kinds of garage door springs available, and will tell you how to recognize one that requires an immediate replacement.

Kinds of Garage Door Springs

The 2 main kinds of Garage Door Springs are Torque Springs and Extension Springs. Each works in a specific way so a basic understanding of their mechanisms is necessary to determine if a garage door spring needs to be replaced or not.

Torsion Garage Door Springs

Torque Springs which are tightly wound coils of metal are the most common kind of Garage Door Springs. These generate the torque needed to lift a garage door once it is opened and they springs come in sets from one to four depending on the weight and size of the door. These springs require a lesser amount of parts and are more durable and less dangerous when compared to extension springs.

Torquemaster Torsion Spring: The safest garage door spring based on a two spring system. Springs are located inside of the shaft making safety optimal.

Steel Rolling Door Torsion Spring: Most often used in Commercial Construction, this kind of spring supports rolling doors and contains multiple springs inside the torsion barrel.

Standard Garage Door Torsion Springs: Normally found to be mounted above the garage door opening with a metal shaft across the middle which supports the spring. These are amongst the most affordable types of springs, often used in residential garage doors containing one spring only, while heavier doors require 2.

Early Set Torsion Spring:  Often used in residential garage doors. This spring rests in the center of the torsion shaft.

Identify a Damaged Torsion Spring

So, how can someone identify if they’ll need to repair their torsion spring? There are two simple ways to help a homeowner identify the repair they’ll need. The first way is to deactivate the automatic door opener and lift the door manually. The door should automatically stay up with little, to no movement without it needing to be held up.

Another way to hold the door midway. Again the door should stay up on its own, but if it feels heavy, it means that the springs may be pretty close to breaking. A door that feels too light may have improperly sized springs installed.

Extension Garage Door Springs

Garage doors generally have 2 extension garage door springs attached to the garage door tracks that run across the ceiling on each side of the door. They expand and contract when the when a garage door is lowered or raised by a motor or by hand. These kind of springs are used with safety cables because these can be dangerous if they break. These springs are mainly used in residential garage doors because they are very affordable making them the most common type of garage door spring for residential use.

The three types of extension garage door springs are:

Open Looped: Very easy to change because of the looped wire it has at the end although a bit more expensive to replace.

Double Looped: Much stronger than an open looped string because it it contains 2 coils. Only a little more challenging to replace if it one breaks.

Clipped Ends: Less stress is placed on this kind of spring because it has clips on the end. This makes a Clipped Ends spring the most durable kind of extension garage door spring.

Identify a Damaged Extension Garage Door Spring

Extension springs often display the same signs of damage as torsion springs with some additional signs that show an extorsion spring has already failed. FIrst, check a spring for any gaps in the coils. Gaps show that the steel the springs are made from have given out, and the door will no longer receive the required tension to move the door.

Also check for signs of wear and tear on the springs, clips and loops. If these give out, the spring will not function any more. This will keep a door from closing or opening.

Finally, check to see if the left and right side of the garage door doesn’t appear to be appropriately aligned. This usually means that one of the springs have given out and the door wont be able to open or close.

Repair Your Garage Door ASAP!

Beware, replacing a broken garage door spring is not a “do it yourself issue”. The springs can be harmful to you or your loved ones if it is broken, and especially if one does not know what they are doing. Reach out to us for a service call that is refundable with a purchase of a new garage door spring.

The post The Different Kinds of Garage Door Springs and How to Identify Damages appeared first on Welcome.

Day to day, especially in the wintertime, garage doors can malfunction or flat out break due to severe weather conditions. While it may be evident that a broken garage door needs to be fixed right away, it can be tough to pick out the correct service you may need. The ordeal usually lies in deciding to either buy a brand new door to replace the old one or have the broken door fixed. For this reason, we provide a few reasons detailing why we believe you should install a brand new door, and upgrade instead of wasting money on continuous reparations.

Is Your Garage Door Old and Outdated?

If so, you may already be thinking of purchasing a new garage door. Many have found that old garage doors do not rely on the safety features that the newer models enjoy. Older doors make it easy for thieves as well, making a more modern state of the art garage door an absolute necessity. Not only is an outdated garage door a home security risk, but it’s also something unpleasant to look at from the outside when compared to newer available models.

Has your garage door become a nuance due to multiple repairs being necessary for a short period?

A malfunctioning garage door is not only a headache, but it can also be highly dangerous and costly. Stop spending money trying to fix something that’ll break again. If your garage door makes strange noises, will not close appropriately, or seem to be set, it is time to consider a new door.

A new Garage door installation can save you money in the long run

An old garage door that constantly breaks may continually cost you a pretty penny in repairs year after year. A new garage door not only saves you money on those continued repairs, but it also allows you to save money on your energy bills. An old door may not be properly insulated, making your heater work double-time to keep your home warm. A new garage door has proven to increase the energy efficiency of a home.

A new garage door makes a significant impact on how your home looks from the outside

A garage door is one of the features that stands out the most in a house and is seen by all who pass by. A new and thought out design will make your home look more beautiful to all who come near. A variety of styles and colors to choose from guarantees that you’ll find the perfect new garage door that you have been looking for.

If an old and outdated garage door is continually giving you trouble and is not safe and secure as you would like it to be, then it’s time to consider purchasing a new one.  A new garage door will be more reliable, more energy efficient and will even add to the overall beauty of your home. When the time comes, and you can no longer deny that you need a new garage door. Call us to provide the various options that are available to you.

The post New Garage Door Installation Vs. Garage Door Repair appeared first on Welcome.

Let’s Face it, whether you’ve owned a home for years, or are just purchasing a new home; common sense dictates that your home’s garage door will require maintenance, and reparations now and then, especially in the wintertime. The winter season is famous for causing broken door springs, it can freeze your door to the ground, and it can cause your door opener to malfunction.

Besides the general winter damages, other common damages can inflict your garage door such as a noisy door, broken glass, broken door springs, rust,  an unresponsive operator, a halfway opening door, even a door that opens and closes right away on its own. Damages can often occur depending on what kind of door you have if it is metal or wooden, and the weather. In this article, we’ll take a look at some common garage door damages, that can occur in the winter and some simple repairs that may keep the door working for a couple of months more.

Broken Garage Door Springs

Broken garage door springs are a very common reparation that is needed, especially in the wintertime. Studies show that garage door springs last around 10,000 cycles making it very easy to forget to perform maintenance checks during the winter season.

A simple way to test if the springs are working correctly is to lift the door about halfway up and let it go. If the door begins to move down little by little, it means that it’s time to get the springs checked out, if it stays in place, then the springs are still good. Installing a safety cable is also an excellent way to protect against broken springs in the winter. The safety cable acts as a weight counter by exerting enough force to keep it in place. Having the safety cable installed is not a spring replacement, and an expert should be contacted when a spring breaks even if the safety cable is connected.

Opener Problems

Issues with lubrication caused by the winter can be a nuance. It is not uncommon for lubricants to change consistency due to the cold temperatures, Proper lubrication is necessary to keep the moving parts running smoothly. What’s worse is that openers are generally programmed to stop and reverse if an object is obstructing its path, making thickened lubrication count as an obstacle to its sensors. It’s possible for the motor to interpret changed lubricant consistency as the door running into something which will cause the door to come to a stop. These issues most likely require an expert to resolve.

Water Damage Can Easily Cause Garage Door Problems

Commonly found in wooden doors, precipitation that occurs in the winter time may cause a wooden door to swell up. This causes the space between the door and the frame to close, causing them to rub against each other. This can even cause the door to get stuck where it is which will keep it from opening. Keep rain gutters clear so that water runoff doesn’t splash onto the floor causing additional swelling to your garage door.

Top of the Line Garage Doors is the Best Way to Combat These Winter Damages
It is no secret that a broken door is a haphazard to you and your family, especially if you try to handle the repairs on your own. Leave it to the pros! Call us right away to help you with any of your garage door needs!

The post A Few Common Winter Repairs for Garage Doors appeared first on Welcome.