Archive for July, 2009
Garage Doors: How to Choose a Garage Door For Your Home
Posted by: | CommentsSo you’ve decided that your home is in need of a new garage door. 
Since garage door styles aren’t exactly a favorite topic of conversation, chances are that you’re surprised at the number of panel styles, colours, window, and material choices available today.
You might even be a little confused as to how to choose just the right garage doors for your home.
Even though we, as homeowners, don’t typically regard a garage door as a top priority, making the right choice for your style of home can make a world of difference in the appearance and “curb appeal”. On many homes the garage doors represent one-third of the home frontage. Most Realtors will tell you how important the “first impression” is to the value of your home.
I hope these tips will help:
- First, stand back and take a real good look at your home. What is its shape? Is it a box shape or are there curves in the design of your home? Does your house have wood panels that would be enhanced by a wood-look garage door?
- What shape are the windows in your home? A carriage garage door style might look great if your windows are a curved style.
- If your home has a contemporary modern look, you might want your garage doors to enhance that with glass or wide horizontal panels rather than the smaller square panels.
- There are many styles to consider when looking at the panels of a garage door. The overall look of the door on your home will change dramatically with the different styles so take your time and consider your choices carefully.
- Before you even visit a garage door store, you might consider taking a tour of your neighborhood. You’re sure to see garage door combinations that you’ll like and that will enhance the appearance of your home. Take note of those and perhaps even some pictures.
- Do a little shopping online. All of the garage door suppliers websites, such as ours, Richards Wilcox, display their products quite well, so you can get an idea of the various styles, material, and color options. If you are shopping different brands of garage doors, take note of the manufacturer’s warranty. They’re not all the same.
- When you do visit a garage door store, try to find one that has a working display, (like Garage Door Canada), especially designed for residential garage doors. If you have pictures of your home with you, these displays will help you to visualize how each style will look on your home.
Other considerations when choosing a new garage door. Price ranges, quality, and of course safety. All garage doors are not made equally, neither are the folks who serve you at garage door outlets. Ask questions. Do you feel they’re trying to understand your particular situation, and know garage doors well enough to help you make the proper choice?
When your garage door retailer provides you with their quote, make sure that you clearly understand what’s included, and what isn’t. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, that’s what they’re there for. This could save you a lot of frustration later.
I hope these ideas will help you in making the right garage door choice for your home. You’re always welcome to contact me personally to discuss your needs in the Hamilton Niagara area, and I invite you to visit our garage door showroom in Smithville. Our working display units are very helpful in making the right style choice for your home, and I’ll be happy to help you in any way that I can.
Top 7 tips to Keep Your Garage Door in Great Condition
Posted by: | CommentsMost homeowners don’t really think much about their garage doors until 
something goes wrong with it. It’s likely the largest moving piece of equipment in your home and can last a very long time if it’s properly maintained.
Here’s a handy checklist to keep your garage doors in top condition;
Check the opener and spring system. Over time the springs can become relaxed which can cause an imbalance of the opener system and can cause damage to the garage door openers. But what’s worse is that an system that’s not balanced properly can pose a safety hazard.
Lubricate all moving parts, (rollers, hinges, etc.), to reduce wear and tear and keep the unit operating smoothly and quietly. Call your garage door experts to ensure you’re using the proper type of lubricant.
Look for wear and tear in the system and make sure nothing is loose, and the cables, belts, or chains are in good condition.
Check the chain or belt and tighten if necessary. Be sure to check your manual for the proper proceedure, or better still have a professional do it for you.
Some of the other settings to check are the sensitivity settings which controls the amount of force is applied by the motor to open and close the door. Once again be sure to carefully follow the instructions in your garage door opener manual, and once again I would strongly suggest you have a professional do this type of maintenance.
On a more regular basis continually check to ensure that there’s nothing in 
the path of the garage door, i.e. rakes, bikes, etc. Even though the door should automatically open after hitting these items, it can still do damage to the door. It’s also a good idea to check the safety sensor system for cleanliness. If the sensor eye is blocked by spider webs or other debris it can effect the operation of the door opener.
Keep an eye on the surface maintenance of the garage door. If it’s a wooden door, it needs to have the protection of paint or some other finish in order to withstand the rigors of Mother Nature. It’s quite common to see wood rot in a garage door that hasn’t been properly maintained. This could have been avoided. Note: It’s usually the bottom panels that rot out. This is a safety hazard since the bottom part of the door is under pressure from the counter balance system.
Now you might be thinking that this is a lot of fuss over a garage door. But it isn’t really. The best, safest, and simplest way to maintain your garage door system is to have your local professionals do an annual inspection; “That would be us.” (sorry about the promotion but hey…it is our website).
A little preventative maintenance can help your garage doors provide you with great service for several years.
If it’s time to inspect your garage door in the Hamilton Niagara area, please contact us today. You’ll love our service and our rates as well. (There I go with another promotion).
