How to Choose a New Garage Door

A new garage door purchase is an excellent opportunity for homeowners to transform the exterior of their homes. However, since most doors only get replaced once in a lifetime, it’s crucial to spend the money right.

This guide covers crucial factors to consider when purchasing a new garage door:

Choosing the door style and finish

Homeowners should choose a garage door style matching their home setting and preferences. Sometimes, it’s possible to match styles. For example, a modern home pairs great with full-view doors.

The door’s finish makes a huge difference in whether the end look is universal or authentic. Garage door shoppers can choose from various finishes to achieve a modern, natural, rustic, or another look.

The climate can also affect the type of finish best for a particular garage door, so it’s essential to consider that.

Window considerations

Windows add character to a house, increase its appeal, and allow a better natural light influx. Garage door windows have the same purpose. In addition, most modern-day solutions have impact resistance and can withstand hurricanes and similar harsh weather conditions.

The budget

The budget plays a crucial role in whether homeowners can get the garage doors they want. The cost varies depending on the material, style, insulation, hardware, door size, etc.

Shoppers after low-cost solutions can opt for a garage door without insulation. These doors work great in mild climates and when not used often. However, buyers who plan to use their new garage doors often and spend a lot of time in the garage should consider more expensive solutions with insulation.

Material

Natural wood, steel, composite, aluminum, glass, and faux wood are some of the most commonly used materials for garage doors. Ultimately, the material should consider three factors:

Size

Garage size is an essential element to consider when shopping for garage doors. Single-car garage doors in most homes range from 8 to 9 feet in width and 7 to 8 feet in height. For double-car garage doors, the width is around 16 feet, and the height is from 7 to 8 feet. Garages that fit RVs or similar taller vehicles can be 10 feet tall.

Measuring the opening correctly before making an order to ensure the perfect match is essential.

Make the garage door purchase easier

A garage door is a lifetime investment that adds value, aesthetics, and functionality to any home. Additional features like insulation and windows contribute even more to the overall performance and are worth considering for all installations.

For additional questions or assistance with garage door installation, it’s best to contact local garage door contractors. Doing so will increase the work quality and bring peace of mind to the homeowner.

What Causes Garage Door Misalignment

A misaligned track is one of the most problematic issues affecting the performance and integrity of garage doors. Every homeowner experiences an unbalanced or a crooked garage door. It indicates that there is a severe problem with your garage door that requires immediate attention and action. A misaligned garage door makes unwanted noises while going up and down. A gap between the rollers and the rail, bent rail, door opening and closing slowly, and rubbing noises are some of the signs that the garage door track is misaligned and needs immediate repair.

It is essential to understand what can lead to a garage door misalignment. Here are a few common causes that may result in a garage door going off-track:

Impact

If a vehicle has hit the garage door, not necessarily at a fast speed, the entire door system can get shaken. It may result in rollers coming off their tracks. Many people also use garages as a space to store a lot of their stuff. If a pile of boxes or any other heavy object falls on the garage door or parts, it can cause slight problems with the alignment.

Age of the garage door

One of the most common causes of garage door misalignment is the old and outdated tracks. Over time, with constant use, the garage door tracks become worn and damaged. It is essential to regularly maintain them, as poor maintenance can lead to rust build-up, which can cause alignment issues. Over time, the building that houses the garage may settle, causing the frame to shift gradually. The hardware of the garage door is connected to the frame. Therefore even a small shift can cause misalignment.

Poorly lubricated door rollers

Lubrication helps the rollers to function smoothly. If the garage door rollers are not lubricated correctly, the lack of smooth movement can damage the door cables and bend the tracks.

Hardware

Loose screws, hinges, and bolts can cause a misalignment in garage doors. Bent, damaged, or broken tracks can also affect the smooth operation of the garage doors. Regularly inspect the garage door for any hardware issues and fix them immediately to avoid expensive repairs.

Mechanical

Spring and cables are the key components of a garage door track. Broken springs or jumped cables need an immediate replacement for proper functioning.

Weather

Harsh weather, high-intensity winds, and cold temperatures can also cause garage door misalignment.

Importance of aligned garage doors

A well-aligned garage door ensures smooth functioning. If you leave the garage door misaligned, it may get stuck open or close, leaving the house vulnerable. When left to stay off-balanced for long, it can fall off the track, leading to grave injury and costly repairs.

If your garage door is facing alignment issues due to one of the reasons mentioned above, call a professional garage door repair company to fix it before it gets worse. They have the tools and equipment required to safely and successfully realign the garage door. If a prolonged misalignment has caused multiple bends in the track, it is advisable to change the garage door track.

Arizona Garage Door & Repair offers professional, affordable garage door tune-up, repair and replacement services for Phoenix Valley area residents. Same day and emergency service! Call 602-600-6069 today!

Common Garage Door Problems Explained

common garage door problems
Image courtesy of Pixabay

Your garage door often provides convenient entrance to your home, and as such is used four times or more per day, which implies that you trust it to function optimally. That is until it doesn’t!

If you want to trust your garage door to remain free from any of the following issues, which can unfortunately cause a host of problems – from insect infiltration to security concerns, regular preventive maintenance including monthly visual inspections should be conducted.

Today, we’re sharing the 5 most common garage door issues, and explaining the importance of having each issue repaired in a timely manner in order to ensure your personal safety and security.

Problem #1: Broken Garage Door Springs

When your springs snap, break or begin to sag, your garage door will not be operational. The number one reason for spring failure is simple wear and tear. Garage door springs, like most any household item, have a limited lifespan. Most springs are rated for 10,000 cycles. The number of years these cycles will last you, depend on the weight of your door, and how many times the door is opened and closed. Once the springs have reached their lifespan, one or both may break, thus causing the door to stop operating.

While springs typically break while the door is in the down position, as this is where most of the tension is, they may also break while the door is in motion or in its raised position. Ensuring the professional replacement of springs is vitally important! Replacing a broken garage door spring can be a very dangerous undertaking. This is why we caution homeowners NOT to attempt DIY replacement.

Problem #2. Broken Garage Door Cables

In a non-damaged state, cables provide smooth, efficient operation for your garage door. Most cables are attached from the drum located near the top of the door to the bottom section of the door. These cables hold the door’s weight as the garage door moves upward and downward. The most common reason for their breakage is normal wear and tear.

Like springs, once the cables break, the door will not be operational. When faced with a broken garage door cable you should refrain from operating the door until the cables have been replaced by a professional. You should also refrain from attempting to force the door open as this can create further damage and pose significant risk to your personal safety.

Problem #3. Bent Garage Door Tracks

Your door’s tracks play an essential role in helping it to open and close smoothly. If one of the tracks gets out of alignment or becomes bent, the problem needs to be addressed before any further damage occurs, which can also lead to their need for replacement. Bent or misaligned tracks are often the result of a severe door malfunction, worn parts or human error (i.e. a car backing up into the door).

If your tracks are simply bent, you can attempt to knock them gently back into shape, using a soft mallet. Of course, if you’re not comfortable doing this, then by all means contact a professional. Just be careful not to use your door until the tracks have been repaired as your door will be unbalanced.

Problem #4. Misaligned Safety Sensors

All garage door openers manufactured on or after January 1, 1993 should be equipped with photo safety sensors. Safety sensors can be found on both sides of the garage door opening about six inches off the floor. They are designed to automatically stop and reverse the door should a person or object interrupt its beam. If the safety sensors aren’t working, neither will the remote control or touchpad.

To ensure optimal functioning of your sensors, you will want to check to ensure that the LEDs on each unit are lit up. A problem exists if the light is off or its flashing repeatedly. Gently clean the lens with a soft dry cloth, check the wires attached to the sensor for loose connections, and try realigning them by hand. If they still don’t work, there may be a bigger issue at hand, and you should contact a local service provider.