Garage Doors Repair, Sale, Opener Installation & Maintenance Services
Garage Door Openers and Garage Security
Automatic garage door openers are a great convenience, but they can also serve as a weak link in your garage security. Garage door repair Calgary openers are equipped with an emergency release lever, which usually has a cord hanging down. This lever is largely ignored until such time as you lose power and can no longer open the garage door automatically. Pull the lever down, though, and you can raise the door manually.
That same lever can also help you get into the house if you find yourself locked out. This video shows how you can use a clothes hanger from outside to pull the lever inside. Once you do, you can lift the door.
Unfortunately, you are not the only one who can do that, and that's where the matter of garage security comes in. Anyone with a clothes hanger can do the same thing. It’s a pretty easy way to break into a garage door repair , and from there it can be even easier to get into the house.
If you would like to make this easy access a little bit harder or eliminate it all together, here are some ideas you might want to try for increasing garage security. Keep in mind, though, that this only applies to garages and garage door openers that are like that one shown in the video.
Increasing Garage Security
Disable the emergency release lever on the garage door repair Calgary . In most cases, this is the best way to keep someone from using the coat hanger trick to break into your house.
Of course, it also means that you won’t be able to get in this way yourself.
Remove the cord. The cord attached to the emergency release lever is a minor convenience when you need to trip the lever. It is also something relatively easy to grab onto from outside using a clothes hanger.
Lock the release lever. On some garage door openers, you can use a plastic cable tie or some thin wire to tie the level to the carriage assembly it is attached to.
The lever always has a hole in it (to attach the release cord) and some carriage assemblies have holes you can run the cable tie or wire through. If yours doesn’t, you can drill a hole. The idea is that you just need to make it virtually impossible for a flimsy coat hanger to be able to pull the lever down, while, at the same time, allowing you to cut or remove your simple lock from inside the garage.
Cover the windows. It is much easier to use a clothes hanger to trip the emergency release lever if you can see what you are doing. Without a clear window to do so, the job requires more time and effort. Even frosted windows will increase garage security, with the added benefit of allowing light to get in.
Forget the automatic garage door opener. Going “old school” will get you added garage security, but at the cost of convenience. Disconnect the garage door opener and use a manual latch to lock the door. This means that you have to get out of the car when you get home, unlock the door and lift it yourself. Just like the old days. It also means that someone without the key will not be able to do the same thing.
Install a wireless keypad. I have one of these and I use it often. Whether you’re locked out of the house, or you just want to get into the garage without going inside or hunting for a remote, a wireless keypad is a great addition.
5 Signs Its Time to Replace Your Old Garage Door
You use it every day, yet hardly notice it all until something goes wrong. Sometimes garage doors just can’t seem to get enough respect. Like a guard on sentry duty, it works tirelessly going up and down on command while helping to keep intruders out. But just like any mechanical device, years of use will eventually wear it out. To ensure your garage door doesn’t let you down, here are 5 signs its time to replace your old garage door:
Rusting/warping or other damages
Garage doors that contain rust, warping, dents or other damages should be replaced as soon as possible. Damaged doors can cause additional stress on the system that can impact the safe operation of the door. Also, garage doors that do not seal properly will allow water and other debris into the garage which could result in higher maintenance costs and more frequent break downs. Also, a damaged door may fall off the rails resulting in property damage and potential injuries to any adults or children that are in harm’s way.
Has difficulty going up and down
Your garage door is probably the most frequently used door in the home, going up and down more than a thousand times per year, even more in larger households. A young and healthy garage door should effortlessly open and close on your command. But in its old age, it can become more difficult for it to go up and down than in its younger years. Just climbing to the top can be an arduous effort. When this occurs, its time for a garage door replacement that gives life to a brand new garage door.
Frequent repairs
Older garage doors tend to break down more often requiring more frequent repairs. Even if repairs are relatively minor, like a broken spring or a damaged cable, they can add up quickly. Plus, you never know when the next break down will occur and leave you stuck trying to get in or out. It’s often less expensive in the long run to replace older garage doors than the expense and inconvenience of having to make frequent repairs.
It’s not energy efficient
In the last decade, garage doors have made substantial improvements in energy efficiency. Replacing older garage doors with a new, more energy efficient door can provide up to a 97 percent reduction in heat flow and improve energy efficiency by as much as 7 percent. This translates into savings on your heating and cooling bill. Since some doors are more energy efficient than others, consumers should check the R-value, which indicates the amount of thermal reduction for that particular door, which is provided by most manufacturers.
Complete Tips: How Much Does It Cost to Get a New Garage Door?
The garage door is easily a pricey part of the house. It is the largest moving part of the home and is the entry way a room filled with pricey home and garden equipment. It makes sense to invest quite a bit on a stable and efficient garage door.
Whether you have a new house or just replacing an old garage door, you will be spending quite a sum of money on a door. The cost is definitely of concern for many homeowners.
Ask yourself first
Before you go on and buy the first garage door that you see, you need to ask yourself the important questions first. Do you really need a new door? If you’re building a new house, the answer is definitely a yes. For those whose doors are already falling apart, this is also an affirmation.
Make sure you check out the issues you have with your door first before concluding that you need a new one. You might just need to do simple repairs on the door to make it work.
Types of Garage Door
Knowing the types of garage doors available is important knowledge. There are different types of garage doors that are available. You need to know which doors will match your home and your needs.
Canopy garage door. This is a single-panel door with vertical tracks on each side of the frame to flip the door open. The canopy garage door protrudes outside in order to provide a little shelter beyond the garage. This is a cheap garage door but requires less maintenance. It needs manual operation but has its own torsion spring that makes it easy to use.
• Roller garage door. It is designed to be compact with its steel panels. This garage door rolls up into a box found on top of the garage opening. Since it is compact, it frees up more space in the garage especially on the ceiling. This tends to be a more expensive option and also has limited aesthetic options. However, they are durable and require little maintenance.
• Retractable garage door. This single-panel door is different from the canopy since it fully retracts back into the garage. This is operated electronically, which is more convenient. Unfortunately, it requires more space in the garage as it has horizontal tracks across the ceiling.
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• Side-hinged door. This uses steel hinges for an outward opening unlike the rest of the garage doors. Because of its design, it creates more storage space and room for larger vehicles. This door needs manual operation and is usually used for workshops.
• Sectional garage door. It is the most popular garage door in the market. This has both vertical and horizontal tracks to close and lift the door. The sectional door is a cross between a single panel and a roller door. It comes with large panels that retract overhead. Unfortunately, this limits the ceiling space. This door also tends to be pricey and requires maintenance. However, this come with a lot of design options to match your home.
Installation Cost
If you’re sure that you need a new garage door, then you need to know the costs this entails. You need to know that the cost will include more than just the price of your garage door. A door will cost you around $400 up to $4,000. Better materials will tend to be more expensive.The average price that most homeowners spend on a new garage door is around $1,000. This already includes the door and the installation fee.
The cost will vary depending on the style of the garage door, its size and width, material, and outdoor lighting that you may want to include.
Replacement Cost
Replacement cost will often include the price of the tracks. Once you get a quote, you need to ask its inclusions.
The heavy installation, electrical wiring, and removal of the old garage door are also factors that you have to consider with the price.
Replacement garage doors will cost you from $500 to $2,500 depending on the material and style you’re getting. Usually, this already includes the tracks, adhesives, and connectors.
You might also need to replace your garage door opener if you get a door that’s heavier than your old one. If you have a similar made, then there is no need to make an extra purchase.
Garage Door Color Ideas (Ultimate Guide)
Welcome to our ultimate guide of garage door color ideas. They say that “details make a home”. There are a number of elements that help form the overall look of a home, and each part contributes to the curb appeal of house’s exterior. In the same way, any part of the home is as equally important as the other, and garage doors are no exceptions to that. Below we’ll cover the meaning of garage door colors, and display garage door pictures of popular color choices to help find the right one for your home.
Garage doors are considered to be one of the largest features of the home. Being the largest entry way to a house, it comprises nearly a third of a house. Though commonly neglected, it is a noticeable part which needs careful thought and attention in terms of design. It is a vital element of the home’s exterior appearance and creates an aesthetic impact which contributes to the overall appeal and value of the house.
Picking the right color for your garage door is crucial as it affects your home’s character in different ways. It renders positive curb appeal, shows off your personality and can make your house stand out from the rest. With that, we need to be mindful of our decisions in picking the right color for a garage door.
Garage Door Colors
“The right color enhances the appeal of the home”. Color palettes affect the overall value of a home, whether positively or negatively. Aside from a variety of materials and finishes, there is a wide range of garage door color options which one can explore to customize the look of a home. Some garage door colors complement specific architectural styles, while others create contrast and add an interesting visual feature.
The most common colors for a garage door are sand, ice white, clay stone, taupe, beige, brown, charcoal gray, soft
gray, black and dark green and blue. The top five choices being the neutrals: white, cool gray, black, beige and walnut brown. Other custom colors like purple, red, orange, yellow are also available in the market.
In this article, we’ll help you explore different garage door color ideas along with some advice on matching it with different kinds of exteriors. Read on as we help you decide what’s the best garage door color for your home.
What Color to Paint my Garage Door
Choosing a color for your garage door doesn’t require technical skills nor extensive knowledge on architecture and design. However, since you garage door is as important as any part of your home, picking the right color for it needs careful thought and consideration. It is not as easy as sticking with a favorite color too, as garage doors are significant architectural features which comprise a third of your house’s facade. But how do you choose the right color to paint your garage door?
There isn’t really a strict rule which one has to adhere to in terms of choosing the right color for a garage door. Design is also about self expression and provides room for displaying one’s taste and preference. However, there are still several guidelines which one can follow to avoid any design blunder and keep your house from looking like a visual chaos.
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There are different approaches that one can take in choosing the right garage door color for your home. These approaches use the following factors such as : (1) the style of your home, (2) the materials of your home, (3) other architectural elements in your home’s exterior, (4) your personal style and (5) color schemes based on the color wheel. Each approach allows you to come up with a garage door color that is perfectly fitting for your home.
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