Garage Doors: To Insulate or Not to Insulate

Deciding if you really need insulation in your garage door depends on where you live, so the benefits of an insulated garage door and how to select the right degree of insulation to best suit your needs will differ quite a bit.

The amount of insulation you need in your garage door depends on if your climate is typically cold, hot, or somewhere in-between. With the garage usually being the primary entrance to the home and with living space often above or beside it, it’s best to keep the temperature in the garage as comfortable as possible. This is especially true in very cold or very hot regions. You can choose garage doors with varying degrees of insulation to best suit your needs.

The effectiveness of the insulation is expressed as an R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation in the door.

Another point to consider is that an insulated door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior than a non-insulated door.

Lastly, pests and insects enjoy nesting in the back of uninsulated garage doors. An insulated door doesn’t give them a place to call their own.

Painting Your Garage Door Means Getting the Right Stuff

Selecting the garage door paint depends upon so many considerations.

The first consideration is the color of the house and whether the garage door is exposed to sunlight or not. Whenever you decide to paint garage doors, you must think about the color of your house and the garage door paint colors will largely depend on that.

If your house is of bright color you may use some color which will match with other exteriors of the house or you may decide to go for a contrast selection. If the garage door is exposed to sun rays during the day then you may not go for a bright color as bright colors tend to fade away very quickly in sun and the door will require very frequent repainting.

For selecting the type of paint that should be applied, in cases when you are repainting garage doors, it is important to know the type of paint which is already there on the doors. If you have oil based paint, you can apply latex paint or oil based paint but if you have latex paint then you can apply only latex paint over it. In case when you cannot confirm the type of paint which is already there, it is advisable to opt for the best quality latex paint for repainting the garage doors.

Once the type of paint and color is decided the question that arises is how to paint garage doors. You can very easily assign the task to professionals but if you love to do it yourself you will find that it is a very easy and tireless job.

Read Your Garage Door Owner’s Manual!

For those of you who have moved into a new home or have just installed a new garage door, be sure to take the time to thoroughly read the garage door owner’s manual. It may seem like a chore and take time, but one would be surprised at what they can find in most well written garage door manuals. The manual will contain safety and design information to help you insure that your garage door is safe to use and properly installed, and contain information on how to keep your garage door properly maintained.

For example, many garage door manuals will contain helpful tips for painting them. Most companies will tell you to pain BOTH the inside and outside of the garage door to keep everything even, and to never remove any parts of the garage door when painting. If you want to make sure that your garage door is completely covered in a fresh coat of paint, you need to call in a professional to dismantle it so that you can finish the paint job, and then have the garage door installed again. This usually does not happen, but again, do not try to dismantle any of the parts of the garage door. It can lead to a very dangerous situation.

Once you have your garage door installed, it is vital that you periodically lubricate most parts of it. It is often easiest to lubricate the metal parts using silicone spray that can be found at most local hardware stores. However, be sure to never lubricate plastic rollers and plastic idler bearings. It is also suggested that you check for loose nuts and bolts on a monthly basis and if you find something out of the ordinary, call in an expert to help you with your problem. Don’t try anything yourself unless you are licensed and well trained in repairing garage doors.

Also, make sure to check that the door has proper balance by slowly opening the door and making sure that when the bottom of the door is waist high, it does not sway and move in any direction. Finally, using a 2×4 block of wood, make sure that the sensors on your garage works (if it is a remote-controlled door). Place the 2×4 in the pathway of the door and when the door gets somewhat close to the top of the 2×4 it should reverse direction and go back up.

If the garage door is moving, keep your distance and never stand or walk under a moving door. It is important that you set an example for your children and you do not want them under a moving garage door. You should also try to make sure children cannot reach the wall-mounted garage door openers and be sure to hide the remotes. You do not want your children playing with the garage door at all. Finally, if you think you have a problem, call an expert. Never try to fix anything yourself as garage doors are very dangerous and you put yourself in harm’s way when you try to fix it, especially when you don’t know exactly what you are doing.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub Your Garage Door

Your garage door is the largest door in your home, and is constantly exposed to all kinds of weather.

Set up a regular annual cleaning schedule for your garage door. Remember that garage doors are often the largest visible part of your house. A clean and well maintained Garage Door will help keep the ‘curb appeal’ of your house, as well as its value!

It’s simple. To clean steel garage doors wash both the exterior and interior twice a year using water mixed with a half cup of mild laundry detergent. If your garage door is a pre-painted steel door, you can apply a car wax to the exterior to help protect it from the elements. Avoid using abrasive cleaners since they can damage the paint. When using the brush to remove debris, use gentle action to avoid removing paint. Never use bleach full strength, and do not use acid-based products, such as vinegar.

Clean the weather stripping with an all-purpose cleaner, such as Formula 409, and lubricate the weather stripping with a silicone-based lubricant. Check the weather stripping between the door panels for cracks and replace, if needed.
Once you’ve washed your door and allowed it to dry, take the time to perform preventative maintenance to the inside of the door to ensure that it works properly and safely. Lubricate the hinges, tracks, and rollers with lubricating oil. Spray the lubricating oil on a clean cloth and wipe down the garage door springs.

Download a Qwik-Start Garage Door Maintenance Guide (pdf file)

Reduce the Noise Coming From Your Garage Door!

Every time the garage door opens and closes, a loud rumble comes right through the walls of your home. Can’t stand it? Here’s some advice to help you reduce noise generated by the up and down movement of your garage door.

1. An insulated garage door can significantly reduce the intrusion of street noise into the home – especially important when there are bedroom or other living areas above or adjacent to the garage. If your door isn’t already insulated, the insulation can be installed by professional installers for a minimal charge, but it is not difficult to mount the insulation yourself and kits are available at your local home improvement retailer. It is important to consider having your springs recalculated because of additional weight to the door.

2. Have the steel rollers on your garage door changed to nylon. With nylon rollers, you will obtain almost silent running on the tracks and there is no need for lubrication.

3. Another point to look at is your electric operator. Any belt-driven model is best because the motor of this model is insulated from the metal case and will cut vibrations. The rubber belt is also quieter than the steel chain.

4. A noise isolator system (semi-rigid rubber 6 mm) can be effective. The supports that hold up the horizontal tracks can be insulated with a piece of rubber to cut the vibrations. On a wood frame, do not fix directly under the beams, place a piece of wood perpendicular under which you will have installed a rubber insulator. If you have a bedroom or living space above your garage and intend to add hardwood flooring, it is recommended to sound proof it by installing carpet and under carpet.

5. A good lifting system (springs) can also contribute to noise reduction. ”Torsion” type springs (instead of ”Extension” springs) is ideal because they allow precise balancing of the door and avoid friction of cables and springs on the horizontal tracks.

6. Concerning the tracks, it is best to choose tracks with the largest radius possible. In fact, the larger the radius the smoother the door action will be. The standard radius is 10 inches (”extension” spring) and 12 or 15 inches (”torsion” spring). Opt for the largest radius possible if you have a big clear space above the door.

7. Finally, regular lubrication (twice a year) of rollers and track is important.

With the above advice, it should easier to reduce noise problems from your garage door. Do not hesitate to call a licensed and insured garage door professional. They are trained to offer you top quality work and service and in the end, peace of mind.

Hiring a Professional Garage Door Repairing Service

Doors are always considered as a significant part of our house and always keep things secure and safe. Likewise, garage doors are no exception. They are essential parts of your property that protect your cars from intruders and thieves. The door of a garage is a big moving object and it is operated by the electric door openers most often. Therefore, proper testing, installation, maintenance and operation of the door and the automatic opener are really necessary to ensure the trouble-free and safe operation. Improperly adjusted garage doors can lead to serious injuries. So choosing the correct garage door repair service helps with the repair needs as well as save the users from any unexpected injuries.

The actual problem starts when the garage door does not work properly. If it is not fixed immediately, the broken garage door makes it very easy for the undesirables and thieves to enter in your home. For this purpose, you need to hire a garage door repair service for fixing the garage door problems as soon as you can. Most people are of the opinion that they are able to perform this job on their own. They might end up doing a lot more harm to the situation than good so it is better to find a reputed garage door repair service for such tasks. But it is important that you hire a company after doing proper research on them.

You can follow some tips that would help in getting you started with garage door repair service search:

1.  Ask your relatives and friends and get good recommendations regarding the garage door repairing service. This way you can get information on the reliable servicing companies.

2. Looking in the local newspapers, search the telephone directories or visit the websites online for the repairing services of your garage door.

3. Make a shortlist of all the repairing companies and then notice how many of those provide the emergency services as well. A reputable company which provides a nice garage door repair service would have an impressive infrastructure with a number of trained technicians on their team.

4. Be sure that the repair company and all of its technicians hold a proper license with proper skill certificates. They should know how to tackle a situation if something goes wrong.

5. Always select a garage door repairing service which provides full guarantee of their work.

6. It is not always wise to hire an unprofessional repairing service just for the sake of saving money as this decision may cost you a lot in future. The reputation of a company is very important.

NEW INTELLIGENCE IN GARAGE DOOR OPENERS

A New Generation of LiftMaster Garage Door Openers and Accessories Enabled By MyQ™

1^st United Door Technologies debuts a new generation of LiftMaster residential garage door opener models enabled by MyQ™ technology, a patented, two-way intelligent communication system embedded in the new units that will take homeowner freedom and convenience to an entirely new level.

LiftMaster, the number one brand of professionally installed garage door openers and access solutions, introduced the groundbreaking technology into two units of a new line, the LiftMaster Elite Series™ Belt Drive 8550 and the Premium Series Chain Drive 8360. They clearly demonstrate how wireless technology works alongside MyQ-enabled accessories.

 

Paving the way as the new intelligence in garage door openers, these models feature an enhanced logic board that functions as a new, smarter ‘brain’ inside. As one of two radios on the board, the patented MyQ technology, utilizes a two-way communication system that enables these advanced units to open and close the garage door as well as manage other household devices.

For the first time ever, the garage door opener can wirelessly send and receive messages and commands to other household devices that are plugged into LiftMaster accessories enabled by MyQ technology, expanding the garage door opener beyond only opening and closing door.

Through a cutting-edge, two-way communication system, the new lineup of LiftMaster openers enabled by MyQ technology has the ability to manage and activate other MyQ-enabled devices within the home. Outfitted with two separate radios, a “worker” radio (Security+2.0 which uses 310, 315 or 390 MHz) and a “communication” radio (MyQ technology, which uses 900 MHz), a homeowner can turn lights on or off in the home or operate the garage door with a remote or from anywhere in the world using a smartphone or personal computer, depending on the type of LiftMaster MyQ-enabled accessory plugged into the household device.

Working with the two-way communication system built into each new opener, LiftMaster developed an array of functional and innovative accessories ideal for any homeowner who wants more freedom and control while also elevating the security and convenience of their home.

Synced up with the same 900 MHz frequency, the LiftMaster Garage Door Monitor (Model 829LM) displays the status of the garage door from within any room of the house. This innovative base station receives an alert from the garage door opener, which has the sensor built in to the system. If the door is open, the garage door opener will alert the base station which will blink red and an audible noise will sound; if the door is closed, the garage door opener will inform the base station and the light on the monitor will illuminate green until the status of the door changes.

This feature offers the homeowner added convenience and peace-of-mind that their garage door is open or closed when it should be.

Homeowners will never have to enter a dark home with the LiftMaster Remote Light Control.

These adaptors, enabled by MyQ technology, plug into the wall outlet or socket. By plugging any household lamp or light fixture into the Remote Light Control adaptor, a homeowner can easily and conveniently manage that light; switch it on or off with a simple press of a remote button or brighten up their entranceway to the home, front hallway, mudroom, kitchen or living room as they pull into the driveway, providing added visibility and security.

 Taking home activation to a new level, LiftMaster is also unveiling the internet gateway (828LM).

By simply plugging the LiftMaster Internet Gateway into an existing router with a live internet connection, homeowners can now monitor and control their garage door opener and 15 additional devices enabled by MyQ technology from anywhere in the world using a smartphone or a computer.

Once a homeowner plugs in the LiftMaster Internet Gateway accessory to their existing internet connection they will be prompted to register their device on MyLiftMaster.com, which serves as the hub for managing all registered MyQ devices. In addition to this web site, homeowners can also obtain the LiftMaster app where all apps are sold, and control their MyQ registered devices from their own smart phones. The gateway allows access from anywhere, not just from within the home, providing a truly elevated level of freedom and control.

In addition to rich features and benefits, the new line of LiftMaster garage door openers enabled by MyQ technology consume just one watt of energy per hour when in standby mode, compared to older units, which use five to six watts per hour in standby mode. The efficient new units were crafted to be able to fit energy-saving CFL light bulbs.

LiftMaster is the number one brand of professionally installed residential garage door openers, as well as a major manufacturer of commercial door operators, residential and commercial gate operators, telephone entry systems and related access control products. Driven by the access and security needs of the marketplace, LiftMaster’s expansive line of state-of-the-art residential and commercial products are designed to fit any lifestyle or application, providing consumers with the latest technology and innovations in safety, security and convenience.

Is A Cheaper Garage Door Better?

With the economy affecting nearly everyone today, it’s easy to see where you may want try and save money anyway you possibly can.

However, when it comes to buying cheap garage doors, there are some things you need to be aware of first! If not, you could spend more money than you wanted to for a door that’s much less than what you hoped to get.

Is Cheaper Always Better?

Obviously, the answer is no. For some people, it might be as simple as wanting the more expensive roll of toilet paper and for others, they only want the high end automobile in their garage. Are there cheap garage doors that are still high quality products? You bet! Are they easy to find? No, not always.

Where to Find the Deals

You’ve set out to find a great replacement door for your garage, but you don’t want to spend a fortune. After all, it’s just a piece of vinyl or wood, right? Well, not exactly. You also have to be concerned with safety features, as well. This will be an entrance to your home, so it has to be secure. You certainly don’t want one that some can kick and put their foot through! So, you’ll compromise a little on the security side for a little better price? You don’t have to. There are several places where you can find a model that is safe and secure.

Use your yellow pages or the internet. There are also sites like kudzu.com or MerchantCircle.com that are great resources for companies. You also can use the resources of your local BBB or contractor licensing department for the community you live in. Be sure to always make your purchases from a licensed and insured installation professional.

A Final Thought or Two

Don’t waste your money on cheap garage doors that will only last a year or two. There are many styles, sizes, and manufacturers available and you can find a great deal when you spend some time looking.

Residential Garage Door Openers: The New Trends

When examining the latest developments in the residential opener market, one characteristic is clearly paramount among the others.

Consumers are exhibiting a preference for openers that are quiet. Historically, the need for near silent operation hasn’t made the list of consumer demands. In fact, when major manufacturers polled consumers in an effort to uncover their desires, quiet operation didn’t even make the list of top 10 features on their wish list until recently.

So what’s driving this need for quieter residential garage door openers? There have been major changes to new housing structures over the past 15 to 20 years. For example, the detached garage has been replaced by an attached garage in an effort to give homeowners even greater comfort and protection from the elements. Common floor plan designs have the garage adjacent to living areas such as the family room or kitchen, which results in the noise generated from garage door openers being a concern.

As urban sprawl set in and space became more of a scarcity in many communities, home builders began to build two-story homes in an effort to increase the available square footage without using more land. This upward footprint usually takes advantage of the space above a garage by adding an extra bedroom, game room or the ever-popular man cave. With the number of garages increasing over time, this has lead to multiple rooms adjacent to and above garage areas, creating a demand for quieter openers.

The DC Motor Advantage

Many associate belt drives with the quietest of garage door openers due to their smooth operation. While belt drives are indeed quiet, the development of DC motors really is the foundation upon which a quiet garage door opener system can be built. There’s no audible hum like that experienced with an AC motor.

Similarly, DC motors have significantly less vibration than their AC-motor counterparts. DC motors also have the additional advantage of soft start and stop, which results in less wear and tear on the door. These smart systems that allow the garage door to open and close smoothly without jerking minimizes the noise created during operation.

Upgrading Doors

Now that the garage door opener has been designed and engineered to provide quieter action, it becomes immediately apparent that the accompanying door should be designed for quiet operation as well. Upgrading the entire door system presents an opportunity to sell service, replacement parts or upgraded doors. A recent study by Remodeling magazine showed consumers can reap a return on investment of 84 percent when upgrading their garage doors from opening price point to mid-range doors while dramatically improving their curb appeal.

In addition to noise control, consumer’s busy lifestyles composed of dual-career households, children and their activities, and community commitments dictate that speed be a priority feature as well. We all have a full plate, and the last thing we want is to wait for the garage door to open or close so we can go to the next activity. The newest lines of residential openers available operate at speeds up to 12 inches per second with a DC motor.

Better Access Control

This busy lifestyle is also creating a need for more convenience features and accessories to supplement door systems. Wireless keypads are now almost a mainstay for every garage door opener. Convenience is king. Consumers want unique features that will enhance their lifestyles. How many times have you watched someone back out of their driveway, hit the remote, and then wait until the garage door opener has closed the garage door before driving off? How many times have you driven off in the morning, down the street and wondered, “Did I close my garage door?” The remote that answers this question is just another example of understanding the consumers need for convenience, safety, security and peace of mind.

The consumer has always recognized power as important for garage door openers. It must be spillover from the power desired in cars, lawn mowers, and other household appliances. The consumer has stated he clearly wants a garage door opener with plenty of power to open and close any residential door safely. Gone are the worries that garage door openers will fail to lift doors such as custom wood, carriage house doors or sectional doors with the added weight of moisture after a seasonal shower.

Other Desired Features

To protect their investment, consumers also want a strong warranty and are willing to spend the money for it. Consumers have lived through the era of openers with gear failures, the broken chains and belts, and the jerking of the top section. With the advancements in opener technology, customers have an expectation that the garage door opener will work every time they activate it. Garage door openers must deliver on the promise of the warranty stated.

Safety and security are also key features that are extremely important to consumers. Added safety features such as repair alert can help prevent accidents due to broken springs or an improperly balanced door. Save the door, save the opener, and win a customer for life.

More consumers are using the vacation lock on a daily basis as a value-added security feature—and it isn’t just for vacation anymore. Burglars have learned that they can easily gain entry into a home by breaking into an automobile and using the garage door remote, typically left clipped to the visor. By using the vacation lock, homeowners have added a layer of security to their door system.

Given the consumers need for quiet, power, speed, safety, security and convenience in a garage door opener, one can easily see the need for a next generation of garage door openers. Many manufacturers have tried to implement a few of these features, but haven’t been able to build an opener that fulfills all of consumers’ demands until now. Consumers want a garage door opener that can meet their needs today, and be expandable to meet future needs as well. A quick look at the most recently launched openers brought to market reveals manufacturers have done a great job of meeting all of the consumer demands.

Got Wood?

Custom wood garage doors combine durability and beauty for your home. Wooden styles are timeless and remain unaffected by trendy types made of metal or fiber.

The classic appearance of wood is unmatched and efforts by garage door manufacturers to have it replaced with more economical materials have been futile so far.

Custom wood garage doors are the latest statements of aesthetic architecture in this part of the world and are gaining in popularity by the day. There are specialized wooden overhead garage makers spread over entire United States catering to the needs of customers since decades. The styles of these garage doors range from squared and arched top, double and single customized varieties, without or with glass, to swing types. Swinging wooden doors are a universal favorite among house owners. This overhead door type lends a rustic appearance to your home. A varnish finish is most attractive for swinging wooden types.

Custom wood overhead doors speak volumes of your taste and preferences. Only if you have an eye for all things classical would you opt for a wooden variety. With rich carvings or elaborate decorations, these wooden doors stand out among all other classes. The best thing about these garage doors is that they are manufactured on order. Many door makers take the help of designers and architects to design the perfect door for your garage. Elaborate carvings are often made as per your preferences.

Wooden doors being powerful provide sufficient security against storms, rain or snow. They could withstand winds and hurricanes with speed reaching up to 140 miles per hour. Like metallic and fiber styles, custom wood variety could also be fitted with door openers. A door opener is both a security and convenience device. Being electronically operated with the help of transmitters and sensors, the door opener allows hands free movement of the door. Security is also enhanced at the same time.The seeming strength of custom wood type could be augmented by installing a door opener. These electronic gadgets operated by transmitters and sensors not only provide additional security to your garage but also enable the doors to be operated without human intervention.