Are you a homeowner looking to buy a new garage door? If you are, then hold the phone because we need to chat about something you may be overlooking! If you’re not, then hang around anyway, because once you hear what your neighbor is doing, you’ll more than likely jump on the wagon to get it done yourself!
So, back to the side of the room who are looking into an upgrade – have you been weighing your options about the what type and style of door you’re going to invest in? I can hear the voices now – “what options? It’s a door. All I need it to do is open and close and I want to get it as cheap as possible.”
That’s my cue to come in! You should be driving yourself up and around the walls trying to decide on what model, color and materials best fit your budget while still getting that so-desired appealing look. Why does your garage door need to look appealing? Seriously? Do I have to teach you everything?
Ugly is NOT in. Never was and never will be. We’ve all seen our share of eye-sores and know the thoughts that ran through your mind when you cringed at its sight. Well, the home can’t do anything about it, so shift that blame over to the homeowner. The cheap and lazy homeowner who doesn’t pride themselves on appearance. This is the same type of person who doesn’t own an iron for their clothes because “it’s going to get wrinkled anyway”. This is the same type of person who thinks doing laundry is turning your underwear inside-out. Your home’s appearance reflects who YOU are!
Fast forward to your search for a new door. The average Joe might try choosing one based on how awesome it looks in the brochure. But an educated guess would tell me that you don’t live in a brochure and your house looks nothing like the one featured in the brochure. That’s like a guy looking for a date by flipping through Maxim Magazine. So what are you really doing? Let me help pull you from the pages of Fantasyland and point you in the direction of finding a door that is going to look awesome on YOUR home.
But first – a little DID YOU KNOW segment…
Did you know that a garage door covers roughly 30% of the front of a house and is clearly visible to all eyeballs, drive-bys and streetwalkers. I don’t know who really studies these things, but rest assured a study was done, and the results illustrated that a well chosen and aesthetically pleasing garage door can add to the curb appeal, and value of your home. The value can increase between 1 and 5 percent. that’s more cheddar for your cracker! Not only does the right garage door make your home more attractive to buyers, but it makes it more profitable for you when it’s time to go on the market for sale… Oh, do I have your attention now?
Now before committing to this fairly large purchase, you want to make sure that you’re going to be satisfied with your final decision. I’m guessing this is why Regis emphasized final answers on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”. But the chances are, the only life line you’ll have is your spouse, and if they were any help, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article.
So exactly how can you be sure that the door you choose is the door for you? Ask you’re garage door dealer if they can show you a picture of what your new door will look like on YOUR home. Can they do that? Sure. A good and reputable place can. It’s not like the carpet guy who comes in with swatches that match your furniture. You’re door tech won’t have a truck full of doors that he can put up and take down for your sick amusement. Instead, many companies are equipping their techs with modern technology such as digital cameras and laptops, so they can take a curbside photo of your property and impose your selected door onto the front of your home. Now you can virtually envision your door exactly how it will look once the job is complete. All it takes is a few minutes and some easy Photoshop skills. this also means, that if you have the tools and the software, you can experiment and do it yourself! If you don’t like the way the first door looks, then just try another! It’s shopping made simple before you even have to spend!
A garage door just isn’t a garage door anymore. It’s a deciding factor. And one that you have control over. With that control, you can show your home a little more love and stylize it so that those who patrol the sidewalks will stop in awe and amazement at the wonders a custom door can do for you dwelling.
Home safety is big news these days since most of us worry about the safety of our homes and our families too. Those that have access openings around the property will surely want to ensure that no one can get in or take anything out come to that. For those who have moved to new properties, finding ways to ensure that no one has the keys etc is paramount since no one will know who held these keys before. Therefore, it may be wise to contact the specialists to see what they can offer. Try entering something like ‘Garage Door’ or ‘Garage Door Repair’ to find artisans who can fix up or replace those parts which need some attention.
Even with this kind of outfit, some research has to be done first. Checking out their testimonials online is one way to find out if this is an honest and reliable company. After all, what would be a better disguise for robbery than having this kind of business as a front? However, most companies online are bona fide companies and do not resort to such low practices.
On top of checking them out online though, it is possible to see what other customers are saying about them. These testimonials are there for everyone to see so it is well worthwhile doing some research before opting to contract anyone. If the contractor is up to par, then the householder can also stipulate certain things in the contract before they are allowed to do the work.
For example, some contractors, and not ones which are very popular for sure, do not clean up after themselves. This added touch of service is usually what the householder wants to see in the service contract since who would want to be left in a complete mess? However, if it is important to the householder, make sure it is written into the contract before they begin.
The kind of insurance cover that the company has is also very important since if anything gets broken while they are at the job site, this has to be covered otherwise it will be out-of-pocket expense for the householder for sure. They should also be covered for theft since no one can guarantee that their workers are all honest and above-board.
Indeed, integrity is the watchword for all of these companies who do work on homes no matter what it is. Once they get the reputation for being a little less than honest, their clientele will surely find out about it before too long and this could just ruin their business.
For the householder himself, once the new gates or hardware has been put in, he can also add the longevity of the mechanics by doing some simple maintenance routines. Springs and rollers should be kept clean from dust and debris and regularly greased to ensure smooth operation. Also make sure that nothing blocks the mechanics so that they can operate freely which should maintain security and allow for peace of mind if nothing else.
Although most men feel like they can fix anything, this tends to be proven wrong more often than not. Whether it’s the leaky faucet, a clogged toilet or even an electrical problem, men everywhere promise they can fix it but leave their wives disappointed and on the phone calling a technician. Fixing a garage door is no easy task and something that you should leave up to a professional. Here are a few details about garage repairs so you will know what you are talking about when you call up a garage door service company.
There are three main mechanisms of a garage door that could need to be repaired. The motor, the door itself, or the springs. These are the most common types of garage door repairs people have to make they are all very important pieces that allow your door to open and close. If you are having trouble with your garage door opening or closing, there are a few things to check right off the bat.
First, make sure the motor on your door is plugged in. If it is plugged in, try plugging something else into the same outlet to ensure the circuit has not been tripped. Second, check to make sure the sensors have not been bumped or something is not blocking them. The two garage sensors must point at each other, a red dot will verify they have not been bumped. Third, check to make sure the metal track your door runs up and down and the wall brackets are tightly secured to the wall. Last, you will need to check on the springs. Check both springs and make sure the tension is tight on both. If one is broken, do not attempt to fix on your own. There is a risk of the spring snapping leaving your garage door to come crashing down on you or your possessions. Leave the spring repair to a technician who has experience replacing them. As heavy as a door can be, you do not want to be responsible or get hurt.
Follow these simple steps to decide whether you need to call a service technician. If you have done these four things, it will be easier to talk to a repair service and describe what is going on. They will appreciate you know what you are talking about!
Buying a new garage door can give you a headache. There are so many companies which are ready to install it to your garage. Easy way to buy a door is calling these companies but if you are looking for a specific and unique product then always gain a quote from different companies and compare all prices. Always think about the area and design of a garage and experts supply to you. There are many specialists in the market, you can consult those. And there are thousands of nice looking doors which fit on your expectations. You can also use online computer designers which can make designs for you.
New doors are costly but companies offer you services for repairing of them. There are three types of openers in the market. It can be screw driver opener, chain drive and belt drive. Screw drive door openers are cheap from other two types of doors. But the difficulty is screw drive openers make noises. These are good to apply if you have a separate garage from your house and these are low-priced. Chain drive openers don’t make much noise and they are easy to handle. Belt drive openers are also good example of openers because these produce very low noise. These are best to install in garages which are attached to houses. Belt drive and chain drive door openers are expensive.
You only give importance to a garage when you want to buy a new door or you want to repair your old one. Types of doors can be tilted side doors, folding doors or lifting doors. These doors may be made of custom wood, steel or titanium. Buy whichever door, its costs you money. These doors look reliable as long as these are operational. If any of garage door part stops working the whole chain is disturbed. Moreover garage doors are consist on accessories which require service.
Your garage door can create problem. Its spring can break. Steel doors are bent. The track on which cables are operating can cause problem. Arrangement of any hardware can be misplaced. A panel can break. Hundreds of problems can arise. It is true that all garage doors need some ordinary check. Make sure that all parts in the operating panel are working fine. If you feel any hardware is out of order, don’t try to be a hero ‘Call a repairman’.
Some cautions can save you openers. Lubricate the parts of doors where friction is involved. Don’t open the safety box (operating panel). Springs are unsafe and kinetic energy is hidden in springs, be careful with springs. Make sure the wires of your garage door openers are not in the path of moving parts.
The garage door is really an important part of your home, but unfortunately it is one that we hardly ever pay any attention to until the day it breaks. The garage door is easily the largest moving part of your home and you really need to consider the options wisely when you are thinking of purchasing a new door for your home.
Appearance
Before you start talks with a garage door salesman, you really need to have a good idea of what you want for your home. One excellent way to decide what type of door will suit you is by taking a drive around your local neighborhood and looking at other people’s choices of garage entry door. You can of course also browse the Internet at your leisure for more ideas and designs. Once you have a visual conception of how you would like your garage door to be. And then, you can start talks with a salesman.
Functioning
Today, although not the cheapest model on the market, the most popular garage port doorways are indeed automatic doors that are sectioned. These doors are more expensive and also require a lot of maintenance in order to keep them in good working order.
There are a lot of different materials from which your garage door can be made including metal alloys, steel, wood and fiberglass. Wooden doors are the most expensive and require a lot of maintenance but are also the best looking gates. Steel gates are however a very popular alternative to wood nowadays as the material is durable and economic.
Steel doors are also versatile, as you can paint them in any color you want in order to fit in with your surroundings. Other materials such as vinyl or fiberglass are more expensive, and your choice should depend on the weather conditions at your home as well as your budget and lifestyle.
Extra features
Depending once more on the environment in which you live, it may be wise to check the resistance rating of your door. The R value of your garage door is very important if you need to think of a door that will cut down on your energy bills. Depending on the R value of your door, both the weight and the price of the door will vary accordingly.
When you are planning on upgrading or replacing your existing door, you really need to know if you require a complete new door of if you can refurbish your existing door. If you are choosing a new door then other factors that you need to take into consideration are the warranty and the installation service offered by the company.
The garage door repair and maintenance must be done in a monthly basis. If you can fix it yourself, there are door technicians that can help you do the job. The technicians can help you balance the door if it needs some adjustment. There are some few steps that you can do to be able to check the troubles and help you in fixing your doors.
The invention of garage door is one of the best in the last century. It can help you protect your home and your properties. It is like any other device that has been fast changing. It is from the manual doors in the early years of the invention to the state of the art doors nowadays. The use of remote control and one touch button has been some of the latest innovations of this. And there are few easy steps that can help you maintain and repair your doors.
The first thing to establish like any other steps for troubleshooting, know the problem first. The following can help you fix your motorized garage door. It uses an electric motor like any other electric devices and a system of chain or belt. The thing to do here is to familiarize yourself with the main devices that make the doors to be in motion. Try to remove the motor from the door to check if there are troubles with it. Make sure to check all the parts and make sure that you fix all loose parts. It is also to check for the stability because this can be loosened from the everyday use of the door. It must be aligned with the motor so that it can work properly. Check also the gear if there are sounds that is unusual. There are indicators that let you know if there are concern with your motor door such as whining and grinning.
The easy steps to garage door repair and maintenance is one way to prevent bigger damages for the door motor. The next thing to do is to check for the visible damage like burning or cracks. To be able to know if these are damages, just check its box. This can be caused by the everyday use or it can be cause by improper alignment. This can also be caused by lightning strikes, rodent and the everyday use of the machine. This can be done by sternly looking into the details of the motor. This guide will give you ideas on how to fix those bigger problems on your motor.
All garage doors installed since 1991 must be equipped with safety sensors to avoid crushing someone under a closing one. Many of these sensors are mandatory and others are not required at all, but all of them perform an invaluable function.
The usual door sensor you find most is the infrared beam sensor. This installs by simply bolting the two pieces of the sensor on either side of the door so that the infrared beam between the two pieces is broken by anybody walking in the way of it closing. These sensors can easily become misaligned and could need adjustment now and then to make sure it continues to work properly.
Another kind of sensor seen on some garage doors is the pressure sensor. This kind of sensor usually comes as part of it itself and needs to be installed by a professional. The pressure sensor also suffices as a safety device to avoid injuring someone with the closing door. Although the infrared beam sensor does not allow the door to touch anything under it, the pressure sensor door will inevitably touch the object before it senses it. In addition, the pressure sensor is not guaranteed to function continuously after years of wear and tear.
Some sensors on garage doors don’t deal with safety issues and instead focus on other needs that the customer may have. For example, there are some battery operated sensors that are bolted to the entrance and automatically close it when it is left open for too long. This is a good idea if you live in an extremely cold region. Accidentally leaving your garage doors open overnight could allow the motorized opener to get cold enough to cease operating properly.
There are other types of sensors that make a large contribution to safety, but they don’t involve any mandatory gate safety regulations. Carbon monoxide sensors can do a great job in preventing the occurrence of a deadly accident. When carbon monoxide levels reach a certain point, the sensor automatically opens the gate to clear out the carbon monoxide and allow in fresh air. This could potentially save someone from asphyxiating to death.
All of these types of sensors for garage doors are potential life savers that should be present in every home and business that utilizes them. Even if it costs some money, it is still better to be safe than to be sorry.
Replacing a door is not difficult, and it can be accomplished with a few basic hand tools, a reciprocating saw and a good level. The first step is to select the new door, preferably of the same width and height of the door that’s being replaced. This will avoid a need to re-size the opening where the new door will reside.
The easiest type of doors to install are pre-hung in a wood jamb, and pre-drilled for a lock. Others are independent doors that have a primer coat, are mortised for hinges and pre-drilled. Finally, there are raw doors that are unfinished and require routing for hinges, as well as drilling for the lock set
Raw doors require skill and expertise to size and hinge, and should be installed by someone that has the necessary tools. However, pre-hung and primed doors can be installed with a minimum of effort, and the installation can be accomplished in a matter of hours.
Begin by pulling the hinge pins and removing the old door from the opening. If the hinge pins are rusted, drive a pointed awl or framing nail into the hole at the bottom of the hinge to free the pin. Remove the old hinges from the jamb and bring one along for comparison when purchasing the new butts.
If a pre-hung door has been selected, the jamb and casing trim must be replaced. To remove the jamb, use a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade to cut the nails that are holding it in place. Work the blade into the seams along each side of the jamb, then across the top to free the jamb.
To install a pre-hung door, begin by removing the hinge pins, and separate the new door from the jamb. Plumb one side of the opening and attach the jamb tight to this side, using wood screws or #8 finish nails. Shim the opposite side of the jamb and attach it in the same manner. Re-hang the door in the jamb and replace any casing trim. Install the lock and the strike plate to complete the installation.
For a mortised door, install the hinges on the door, and split the top hinge by pulling the hinge pin. Measure from the top of the door to the top of the upper hinge, deduct 1/8″ and use this measurement to locate the top of the upper hinge on the jamb. Mortise for the upper hinge and hang the door on this single hinge. Transfer marks for the remaining hinges to the jamb, and mortise for these. Re-hang the door, attach the hinges and install the lock.
Some garage doors do a great deal much more than admit autos. Some persons in no way pull their automobiles to the garage, they do not have the place. Garages have turn out to be the operate shop and storage room in the household. If there exists not any other “unfinished” room or space for woodworking or functioning out then the car port can turn out to be the excellent room or space. Some persons may perhaps turn it right into a boys club even.
The kind of doorway in this area could be essential then. Most likely a person desires to set up a screen doorway to make it possible to allow fresh air in and continue to keep the bugs out.
In the event the area is heading to become utilized on a regular basis, then a very good scrub on the walls could be proper. If a scrub won’t be ample a coat of paint can supply a facelift for your whole room. An epoxy floor coating can cover more than many years of neglect without having producing the room or space really feel to concluded for messier tasks. If a work out area is proceeding to become developed attempt the rubber connecting floor mats.
Probably all that’s desired is often a seasonal spot for socializing. Hooks about the walls can maintain chairs and tables out on the way and yet a sweep in the floor plus a outdoor carpet piece can transform the storage area right into a pleasant patio area. As with any transition time, maybe it would be considered a excellent time to get in touch with a garage door support to produce certain the front door is working appropriately. Just as one particular checks the batteries within the smoke detectors using the modify of daylight savings, obtaining the garage door inspected can be a piece of occasional maintenance frequently forgotten. In case the price range makes it possible for plus the opener is specifically aged or noisy, it could possibly be replaced using a much more contemporary quieter design.
Some home owners in no way handle to pull the car or truck by way of the garage door for yet another motive. It begins using a box or 3 of Christmas decorations. Then a box of seasonal clothes under no circumstances manages to acquire brought in and is forgotten to time. If aged discarded toys are filling up the room or space wherever the auto ought to go, and a person is annoyed yet another winter went by devoid of ever discovering time to create room to the automobile, maybe a yard sale could well be beneficial notion. Don’t forget that quite a few charity shops will even appear for any pickup.
Summer is a fantastic time to go via these boxes and a single days perform might be rewarded using a winter in which one particular does not must scrape snow and ice off the auto.
From time to time garages are applied for a thing a small a lot more classically minded. Classic Rock which is. If there is certainly a musician inside home, especially a drummer the instrument will most likely come across itself relegated towards storage. If this takes place appear proofing may perhaps be in order. When the major obligation is always to safeguard the residence in the sounds from the budding musician then examine that primary the walls had been concluded within the 1st location. Some garages will only have cement walls, adding within the wood frame after which insulation and drywall will go a extended way towards proving a appear barrier. The garage door are going to be an issue and any beneficial seem proofing will usually render the entrance inoperable right up until it can be eliminated.
It’s hot. Obviously, it tends to be hot during the summertime. Nevertheless, the summertime of 2010 seems to be rather a bit hotter than usual. June set a record as the hottest ever reported in many parts of the United States (the “record” being since humans have been tracking temperatures from the 1880s). July 2010 just missed setting a record and August 2010 is shaping up to beat them all out. States, cities, and towns across the country are getting daily forecasts calling for “near record highs” as temperatures hit triple digits in numerous locations, including locations exactly where triple digit temperatures aren’t whatsoever typical, leading to temperatures greater than ever before noted.
Overnight temperatures are “cooling” off towards the upper ’70s and low ’80s at the coolest. Air conditioners are working overtime to keep things cooled down so individuals can have a decent night’s rest. Even though there are locations along the northern tier of the United States, exactly where folks aren’t whatsoever used to the greater temperatures. Even Russia is getting highest ever heat waves, with news reports about individuals frying eggs sidewalks in Siberia.
Numerous cities have passed ordinances against companies propping open the doors to their company in attempts to lure passers-by with the cool air. Of course, those same companies most likely blanche when they receive their next utility bills. The proprietors likely never had a father who regularly yelled “I’m not paying to cool (or heat when it was wintertime) the entire outdoors!”
Now most folks most likely don’t have the air conditioning running into the garage so it doesn’t matter that significantly of the garage door is left open. Actually, maintaining the garage door in an open position may really make it a bit cooler than when the garage door is closed. In some older homes, individuals may have finished off a garage as an additional bedroom or even apartment, and in these cases, the no air conditioning and no garage door to open can leave it rather stifling.
Even though the summertime of 2010 is shaping up as one of the hottest ever, it’s still feasible for individuals, even within the southern climates, to survive without air conditioning. Individuals survived long, hot summers in all the world and all the climates prior to air conditioning as well as prior to fans. Folks knew how and exactly where to accomplish maximum cooling and shade utilization.