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Are Your Technicians Employees of the Company? Or Do You Use Outside Contractors?

Both company employees and outside contractors can do great work on your garage door. However, company employees take pride in the brands they represent and build their company’s reputation with every service they provide.

At Custom Door & Gate, our technicians are certified by IDEA, the Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation. Our fully insured employees have served customers since 1989.

What Manufacturers Do You Offer?

Do your research on the brand names the company offers to make sure they’re reputable.

We stock only the best doors from Clopay®. We also sell garage door openers from LiftMaster® and Blue Giant’s dock lift equipment.

What Is the Warranty on Service Work and Products?

A proper installation is only as good as the product installed. You’ll want to ensure there’s a warranty on your garage door installation and that you can reach out to the company you do business with after installation.

Custom Door & Gate guarantee our work, and, along with any manufacturers’ warranties, we also provide a 1-year warranty on our labor.

Can You Offer an Estimate?

Many garage door companies are happy to speak with you regarding their services. Reach out to a few companies over the phone or on their website to get a sense of which company will work best for you.

At Custom Door & Gate, we offer free technical advice quoting services.

How Long Will Installation of a New Garage Door Take?

The answer to this question can be complicated by various factors, including weather and repairs needed.

However, our expert technicians are methodical and expedient. Typically, a new build with us will take less than three hours, while a replacement can take about four hours.

Contact Custom Door & Gate Today

We hope these questions give you a good overview of what you should be looking for in a certified garage door company. Here at Custom Door & Gate, we are always prepared to answer these questions, as well as any others you may have about garage door estimates, repairs and installations. Call us today at 919-876-4555 or contact us online to get started with your new garage door now!

Garage Door Design Options

The Most Common Garage Door Design Options

Installing a new garage door or updating your current one is an exciting process. Choosing colors, materials and styles that complement the rest of your house is only made more rewarding by seeing your plan come to life right in front of you.

Sometimes, though, a simplistic design can become lackluster when you see it in person. If that’s the case, it’s time to do what you do when any part of your house becomes boring — decorate! Custom Door & Gate has a great selection of decorative hardware for you to dress up your garage door design with.

Decorative Hardware Options

When exploring your decorative hardware options, you have a few choices to accessorize your garage door:

Handles: Even if your garage door is automatic, you’ll likely want to have handles on it in case of a power outage or breakage. A decorative hinge is a perfect way to add a flair of extravagance to your door.
Hinges: Long hinges are quite popular on garage doors, especially for buyers looking to add a rustic element to their house.
Plates: Adding step plates to the bottom of your garage door is excellent for balancing your door’s look if it has windows at the top.
Windows: Adding windows to your garage door is another popular customization option that can totally transform its look.

Every Clopay® door on our website has suggested styles to fit with the door’s aesthetic. These styles are:

Spade: Spade handles, hinges and plates have raindrop-shaped ends that come to a long, narrow point.
Spear: Accessories with spears look similar to spade decorations, but the raindrop shape is more rounded.
Colonial: Products with this shape have a fanlike appearance with a half-oval design on the hardware ends.

The Pros and Cons of Owning a Garage Door with Windows

Before deciding on a remodel, consider the pros and cons of adding windows to your garage door.

Pros

Topping the list of benefits of garage doors with windows are:

Natural light: Having more natural light in your garage is ideal. There’ll be less need to turn the garage lights on when you’re working on a project or inside during daytime hours, which saves electricity. Insulated garage doors with windows generally retain their energy efficiency to lower your bills.
Boosted curb appeal: Many homeowners switch to a garage door with windows for an attractive appearance. These doors may cover as much as a third of your home’s exterior. Adding windows breaks up the otherwise plain space with style.
Customization: Today’s options allow you to tailor window designs to your home. You can choose from multiple rows or change the basic shapes, and some door styles mimic your home’s windows for a cohesive look. Homeowners can also customize the window glass with finishing options and colors for a unique appeal.

Cons

While windows look great and add value to your garage door, there are also some potential disadvantages to consider. Here are some cons to installing windows on your garage door:

Privacy: Some homeowners feel that windows compromise their garage privacy. They don’t want neighbors to be able to peek into the interior, especially when storing valuables in the garage. You can place windows at a height that doesn’t allow for prying eyes to see in easily, and finishing options can preserve privacy while maintaining natural light.
Security: Some choose not to add windows over security concerns. In most cases, you can resolve this challenge with customization options. Choosing styles like the popular carriage house garage doors allows you to outfit them with smaller, multipane windows that aren’t large enough to permit entry.
Fragility: Living in an active neighborhood or playing sports in the driveway means you might end up with a broken window. Fortunately, replacing glass is easier than replacing steel or wood panels. Plus, options like tempered glass provide more durability. If you do experience a broken garage door window, the pros at Custom Door & Gate promptly respond to repair calls!
Door balance: Your garage door opener and the door weight align for proper operation. Adding windows to a previously installed door changes its weight, which affects the door balance and performance. That’s not usually an issue for a newly installed door with windows, since your garage door professional will adjust the settings at installation. To put windows into your existing door, it’s best to consult with an expert first.

Glass Options

If you decide to add windows to your garage door, you have many finishing options to choose from. Clopay® also offers doors consisting of all-glass panels and aluminum frames.

If you love the design of a glass garage door but have concerns about privacy or lighting, rest assured we have various treatments available to provide you with a beautiful oasis away from the world. Aside from our clear glass, options include:

Gray and bronze-tinted glass.
Obscure glass.
Frosted (satin etched) glass.
Mirrored glass.
White laminate glass.

If you decide glass is not the material for you but still want the style, we offer clear and tinted acrylic or polygal and aluminum paneling as replacements.

Make Your Garage Door Stylish and Unique

Start on your new garage door design by using some of these clever ideas. If you’re ready to design your garage door with stylized plates, hinges, handles, and glass windows, contact Custom Door & Gate to request an estimate today!

Benefits Of Gating Your Parking Lot

Offering employees a place where they can park their vehicles during work is a fantastic perk, especially if your offices sit in a downtown area where parking comes at a premium. But are you doing all you can to keep their vehicles safe?

If your property contains a parking lot, it is in your best interest to install a security gate system. Adding entry gates for your parking lot has many advantages, including keeping your employees safer.

Why Add Entry and Exit Control Systems?

By installing a security gate, you can monitor who enters and leaves your parking lot. You can keep people who lack the proper identification or clearance from entering your lot, and you get advanced notice when a guest comes to visit your business.

Entry gates also give you some separation from the street, which will make your property less attractive to burglars.

Why Gate Your Parking Lot?

One of the most popular reasons for installing gates for your parking lot is to protect your employees and customers. With a gated parking lot, you can control access to your property. You keep people without proper clearance from entry. You also give your employees greater reassurance and peace of mind when they walk to their cars at night.

If any of your employees work a night shift, this added measure of security is especially important. A gate can keep other people from using the lot as well, whether it’s after hours or on a weekend. Other reasons to gate off your parking lot include:

Improving your property value: Adding entry and exit gates raises the value of your location, giving potential buyers an attractive reason to purchase the property. They will appreciate not having to install security gates on the parking lot themselves.
Making the property more attractive: You can choose from a range of entry gates, many that demonstrate impressive sophistication. An iron-wrought fence with a cool pattern will make your entire property look better.
Decreasing liability: You are responsible for what happens in your parking lot. You want to keep your employees safe and protect your company’s reputation as a caring workplace.
Increase your profile: Adding security gates to your property tells potential customers that you care, and you have the means to make your property better. When you make an investment in your business, you show your dedication to making the company work. People will appreciate your focus on security and professionalism.

Get in Touch With Us Today

You can enjoy so many advantages of access control systems. Contact Custom Door & Gate to learn more about our entry and exit gate options.

How Often Should I Service My Garage Door and How?

Garage doors are one of the hardest-working parts of your home. You rely on them day in and day out to open and close on your command. It’s little wonder that these doors need some TLC to continue functioning well all the time.

To keep your garage door properly maintained, you should have it professionally serviced annually. In addition, be sure to conduct your own monthly checks of the door to ensure it is working correctly. Learn more about the most common items a service technician will inspect each year and how to perform your own monthly checkup.

Why Should I Service a Garage Door?

Servicing your garage door helps to extend its life. When you get annual service for your garage door, it’s a lot like going to a physical. There, a physician checks you for signs of potential problems and treats any issues they find. It’s the same for a garage door.

Service ensures a small problem doesn’t turn into a big one. For instance, at your service appointment, a technician may identify a spring that’s about to break and replace it. You won’t be caught off guard by a broken garage spring and have to wait around until someone can come to repair your door. Plus, it can save you money since it won’t require emergency service.

How Professionals Service a Garage Door

A garage door is the largest moving object in your home. It is extremely dangerous to perform some service and repairs, which is why it is best left to a professional technician. Professionals have a checklist of issues to look for when they inspect a garage door. They may start by oiling squeaky tracks and examining the overall health of the system. Then they will perform individual checks, such as:

Springs: Examine torsion springs to ensure they have the right level of tension.
Cable: Check the cable for signs of fraying and replace anything that looks worn.
Roller: Look for signs of bending or breakage.
Door sections and panels: Search for signs of disrepair, which can impact the garage door opener as well.
Garage door opener: Use for opening and closing several times to ensure the door is balanced.

How to Maintain Garage Doors by Yourself

In addition to having your garage door professionally inspected annually, you can also look after your system yourself by following these simple maintenance tips:

Check your garage door alignment: Unhook the opener, then raise and lower the door by hand. If it’s really tough to do, you may have door alignment issues.
Test the function of the “eye:” The garage door eye tells your opener when it’s OK to open or close the door. Press the garage door opener button to close the door, and place a broom in front of one of the eyes. If the door stops, the eye is fine, but if it doesn’t, you should get assistance immediately as it’s a safety issue.
Clean out debris: Keep the garage floors and door tracks clean and free of debris.

Trust Custom Door & Gate for Your Garage Door Needs

Do you need a professional to assist you with garage door maintenance? Custom Door & Gate offers annual maintenance plans for residents of Raleigh and surrounding North Carolina communities. Get in touch today to learn more about our services.

Summer Garage Maintenance Tips

Summer is the ideal time for handling some of those much-needed exterior maintenance projects, including taking care of your home’s garage door. Routine maintenance is essential for ensuring the door continues to function properly and safely. It can also enhance the door’s curb appeal and contribute to a more comfortable environment inside the garage.

Basic Garage Door Maintenance for Summer

Your summertime garage door upkeep should include:

Washing: Give the door a proper washing to remove the dirt and debris that has accumulated over the winter. A combination of a mild car-washing or dishwashing soap and water is perfect for the job. Apply the mixture with a soft cloth, brush or sponge to both sides and rinse thoroughly with a hose.
Rust removal: Corrosion can spread quickly and ruin a metal garage door. Sand down any rust spots to prevent the problem from getting worse.
Painting: A fresh coat of paint will significantly improve the door’s appearance and protect it from the elements.
Inspection: Enlist the services of a professional garage door company like Custom Door & Gate to lubricate the door’s springs, rollers, hinges, and other moving parts and conduct a comprehensive safety inspection.

How to Cool a Garage

Keeping a garage door cool during the summer can be a challenge. A cooler garage can impact the comfort of your home and help to preserve any heat- and humidity-sensitive items you store in it.

Some garage door cooling ideas include:

Natural ventilation: Increase air circulation inside the garage by opening any outside-facing doors or windows.
Ceiling fans: A ceiling fan offers a cost-effective solution for circulating air and keeping the garage cooler.
Dehumidifiers: Running a dehumidifier will remove moisture from the air inside your garage and make it feel less “sticky.”
Air conditioning: Installing either a window air conditioner or a mini-split A/C unit (which doesn’t require a window) provides the ultimate garage cooling solution. However, your energy costs will be higher than when using ceiling fans.
Lighter shade: If you decide to paint your garage door, choose white or another light color, as this will reflect rather than absorb the heat and keep the interior cooler.
Remove clutter: De-cluttering your garage is an excellent way to improve airflow. You could even hold a garage sale to get rid of unwanted items and make a little extra money.
Upgrade to an insulated door: Installing a garage door with built-in insulation (or one made from wood) will help keep hot air from entering the garage.

Contact Us to Learn More

Custom Door & Gate can provide maintenance for your garage door this summer and install an insulated door that will keep your garage cooler. Contact us for more information today!

How to Make Your Garage Gym Better

A garage can be much more than a place to park your car or store unused household items. For the fitness-minded, a garage can provide the perfect environment for a fully functional home gym. You can work out at your convenience, and you won’t have to make extra trips to your neighborhood health club.

Custom Door & Gate is happy to provide some ideas that will inspire you to turn your garage into a gym or make improvements to your existing home garage gym.

Lighting

During the summer, you can keep your garage door open and enjoy the natural light of the sun as you pump iron. But what about the winter when you need to rely on interior lights? Choosing the right lighting is essential for maximizing your workouts. A gym that’s too dark sends a signal to your body that it’s time to rest, which will negatively impact your results. Consider replacing those dull fluorescent overhead garage lights with brighter, more vibrant LED lighting. Adding a garage door that includes windows is a great way allow light to enter without worrying about anyone seeing you from the outside.

Music

For most people, the music they listen to while working out serves as a motivational tool to work harder. Install high-quality speakers or use a Bluetooth speaker to add more life to your workout. With a home gym, you don’t have to wear headphones as you have complete control over the music.

Wall Decor

Customize your home garage gym by hanging signs with your favorite inspirational sayings on the walls. It’s a great way to find the motivation on those days when you’re feeling tired or would rather be doing something else. Installing large mirrors is another way to fill up wall space, and they enable you to check your form and technique as you exercise.

Climate Control

A garage gym that’s too hot or cold can make for an uncomfortable and unproductive workout environment. Using space heaters and floor fans can help you keep the garage at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. Installing a ceiling fan is another practical solution. It will provide increased airflow when it’s hot, and when reversing its direction, it can push warm air from the ceiling to the floor during the winter. Another option is to ensure that you have a properly insulated garage door so you won’t feel the sweltering heat in the summer or the freezing cold in the winter.

How Can a Garage Door Upgrade Help?

Don’t forget about the door when making plans for a gym in your garage. The pros at Custom Door & Gate can install an insulated garage door that will meet your temperature control and sound dampening needs. We offer a large selection of premium doors from Clopay^® and more than 25 years of residential garage door expertise.

Garage Door Security Tips

Garage doors are incredibly convenient, but they can also be a target for thieves if they’re not properly secured. After all, the last thing any homeowner wants is a burglar using a garage door to gain access to a house.

But what are the best garage door security measures? To help keep your home safe, here’s a look at some tips for securing your garage.

Hide Your Opener

Always keep your garage door opener out of sight. Thieves often break into cars to get garage door remote controls. They can snag a remote control and take one look at an insurance slip sitting in the glove box to find out exactly where you live. When you’re parked at work, the grocery store, or elsewhere, always keep your garage door hidden in an effort to discourage thieves from targeting your vehicle.

Choose a New Code

Keep your garage door codes safe and secure by changing them on a rotating basis. Add a calendar reminder to switch things up every six months (or on a schedule that meets your needs), and you’ll greatly enhance the overall security of your garage door and your home.

Inspect Your Door

Closely inspect your garage door from time to time. Check for cracked windows and gaps in the weather-stripping. Burglars might target these small vulnerabilities to break into your home through the garage. It’s always a good idea to inspect your garage door during transitions from season to season. For example, check for vulnerabilities when the cold winter months turn into spring. You may find that ice, snow, and winter weather have worn down weather-stripping or other portions of the door.

Install a Side Lock

Consider installing a manual garage door side lock to be used for when you’re away from the home for longer periods of time. This type of lock cannot be unlocked with a remote and requires you to manually unlock with your hand, making this an inconvenient task if you are opening and closing the garage door on a daily basis.

Add Lighting

Choose to install motion-activated flood lights just above your garage door. If a thief is planning to gain access to your home through the garage door, these motion-activated lights can help deter unwarranted entry.

Keep It Closed

Always keep your garage door closed. Garage doors that are left open make it incredibly easy for anybody to steal your things or gain access to your home. Wi-Fi-enabled garage door openers make it possible to check whether your door is open from anywhere in the world. Take advantage of them to keep your home safe and secure.

Need products to help keep your garage and your home safe? At Custom Overhead Doors, we provide a range of garage door products and services for home and business owners in Raleigh, Greenville, Greensboro, Fayetteville, and the surrounding communities. Contact us today to learn more about how we can improve your home’s security.

How To Fix A Slow-Opening Garage Door

Garage doors do a lot of heavy lifting on a day-to-day basis, which means that they will eventually need maintenance and repairs to stay in full working condition. How do you know when your garage door needs service? One of the telltale signs is that it takes longer to open and close.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why your garage door opener is slow and how to fix a slow garage door.

How Long Should It Take for My Garage Door to Open and Close?

How long should it normally take for a garage door to open and close? The average is between 12 to 15 seconds. Most garage doors will be able to fully complete opening and closing cycles within that range. If you find that your garage door is taking closer to 20 seconds (or longer) to open or close, it’s time to get the door checked.

Service When Your Garage Door Slows Down

The most common slow opening garage door fix is lubrication. Without proper lubrication, your garage door’s many parts have to work overtime during opening and closing cycles, which makes those processes take longer than normal. Also, as your garage door is used day-in and day-out, over time, pulleys can also become worn and springs can lose tension — which also slows down operating speed.

If you’re wondering how to fix a slow garage door, start by lubricating all tracks, brackets and hinges. Once you’ve fully lubricated those parts, test the door to see if it’s moving faster. Some garage door models have speed setting controls. If your door has these controls, make sure they haven’t been adjusted in a way that noticeably slows your garage door.

If neither lubrication nor speed control settings fix the problem, it’s time to call a professional. A professional garage door service provider can check your door’s pulleys and springs to see if there’s a more complex issue that needs repair. It’s never a good idea for a homeowner to get into these more intensive maintenance and repair tasks. Garage doors operate under a massive amount of tension, and it requires specialized knowledge and expertise to safely and effectively provide maintenance and repairs.

Get Your Garage Door Serviced Regularly

At Custom Overhead Doors, we the best garage door products as well as maintenance and repair services. We know just how important your garage door and its operation is to your day-to-day lifestyle. Our technicians can quickly identify the reasons your garage door opener is slow — and then make recommendations for how to correct the issue.

Since 1989, we have proudly served home and business owners in Raleigh, Greenville, Greensboro, and Fayetteville. For all your garage door needs, trust the team and the experience you’ll find at Custom Overhead Doors.

Everything You Can Do With Wi-Fi-Connected Garage Doors

Garage door openers bring incredible convenience to our lives. Just think about the last time you pulled into your driveway in a rainstorm and opened your garage door at the press of a button. But just when you thought garage door openers couldn’t get any more convenient, Wi-Fi-connected garage doors hit the market.

Today, smart garage door openers unlock a number of benefits and great conveniences for homeowners. What types of benefits and conveniences? Here’s a look at everything you can do with a Wi-Fi garage door opener.

Open and Close Your Garage Door From Anywhere

No matter where you are in the world, you can open and close your garage door. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection. Sometimes you leave for vacation and stress the whole time that you forgot to close your garage door in the rush to get to the airport. Sometimes you need to open the garage door for a service provider or delivery when you are not home. Sometimes you need to give family or friends access to your home. And sometimes you forget your keys and just need to use your Wi-Fi-enabled garage door opener as a “spare set.”

In each case listed above, a Wi-Fi garage door opener is essential for securing your home and allowing access when needed.

Get Push Notifications

Smart Wi-Fi garage door openers can be used to monitor access to your home. In fact, you can configure your devices to receive push notifications whenever your garage door opens and closes.

This can be helpful if you want to know when your kids get home from school or you want to confirm that you did not, in fact, leave your garage door open before heading out for vacation. Most importantly, push notifications from a Wi-Fi garage door opener can let you know if someone gains access to your home who shouldn’t have.

Set Up In-Garage Delivery

In select cities, Amazon now offers in-garage delivery. Key by Amazon is available to select Prime members, and it allows for one of the safest and most secure delivery methods you can find. All you have to do is sync your myQ® account within the free-to-download Key app. Once it’s up and running, you can have your Amazon packages delivered using the power of your Wi-Fi garage door opener.

Schedule Garage Lights

Garage lighting is incredibly helpful at certain times of the day. Using smart garage door openers, you can set a schedule for when your garage door lights turn off and on. This is also helpful when you’re traveling and want to put your home’s lights on timers.

Find Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Openers at Custom Overhead Doors

Since 1989, Custom Overhead Doors has provided garage door products and services to home and business owners in Raleigh, Greenville, Greensboro, Fayetteville, and the surrounding communities. If you’re interested in unlocking the benefits of smart garage door openers, contact us today.

Top Things to Look for When Purchasing Garage Door Opener

Buying a garage door opener is not as simple as it sounds. With many different openers to choose from, the best choice for your home may not be so obvious.

Read on to learn more about how to select the best garage door opener.

Tips for Buying a Garage Door Opener

The best way to learn how to buy a garage door opener is to first know all available options. You can choose from the following:

- Chain Drive: This is the most classic version. It’s dependable and packs a solid value. Although it’s known to be on the noisy side, it’s less expensive than a belt drive. We recommend a chain drive door opener for detached garage doors because the noise will not bother anyone in a room beside or above the garage.

- Belt Drive: Belt drives are a quieter choice. They’re ideal if a bedroom is above your garage. They open with a rubber belt and are very low maintenance. Belt drives also come with longer warranties.

- Wall Buttons: Wall buttons are perfect for those who prefer outdoor keypads. It also locks all outside radio signals when programmed. Another feature of wall buttons is that are available with a timer and motion sensor. This way you can set your garage door to open and close automatically.

- Smart Technology: Did you know you can connect to your garage door opener via Wi-Fi? It’s true! You can control the opening and closing of the door through your smartphone. This option is excellent because you’ll never have to ask yourself “Did I close the garage door?” again.

- Battery Backup: In case the power goes out, you will still be able to use your garage door opener. If you experience a loss of power frequently in your area, then consider investing in a battery backup.
- LED Lighting: Garage door openers with LED lighting can provide a daylight-like feel to your entire garage.
Garage Door Opener Brand Buying Guide

When it comes to the best brands, we recommend LiftMaster because of the brand’s quality and variety of options. Parts are also easy to obtain if repairs are ever needed. When you purchase a LiftMaster garage door opener from Custom Door & Gate, our professionals can install it to ensure it works properly.

One way to choose the right opener is to read online reviews before purchasing. In addition, you can contact a professional garage company, like Custom Door & Gate, for advice on what model suits your home best.

Need More Tips for Buying a Garage Door Opener?

Ready to purchase your new garage door opener? At Custom Door & Gate, we’ll discuss your garage door opener needs and help you select the right options. Contact us today to get started with your garage door opener’s installation.

Top Questions to Ask Any Garage Door Company