Month: October 2019

This post first appeared on https://triplebgaragedoors.com/

Winterizing your garage door may not seem like a necessary task, but if you hope to enjoy a fully functional, long-lasting door, you’ll want to add it to your to-do list. Frigid winter conditions can negatively affect your garage door if you don’t make the appropriate preparations, and fortunately, there’s still time to get started. Here to help you check garage door prep off your autumn to-do list are the professionals at Door Power in Norwood, Minnesota. Let’s take a look at what every garage door owner should be doing come fall.

Check Your Garage Door’s Seals

An improperly sealed garage door can allow harsh, frigid air to make its way into your home during the winter season. To prevent this from occurring, take a few moments to examine the seals around your garage door. The easiest way to do it? After dark, turn the lights on in your garage with the door fully closed. Head out to your driveway and take stock of the area around the sides of the door. If you can see any light emerging from around the door, you likely have a sealing problem. Contact a garage door repair technician to fix the seal before the chillier temperatures settle in.

Touch Up the Lubrication

Your garage door has numerous moving parts, all of which require lubrication to function properly. Ideally, you should lubricate all moving parts once per year, and just prior to the chilly season is the perfect time to do it. Here’s how:

●        Begin by closing your garage door fully. Doing so will give you unobstructed access to the door’s moving parts.

●        Once you’ve closed the door, for safety’s sake, be sure to disconnect the door from its power source. Alternatively, you can switch off the appropriate breaker in your circuit box.

●        Thoroughly wipe down the inside of your door’s tracks to remove any buildup that may slow the door’s rollers. You can use a damp cloth for this step. For difficult-to-reach buildup, try using the hose attachment of a heavy-duty vacuum.

●        Using spray lubricant, apply a thin mist of product to all of the door’s moving parts. These include hinges, rollers, springs, bearings, locks, and the armbar. After you’ve finished the moving parts, spray an even mist of lube along the top inner side of the rail that houses your garage door’s chain.

Inspect the Garage Door Tracks

Many a homeowner has awoken on a frigid morning to find their garage door hopelessly stuck. Fortunately, this scenario is almost always preventable. One of the most common culprits behind a seemingly immovable garage door is a problem with the tracks that house the door’s rollers. Debris and grime can easily build up within these tracks throughout the year. Come winter, this buildup can freeze into a dense, impenetrable sludge. Or, if the tracks are slightly out of alignment, freezing temperatures can cause the metal to contract, throwing the alignment even more out of whack.

Before the first frost hits, you’ll want to examine your garage door tracks for any buildup or any signs of misalignment. You can easily wipe away buildup yourself, but if you notice an issue with the structure of the tracks, it’s best to have a garage door repair technician bring the tracks back into proper alignment.

Observe the Door’s Movement

Perhaps the easiest and quickest way to spot an issue with your garage door is to simply watch the way it moves along the tracks. Ideally, you should observe the door’s movement from both inside and outside of your garage to conduct the most comprehensive evaluation. If you notice any unusual noises, wobbling, catching, uneven movement, or anything out of the ordinary, it’s time to call in the professionals. Early detection is key if you hope to avoid the hassle of sub-zero garage door repairs, so don’t forget to perform this often overlooked step!

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

More and more people are diving into the DIY craze. Thanks to the internet, it’s easy to get help with DIY projects, especially those around the house. With the resources available, why wouldn’t you save money while simultaneously achieving a sense of accomplishment?
At Garage Door Doctor, we are all for DIY projects to enhance the look and functionality of your home, but here to remind you that not all projects should be tackled on your own — and that includes garage door installation. 

Don’t Risk These DIY Garage Door Installation Mistakes

At the beginning of the new year, our garage door contractors shared a post on Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Try DIY Garage Door Installation. Unlike other DIY projects, rather than save you money and bringing a sense of accomplishment, trying DIY garage door installation will likely result in damage expenses and a sense of incompetence and frustration. If you do not have the proper knowledge, experience, and equipment, the mistakes made during your attempt with garage door installation can result in costing you more than having a professional garage door company install your garage door from the get-go. 

Regardless, some people have larger egos and think they can accomplish the task at hand, and it’s to those DIY-ragers that we dedicate this blog to. Continue reading, as we look at some of the common garage door installation mistakes that untrained people make when attempting to install their garage door.

Not Considering The Garage Space Beforehand

More likely than not, when homeowners try the DIY route it will be their first time installing a garage door. Many make the rookie mistake of installing their garage door after finishing the interior of their garage, including all the electrical wiring outlets and fixtures. This often leads to installing lights and other fixtures in the wrong area, throwing the whole installation off. The garage door opener needs to be at the exact center of the garage door; if the light is in this spot, the light will have to be moved to ensure a proper installation. The only solution to this problem is changing all the wiring to the light fixtures or installing the garage door opener off-center (which we don’t recommend – see why below).

Improperly Alignment Of The Door And Opener

When fixtures or outlets are placed in the center of their garage ceiling, many homeowners will install their garage door opener slightly off-center believing that it will not affect the functioning of the garage door. This is a big-time mistake as automatic garage door units need to be lined up with the center of the garage door itself. Even the slightest error in alignment of cani result in the twisting of your garage door whenever opening or closing, causing damage to the garage door system itself. Fixing this problem will definitely require the services of a professional garage door contractor, so why not hire one to begin with and avoid these risks?

Using Nails To Install The Tracks 

Many do-it-yourselfers will try to keep some cash in their wallet by using nails instead of screws to install the garage door tracks. This is a total waste of time and money. In order to properly install a garage door track, you should use lag screws, not nails. Garage doors simply put too much stress and strain on the track and will easily pull nails out of, surely causing some damage to whatever the tracks and door fall on. When you hire professionals for garage door installation, you won’t have to worry about them using the wrong hardware and increasing the risk of damages.

Not Adjusting The Garage Door Once Installation Is Complete

Another common DIY garage door installation mistake is failing to adjust their garage door after installation. Professional garage door experts will check your garage door system after installation to ensure everything is in working order. If needed, they will make small but critical adjustments to ensure your new garage door system functions properly. If you do not have the proper knowledge or experience of garage door installation, you will not know if adjustments are necessary nor how to properly do them, which will cause your garage door to be less efficient and can lead to expedited wear and tear on system parts and components. 

Trust Our Experts For Garage Door Installation Service

Don’t be a victim to the damages, expenses, and frustration that comes with trying DIY garage door installation. Instead, let the professionals handle the job. Hiring a professional garage door company to perform the installation services will save you money in the long run and give you the extra peace of mind that your home and family are safe. If you are in need of garage door installation in Indianapolis or the surrounding area, contact Garage Door Doctor for prompt and affordable service.

This post first appeared on https://www.garagedoordoctorllc.com

Like many homeowners, you’ve probably found yourself wishing you had more space in your home.

Unfortunately, home renovations and expansions can be very costly. The good news? You may be overlooking a space in your home that can be easily converted: your garage.

Garage Room Ideas

Need some inspiration to envision your garage as a living space? We’ve put together a few garage room ideas to get you started:

• Game room: Add a pool or air hockey table to take your next get-together up a notch. Or maybe video games are more your style — either way, your garage can be the perfect gaming space.
• Home office: If you’re one of the many Americans who work from home or have a side hustle, you know how important it is to have an office space.
• Reading nook: Wishing you had a special place to curl up with a good book and relax? Make it happen! Or if you unwind in a different way, adjust accordingly. You can easily add a bar cart and some comfy seating, for example.
• Craft room: Maybe your craft is woodworking, ceramics, scrapbooking or knitting. Whatever it is, a dedicated space can make it that much more enjoyable — and free up space elsewhere.

Of course, these are only a few ideas. You could also change your garage into a living room, a laundry room, a guest bedroom or even a home gym. This is an opportunity to get creative and turn your house into the home of your dreams!

Think about it — your garage is already an extension of your home. Converted properly, garages can easily function as living spaces. Of course, you should always consider the pros and cons before making any significant updates to your home. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Adding livable space can increase the value of your home.
• Converting a garage into a room is a budget-friendly house extension.
• Since the structure is already built, you can do most of the work yourself without hiring a professional.

Some of the downside factors to consider before converting your garage include the following:

• You’ll lose the dedicated space for your car.
• While it’s less costly than an expansion, converting your garage can still be pricey depending on its current state.
• ou may need a permit for a garage conversion. Double-check before beginning your project!

How to Convert a Garage Into a Living Space

Do you have your heart set on converting a garage into a room? Following are the first steps you’ll need to take to ensure a functional living space:

1. Insulate the walls and ceiling if you haven’t already, but don’t stop there. A properly insulated garage door will have a profound effect on temperature control.
2. Install drywall and flooring.
3. Upgrade the electrical wiring. You’ll want plenty of lighting in your new space.
4. Connect to your home’s HVAC unit or install an independent system to regulate temperature.

Your next steps might vary depending on the type of room you have in mind. You may want to paint, measure the room for new furniture and/or finish up any carpentry. The sky’s the limit — just have fun customizing your new room!

Finish Your Renovation With a New Garage Door

Top off your brand new garage room with an updated garage door! A new door will ensure that your room is properly insulated and protected from the elements. Plus, it will add curb appeal and style.

Contact Custom Overhead Doors for installations and repairs. We have more than 25 years of experience making homes like yours beautiful.

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

Is your garage door on the fritz? Have you recently noticed strange noises or abnormal movement patterns? When you have an automatic garage door, a variety of issues can cause your door to function improperly. And while a non-functional garage door may seem like a minor inconvenience, it can be a serious safety issue for the untrained homeowner. At Bluff Country Garage Doors, we take safety seriously, which is why we offer dependable, on-call service. Today, we’d like to discuss the most common reasons behind garage door failure, and why you should always hire a professional to perform your repairs.

Improper Track Alignment

The metal tracks that houses your garage door’s rollers must be in perfect alignment for the door to open and close properly. If they become slightly misaligned, you may notice the following telltale signs:

●        Grinding noises

●        Gaps between the rollers and the track

●        Bent tracks

●        Abnormally slow movement in isolated areas

Continual opening and closing of an improperly aligned garage door can exacerbate the problem. Because the average garage door is heavy—weighing between 130 and 400 pounds—it may cause the rails to bend even farther out of alignment as it moves through the track. If you observe any of the symptoms noted above, it’s best to call a garage door repair technician before the misalignment gets out of hand.

Broken Torsion or Extension Springs

If your garage door suddenly fails to move up or down, you may be dealing with broken torsion or extension springs. Springs control the movement of your garage door by regulating the tension required to move the door—but they don’t last forever. Depending on the type of springs you have, you’ll typically need to replace them every seven to nine years if you open your door an average of four times per day. And if you open your door more often, you’ll need to be diligent about having replacement springs installed. A word of caution: if you observe a broken spring, do not try to open the door yourself. Springs are highly dangerous and should only be handled by a trained professional.

Broken Cables or Tension Springs

Just as the door’s torsion and extension springs have a limited life, so do its cables and tension springs. If you’ve noticed your garage door closing unusually fast, or if it slams loudly to the ground as it reaches the last foot or two, it’s probably time to replace the tension springs or cables. Like torsion springs, cables and tension springs can be very dangerous to handle if you are not properly trained. Most components of your garage door hold an enormous amount of tension as a high level of force is required to open the door. Rather than risk harm, it’s best to let the professionals repair any broken garage door components.

Objects Inhibit the Door’s Movement

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it still stumps people every day. If your garage door is equipped with a sensor mechanism, it will fail to close fully if there is an object blocking its path to the ground. If your door moves downward, but suddenly stops and reverses, an object is likely tripping the sensor.

A less common occurrence is debris buildup within the door’s track. For the door to close properly, the track must be unobstructed for the roller wheels to move freely along their path. Even the smallest object—gum, a ping pong ball, your child’s action figure—can stop the door in its tracks (literally). You’ll need to examine the length of the track to determine if debris is causing the problem.

This post first appeared on http://www.bluffcountrygaragedoor.com

Just like your car needs routine oil changes, your garage door needs routine tune-ups. As one of the most used appliances in your home, it is best to service your garage door annually. Proper care and maintenance of your garage door are essential in ensuring smooth daily operations and preventing major breakdowns in the future. 

As a leading overhead garage door repair company in Davis County, Affordable Garage Door Repair has the best technicians available for your annual garage door maintenance. We will make sure your garage door is functioning efficiently and safely for the whole family to enjoy. During the service, we will check:

• Springs
• Cables
• Rollers
• Operator
• Sensors

Why Regular Maintenance is Important

Garage doors should be serviced regularly to maintain efficiency and security measures. If left unserviced, your garage door could malfunction and lock you out when you least expect it. Even worse, it could become a safety hazard for your family. The best way to avoid a disaster is to call Affordable Garage Door Repair for a maintenance service. 

Avoid Expensive Repairs

A garage door that has been denied maintenance for too long will require expensive repairs to continue functioning. This machinery is so heavy that it puts a lot of pressure on small components like springs and bolts. Therefore, internal units will experience significant wear and tear that will cause your entire door to malfunction without proper care. An annual tune-up can help you avoid expensive repairs by replacing only the parts that have deteriorated. Which do you think is cheaper? A spring or a whole new garage door? 

Keep Valuables Safe

Your house contains a lot of invaluable items such as personal electronics, expensive appliances, and most importantly, your family. To protect the things that are most important to you, you need functioning doors. A damaged garage door could easily be tampered with to allow foreign dangers into your house. Make sure your garage door is not only maintained but also equipped with the latest security measure so you can have peace of mind that your home is the safe sanctuary it is supposed to be. 

Protection from Bad Weather

When the weather gets nasty, the first thing we do is close our doors and windows to create a barrier that will protect us from outside dangers. If your garage door hasn’t been serviced in years, it could easily break at the next sight of a natural disaster. Maintenance is the key to ensuring your garage door can survive dangerous weather all year long. 

Signs of Wear and Tear 

We know it’s time for your next garage door service, so don’t hesitate to call us today. Our expertly trained technicians can repair all garage door problems big and small. Whether you’re looking for a state-of-the-art garage door installation or professional garage door spring repair, we service all clients from Murray to Salt Lake City, UT. 

The post How Often Should You Tune-Up Your Garage Door? appeared first on Affordable Garage Door Repair | affordablegaragedoorfix.com.

Oh, the unquestioned convenience of a fully functional garage door. Until one day, that’s no longer the case. Often, we take our garage doors for granted, assuming they’ll forever and flawlessly open and close at the touch of a button. And then reality hits. If you’ve ever been caught in the midst of garage door malfunction, you know just how frustrating, time-consuming, and potentially dangerous attempting to locate and fix the issue can be. The garage door experts at Door Power, in Norwood, MN discuss how routine garage door maintenance can help you avoid unexpected garage door failure.

Tighten Up the Hardware

The average household opens and closes their garage door approximately 1500 times per year! That’s a hefty dose of potential wear and tear over time. With all of that opening and closing and the associated vibrations, various components can loosen, potentially resulting in damage to your garage door if you’ve neglected proper maintenance. Fortunately, keeping those components in top working condition requires just a few minutes and a socket wrench. Simply examine your garage door’s brackets, fasteners, and bolts to locate any loose parts. If you find any, tighten them until secure using your socket wrench.

Examine the Rollers

With all of that opening and closing each year, your garage door’s rollers can also undergo extensive wear and tear. Rollers, which guide your garage door through its tracks, typically have a life of about seven years, but experts recommend inspecting them twice annually. If you observe any cracking, chipping, or extensive wear, it’s time to install replacements. Because the replacement process can be quite involved, its best suited to a trained garage door repair technician.

Put the Safety Features to the Test

If you have a manual garage door manufactured after the early 1990s, chances are it came equipped with several safety features. These might include safety sensors, auto-reverse, and manual override. These critical features were installed with the safety of you and your family in mind, so keeping them in top working condition is paramount. Pro tip: If your door does not contain any safety features, it’s time for a garage door replacement.

To test the auto-reverse features, place a solid object on the ground directly in the path of the garage door. Using the opener, close the garage door. When the door comes into contact with the object, it should automatically reverse. If it doesn’t, call a garage door repair technician. To test the safety sensors, first, measure their height. Then, find an object that reaches higher than the height of the sensors. Place the object in the path of the safety sensors and attempt to close the door using the opener. If the sensors work properly, they will detect the object and immediately stop the door from closing. Again, if this feature malfunctions, it’s time to call your local repair technician.

To test the manual override, obtain a ladder and place it beneath the chain that controls your garage door. Here, you should find a red, manual override cord hanging from the chain. Give the cord a forceful pull to lock it in the appropriate position. You’ve just activated manual override mode. To test it, attempt to open the door using the garage door opener. If it fails to open with the electronic opener, but you can lift it using your hands, your manual override is fully functional. Pull the cord once more to unlock the mechanism and restore automatic opening.

This post first appeared on https://www.doorpower.com

Your garage door is an important part of your home. They not only keep your vehicles inside your garage safe and secure, but they also are typically the first thing guests and neighbors see when visiting or passing by. Unfortunately, garage doors experience a lot of wear and tear over time. And perhaps there is nothing more frustrating than having something as expensive as your garage door system get dinged up. 

Dents are one of the most common issues that can happen to your garage door. When your garage door is dinged up, the curb appeal of your home suffers to some extent. Even if the dents are minor, they can cause an issue down the road if you are planning to sell your house in the future. Additionally, more dents can occur or worsen with continued use, which can potentially cause your garage door to malfunction and hinder your daily routine. 

How Do Garage Door Dents Happen?

A garage door may suffer a dent for many reasons, some causing more serious damage than others. For example, something as simple as a basketball bouncing into your garage door can leave behind a small imprint, while something like running your vehicle into your garage door is likely to cause the entire panel to bend. Because there are a variety of ways that garage door dents can occur, our garage door contractors always recommend high-quality garage doors that offer incredible durability and are able to withstand minor dents and dings. 

How To Repair Garage Door Dents

If you find that your garage door has been dented, it is best to address the problem sooner rather than later. Of course, we always suggest contacting a professional for garage door repair jobs so you can ensure the work is done right, but issues like garage door dents are something that many homeowners have fixed on their own. Not all garage door materials are easy to repair, though. Generally, only homeowners that have garage doors made of stainless steel or aluminum can repair small dents with the right tools. Continue reading to learn how to easily repair steel or aluminum garage door dents.

Aluminum Garage Door Dent Repair

Lucky for you, aluminum is the easiest type of garage door material to fix. However, in order to properly get dents out of your garage door, you’re going to need a few things. First, grab a bucket of lukewarm water and add a drop of dish soap, stirring evenly. Apply the soapy water to the dented area(s), scrubbing it with a sponge to remove any grime or debris. Let the area air dry while you go find aluminum foil, a lighter, and a can of compressed air. 

Once the dented area is dry, cut a section of tin foil to place it over the dent. To make things easier, tape the foil over the dented area. Next, apply the flame from your lighter over the tin foil until the heat is transmitted to the dented area. The aluminum foil protects your garage door from any scorch marks during the heating process, which should only take about a minute. Once the heat is transmitted to the dented area, immediately remove the foil and spray the condensed air across the area evenly. Due to the molecular structure of aluminum, the abrupt change in temperature causes the dent to reverse as the surface moves back into its original position.

Steel Garage Door Dent Repair

Steel garage doors are a little trickier to fix and require a different approach to repairing dents. Steel garage doors will likely require a steel door or auto body filling compound. You’ll need to start the same way you would with an aluminum garage door — a thorough cleaning to remove any dirt. Once the dented area is clean and dry, you’ll need to sand the dent with the suggested grit level of sandpaper and wipe the dust away. Next, you will need to use a putty knife to apply the compound material to the dented area. Once the compound dries, use a finer grit of sandpaper to smooth the area and then apply primer and paint to the area to match the original color of your garage door. 

Contact Garage Door Doctor For Garage Door Repair

If you have a steel or aluminum garage door, fixing dents shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. But if you have a different type of garage door or can’t seem to get the dent out yourself, you can rely on the garage door experts at Garage Door Doctor for garage door dent repair! Our team will be able to help you restore your garage door and transform the blemished surface or offer many affordable garage door replacement options.

If you are interested in learning more about our garage door services or receiving a free estimate, contact us today!

This post first appeared on https://www.garagedoordoctorllc.com

When you see a glass garage door, it’s hard to see regular garage doors the same way.

We don’t have anything against more traditional garage doors… in fact, we recommend and install them all the time. But just look at a few of the ones we’ve done for our customers here in Utah:

Although we use the term “glass garage doors” frequently, it is a bit of a misnomer. These doors aren’t just made of glass–they’re usually an aluminum frame with glass inserts, though some options may be available for steel. Most suppliers have a specific product line for the style and use that in their terminology, such as Vista by Amarr, Athena by Martin Door, Avante by Clopay, and Modern Classic by Northwest Door.

If you’re considering a glass garage door for your home, there are some advantages and disadvantages to carefully consider.

Pros of Glass Garage Doors

1. Natural light. Dark spaces are more difficult to work in, and garages often don’t have enough natural or artificial light. Having a floor-to-ceiling series of windows really helps to let in more light, and frosted, tinted, or mirror glass can allow light in while still maintaining privacy.
2. Design choices. Although glass garage doors might seem like the sort of thing that can only be pulled off with a modern home, they are more versatile than you might think. Door manufacturers provide a range of colors, finishes, and patterns to choose from that look great with other styles of homes as well.
3. Curb appeal and resale value. Front-facing garage doors are one of the more prominent, noticeable features of a home, taking up as much as 40% of the facade. Glass garage doors really give a “wow” factor to a home’s overall aesthetic, especially when indoor lighting is used to highlight the feature. It also helps that a new garage door is one of the best cost/value remodel projects you can make to improve the value of your home.
4. Versatility. Overhead glass doors aren’t just popular in garages–they can also be used in clever ways to enhance a mixed-use space. At our headquarters in Sandy, Utah, we use a glass door to divide our conference space from our call center to keep the noise levels down for everyone and still allow natural light.

Cons of Glass Garage Doors

1. Cost. Although the exact amount varies depending on what you’re comparing it to, the bottom line is that you can expect a glass garage door to cost roughly twice as much as a regular steel garage door. This is mostly due to the materials and manufacturing processes used to create the doors, plus the extra care in delivery and installation.
2. Insulation. Even with insulated glass, windows are less energy efficient than traditional materials. And although windows allow heat via solar radiation (light) to enter in, this may or may not be desirable depending on your climate. This can be minimized by using a mirror or tint finish on the glass.
3. Care and cleaning. Every garage door needs a good cleaning every now and again, but large glass windows can collect dust and dirt on the outside and look very dirty very quickly, especially with a mirror or tint finish. In most cases, a quick rinse with soap and water will do the trick.
4. Impact resistance. Where steel and other metals tend to dent or bend, glass is more likely to break. While the tempered glass does not pose an additional safety hazard (it breaks without shattering into pieces, like a windshield), it may be more susceptible to physical collisions such as small animals, baseballs or basketballs, and so on.

Alternatives to Full Glass Garage Doors

Although glass garage doors may be prohibitively pricey depending on your budget, there are several alternatives that are more affordable and offer many of the benefits without some of the disadvantages.

Single Panel Windows

One of the more practical ways to allow more light into a garage without breaking the bank is to have a row of windows on a single panel. This allows a good amount of daytime light without all of the extra cost of full glass. Plus, the options for color, shape, and window finish offer a lot of choices for just about any type of home. Windows are most commonly placed on the top panel, but can also be positioned lower for practical or aesthetic purposes, such as when an archway would partially cover up the top panel.

Flush Panels with Side Windows

While perhaps not as modern as full glass doors, a flush (flat) panel with side windows can really update the look of a home quickly. We love the way these look and recommend them highly to our customers.

Mixed Windows

For a look with more variety, some manufacturers also will do a mixed window arrangement. This typically works best with short panels along with a window style and door color that complement the home well. When implemented properly, this style really stands out.

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