The Value of Professional Garage Door Installation

December 4th, 2015 Posted in New Garage Doors
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It’s easy to overlook the importance of a professionally installed garage door until it stops working as it should. Parts begin to squeak and rattle, the door doesn’t close as smoothly or evenly as it did when it was brand new.

That’s because not every garage door installation is the same. A good installation should include high quality components designed for long-lasting wear. Low quality bearings, for instance, won’t work smoothly over repeated opening and closing. Torsion and extension springs need to be balanced for the weight of your garage door. They need to also be replaced in pairs to retain that balance or your garage door won’t close evenly.

Avoid common problems with improperly installed garage door by finding a local professional with a strong reputation for quality work. It’s estimated that over 45% of garage door repairs are a result of improper installation. You can save yourself both time and money by hiring the right garage door professional in your area.

Look for a good selection of styles, colors and construction materials when shopping for your garage door. In addition to being an entrance to your garage, you want your garage door to match the exterior décor of your home. Is your house a ranch style home? A carriage style wood door may be what you’re looking for. Contemporary homes will likely call for a raised panel steel construction.

Whatever style or color you choose from, be sure the garage door you select is from a reputable manufacturer that provides warranty coverage. Check for reviews online, independent testimonials from previous customers. Ask your neighbors about their experiences with garage door installers in the area. Your garage door will look good and function smoothly for many years when it’s installed by a local professional.

Posted on behalf of Habpro
Dacula, GA 30019
(770) 985-3355

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Enhance Your Curb Appeal With A Garage Door Makeover

August 15th, 2014 Posted in New Garage Doors
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Your garage door, or doors, can have a large impact on your home’s curb appeal. Whether you are trying to sell your home and need it to look its best, or you just want a new look for your home’s exterior, giving your garage doors a makeover is an affordable option. From adding a new coat of paint to replacing the entire door, you will be amazed how much a difference a beautiful garage door can make on the overall appearance of your home. 

Revitalize Or Replace?

There are many ways to give your existing garage doors a face-lift to enhance your home’s curb appeal, provided they are still in good shape. However, if they are at the point where they will need to be replaced in the next few years, it may be more sensible just to replace them with new garage doors now versus adding new paint, stain providing other cosmetic improvements only to replace the door along with all your hard work in short order. Before you break out the paint brushes, give your garage doors a thorough inspection. 

  • Cracks. Look closely to see if your door has any cracks in the surface. While most panels can be replaced individually, if you need to replace two or more, it may be time for a new door. Fiberglass doors can fracture, becoming hazardous if not repaired or replaced quickly.
     
  • Dents. Steel and aluminum doors will become dented over time from hail, vehicles and other items hitting them. While small dents are just an eyesore, larger dents can cause wear on your opening system.
     
  • Seals. Temperature and time can wear out the seals on your garage door, causing a strain on your energy bills. If the seals are worn, cracked or missing pieces, it’s time to get a new door. 

Whether you decide to paint or repair your existing door, or have a beautiful new garage door installed by your local garage door company, you will notice a substantial improvement to the curb appeal of your home when they look their best.

Posted on behalf of Habpro

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Now Is The Time To Insulate Your Garage Door

August 15th, 2014 Posted in New Garage Doors
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No one wants to think about winter during the beautiful summer weather, yet this is the best time to get your garage doors ready for the months ahead. Your garage doors are exposed to inconsistent temperatures in the winter, as the interior side is warmed by your central unit while the exterior is chilled by winter wind. Regardless of where you live, there are most likely times of the year when the temperature varies by twenty or more degrees between the exterior and interior of your home. This is why insulation is so important, especially when it comes to garage doors. 

Benefits Of Insulated Garage Doors

If you have a basic garage door, it may have little if any insulation to protect against the outdoor temperatures. Many of the more affordable doors are hollow in the inside, while some may only have cardboard or pressed wood in the center. This provides minimal protection for the garage from the outside weather, creating cold drafts in the winter and hot garages in the summer. What you need is an insulated garage door, which will work as a barrier during the extreme temperatures of winter and summer. Some benefits include: 

  • Lower energy costs. If you have an attached garage or a temperature-controlled garage, insulated doors can help reduce energy costs. Whether it is hot or cold outside, insulation helps protect against losing cooled or warmed air through thin garage doors.
     
  • Sound-proofing. Insulation can help reduce noise in your garage, whether you are trying to keep noise out or minimize what others can hear from the outside. 

Garage doors come in a variety of insulation levels, depending on how severe the weather is where you live or how much sound-proofing you need. Call your local garage door company to discuss having a new insulated garage door installed now, before winter arrives with plunging temperatures and climbing energy costs.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

 

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to a New Garage Door

December 6th, 2013 Posted in New Garage Doors
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Regardless of why you decide to get a new garage door, you can simplify the process with these steps.

STEP 1: Budget – determine how much you are comfortable investing in a new garage door before you start shopping for one.

STEP 2:  Desired Style – what style of garage door suits you and your taste? There are various styles available, from contemporary to traditional garage doors.

STEP 3: Material – you’ll have to choose from quite a number of different materials used for overhead garage doors, including:

–        Steel

–        Aluminum

–        Wood

–        Wood composite

–        Fiberglass

STEP 4: Garage Door Opener – not all garage-door openers work the same. Each works differently. You’ll need to decide whether you want a

–        Belt drive opener

–        Screw drive opener, or

–        Chain drive opener.

Furthermore, you’ll want to consider features such as:

–        Size

–        Speed

–        Safety &

–        Security

STEP 5: Estimate – don’t worry if the options for openers, materials, and styles overwhelm you. When your garage door professional gives you an estimate, he or she will also explain the different options.

STEP 6: Installation – it is usually a good idea for you to be present while your garage door is being installed – in the event of questions, concerns, or problems.

STEP 7: Remote– the final phase of your garage door’s installation is the programming of your garage door opener remote. Your garage door installer will help you with the programming.

STEP 8: Manual – it is very important that you read the manual. If your garage door is improperly used, then it can pose a danger to you and your family. Please be sure that you make time to read your garage doors, manual.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

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Need a Custom-Sized Garage Door?

September 25th, 2013 Posted in New Garage Doors
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As homes, garages and the cars we drive have all become larger, so have the need for custom-sized garage doors. The garage doors that previously came standard with newer homes is no longer sufficient for either the size of the actual doors or the items needed to fit into our garages. Many of today’s homeowners are looking at these type of problems and decisions in purchasing custom garage doors. 

Standard sizes for garage doors today typically range from 8 to 20 feet wide, in heights of 7 or 8 feet. Today’s builders will usually suggest a new garage door width of 9 ft. However, if happen to drive a large truck with mirrors protruding on both sides, or a snowplow on the front during winter months, you will find it difficult squeezing into a 9 ft. wide opening.

In this scenario, you may wish to opt for a 10 ft. wide door with a height of 8 ft. Of course, deciding the size of your garage door is much easier to accommodate when you are building a new garage. However, increasing the size of your existing garage door opening is another matter. In fact, to do so may be nearly impossible without extensive remodeling, increasing the size of the entire garage, which may even necessitate raising the roof. In this case, your best option may be to build an entirely new garage. 

Consult with your local garage door professional about these options when considering what course of action may be best for your individual needs. Whether it is a new bigger garage door or a newly constructed garage, you can be assured of adding value and functionality to your home.

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Will Your Garage Door Withstand the Storm?

February 14th, 2013 Posted in New Garage Doors
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Every year there seems to be more violent and vicious storms that hit different areas of the country. Even some areas that generally do not see hurricane force winds have had to deal with the aftermath of what Mother Nature can do. When it comes to wind force, not all garage doors are made the same. Having a garage door that can stand up to the next big storm can help protect your family and property. 

The first step in storm proofing your garage door is to find out what the wind load requirements are for where you live. Your local building authority or even a garage door company can let you know what the minimum requirements are. You can then check your model or have a professional technician do a safety inspection on your current door. 

If your door is not up to the wind load that is required or may be needed, there are two options. In some cases, you can buy “add-ons” to reinforce your existing door before a storm. This involves installing poles inside the door before the storm and then removing them after. 

The second option is to replace your existing door with a storm ready reinforced garage door. The reinforcement for storms is part of the door and all that is usually needed is to lock the door before a storm hits. This can add piece of mind for those who need to evacuate or have vacation homes in areas with frequent storms. 

Just like all storm preparedness, garage doors need to be ready before a storm hits. Once the storm is on its way it may be too late to get your door up to standard. Take the time now to find out what your door can handle and make the appropriate upgrades.

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Wood Or Steel For Your New Garage Door?

May 10th, 2012 Posted in New Garage Doors
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When selecting a new garage door, you will have a wide range of styles to choose from.  When it comes to materials, your choices are likely to be limited to either steel or wood.  Although there are garage doors made from other materials such as aluminum or plastic, wood and steel are the most popular.

Twenty years ago, wood garage doors dominated the market.  Nowadays, most garage doors are steel except for high end and custom garage doors.  Steel doors are very strong and durable.  One problem with older, low end wood garage doors was their tendency to begin rotting at the lower edge where water could seep into the wood.  In addition, they needed to be painted every few years to stay looking nice.

Modern steel doors solve both of those problems with high tech baked on finishes that mean the door will not rust and never needs to be painted.  Some steel doors also have excellent insulating qualities that can be important if your family uses your garage for more than just parking the car.  If your garage serves as a laundry area, children’s play area, or workshop, an insulated steel door can help maintain a comfortable temperature in the garage.

Insulated steel doors have a layer of insulation applied to the back of the steel panel.  In addition to its insulating qualities, the insulation has sound dampening effects that make insulated doors quieter than non-insulated single panel steel doors. High end steel doors sandwich the insulation layer between an inner and outer steel panel for the ultimate in safety and comfort.

Wood doors occupy the high end of the market along with top quality steel doors.  If you want to achieve a certain look or need a custom made door to fit your garage, a wood door may be right for you.  High end wood doors are made from fine hardwoods and can be painted or stained to add elegance and beauty to your home.

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Garage Door Safety

December 20th, 2011 Posted in Garage Door Repairs
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According to information published by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, more than 20,000 people are injured every year in garage door related accidents.  In addition, despite the fact that all garage door openers manufactured since 1991 are required to reverse when an obstruction is detected, an average of three children are trapped and killed under an automatic garage door opener every year.

You can protect your family from harm by following a few simple precautions.  First, if you have an old non-reversing garage door opener, have it replaced with a new reversing opener.  All openers currently being manufactured have some sort of device to detect obstructions and reverse direction to avoid an entrapment.

Make sure the door’s lift springs are working properly by releasing the door from the automatic opener and raising and lowering the door manually.  The door should open and close smoothly and easily and the door should stay in place when stopped in any partially opened position.  Have the door adjusted if any discrepancies are noted.  Warning- never attempt to disconnect or adjust the spring tension.  The spring are under a lot of pressure and can cause severe injuries or death if released.

Test the reversing mechanism monthly by placing a block of wood under the door as it closes.  The door should either reverse immediately or when the block of wood is encountered.  If not, disconnect the door and call an experienced garage door service technician.

A garage door that is out of adjustment can injure or kill someone.  Keep your garage door working safely by having your garage door service annually by a reputable local garage door company.

Finally, mount the wall button high on the wall to restrict access to children and be sure to warn your children about the dangers of garage doors.

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Help Sell Your Home With a New Garage Door

December 20th, 2011 Posted in New Garage Doors
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If you are one of the millions of Americans trying to sell your home, you know what a tough market it is these days.  The huge backlog of residential re-sales on the market, strict mortgage lending requirements, and the seemingly inexhaustible supply of foreclosures all add up to create a housing market in which there are far more homes for sale than there are qualified buyers.

In order to move your home, you can either keep slashing the price or do something to distinguish your home from similar homes on the market.  As any real estate agent will tell you, “curb appeal” helps sell homes.  By investing in the appearance of your home, you encourage buyers to make an offer on your home rather than a similar, but less attractive home down the block.

At the same time, you want to spend carefully.  You don’t want to spend a lot of money that you won’t be able to recover from the sale of the house.  In that case, you are better off just reducing the price of the home.

One often overlooked yet cost effective upgrade is replacing a tired looking garage door.  A new garage door can significantly improve the appearance of your home and has a surprisingly high return on investment according to Remodeling Magazine.  Their most recent report indicates that a homeowner can expect to recoup more than 80% of the cost of a new garage door when the house sells.

Your net cost is only a few hundred dollars for a beautiful new garage door that can help your home move from “for sale” to “sold!”

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Should You Install Your Own Garage Door?

November 10th, 2011 Posted in Garage Door Installation
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If you are in the market for a new garage door, you may be considering handling the installation of the door yourself to save a few dollars on the cost of the door.  Most home improvement centers carry a basic line of steel roll up garage doors that don’t look too difficult for the home handyman to install.  However, as they say, some jobs are not as easy as they look and installing a garage door is one of these.  Unless you have some experience installing garage doors, it is probably not a very good idea to try to do it yourself.

The main reason you are better off letting a professional handle the garage door installation is that garage doors have springs or torsion bars that help raise the door.  These springs or torsion bars are under a lot of tension and can severely injure you or even kill you if don’t know how to assemble or disassemble them properly.  It’s just not worth risking your life to save a few dollars on the installation of a garage door.

There are other great reasons to have the garage door professionally installed. I addition to the dangerous springs, garage doors are much heavier than they look and you can be injured trying to lift the door or if it comes crashing down while the springs or torsion bars are disconnected.

In addition, garage door contractors have a much better selection of high quality garage doors than the local home improvement store.  Also, the door tracks need to be properly aligned and the springs or torsion bars properly adjusted for the door to open and close smoothly and an experienced installer can get it done right.

The bottom line is that using an experienced garage door contractor to handle the installation will save you from a potentially life threatening injury and will result in a great new garage door that will operate smoothly for years.

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