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With the cold weather, the following can you save you a lot of time and expense!

Keeping it Clean

Clean your garage door regularly with mild soap, such as car detergent, and a soft bristle brush. Avoid using abrasive cleaners and very strong liquid cleaners which could damage the paint or cause delaminating. If you have a steel garage door, you can revive its luster by applying a car wax as it will protect against acid rain and dust. It is best to avoid waxing in direct sunlight to achieve better results.

Weather Stripping

Clean the weather stripping with a good all-purpose cleaner. Lubricate it every 2 or 3 months with a SILICONE-based lubricant. Never use a petroleum-based lubricant on weather stripping as it will dry up and crack. Don’t forget the weather strip between your door panels. It is important to let your weather strip hang 1/2″ below the door base when you readjust your perimeter weather stripping. If the weather stripping is too tight, the door will not function properly. So if your weather stripping has lost its flexibility, it is best to replace it.

Maintaining the Hardware

Lubricate the rollers, tracks and hinges and all moving hardware parts with a little motor oil (e.g.: 10W30) every three months. Wipe off excess oil with a cloth. As for the springs, use the same oil applied with a cloth. You are not only prolonging the spring’s life, but also reducing the noise the springs make when the door is operated.

At least once a year, home owners must check the following :
1. the sturdiness and adjustment of the hinges;
2. the rollers for worn-out ball bearings, flattened rollers, and crooked rods;
3. the tracks for premature wear and tear, loose bolts, and loose supports;
4. the cables for wear and tear; especially near the pulleys and the lower support (corner bracket).

Open Sesame: The Garage Door Opener

Depending on the model you own, consult the manufacturer’s guide. If you want to add some white grease on the operator track, again you must first clean the track. By oiling all the mobile parts you will reduce the noise initiated by the motor. If it is still too noisy for your liking, then nylon rollers would help reduce the noise.

Pull on the trolley release cord and operate the door manually. Is it difficult to open and close? The electric operator only replaces manual operation, therefore it must move freely. If you have trouble operating it, contact your local l qualified and licensed garage door installer. For your safety as well as your child’s, check the automatic safety reverse system of the door opener every month.

Get Your Annual Exam

Consider your garage door as an important part of your home. With appropriate annual maintenance, it will operate beautifully. Ask a qualified and licensed garage door installer to lubricate and adjust your garage door at least yearly. In a 10 step check-up, they will lubricate all the above mentioned parts and perform any required repairs.

Garage Door Shopping

Most homeowners, if any, experience shopping for a new garage door. When we do, we often get a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices we need to make.

Signs of a garage door in need of replacement include sagging, peeling paint or dented steel, light coming through the bottom, worn or rusted hardware, or simply inconsistent operation.

If you are renovating your house and think it would look better with a new door, by all means take the plunge. New doors are not particularly expensive. It is really hard to make a bigger improvement to the look of your home’s exterior in just a few hours than by having a new garage door installed.

But there are a couple of things to keep in mind before you start shopping for a new door. First, most garage doors can be painted. If your biggest gripe is simply that the existing door color isn’t right, or the coating is dirty or peeling, consider opting for a paint job instead of replacement.

Second, if you just have a problem with a single panel, you may be able to find a replacement for the panel without having to replace the entire door. Look for a serial number on the bottom of the panel, and then contact the manufacturer or a garage door supplier who handles the same brand of door. If the garage door is not too old, you may be able to order a matching panel, although it is quite possible that the color of the replacement will not exactly match the faded color of the remaining panels.

But if replacement remains the goal, here are some tips and links that can help guide you through the shopping experience.

• Material. There is really no “best” material for a garage door, but there probably is a best choice for your home. Learn about the different materials garage doors can be made of.
• Style. Yes, you really do need to be style conscious when choosing a new garage door. Houses are built in styles, and garage doors are made to conform with, or at least complement, those styles.
• Cost. As with just about everything else, you can spend a lot of money or very little money on a garage door.  
• Find an Installer. Find a top quality, reliable and affordable professional to do the job.

Choosing the Right Garage Door Installer

When selecting a professional garage door company for your home, you should sense a few things before actually hiring one.

First, you should do some research and find out if your potential garage door installer is professional to begin with. Make sure you validate proper contractor license. Start by asking for a list of jobs they’ve actually established along with references. Do not rely or trust an ad on your local paper or the internet. Just because they have an ad it does not mean they are trustworthy.

Don’t let their nice, attractive personality fool you. Although they may seem to be of nice character, you may hire the incorrect person for your project. There is wide range of garage door repair technicians in your area to choose from. Fraudulent individuals are out there, so you must filter them carefully. This article will give you a few tips on how to contract your next repair expert where you live.

Some of the most familiar things to consider before you hire your next repair technician or contractor should be as follows: 1. Check how long they have been in business? 2. Are they making any promises on their ads that can be easily voided? 3. How experienced are they, can they really handle the whole job wholly or do they seem limited? 4. Do they have references that you can validate? 5. Do they have a website to where you can seek to find something more about their business?

Below is a break down on the questions mentioned above so that you can be more aware when calling an installer/a technician for your home or business.

1. Find out how long they have been in business. – If you hear the company or technician has been in business for more than 5 years, then that is an excellent chance they are a responsible company. Unlike other companies that crash within the first 5 years of being in business. If the company has been in business for more than 10 years, then rest assured and has peace of mind that you are dealing with a true professional. A company cannot stay in business too long if they don’t have any referrals to back up the business.

2. Selection of Garage Door Services Offered. – Can the business handle every aspect of the project or are they handling one part only and out sourcing the other? This is typical in a small startup company where they are not experienced enough and need the extra resources to finish the job up. Ask if they are going to work on the entire project alone or someone else coming in to do another aspect of the project. You must be extremely careful, your guarantee might be difficult to claim if multiple technicians perform the project. In the end, you will not distinguish who guarantees what? Be sure to commit to one person to complete the whole job right from the start.

3. Reviews and Complaints – Is the company listed with the Better Business Bureau or are they registered with Yahoo, Google and other search engines where clients have been given the opportunity to review the company? We live in an time where referrals are the new way of doing business. It is in our nature to do business with people that have been referred by friends and family.

4. Web Presence – Do a quick search for the company in Google or Yahoo and see what comes up for their company name, many times you will see excellent or may be even bad hits on their reputation, this way you can have a preferred idea who you are dealing with and possibly have something to ask them when you meet with them in person.

Garage Door Opener: A Useful Invention

A garage door opener is a fascinating and useful invention. It is an electronic unit that helps you to open the garage door with the click of a switch.

There are mainly two categories of openers. The first one is the conventional switch that is installed within or without the garage and is clicked to open the door. These have manual options for operating in case of a power failure. For these switches, the security is slightly less. The second variety is a more developed remote controlled version. These types, contain a pair of receiver and transmitter each. A portable set is extremely convenient, as it enables the operation of the garage door without you having to step out of your car. Certainly, there are other erstwhile options like those operated by means of screws, belts and chains.

Now that you have an idea about the basic types of openers that are available you need to decide on the one you want to purchase for your garage door. There are a lot many variations that you will come across like those that are soundless, openers that are self lubricating, etc. Ensure to buy only what suits your needs. The factors that influence your decision would be durability, price and security.

If you are having trouble with your garage door opener, it may lead to immense anxiety. However, you may find that only a minor problem exists. Hence, prior to seeking professional help, you could try to fix it on your own. Things that you will be able to do on your own to fix problems are removing obstructions from the opener’s track, tightening up all nuts and bolts, checking the alignment of the opener, and of course checking the motors. You must also check the remote, as that is a possible problem area, too. If all these fail, you know you need a pro.

You may notice that no amount of repairing or professional aid seems to be helping to put your opener back into operation. That is when you need to replace your garage door opener. Since this is something you have done before, it should be simple.

The Story of a Non-Licensed Garage Door Installation

 This is a true story and the names of the individuals have been changed to protect the innocent.

  XYZ Garage Door Service isn’t a store or office-based business. It’s really just a man trying to earn his living via service, repair, and installation of garage doors.

I believe he works out of his home with his wife. When the homeowner hired Mr. Johnson, they knew there was an element of risk involved. He wasn’t licensed, but he had the price they wanted. When he came out to do measurements, answer questions, and give them options, he was extremely nice.

He seemed just like a really good guy. The homeowners hired him and he installed their garage door. He did an okay job, though probably not as good as a licensed contractor would have done.

Their issues with XYZ Garage Door Service, however, were with the follow-up. Part of their agreement with him was that he would haul away the old door and its remnants. He also said he’d be coming back to do a check after a week, to make sure everything was fine. Unfortunately, there was no follow-up.

Numerous, and I do mean numerous, calls were never returned. He did not come and pick up the door and its remnants as promised, and he never showed up to do this check that “he” volunteered that he’d do. They also had an issue with the installation. Again, no calls were returned.

They did manage to get him one time, and still sounding as nice as can be, he gave them a sing song about helping his wife with their children, blah, blah, blah. More promises were made, and they were never kept.

In the end, they chose not to pursue it further. But the problems remain.

No follow-up, unmet promises and failing to honor obligations… worth the price of dealing with an unlicensed garage door installer? Before choosing someone, make sure they’re a licensed contracted and have a good rating in your local Better Business Bureau or be listed as a member of the International Door Association (www.doors.org).

“An ounce of prevention is worth more than pound of cure”*

Your garage door is most likely the largest moving piece of machinery in your home. Some of them weigh in at several hundred pounds. Replacement costs can be high, especially when coupled with a new opener. Take a look at the following things you can do to ensure yours lasts as long as possible. 

1. Get Professional Service. Just once year, have a professional come to perform some simple maintenance on your system. It should cost less than $100 to have a company adjust both the opener and spring system if needed. In addition to any work done on the springs and opener, this type of service will typically include a check for wear and tear, as well. Some companies provide the option of a service plan, which can help reduce the cost. The springs are the heart of the counter balance system, and can relax over time. An improperly balanced spring system can damage the opener, and pose a safety hazard. 
2. Lubricate Some aerosol type spray on the moving parts will do the trick. Not only will regular sprays reduce wear and tear, but it can make everything a little quieter, as well. Pay attention to the tracks, rollers, hinges, etc. While you’re there, give everything a quick once over to check for wear, making sure nothing is loose, no cables are frayed, etc.
3. Know Your Opener They are fairly simple mechanisms and don’t require many tools for maintenance. Some may need to have the chain or belt tightened occasionally. Check your manual for these types of maintenance procedures, as well as how often to lubricate the moving parts. Other settings a homeowner should be familiar with are the sensitivity (sometimes called a force setting) settings. This feature of the motor controls how much force will be applied to open or close the door. The owner’s manual will have instructions on how to achieve a good setting. Close attention is needed, as this will affect how safely everything operates.
4. Keep It Clean It may sound pretty basic, but keeping the area around the opening free of debris, and other items can solve major problems before they start. A rake, baseball bat, or other similar item can cause serious damage if caught in the path of the door or hardware. Spiders also love to build webs inside the lens openings of safety sensors. Make sure yours are free of any obstructions or debris.
5. Keep It Painted If you’ve got wood on the exterior of your home you already know it needs to be painted or sealed against the elements in some way, but don’t forget about the garage door. Rot or insect related damage is a common cause for repairs. The bottom section is the most commonly afflicted part. In severe cases, this can cause a safety hazard since the bottom section is under pressure from the counter balance system. Make sure to keep yours properly sealed.

That may seem like quite a bit to follow through on, but in reality it can save you time and money. This is a case where an ounce of prevention is worth more than pound of cure. Maintaining your garage door and opener costs very little compared to the hundreds of dollars it would take to replace them. 

* Ben Franklin

Garage Door Check-Ups Save You Money

At least once a year you should examine the garage door(s) on your property. To insure for proper operation and the longevity of your investment, we recommend that you pay-attention to your garage during daily use. When you find time to do a relatively simple walkthrough, follow these steps:

1. Disengage your opener by means of the emergency release and manually open and close the door. During this time, the garage should operate smoothly without making loud noises. If you can open your garage door with one hand, make sure that it’s not flying up or slamming shut.

2. Check the cables and chain, torsion springs, rollers, and track. As you look at those, also go over the hinges and mounting brackets because sometimes screws come loose.

3. Perform preventative maintenance by having a good lubricant that is made for garage doors. Remember that WD-40 is not a lubricant. With your garage door closed, place a tiny amount at each point on the door where there’s a moving part. When you’re finished, manually open and close the door to work the lubricant in. Don’t forget the bearings on a torsion spring (which is located above the door when closed).

Garage door systems will last about 10-20 years. Like anything else that you use, if there’s high usage and poor maintenance, you can’t expect that your investment will last long. Appropriate care will help to increase the lifespan of your garage door and opener system. If something is wrong when you are performing a walkthrough it is important to repair it promptly. Garage door maintenance is a good way to prevent costlier future repairs. If you have a demanding schedule or cannot perform the maintenance yourself, hire professionals to do it.

The garage door: The new ways thieves are getting into homes

The idea of someone breaking into your home and stealing your possessions, or worse, threatening your family, is a terrifying notion.

Unfortunately, over the years, criminals expand their repertoires of techniques to get inside homes. The good news is you can make your home more secure. Thieves are clever, but, armed with the right knowledge you can be smarter than they are.

Your garage is filled with valuable items, and for those who have attached garages it’s a gateway to the rest of your home, so it’s important to protect it as well. Garage doors are increasingly a target of burglars who have devised many ways of getting in. One technique involves inserting a wedge at the top of garage doors that have glass that allows them to see inside. Through the opening created by the wedge, a thief can use a wire (even something as rudimentary as a straightened coat hanger will work) to pull the emergency release on the door. It can take as little as a few seconds to disable the garage door and get in.

While it’s difficult to guard against every deviously creative thought that burglars have, putting a little time and energy into protecting your home will go a long way. You don’t need to spend much to get a big benefit, either. In addition to steps like installing motion-sensing lights around doors and putting locks on windows, it’s possible to have a home alarm system installed by one of the top alarm monitoring companies. Some security companies are even offering a free wireless security system, worth $850, with the purchase of an alarm monitoring package and a nominal installation fee.

Home security systems are one of the most effective tools you can have in your deterrence arsenal. If a burglar sees a sign outside your home that indicates that you have alarm system monitoring, he will be more likely to move on to an easier target. If he doesn’t see the sign and gets into your home, an alarm system will make him leave faster. After the system is in place, you’ll just need to pay for monitoring – a small cost when weighed against the damage that could be done by a burglar.

An Overview of Commercial & Industrial Doors

Whether it is a house, business or commercial building, garage doors and bay doors do more than just close off a garage or work area.

They also embellish the appearance of the building, and make a statement about the function of the building and personality of those within. Thus, a tremendous variety of designs have emerged in the garage door industry. They offer a material, function and appearance to fit every application.

Even in the world of commercial business, both the appearance and function of garage doors and bay doors are important. The way a door looks tells a potential intruder that your door is strong, and not easy to break, or it tells a customer that your business is high end and modern. These doors serve to protect what is inside of them, and to open exactly as the business needs them to, whether they need it to open automatically, quickly, or completely out of the way. The variety of doors available in commercial applications can simply boggle even the most brilliant business mind.

Some of the most commonly sought after characteristics of commercial garage doors include heavy insulation, ability to roll up, high open and closure speed and doors capable of sustaining heavy impact. In heavy industry or extremely busy commercial applications, rolling doors, high speed doors, and heavy impact doors all have a place. Rolling doors are excellent options when the door needs to be moved completely out of the way, either overhead or horizontally. Usually made of steel, and often insulated, these doors are a versatile solution for various businesses.

High speed doors come in a variety of types, with the most sought after feature being their ability to open and close quickly. This feature is particularly well suited to exterior applications, where the outside environment makes fast opening and closing a desirable option. Heavy impact doors are the most durable of commercial doors. They are resistant to impact, damage and long lasting in even the most unforgiving of garages and bays.

Numerous other types of doors exist to meet every business need. Insulated doors are excellent for extreme weather environments or in buildings where maintaining the internal air temperature is important. Rolling grills and security gates are often used to add additional security to exterior doors, or for interior applications, such as individual store entrances within shopping malls. Rolling counter doors are a smaller scale option, effective for closing off customer service areas and meal counters.

Commercial garage doors come in a wide variety of functions and appearances. Steel, screen or wood, insulated or security, the options abound. But when choosing a commercial bay or garage door, it is important to also consider the reparability of the chosen system, and the reputation of the installing company. A good garage door retailer can provide a wide array of options, fast and professional installation, and timely service by trained technicians.

Garage Door Options to Consider Before Buying

Purchasing a garage door is not a simple trip to the hardware store.

There are many factors to consider before purchasing. It will take a fair amount of research and energy before making a decision. There are more than a few factors to consider when making a choice and this guide can serve as a checklist to help make an informed and complete decision.

Before anything else it is critical to determine which type of mechanism will open and close the garage door. There are several varieties of openers on the market each of which provide their own benefits and drawbacks. The silent functioning belt driven opener is optimal for homes that desire a quiet operation and they also hold up to cold weather the best. Chain driven openers are a fairly efficient and cost effective choice. There are also screw driven openers for the most durable opener. It is best to check with the garage door installer to determine which style will work best for you.

Another thing that the garage door installer will be able to help with is determining what size is going to be needed. Measuring this entryway can be a tricky process and as such is bet to be undertaken by a professional. Knowing what size will also help in determining what material is going to be ideal.

Primarily most garage doors are made out of steel or wood. With today’s advances in manufacturing steel is the preferred choice for most people. However, if within the budget it is advisable to go with steel filled with foam insulation. This material combines the most temperature retention and noise reduction characteristics and make for a very sound construction. Also very popular is hardwood. This natural material provides superior beauty over the other options but with the disadvantage of being the most expensive. Wood also is not the most durable when it comes to resisting the elements so it is not recommended for areas with large temperature fluctuations or corrosive seawater.

The process of choosing and purchasing a garage door can be daunting but working with a professionally licensed garage door specialist who knows what they are doing will ensure a result that will last for years and add beauty and function to the home.