Garage Door and Automatic Opener...

Basic Maintenance to Perform In Order To Keep Smooth Operation

Regardless of the area of the country, garage doors take a beating from wind, rain, and heat. In the North Central states such as Minnesota, the additional conditions of snow, salt and sand need to be dealt with throughout the autumn and winter seasons. The condition of the home exterior, including the garage door, can degrade quite rapidly if not maintained properly. The weather stripping and gaskets are of prime importance to maintain and be kept in good repair. Often these are the first line of defense.
Without the weather stripping and the gasket at the bottom panel of the door being intact the elements are allowed to slowly affect the rollers and quite possibly any items stored near the opening. Although weather stripping and gaskets can be found in some big brick and mortar home improvement centers, surprisingly it can be a back breaking task for the average home owner to change out items as simple as these. Additional maintenance needs to be performed on the door components as well.
In order for the door to work as smoothly as possible, every hinge and roller should be lubricated. Either a basic oil, such as that used for a bicycle chain, may be used, but can often create a mess by dripping on objects below when the garage door is opened. A better alternative can be a synthetic lubricant or graphite. Graphite however, will not last as long and will most likely not protect the hinges and rollers from moisture. It is important for the home owner to not apply any oil or grease in the tracks. Not only will this attract dirt and debris to collect in the track, it will prevent the garage door from traveling smoothly causing a sticky mess which can be very difficult to clean.
The maintenance required for maintaining a door will be very much the same no matter the type of door. There are several choices of garage doors on the market. The most durable garage doors will be manufactured from fiberglass or composite materials, although these are more expensive than steel doors. Steel doors are the most commonly installed type of door. One key component which will raise the cost of a door is whether insulation is integrated into the door itself. Should the home owner foresee any work being done within the garage during the extreme temperatures of summer or winter, then the extra investment will be a wise choice.
Most garage door installation companies will not be able to stock the wide variety of premium garage doors available, but instead will have samples and catalogs from which to choose. Because steel doors are the most common, most installers will have a good supply of steel doors on hand and decent supply of colors.

For more information on garage doors and openers, visit Premium Garage Door Service of Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN.

Article independently authored by Dan Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Garages - Get More Clearance for Larger Vehicles Without Damaging the Garage Door, Car Or SUV

Garage doors along with automatic garage door openers have provided the ultimate convenience to the home owner. Although this continues to be true, some garage door openings may not be of sufficient width or height to accommodate many of the oversized sport utility vehicles, trucks or vans which are so popular today. There are usually only three options for the home owner from which to choose in this situation: sell the oversized vehicle, let the vehicle sit in the driveway or remodel the garage framework to allow for the larger vehicle.
Although a private sale can maximize the amount of money received, selling a vehicle through a private sale is often tedious and can take quite a bit of time, especially in this economic climate. Trading the vehicle in at a car dealer will be the fastest way to get rid of the vehicle, but usually will create a car payment which may not be desirable. Selling the vehicle is probably not the preferred option. After all, there is a reason why the larger vehicle was purchased in the first place.
Letting the SUV, truck or van sit in the driveway is usually the most inexpensive and common solution, but there are definite drawbacks. Assuming the neighborhood is a safe and low traffic area, there should be very little risk for property damage to occur. Leaving a vehicle unprotected in a driveway, however, can invite unwelcome attention.
The last option, which will be a good home improvement investment is to have the entrance to the garage resized. Calling a contractor may not be necessary. A garage door may be able to have its travel path increased so that the bottom edge of the door does not extend passed the top of the opening when opened.
It is very important for safety reasons to close the garage door and disengage the garage door opener from the door when working on any component of the system. If changes are made to the door or travel path, further adjustments to the force adjustment will be necessary in order to ensure smooth and safe operation. Torsion spring or cables may also need to be adjusted.
Torsion springs should not be adjusted by the home owner. These springs are the coiled spring which is mounted above the door and visible at the header only when the door is closed. Any attempt to adjust the torsion spring without proper safeguards, tools and experience will likely result in serious injury or death. It is best to contact a professional garage door company to perform any moderate changes or adjustments.
For more information on garage doors and garage door openers please call 952-513-4849 or visit at Premium Garage Door Service today!
Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not relfect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

What Does Your Garage Door Say About You?

When it comes to decorative elements for your home's exterior décor, there is only so much you can do. After all, you can paint the house, add shutters, perhaps a flag or decorative embellishment but when it comes right down to it, there are not a lot of choices. However, one of the most effective, as well as useful, choices is by turning a car port into a garage and then selecting a garage door that reflects your home's personality. There are several types of garage doors and panels to choose from and your selections will be a reflection of your style.
Most garage doors are either wood or steel. Doors made from wood are usually pricier, but are available in several types of woods and can be painted or stained. In addition, the wooden doors look great with homes that reflect life of bygone eras. They often mimic the elaborate doors once used on carriage house and add a touch of elegance to your home.
Steel doors are more economical, so they are more commonly used. However, just because you select a more common product, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on style. You can still paint the doors to match your home, and oftentimes, the garage door manufacturer will have a door that will look great with your house, without your needing to make any changes. Also, many professionals recommend that you purchase white or light-colored doors as they will reflect sunlight and keep the garage cooler. In addition, be sure to ask about the finish. Door finishes should be baked on and applied by the steel supplier at the steel mill and not by the manufacturer.
Whether you choose to use a wooden door or a metal, you will also need to determine what type of panel you wish. As each of the five choices adds a different look, keep these basic associations in mind:
Flush panel are flat panels and will look great with whatever you put it next to, without being over conspicuous.
Long raised panels are known for adding distinction to your home's overall appearance. These have become popular in recent years and have many options in regard to windows and color.
Short raised panels, as well as the long raised panels add depth to the door. They look great with home that favor the Victorian, Antebellum or Tudor style homes as they set off the beautiful trim work and proportioned finishes of these homes. These are sometimes called carriage -style garage doors as they resemble the doors used on carriage houses years ago.
Painted panels are associated with that bit of extra to your home's appearance. Quite often, homeowners opt to have the raised portion painted on color with the sloped portion painted in a contrasting color.
Contemporary garage doors are perfect for homes that have modern design. They feature straight clean lines, and are more commonly metal doors with tempered glass panels.

For additional information on garage doors visit Premium Garage Door Service. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Garage Door Openers - Better Choices and Better Quality Can Be Difficult To Find

Until relatively recently the basic garage door opener was limited only to raising and closing the garage door. As computer chips and electronics have become more compact, technologically advanced and cheaper to produce, the garage door opener no longer has that same limitation. Depending upon the home owner's budget, the available models from which to choose are truly astounding.
Many home owners will make a trek to the local home improvement store to purchase an opener. Unfortunately most of these hardware superstores, despite having massive amounts of inventory, will only stock a limited number of garage door openers. Usually the choices will range from the basic chain drive to a model with two lights and a little more programmability.
The two other options which have advantages over a chain driven model are a screw drive model or belt driven opener. Of the three standard drive systems available, the chain drive is the oldest type with which most home owners are familiar. Even though chain drives have a proven track record and are durable, the chain and drive gear are among the noisiest compared to other drive types available on the market and generally require the most maintenance. Both belt drive models and screw drive openers have increased in popularity. The reason for this demand is ease of maintenance and the noise level produced by the operation of these garage door openers. The only potentially bothersome noise readily discerned from a screw drive or belt driven opener is not from the drive itself, but from the rollers of the door when traveling along the track. If noise from the garage door is of great concern there are different rollers which are designed to reduce the noise to minimal levels.
The other main feature to base a decision on is important for functionality and safety. The home owner needs to make sure that an undersized or underpowered garage door opener is selected. Every garage door opener is rated by horsepower. The type of opener a home owner should purchase will be determined by the type of door, the number of panels and the material from which the door is made. If the opener is underpowered the longevity of the door opener will be greatly diminished due to overheating and burning out of the drive motor.
Installing a new automatic door opener as a do-it-yourself project is not for the feint of heart. It is a laborious and time consuming project which should not be undertaken without a second pair of hands and safety in mind. It is likely that installation can easily take 4 to 6 hours for the average home owner. A professional installer will definitely be a good choice for a home owner and is a justifiable investment.
To learn more information about garage door openers or purchasing garage doors please visit Premium Garage Door Services at www.premiumgaragedoorservice.com or call 612-234-4812.
Article independently authored by Dan Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Premium Garage Door Service. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.