Garage Door Opener Basics

In times past, having a garage meant that each time the homeowner returned home and wanted to put the car in the garage, someone had to get out and raise the door and then lower it after the vehicle was parked. Of course, electronic garage doors ultimately, became more popular and the doors could be opened easily, by merely pressing a button. However, these electronic doors did not include the safety features and advancements available today such as pressure and obstacle sensors, a selection of motor speeds or the ability to change directions with the touch of a button. Today, there are many styles and features to consider when selecting garage doors and openers. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your choice.
Drives
Perhaps the most common style of door opener is the chain drive opener. These work much like a bicycle chain and can be quite noisy. They are available in ½ to ¾ hp models and cost anywhere from $150 to $200.
For a quieter drive, you may opt for a screw-drive door opener. These have very few moving parts so they make less noise. In addition, they are easy to install and require minimal maintenance. Average price for the screw-drive is $150 to $225.
If you are willing to spend a bit more ($200-$300), then you may want to choose the belt-drive opener which uses a long rubber belt to raise and lower the door. These doors are virtually maintenance free.
One of the most recent types of residential door openers is the jackshaft opener which is mounted on the same wall as the overhead door, so there is no need for an overhead track or drive system. These heavy residential doors make almost no sound whatsoever; however, you will need the services of a professional for installation.
Motors
Originally, all garage doors worked on AC powered motors, but now garage doors primarily use DC as it allows for better speed control and assortment of features. Of course, these DC motors require a conversion from AC power and they use less power than an AC motor. However, manufactures install a battery backup, in the event of a power outage. It should also be noted that while the door springs are responsible for lifting the door, you will want to have a door opener with a higher horsepower rating as they have the ability to start and stop the garage door should there ever be a problem with the garage door's spring system.
Security
When it comes to protecting your family, there is no such thing as "doing too much." One way you can protect your family is with a garage door opener that requires a code to raise or lower the door. The latest in this technology is called a rolling code. This rolling code means that each time the transmitter is operated it sends the code to the receiver but also creates a new code for the next operation.
Learn more about garage doors and visit http://www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com
Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views or opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.

Garage Doors - Installing a New Door Can Be Paid For With Tax Credits and Rebates by the Government

Most home owners either do not have the space or funds to build a separate outbuilding which can serve as a workshop. Because of these limitations most garages either double as or are adapted to be a work area. Whether the garage is used for wood working or an automotive mechanic work, after the first winter season it becomes clear that it can be very chilly and painful on the hands.
Should the winter be especially harsh, as has been experienced in the past few years, any garage time is usually delayed until warmer weather. Before December 31, 2010 is the perfect time to replace the garage door with an insulated door for several reasons. The benefits will do more than just provide a warm interior.
An insulated garage door goes a long way for regulating a comfortable temperature not just during the winter, but the summer months as well. There are large tax incentives for those qualifying energy efficient doors; up to $1500, in fact. Newer construction is superior to the aging doors of 15 years ago. Not every door is created equal, however.
There are commonly three basic styles of construction: steel, composite or genuine wood doors. Vinyl garage doors are available, too, but all of these types of doors have their own advantages ranging from strength to being permanently stained or fading and does not always include insulation automatically. It is true that any door will provide a miniscule amount of protection from extreme hot or cold temperatures, but even the most basic door without insulation will only shield a home owner temporarily; usually for just an hour or two.
An average price for a base steel garage door model and the most inexpensive type can range from about $850 - $1100 installed depending on the region. Base models do not include any insulation. An insulated steel door will usually start at a couple of hundred dollars more, but keep in mind that the increased expense of several hundred dollars in upgrading can easily be made back with tax credits under the government stimulus package that went into effect during 2009. Essentially the home owner will get the extra strength of an insulated garage door increased comfort for free. The garage door company should have all of the information regarding any tax credit available, as it is a good benefit for up selling.
Budget is usually the deciding factor for most home owners. As additional features or styling is added, such as windows commonly referred to as glazing, the cost, of course will increase. Composite garage doors offer the best of steel and wood overall with regards to styling and price. Genuine wood custom garage doors can easily cost more than $5,000, but the greatest variety of styles and the beauty of real wood is unmatched by any other material. It is rare, but on occasion the garage door company may have a cancelled or returned special order which may be available at a reduced price. There may be substantial saving available if this is the case.
For additional information on the topic of garage doors and garage door openers visit http://www.premiumgaragedoors.com.
Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.

Garage Doors - Danger Lurking Unseen, But Testing and Adjusting the Door Opener Can Maintain Safety

Despite garage door openers being designed with improved technology and safety features, there are still several serious injuries reported every year. Many of these injuries are sustained by children. The price for the convenience of having an automatic garage door opener should not include any injury to a family member or neighbor. There is no reason injuries attributed to overhead doors should continue to take place every year with the current safety precautions mandated by law.
Until relatively recently almost every manufacturer of garage door openers recommended placing a block of wood where the overhead door meets the ground in order to test the automatic reverse settings. It is quite simple to get the door to reverse on this hard of a material. The major problem with this test is that a block of wood is much denser and harder than any part of the human body. Even with testing the automatic reverse feature using a block of wood can still mean that a child may easily be crushed to death or severely injured if he or she is pinned underneath as the door descends. Seeing eye sensors have assisted in diminishing the number of injuries annually, but does not eliminate every one and should not be a substitute for paying attention.
Most door installers and manufacturers of door openers now recommend that a softer item be used to test the reversing feature. A large full roll of paper towels or an empty box about the size of a cinder block are excellent items for testing to see if the settings are sufficient to minimize or prevent an injury by activating the automatic reverse. There is one catch to this test.
If the overhead door is newly installed then the installer should have adjusted the torsion springs. Even if the garage door was installed in recent years, the torsion spring or springs should be adjusted so that the overhead door is counterbalanced properly before the force settings are determined on the garage door opener. Garage doors which have been installed in years past need regular adjusting. Over time the steel of the torsion spring will relax. If the torsion spring is adjusted to the proper tension after the opener settings are finalized, the emergency reverse and closing functions will not work properly.
Occasionally a torsion spring can break. Should the garage door be of the variety with two torsion springs, both springs need to be replaced. Pairing up an old torsion spring with a new one is just asking for an accident. When a spring does break, it will probably be when the door is closing or already in the closed position. The tension is highest when the door is closing or in the closed position. If the door is in the process of closing, it will come crashing down. DO NOT attempt to "catch" or stop the door. Garage doors weigh several hundred pounds and serious injury will result if an individual is underneath the door.
Garage door safety is paramount and the door should be treated as if it is a piece of heavy industrial equipment. Children should never play with or around any garage door. Unless specifically trained to service overhead doors, a home owner should rely on a professional installer for all repairs having to do with any cables or springs. Serious injury may result if proper safety precautions are not taken.
For more information on garage doors and garage door openers please visit http://www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com.

Article independtly authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.

Garage Doors - Danger Lurking Unseen, But Testing and Adjusting the Door Opener Can Maintain Safety

Despite garage door openers being designed with improved technology and safety features, there are still several serious injuries reported every year. Many of these injuries are sustained by children. The price for the convenience of having an automatic garage door opener should not include any injury to a family member or neighbor. There is no reason injuries attributed to overhead doors should continue to take place every year with the current safety precautions mandated by law.
Until relatively recently almost every manufacturer of garage door openers recommended placing a block of wood where the overhead door meets the ground in order to test the automatic reverse settings. It is quite simple to get the door to reverse on this hard of a material. The major problem with this test is that a block of wood is much denser and harder than any part of the human body. Even with testing the automatic reverse feature using a block of wood can still mean that a child may easily be crushed to death or severely injured if he or she is pinned underneath as the door descends. Seeing eye sensors have assisted in diminishing the number of injuries annually, but does not eliminate every one and should not be a substitute for paying attention.
Most door installers and manufacturers of door openers now recommend that a softer item be used to test the reversing feature. A large full roll of paper towels or an empty box about the size of a cinder block are excellent items for testing to see if the settings are sufficient to minimize or prevent an injury by activating the automatic reverse. There is one catch to this test.
If the overhead door is newly installed then the installer should have adjusted the torsion springs. Even if the garage door was installed in recent years, the torsion spring or springs should be adjusted so that the overhead door is counterbalanced properly before the force settings are determined on the garage door opener. Garage doors which have been installed in years past need regular adjusting. Over time the steel of the torsion spring will relax. If the torsion spring is adjusted to the proper tension after the opener settings are finalized, the emergency reverse and closing functions will not work properly.
Occasionally a torsion spring can break. Should the garage door be of the variety with two torsion springs, both springs need to be replaced. Pairing up an old torsion spring with a new one is just asking for an accident. When a spring does break, it will probably be when the door is closing or already in the closed position. The tension is highest when the door is closing or in the closed position. If the door is in the process of closing, it will come crashing down. DO NOT attempt to "catch" or stop the door. Garage doors weigh several hundred pounds and serious injury will result if an individual is underneath the door.
Garage door safety is paramount and the door should be treated as if it is a piece of heavy industrial equipment. Children should never play with or around any garage door. Unless specifically trained to service overhead doors, a home owner should rely on a professional installer for all repairs having to do with any cables or springs. Serious injury may result if proper safety precautions are not taken.

For more information on garage doors and garage door openers please visit http://www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com.


Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.

How to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

If you are looking for a way to update your home, as well as add style and interest to your home's look, you may want to consider adding a garage and selecting a great looking garage door. After all, by adding a garage you gain more livable space-whether used for the vehicles, as a storage room or perhaps a family gathering space. Of course, once you have decided to add a garage, then the next step is to choose what type of door(s).
As you begin the process of selecting a garage door, you may be surprised at the many choices and styles available. Not only do garage doors come in virtually any size, but they can be customized to fit the look of your home. There are 4 basic types of garage doors available:

• Flush panels which are flat and typically have a textured panel that can be used to compliment the house exterior and not be overly noticeable.
• Long raised panels will offer add to the home's overall look, as well as give depth and character to the door.
• Short Raised panels work great with homes that have a Victorian look as well as in homes that have the details and lines of Tudor and Colonial homes.
• Painted Panels will add personality to the raised panel when the sloped part of the panel is painted in a contrasting color.

Of course, you may also choose to have windows install in your garage door. These will not only add some personality but also provide additional light. Double paned windows are recommended by many professionals as they allow natural light in but will keep extreme temperatures out.
As you begin considering the style of the garage doors, you will want to determine what type of door you would like as well. Most doors are either wooden or steel. Wooden doors are generally more expensive, are available in a wide variety of styles, as well as types of wood, and allow for easy painting or staining.
Steel doors are more budget friendly, making them the more commonly used door. You can purchase them in a variety of colors, or easily paint them to match your home. They come in 3 types:

• Single layer doors, are the most economical and are made from a single sheet of galvanized steel.
• Double layer steel doors have galvanized steel on the outside with a thick insulating layer on the inside. This backing offers soundproofing.
• Triple layer doors are similar to the double layers except that the inside layer has an additional galvanized layer on the inside. These doors are the most impenetrable, and make the area nearly soundproof. You can even get them with an extra thick layer of insulation making them a better thermal resistor (R-value). If you are considering this extra layer, be sure that it has a value of least a 3, but it can be as high as 10.

For more details and information on garage doors please visit www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com.
Article indpendently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.

How to Choose a Garage Door

For many home owners the garage is an "extra room" where families can visit, play games, work on hobbies and much more. For others, it is used primarily for vehicle storage and a tool shed. Regardless of what you use your garage for, it is an important feature of your home and as such you will want to put some thought into the door selection.
5 Steps in Choosing a Garage Door
A garage door is an easy way to give your home a new look and there are many styles, types of materials and options to consider. Use these steps to make your garage door selection easier.

1. Determine your budget. Garage doors can be expensive, with wood and fiberglass doors being the most costly. Should you plan to have insulation added, then plan on an additional 10%. Of course, if you live in a region where winter temps often dip below the freezing point, or where typhoons or hurricanes are common, this extra expense is well worth it and will soon pay for itself in energy costs and peace of mind. Another added cost, is whether or not you want windows as part of the garage door. Also, when looking at the doors, be sure to ask about maintenance costs and warranties.
2. What's your style? Is your home reminiscent of the Old South? Then you may want to use recessed paneled doors. Does it have a modern flare? Then look at doors made of contemporary materials such as wood and copper or aluminum and glass or perhaps having panels that does not look like a garage door. You may even want to look around your neighborhood to see what style garage doors others have used. Doors can be made from wood, aluminum, fiberglass, and contemporary materials like glass, copper, or a combination of wood and zinc. You may also want to think about what color, if any, you would like for your garage door. Most doors come already finished in neutral colors, but you may wish to accent the other colors in your home's exterior.
3. Decide whether you want your door to roll-up or tilt when being opened. Tilting doors often allow moisture and debris into the garage but are cheaper in price. Roll up doors are composed of several sections, save on space, and are stronger, but they are more expensive.
4. Decide whether you want windows. Having windows can add style and break up the plain look of a door. You can select from curved, square rectangular or arched windows. However, keep in mind their placement in the garage door in regards to what can be seen through them from the outside.
5. How much maintenance do you have time for? Metal doors dent and show imperfections like scrapes caused by branches. Wood doors can accent your home's exterior features, but can be easily damaged if not maintained as per instructions; fiberglass doors are long-lasting but are not recommended in colder climates.

For more information on garage doors, please visit www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com.
Article indpendently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.

Garage Doors and Door Openers - Basic Proper Maintenance Can Save Money and Keep the Operation Quiet

Garage doors and openers work on very simple principles of mechanics, however, the majority of home owners do not have the tools, knowledge, or experience to install and service the various types available on the market today. Experience is exceptionally important when servicing garage door components for reasons of safety.
Almost all of the garage doors installed in residential buildings are made up of separate panels set on top of other panels. Above these sectional doors panels are usually two torsion springs coiled around a horizontal bar mounted on the header. The purpose of these springs is to act as a counter balance to the weight of the door itself. Without these springs, it is quite likely that the home owner or garage door opener would be unable to lift the door to open it. Extension springs may be present near the horizontal door tracks as well.
The easiest and best method for the home owner to test the torsion spring is to disengage the door opener by pulling on the manual/emergency release handle. Make sure that the door is completely open or in the closed position. Once done, manually move the door into a position where the bottom edge is about chest level. The door should remain near that position without traveling up or down a great distance on its own. A door which slams shut on its own is an indicator that the torsion springs may need adjusting.
A word of caution: these springs are under immense tension and can be very dangerous to adjust by the home owner. For safety reasons the door manufacturers and installers recommend to the home owner not to attempt to make adjustments to these components. Should the door opener be unable to lift the door or begin to sound strained during operation, the torsion springs may need adjustment by a professional installer. It is worth the small service charge rather than risking serious injury or death.
Over time humidity and age will cause the torsion springs to become dry. The maintenance a home owner can perform, which is considered safe, is to lightly oil the torsion springs as they become noisier with use. Oiling the springs will not only protect the metal from moisture, but also reduce friction which will save the hardware from greater wear and tear. If the garage door opener is of the traditional chain drive variety it will be necessary to oil the chain just as one would do with a bicycle chain. Many people can also lubricate the rollers attached to the garage door, the hinges and track. Basic household oil or graphite can be used to lubricate moving parts at the contact points. Grease is not advisable due to the viscosity and the messiness factor. Some of the rollers on the market are advertised as maintenance-free or self lubricating and may not need any additional attention. If at times a roller does need to be replaced, it is best to call a garage door installer or take the roller to a home improvement store to ensure an exact match and size.
Assuming basic proper maintenance is performed regularly, a home owner can expect the door components and garage door opener to last for several years beyond a non-maintained door. Even though some garage doors installed can be as low as $600, at an average $1000 to $1200 for an installed garage door, it obviously makes sense to take care of this home investment.
For additional information on the topic of garage doors and garage door openers visit www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com.
Article independently authored by Daniel P. Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflec the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service.