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Garage door repair is generally next, but what do you do until help arrives? How can you tell if the problem is dangerous, like a broken garage door cable?

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

Custom garage doors bring you the type of garage door that you and your home need, with durability, style, insulation options, and adding value to your home. Getting a new garage door brings a 98% return on investment, increasing the value of your home. With increased aesthetic appeal to your home, and improved durability and strength, these factors will add to the resale value of your home in the long run. 

Durability

Selecting a custom garage door allows you to choose the materials for your door. You can choose great quality materials like wood, glass, and aluminum. On top of choosing the main materials for your door, we provide options for high-quality parts such as high-cycle springs, heavy-duty hinges, and sealed rollers to ensure that your door lasts as long as possible and runs smoothly. 

Finding a Perfect Match for Your Home

Whether you are trying to create a more modern feel or preserve the historic or rustic look of your home, finding the perfect door to fit your home is our top priority. With hundreds of options from several different vendors, we are able to provide you with the perfect garage door for your home. 

Insulation

If you live here in Utah, your home is exposed to just about every extreme in weather. Being able to choose the amount of insulation offer your door the ability to help maintain an even temperature in your garage during the extreme months of winter and summer. You might be able to save money on heating and cooling bills during those months while also protecting your possessions in your garage from the dramatic changes in weather each year.

Choosing Your Custom Garage Door

Selecting a custom garage door allows you to choose exactly what you would like your garage door to look like, upgrading the look of your home making the overall look of your home nicer. In some cases, a custom garage door is much more affordable than you might think. You can choose a higher quality material for your garage door, making your door more durable, and find the perfect look to match your own home.

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net

Your garage door acts as a barrier between weather elements and the interior. In the colder months, it will be subject to moisture, rain, and fluctuating temperatures. Regular maintenance is essential to keep you and your home safe. Here are the top maintenance tasks to do in the fall.

Inspect Garage Door Mechanisms

You may start maintenance with an inspection of the door’s track mechanism. Inspect the tracks on either side of the door and ensure that there is no debris blocking its movement. You can test it by switching to manual mode. Try opening and closing the door. It should open smoothly without glitches.

Also, check that the photosensors are working. The photosensors are installed on either side of the door at no more than six inches above the ground. The safety device prevents the door from closing when there is an obstacle in between. You should ensure the sensor is secure on the side of the door.

You can check if the sensors are working by placing an object at its height. If you press the close button, the door should not close. If it does, it could be a safety hazard. In such instances, you can consult Garage Door Doctor, a top-rated service provider in Indianapolis.

Test the Garage Door Spring

Your garage door spring can continue to function efficiently for up to 10,000 cycles of closing and opening. During the summer months, the door can take a beating from all the activity in your home. Therefore, you should test the spring to ensure that it has not sustained any damage during this time.

You can start the evaluation by visually examining the condition of the spring. However, sometimes a faulty spring stretches instead of snapping. In either case, you may notice the door has an imbalance. The top half may appear to be out of alignment with the rest of the frame.

Another sign of a broken spring is when the motor is working and the door is not moving. You may also hear a sharp screeching sound as it struggles to open. It indicates that the spring is not moving with the motor, and therefore, it is faulty.

If the spring is faulty, using the opener may lead to further damage. At Garage Door Doctor, we recommend calling a technician immediately. Otherwise, the rails may bend, or gears may strip off from the opener’s mechanism.

The cables and pulley system should also be in good condition to support the weight. Look out for cords with worn-out or fraying strands. Consult a professional if you suspect an issue with the pulley mechanism. Such complications can lead to higher repair costs in the future.

Observe a Regular Cleaning and Lubrication Routine

By autumn, your garage door may have accumulated debris and dust. Before cleaning it, visually inspect the exterior of a metallic door for rusting. Wood is prone to warping because it is exposed to excess moisture. If the surface has rust or peeling paint, you should sand it and repaint it for maximum protection.

You can clean a wooden garage door with a dry cloth. For plastic, metal, or other synthetic surfaces, use a soft cloth and an appropriate cleaner.

When cleaning, make a point of lubricating every moving part. Friction on rollers and the tracks can cut down the lifespan of your garage opener. You can apply a high-quality lubricant twice a year to keep it efficient.

You can apply oil on rusty parts of the torsion springs to stop further corrosion. If the opener has a drive chain, you can also spray lubricant on it. However, you should not lubricate the belt drive.

Garage door professionals recommend lubricating with silicone or lithium-based grease. Oil products like WD-40 are degreasers, which can increase friction. Use a grease spray for an accurate application. After lubricating parts, wipe up any spills to prevent staining the opener or the garage floor.

Inspect the Weather Stripping

In the winter, the garage door’s surface will be subject to extreme cold, snow, and ice. Therefore, the door must have adequate weather-stripping at the bottom. Replace the entire stripping if it has broken down.

For wooden openers, the weather-stripping is secured in place by a nail. Metal doors will have an aluminum stripping holding up a u-shaped rubber gasket. The rubber gasket is much easier to replace than other types of weather-stripping.

The door may also have vinyl and rubber on its sides to stop rain or wind. Vinyl can warp when exposed to moisture, rain, or snow. If old or worn out, replace it and ensure that the flange is firm against the door for a perfect seal.

Test Your Garage Door Balance

During your inspection, you should also be sure that the garage door is level. When the weight balances evenly across the springs and pulleys, it exerts less stress on the system. If you continue opening an unbalanced door, it will eventually cause the spring to break prematurely.

A visual examination can tell you if it is level. A slanting door indicates that the force is not being exerted equally on the springs. In such instances, you must call a garage door technician before the door breaks.

Another balancing test is to lift the door until it is halfway open. When you release it, it should remain in place. But if it slams shut, it means that the door is out of balance.

You may also notice that it takes longer than usual to shut or close the garage. Unbalanced doors are noisy, producing strange sounds when you open or close them. After lubricating moving parts, if it still makes noises, you may want to schedule repairs.

It is also worth noting that a professional should fix defective parts such as the spring. The internal components of the opener can be dangerous for an inexperienced person. Also, do not attempt to open the door if the spring breaks. According to statistics, more than 20,000 people sustain injuries annually from garage door accidents.

Organize Your Garage and Schedule Maintenance Service

Organizing your garage can help increase the lifespan of the door. In the cold season, ventilation is essential for preventing moisture accumulation that could cause water damage. Therefore, rearranging and clearing areas of your garage prevents rust and warping.

Your maintenance routine will depend on the type and number of layers on the door. A triple-layered door offers additional protection and is quieter than a single-layered one. However, the multiple layers make it heavier and more expensive.

Ideally, you should schedule maintenance service at least once every 18 months. For busy homes or commercial establishments, once a year or more is recommended. The garage door is one of the heaviest items in your home. Ensuring that it is in working condition will prevent accidents and keep your home safe.

As a family-owned and -operated company, Garage Door Doctor has been offering unbeatable solutions since 2009 for commercial and residential garage door sales, service, and installation. We provide customized services to meet your home or business’s needs. Our team has a reputation for our honesty and professionalism. Call the Garage Door Doctor’s help desk today for an estimate of our services in Indianapolis.

The post Fall Maintenance Tasks to Keep Your Garage Door Safe and Efficient appeared first on Garage Door Doctor.

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

Garage door installation is never something to be undertaken lightly—so go big with an insulated garage door for your next renovation. 

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

Here at A Plus Garage Door, we’re big fans of insulated garage doors. Not only do they help keep Utah’s extreme weather at bay during the hottest and coldest months, but they offer many other benefits as well.

Insulation is a key part of comfort in any home, starting with the foundation, walls, roof, windows, and other components of a home. Insulation determines how resistant the structure is to thermal transfer and external noise, so it’s important that the garage door is not a weak point in that system.

How Insulated Garage Doors Are Made

Insulated garage door panels are made by several manufacturers, either using a pre-made foam panel or by injecting expandable foam insulation into a hollow panel.

For example, Amarr’s garage doors, as shown in the image above, are available with no insulation (left), polystyrene insulation with vinyl backing (center), or polyurethane insulation with steel backing (right).

Insulated Garage Door Cost

Insulated garage doors cost more than their non-insulated counterparts due to the additional materials and labor required to manufacture them. Depending on the make, model, and other specifics, the cost for an insulated garage door would be anywhere from 20 to 60% higher than a non-insulated one.

While that may seem like a steep markup, there are many benefits of having an insulated garage door installed on your home.

Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors

1. Improved Energy Efficiency (Thermal Insulation)

Insulated materials help reduce heat transfer between two different environments. In this case, the space inside and outside your garage. Here in Utah, we can see temperatures range from 3 degrees in the winter to 110 degrees in the summer. A garage door with a higher insulation value will help to keep out the heat and the cold better.

Garage door manufacturers include details about their products, including the R-value, which refers to the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power and the more efficient the garage door is.

In addition to having an insulated garage door, we highly recommend using weather stripping (also referred to as perimeter seal) to bridge the gap between the door and the building frame. Since it can be difficult or impossible to have the garage door close snug right up against the frame, this flexible material will help keep extreme weather at bay.

2. Durability

Steel-backed garage doors (ones made with steel on the back as well as the front) are much more sturdy than ones made with steel only on the front of the door. Under normal operating conditions, a steel-backed door will last many years longer than other doors due to the added structural strength.

3. Lower Noise Levels (Acoustic Insulation)

Insulated garage doors can help reduce noise levels. While the door is standing still, the insulation acts as a sound barrier, blocking loud noises from outside. While in operation, doors without insulation will often sound more hollow and clangy.

4. Protection

Garage doors are known for being heavy and strong, but their construction also makes them susceptible to damage in extreme cases. There have been reported instances of homes being broken into from top panels being pushed in to access the lever pull with a hanger and opening the garage door.

A steel-backed garage door will not be completely impervious to such an attack, but will definitely put up more of a fight than an uninsulated panel. Combine this with removing the cord or using a commercial product or the DIY approach, and your home will be that much more secure.

Insulated Garage Doors Are a Wise Investment

While it can be viewed as an upsell, we’re all-in on insulated garage doors given the extreme weather we face here in Utah and the many benefits they provide. Most of the garage doors we install are insulated (check out our new garage door photo gallery), and we have found that the advantages almost always outweigh the costs.

Are you looking for an insulated garage door and live in one of our service areas? Contact us today for a free estimate!

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net

All garage door companies are different, but knowing generally how garage door installation will go certainly soothes the nerves.

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

Designing custom garage doors gives you the flexibility to create the look and feel you want for your home. Get the most of your customization by ensuring that you understand all the options available to you. Ask your custom garage door company about all the options they offer and the recommendations they have.

What’s the Right Material?

The first decision to make is the material of your garage door. Depending on your needs, climate, and overall look, you’ll want to choose between wood, vinyl, aluminum, steel, or composite material. By working with your custom-made garage door company, you’ll be able to look at all the options available. Depending on the type of material you select, you’ll have various options to choose from to customize the garage door to meet your needs.

What’s Your Style?

The overall look of the garage door may be the most important decision to make. You want your custom garage door to match the overall look of your house, which will help boost your home’s curb appeal. You’ll want to consider the number of panels you want on your garage door. Do you want any windows or insulation? The style of the garage door defines the overall look and will help you as you select the other finishes in the process. Are you looking for a modern garage door or something a bit more traditional like a carriage door? 

Finishes and Hardware

The final piece of the puzzle is the finish and the hardware of your new, custom garage door. Depending on the garage door material you select, you’ll have different stain and paint options to compliment your garage door. You will also be able to select various hardware combinations that will give your new garage door a fully customized look with incredible curb appeal.

A custom garage door is a great way to boost your curb appeal and make your house stand out. Customizing your door gives you the flexibility to make design decisions for a unique look. If you’re looking for a custom garage door, contact us for a complete guide to your options

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net

Garage door installation pros like us go above and beyond to provide advanced garage door security; learn what that entails here.

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

It is important to find the garage door that works best for you. The type of material that your garage is constructed from makes a big difference in how the garage performs, how long it lasts, and the maintenance that will be required. An aluminum garage door is one of the options that will give you peace of mind as you upgrade your garage.

Durable & Easy to Clean

One of the biggest reasons to purchase an aluminum garage door to replace your current garage door is how durable and clean they are. Aluminum garage doors are sturdy and reliable just like their steel counterparts, but have a cleaner finish to them. An aluminum garage door is also easy to clean and usually only requires a quick spray with the hose.

Lightweight & Rust-free

The weight of your garage door plays a critical role in the lifespan of your garage door opener and the life of the door. An aluminum garage door is lightweight which allows your garage door to operate more efficiently. The aluminum material is also rust-resistant to help your garage door last through the seasons. Both the lightweight and rust-free characteristics help the garage door require less maintenance.

Customized for Curb Appeal

Aluminum garage doors are also great for curb appeal and can be easily customized to match the look of your house. These garage doors are great to add windows to bring in additional light and improve your curb appeal. You can also add insulation panels to the garage doors to help stave off the heat of the summer and the woes of the winter. Aluminum garage doors are great for when you would like a custom or modern garage door style.

In the market for a new aluminum garage door? Click the button below to contact us and set an appointment!

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net

Does the entire neighborhood know when you’re coming home or going out? A noisy garage door can be inconvenient and annoying. The good news is that most times, a noisy garage is something that can be easily fixed and you can say goodbye to the anxiety of opening your garage late at night. If you have a noisy garage door, check these 3 things first to repair your garage door. 

Tighten Loose Parts

One of the first things to do if you have a noisy garage door is to tighten any loose parts. Normal wear and tear on your garage door can loosen parts and create unnecessary noise. Go through all the parts of your garage door and make sure that everything is tight and in place. While doing this, look for any worn down or broken parts that may need replacing.

Replace Worn or Broken Parts

If you find any worn down or broken parts, it’s a good idea to have those repaired or replaced. A worn-down hinge or roller can create a lot of noise. These parts are easily replaced and can make a big difference in the amount of noise from your garage door. Some parts of your garage can be replaced on your own, but it’s always best to have a qualified garage door repairman fix any issues. 

Decrease Friction

Once you’re confident that all the components of your garage are in great working order, it’s also important to make sure that there’s no resistance to your garage door. First, grease the track of the garage door to decrease friction as the door opens and closes. Secondly, use a garage door lube to lubricate all the pieces that move when the garage door is in motion.

After completing these three things, if your garage door is still too noisy, it may be time to look into replacing your garage door with a quieter option. If the noise of the garage door is coming from the opener, you can install anti-vibration pads to decrease the noise. A new and more efficient garage door opener may also be a way to decrease the overall noise of operation.

The post Garage Door Blog first appeared on A Plus Garage Doors. This post first appeared on https://utahgaragedoors.net