Friday, February 24, 2017

Frequently Asked Garage Door Questions-Answered

McDonough Garage Door Spring RepairMost homeowners are unaware of what to do or what to look for when they need a new garage door or are replacing an existing garage door. The one thing that they will need to consider is the cost of the door and their budget. Trying to figure out the cost associated with having a new garage door installed isn’t always the easiest or the most fun but it is necessary to do when you are having a garage door installed. Garage door expenses will vary considerably.

You might be able to spend only a couple hundred dollars on a basic door up to thousands of dollars on a high-end garage door that is expertly installed. If you have an existing garage door, replacing it may be a good investment move. This is one of the single things that you can do to your home to add value to your home; installing a new garage door. Even if you have an inexpensive door installed due to your budget, you can add certain features to make it look more expensive than it actually is. If you’re thinking about getting a new garage door, here are a couple of things that you might want to consider:

Do You Need a New Garage Door?

This is an easy question for someone who has a door that has rotted, one that has been banged up so much that the door will no longer run along the tracks or the door is simply falling apart. However, if it isn’t that obvious, there may be a chance that there are some small things that you can do to maintain your existing door. At McDonough Garage Door Repair, we always suggest that you have annual garage door repairs performed on your garage door.

When you have routine maintenance performed, you prolong the need to replace your garage door. There are some general things that can be done to help protect the condition of your garage door. Consult with a garage door service professional about things you can do to help maintain the condition of your garage door. If it is the appearance of your door that has you thinking about buying another door, think again. With a little paint and some changes to your door’s hardware, you can have a door that looks like new in no time.

What Type of Garage Door Should I Buy?

One of the biggest factors to consider when buying a new garage door is its material. The material is what will significantly change the cost of the door. The steel door is the most popular door installed because of it is low-cost, durable and offers low maintenance. However, you should know that the steel door doesn’t offer good insulation and are made of thin panels, which will not hold up to extreme weather conditions. On the other hand, it is the wood door that is amongst the most expensive because of the way they look and the way they are constructed. They are more costly but rightly so considering the level of craftsmanship needed to design them. They are also good for insulation purposes.

What Expenses Can I Expect?

This is a logical question, especially since it is important to count the cost before taking on this expense. Expenses involve more than just the cost of buying a garage door. When you are replacing a garage door, you must consider that the tracks will also need to be replaced. This is definitely something that should be included in your estimate. If it isn’t, then make sure you ask them to include this fee in the written estimate. Since the prices of having a new garage door will vary because of certain factors, it is best to discuss what you are looking for with several different services.

The estimate that they provide for you will give you an idea of what expenses you can expect to pay for no matter which service provider you use. You will need to make sure that the price they quote you is the same price that is found on the estimate. Many people ignore the written estimate and only focus on what was quoted to them. It is hard for you to dispute the written estimate after the work has been completed. This is why it is very important to pay close attention to the written estimate.

Should I Install My Garage Door?

Your garage door is the largest piece of equipment in your home. It also has moving parts that can become dangerous if they are not handled properly. While you might assume it will be more cost-effective, it is usually far more expensive when you attempt to handle the job on your own. The problem is that when you are not a trained professional, you run into problems and have to buy some of the same things over again. This is counter-productive if you are doing it so that you can save money. It is best to allow a qualified, experienced garage door service technician.

Should I Replace the Opener?

As long as your garage door opener is not the reason you are having a new garage door installed, you should be fine continuing to use the same garage door opener. The only time you wouldn’t be able to use the same opener is if you buy a new door that is heavier than your existing door. If you want to be sure that you can continue using the same garage door opener, purchase a lightweight door. This will also help you save money and keep your expenses to a minimum.

If you need a new garage door, take the necessary time to make sure that what you are buying is really going to suit your needs. There is nothing worse than spending your hard earned money on something this is useless. Everyone wants to get their money’s worth and surely you can if you take your time to do your research.




Aricle source here: Frequently Asked Garage Door Questions-Answered

Sunday, February 19, 2017

GARAGE DOOR WON’T STAY OPEN

McDonough Garage Door Opener InstallationYes, it happens – garage doors that won’t stay open! It is not only surprising, but it gets annoying after a while. Let’s say you open up your garage door to load some groceries into the house. You just made it to the kitchen when you hear it close! Or, you are working at your tool bench inside the garage. You are totally engrossed in your project when you notice the garage door closing, seemingly on its own. Enough of our McDonough Garage Door Repair customers have contacted us about this problem to let us know that it is more common than first thought.

The main culprit – your springs!

Your torsion or extension springs can cause a lot of confusion at times. People know that they have them and that these powerful metal coils do the heavy lifting of your garage door when needed. What they don’t know is when they are acting up. Sometimes our McDonough, GA garage door repair customers assume that the problem is the opener system or maybe a snapped cable. Often, the photo electric safety eyes are blamed. Usually though, when garage doors won’t stay open, the problem is with the springs.

Adjustment needed!

Sometimes your faithful and trusty garage door springs act up. These tireless workers can lift and lower garage doors for up to 10 years with no problem. In the garage door industry, springs last for life cycles. One open and one close equals one cycle. If you come and go through your garage door 4 times a day, you use 4 cycles. Obviously you will use up your cycles faster than someone that only opens and closes their garage door once a day. Springs can break, snap, become damaged and need adjusting. If your garage door won’t stay open, it is usually because the springs can hold its weight.

Don’t adjust on your own!

Please refrain from trying spring repair on your own. Torsion springs (the ones horizontally above your garage door) are safer than extension springs (vertically installed on either side) but both can still be volatile when damaged. Every year folks become injured and property is damaged when an innocent attempt is made to repair or replace garage door springs. We recommend that you call a full service McDonough garage door repair shop and have your springs repaired or adjusted by the pros. Many locations including ours are affordable and offer same day appointments.

Do this test

You can test the overall quality of your springs by doing this simple test. With your garage door closed, pull on the emergency release cord. That is the one with the red knob at the end of it. This will disconnect your garage door from the opener system and allow you to manually open your garage door. Ok, try lifting your garage door and pay attention to its movement. Does it lift easily and smoothly? Or, is it hard to lift and choppy? Now open your garage door all the way (up) and see if it stays. If it comes right back down you have spring damage and will need to call for help. Tell your garage door repair professional about the test that you did and see if he recommends that your springs be re-tensioned.

Culprit #2

If your garage door opens and then reverses itself soon after, there may be another culprit – the close limit switch! It may need adjusting and here’s how you tell. When your garage door rises, its limit switch stops the garage door once it has reached the correct height. If the switch needs adjusting, your door will open too much or not enough and start making its way back down. It is possible to adjust the limit switch on the motor to restore it to normal usage. Do you still have your owner’s manual? Refer to it for directions on how to do this. If not, you can find one online by searching for the PDF or you can view any of dozens of online videos that show you in detail how to do this.

Other tips

Dealing with a garage door that closes on its own can be confusing; especially if it is not your property! Are you renting or leasing to own? If so, contact the property manager, owner or seller. Check your lease-to-own agreement to see what repairs you have responsibility for and which ones the seller should claim. If you are straight leasing, your lease agreement should spell out how any repairs should be handled and paid for. It’s standard to put in a dollar amount (like $30) that should be the tenant’s responsibility and anything over that should be the responsibility of the owner or manager.

Did you recently buy the property? If so, the garage door and any repairs to it might be covered by warranty or service guarantee. Check with your realtor and the builder or contractor to see. Always be sure to save contracts, leases, receipts and other important documents in a folder or drawer for fast and handy reference when needed. Why pay for a repair bill if you really don’t have to?

Call in the pros!

Each person has different circumstances and priorities. You may be busy with your career or vacation plans. You may be limited to what you can do due to health issues or age. Each person has to calculate what their time is worth, and decide whether to attempt garage door repair on their own or to call a professional. As stated earlier, our McDonough Garage Door Repair crew recommends that you do NOT try to service your own springs. Some things are just not worth the risk involved and spring repair or replacements are included in that. Whether you call our technicians or another local shop, we urge you to use the best service that your budget allows for. Your garage door springs and accessories are built to last for many years with the proper care. Even after all is fixed, you should consider basic and regular maintenance for them.




Aricle source here: GARAGE DOOR WON’T STAY OPEN