A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door
Garage doors are an afterthought. Taken for granted until something goes wrong and you’re stuck in your car while it rains wondering why it won’t go up. Understanding the issue is the first step toward fixing any problem, and in this series “A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door,” we’re going to highlight some of the most common issues with garage doors.
Before we get started though, I think it’s important to point out that garage doors are not to be taken lightly (figuratively and literally). Garage doors are heavy and the mechanics that make them work s
moothly are a delicate balance of engineering and design. A typical 16×7 door weighs around 250 lbs. Wood doors can be significantly heavier. Thus, before you even think about repairing your garage door you need to think about safety.
One final thought. In this Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door, we’ll try to cover the basics of garage door repair and diagnosing the typical problems people encounter. Having been in this business since 1989, Custom Door and Gate’s commercial and residential garage door service professionals have seen pretty much everything, including the look on the customers face when we tell them to replace the batteries in their controller. Some of the issues we’ll discuss, like “batteries” are clearly correctable by the average homeowner; while others need to be done by a trained professional. Along the way we’ll help you identify which are which.
So come back in the next few weeks to learn more and read our guide for fixing your garage door.
And if you’re in North Carolina or South Carolina area and need garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll make Custom Door and Gate your first call.
Improve the Look of Your Home with a Custom Garage Door
Spring is the perfect time to spruce up the appearance of your home. Improve the look of your home with a custom garage door. The arrival of the warm weather has neighbors out walking and spending more time together outdoors. While most of the attention is on the emerging flowers and the prevention of weeds, it’s also a great time to add some curb appeal to the appearance of your home.
A simple and effective way to improve the look of your home is with a custom garage door. A custom garage door not only improves the look of your home for the whole year, it also adds value.
Your garage door makes a statement about you and your home. If you live in one of the many planned subdivisions common to the Raleigh, Fayetteville and Greenville areas, there’s a good chance your home was built with the builders choice of standard, low cost garage doors. Possibly the same door used on every house in your neighborhood.
At Custom Door & Gate, we can help you add enduring value and interest to your home with a new custom garage door. Take for example this custom garage door recently installed in Raleigh. Not only does it add character to the home, it provides valuable light and greater insulation to a critical area of the home.
At Custom Door and Gate, we’ve been installing and repairing garage doors since 1989. We know the ins-and-outs of both residential garage doors and commercial garage doors and can help you find the door that’s right for your home or diagnose your garage door issues.
Checking the Balance of Your Garage Door
Even if your door goes up and down without issue, checking the balance of your garage door is still a good idea because it can help you save money by extending the life of your garage door and avoiding expensive repair bills. The best part, doing this is pretty easy, as is identifying if you have an issue.
The first thing you need to do is close the door and then disconnect your automatic garage door opener if you have one. Now lift the door manually. Despite the average garage door weighing 200-250 lbs, it should lift smoothly with little resistance. This is because the springs of the door do most of the work. Additionally, the door should remain in the open position and not slide back down.
Now reverse the process and close the door. You should need to provide sufficient pressure to start the door back down its tracks, but not so much effort that you need to force it. Conversely, the door should not be coming down so quickly that it slams into the floor with a loud thud.
Balance is a principle behind the proper mechanics of your garage door. By checking the balance of your garage door on a regular basis, and not just when the power goes out, you can improve the life and performance of your door.
If you door’s balance is off, you should have your door inspected by an expert. Don’t attempt to adjust the springs or balance yourself unless you have the proper training. For other problems that you might find, check out our blog entry entitled, “A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door” with helpful tips on what you should and shouldn’t attempt to fix yourself. And if you decide that maybe you do need a garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll Contact Custom Door & Gate..
Performing a Visual Inspection of Your Garage Door
You’re garage door is more than a wall that goes up and down. It’s a doorway to your home and a vital barrier from cold, heat and other elements that you want to keep out. By performing a visual inspection of your garage door, you can improve not only its performance, but also avoid future problems by identifying them early on.
To do this, stand inside your garage with the door closed. Now look for visual gaps in around the edges or in the seams where light is still coming in. Don’t forget to check at the bottom of the door. Visible light is a clear sign that your door is not properly aligned and that the load is unevenly distributed across the structure.
Next, inspect the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and mounting hardware. Each of these components has a very specific function and needs to be calibrated correctly. For example, cables and springs should be tight and not hanging loose. Hinges and wheels should be straight and not be rusty or worn.
The next test is easy. Open your door and listen to the sounds it makes. If you hear lots of creaking, rubbing or scrapping, that’s a good sign that it needs help. If you can isolate the noise, you can then check for physical wear and tear on those components.
Remember, performing a visual inspection is just the first step to Extending the Life of Your Garage Door. If you find something, you may want to have your door inspected by an expert. You may also want to review our blog entry entitled, “A Guide for Fixing Your Garage Door” with helpful tips on what you should and shouldn’t attempt to fix yourself. And if you decide that maybe you do need a garage door service professional, or even a new garage door, we hope you’ll Contact Custom Door & Gate..
Cleaning and Inspecting a Garage Door Photo Eye
As a child, I remember thinking it was a game to push the button and try to get out of the garage before the door closed without hitting the photo eye. Adults often think of the garage door photo eye as a nuisance. Regardless of what you think, the photo eye plays a critical role in the safety of your family. Yet nearly 20,000 garage door related injuries are reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission each year.
That’s why cleaning and inspecting a garage door photo eye is an important step in maintaining the proper function of your garage door.
The photo eye works by sending an invisible bean across the opening of your garage door. When the door is coming down, if something breaks this beam, the door should automatically go back up. If this doesn’t happen, you should replace your automatic garage door opener or call a service technician.
More frequently however, the issue with the photo eye is that it is out of alignment or dirty and your door will not go down at all. If this is your issue, fixing your garage door shouldn’t be too hard.
The first step to solving this problem is cleaning the photo eye lenses. Because of its proximity to the ground and environment, the photo eye can become very dirty. To clean it, use a clean cloth and mild cleaner. The photo eye is normally made with glass and you should use the same care with it that you would a camera. Scratches or other markings may cause it to function improperly.
Next, check the alignment of your photo eyes (one on both sides of your garage door). You can do this visually or by measuring the height of each photo eye from the ground, and using a level to make sure they are pointing straight across at each other. A laser level is very helpful but not necessary.
To test the photo eye, push the door transmitter or wall button to trigger the door to close. If it closes, the eyes are correctly lined up. Now use a broom or some other object to break the beam to ensure that the door opens. If the photo eye functionality is working correctly, the door should reverse and return to the open position.
If you decide that you do need a garage door service professional to help you diagnose problems with your photo eye or even pick a new garage door, we hope you’ll Contact Custom Door & Gate.
Garage Door Upgrades Top Home Improvement Investments
Remodeling magazine has recently published their annual Cost vs. Value survey. For the third year in a row, eight of the top 10 remodeling projects that render the best return on investment are those that enhance curb appeal.
Whether you choose to replace your garage door with a mid-range door or high-end upgrade, garage door replacement takes two of the three top spots for home improvements that cost less than $5,000.
The elevation of the majority of homes incorporates the garage door at front and center. The emphasis on an attractive, yet practical garage door is a worthy investment. At 75.7%, a mid-range garage door replacement ranks second on ROI when spending less than $5,000.
Custom Door & Gate offers a full line of Clopay® garage doors; from affordable steel doors, to contemporary aluminum and glass doors, to hand-crafted carriage house style wood doors.
Use our Visualizer tool to “try on” a new garage door and design coordinating doors to maximize the “wow” factor.
Our staff of professionals are happy to answer your questions about Garage Door Upgrades and assist you with the design process. We’ll assure you choose the perfect door to complement your style without breaking your budget. Or stop by our showroom in Raleigh where you can see the quality products we sell first-hand.
Gallery® Collection Door Installation – Cary, North Carolina
Recently, Custom Door and Gate installed a beautiful Gallery® Collection garage door in Cary, NC on the Newman home.
The Newman’s chose the Gallery Collection long panel design in Walnut Ultra-Grain finish (Model #GD1LU), and added Arch 2 windows with grilles. Look at the difference a beautiful set of Clopay garage doors made to the curb appeal of this home!
BEFORE
AFTER
Embossed with a natural woodgrain texture, the Gallery Collection features vintage appeal with updated technology. Available in 2 or 3-layer steel construction, not only is it maintenance-free, but durable and beautiful as well. Wind Code rated doors are also available.
- Insulated or non-insulated steel frame construction
- Polystyrene or Intellicore® insulation
- Long or short groove panel designs
- Windows with optional snap-in grilles, insulated glass and acrylic wrought iron designs
- Decorative hardware
- Five factory finish paint colors OR
- Ultra-grain® paint finish giving a stained wood look (available in medium and dark oak and walnut wood-grains)
Contact the garage door experts at Custom Door & Gate for assistance with your garage door purchase!
It’s that time of year again and Custom Door & Gate will be participating in several Home Shows in the Triangle area.
The Raleigh Fall Home, Hot Tub & Landscape Show opens on Friday, September 6th and runs through Sunday the 8th at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Friday, September 6th – 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 7th – 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 8th – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Admission is free and parking is available.
Look for booth #612 and let our team of experts show you the beautiful line of Clopay® Entry Doors that Custom Door and Gate provides to Raleigh, Greenville, Fayetteville and the entire Triangle area.
Made of fiberglass or steel, these entry doors are energy efficient, low maintenance and secure. Available in a number of styles, colors, hardware and decorative glass options, we’re sure to have a door that fits your style and budget.
In addition to entry doors, we provide a multitude of products from the industry’s leading manufacturers:
- Residential Garage Doors and Openers from Clopay and LiftMaster®
- Commercial Garage Doors, Openers & Dock Equipment from Clopay and LiftMaster
- Access Control Systems from DoorKing® (DKS®)
- Gate Operators from LiftMaster
We are a full service garage door company with an expertly trained staff of technicians who can install or repair any entry door, garage door or opener. We are also certified to perform Automatic Door Inspections.
Come see us at the Raleigh Convention Center! We’d love to discuss any of our products and services with you and assist you with your home improvement project.
Certified Garage Door Repair in Raleigh, NC
Custom Door & Gate is constantly striving to improve our services so that you, our valued customers, are always 100% satisfied.
Last week, two of our employees, Shane Blow and Nathan Jernigan, passed the rigorous Gate Operator Installer Certification exam given by the IDEA* (Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation).
Custom Door & Gate is an authorized DoorKing and LiftMaster dealer in Raleigh, Greenville and Fayetteville. These two companies are leaders in the industry for supplying quality automatic entry gate systems. We are pleased to add two more to our team of experienced professionals that are certified in the installation, repair and routine maintenance of these gates.
To become a Certified Gate Operator Installer, applicants have to complete a 3-step process:
- Complete a self-study guide that is written and endorsed by the AFA (American Fence Association) and the DASMA (Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association). This guide details safety, design, gate types, accessories, basic operation, installation of gate operators, electrical training and troubleshooting, timers and vehicle detectors.
- Successfully pass a written examination based on the information learned in the self-study guide.
- Possess a minimum of two years of field experience in both the installation and servicing of gate operating systems.
Rest assured that when it comes to garage doors, automatic openers, and entry gate systems, our team of professionals is well-versed in all of the latest products and services.
Congratulations, Shane & Nathan!
*The IDEA is a non-profit educational organization established to meet the informational needs of consumers, as well as the business and accreditation needs of door, gate and operator dealers.
Garage doors enhance a home’s curb appeal and value
Garage doors can be so much more than a home’s point of entry. In addition to being functional, a stylish garage door can enhance a home’s curb appeal and ultimately increase the value of the home. Ranging from time-tested classic designs to an industrial, modern look, today’s garage doors offer styles to complement and enhance any home’s architectural uniqueness.
In addition, better materials and designs, faster and quieter garage door openers, and better-insulated doors are just a few factors homeowners should consider when upgrading a garage door. We offer a wide variety of products that are sure to match your needs, style and budget.
Drop us a line to see what we can to do give your home a much-deserved facelift today!