5 Signs That Ask For Garage Door Panel Replacement

One of the common garage door problem lies with its exterior surface. The portion that covers the outside area of an overhead door is known as its panels. This part can be well seen when the door is closed. They are either in joint or sectional form that are combined together with the help of melding or hardware. Garage door panel repair needs replacement of either one section or the entire door.

By offering DIY repairs one can fix the outer surface, but the actual moving parts that are connected to the panels such as tracks or struts may still remain in jeopardy. Since a garage door is complimentary to the aesthetic value of a home, its necessary to get the repairs done by a professional garage door company.

Few reasons that need expert overhead door panel repairs are:

1. Peeled or cracked paint

Most possibly, the most maintained category i.e wooden garage door panels need to be polished and refinished frequently to prevent the risks of external damage. An old painted or stained finish can degrade the door structure, thereby compelling it to break or rot over time.

One needs to polish the door every two to three months, as its prone to fade or discolor over time, due to the UV exposure. In case, the panel is cracked or holed, there are chances that moisture will enter inside the garage. To avoid this issue, get the panels repaired by experts.

2. Dents and dings

Steel garage doors can easily get dented or dinged over time. This highly spoils the appearance and looks of a garage. In order to minimize the risks of unsighted dents, go for doors made of gauged steel material that is designed to last longer. Lower the level of gauge, thicker the steel is. With non-insulated categories, one can remove dents by pushing the exposed area from the interior side of the garage. If the dent is major, get the affected section replaced by a professional.

3. Sagged or bent sections

Most of the garage doors, especially the timber ones have the tendency to sag over time, if not maintained properly. While closing the door, if large panel gaps can be seen along the tracks or on the bottom closing, a door is said to be sagged. The only solution recommended for sagged or bent panels is replacement.

4. High energy bills

Older garage doors contain panels that may not be well insulated, thereby making it difficult to maintain temperature. Insulated and well sealed panels are important to keep the garage and rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summers. This simultaneously leads to reduced energy bills.

These were the few signs that ask for overhead door panel replacement or repairs. Richmond Hill Garage doors is a leading overhead garage door company that offers quality solutions for all sort of garage door repair, installation and replacement needs in Richmond Hill at affordable prices.

5 Garage Door Trends to Watch Out for in 2017

Garage door styles and designs keep on changing from time to time. You need to keep your garage updated to give it a modern styled look. An outdated garage looks disgusting and awkward. Various garage door trends come and go. Its not easy to change your garage door with every trend that comes as they are quite expensive to get them replaced every year. If you are heading towards installing a new door then you should definitely go with the one which is trending recently.

Garage door trends that are ruling 2017 are:

1. Larger Doors

The phrase “bigger is better” is true for garage doors. Most homeowners prefer to have a larger garage door to make the space incredibly functional for easy vehicle entry. Moreover, your garage door reflects your style as it is one of the most noticed feature of your home. A bigger garage door provides a deception of more area within your home. You need to hire garage door professionals as they can provide easy installation solutions. 

2. Larger Windows

The other popular trend is installing large windows into your garage doors. Along with larger doors, larger windows too provides an appealing look. These additional windows tend to increase the natural lighting in the garage, and they give the door an open look that makes your garage look even more bigger. Adding large windows can cut your electricity bills as you wont feel the need of artificial overhead lights. 

3. Faux Wood

As wooden doors offer a sense of elegance to your home, same goes for the garage door. Faux wood is a perfect solution for garage doors. Many garage door companies manufactures both steel and fiberglass garage doors that looks exactly like wood. The steel material in those doors create a durable structure, while wood offers a soft and fine finish to your garage's creativity.

4. Painting

Most people, can’t afford to remodel their garage according to ruling trends. There is an easy way to offer a pleasant look to your garage i.e just by painting the garage and door with a new color. This year homeowners are using bolder paint colors rather than the neutral ones. Choose a color that reflects your home’s design uniquely. Select something that can make your garage out-stand other garages in your neighborhood.

5. Unique Styles

Instead of copying a door style of your friend's garage door, do something which can itself become a trend. Some of the most popular garage door styles include carriage design, contemporary, farmhouse, French or Spanish styles. You can consider remodeling these styles with your own innovative ideas to present your garage door with a unique look. Professional garage door repair services can help you remodel your garage door into a new one.

These were the few ruling garage door trends of 2017. You can offer a new look to your garage by following these trends. Richmond Hill Garage Doors is a garage door installation, repair and sales company which offers you with top garage door services through their trained professionals.

5 Ways To Maintain & Test A Garage Door Opener

For crucial home elements, like residential garage doors, its necessary to perform regular maintenance to increase the door performance and efficiency. Go through the owner’s manual to review the manner and techniques that should be followed while working with overhead doors.

In case, you didn't get any such manual or forgot where you placed it, consult a reputed garage door repair professional to know some easy maintenance tips. One can also search for the model number printed on the back side of the door and then, request a manual from the manufacturer.

Few simple ways to inspect a door are:

Visual Inspection

The foremost step in garage door maintenance is looking at various door parts such as springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, hinges and other hardware for any wear and tear signs. In case you notice any repairs, call in a qualified technician. 

Door Balance

To test the balance of a door:

1. Begin with closing it.

2. If there's a garage door opener, release its mechanism.

3. Make the door capable of operating manually. 

4. After that, lift the door smoothly with little resistance.

5. If it stays opened, everything is fine.

6. If it falls down, it's out of adjustment.

7. Call in an experienced service professional for repairs.

Reversal Test

Test the reversing mechanism, if there is an opener installed. In case a door doesn't reverse up, the opener should be replaced. All overhead door openers are required to have safety features that complies with the latest safety standards.

To test the reversing feature:

1. Test the balance of the door. If its balanced, proceed further.

2. Open it completely and place a piece of wood on the floor at the center of the door.

3. Push the remote or wall button to close the door. As designed, it must reverse up after striking the wooden obstruction.

4. If it doesn't reverse up, get it repaired soon.

Force Setting Test

For safety, test the force setting of garage door by holding the bottom side of a closing door. If it doesn't reverse back, the setting needs to be adjusted. Check the owner’s manual to know how to adjust these force settings.

Garage Door Spring Test 

Springs, bracket, cables and all sort of hardware attached to the torsion springs work under high tension. Any type of spring damage or cracks, if ignored, can cause a major accident or injury. Don't try to attempt these repairs on your own.

Top 7 Reasons to Replace A Garage Door

Garage door is an important factor that can increase the curb appeal of a home. From design to color, an attractive and beautiful door is necessary to increase the value of a property. Installing a new garage door can offer enhanced and pleasing looks. In addition, it also provides more safety and security. For few homeowners, replacement is an option for increasing resale value while for others it's a need.

Reasons that point towards door replacement are:

1. Redecorate

One of the major reason responsible for installing a new door is to redecorate the looks of a home. This can be done by choosing a unique color or style. To offer cheap and effective changes, add windows and repaint the entire garage. 

2. Raising Property Value

A beautifully designed garage door helps a lot in boosting the value of a property. It offers a solid and pleasing impression on its buyers and visitors. This results in a spectacular rise in the resale price of a home.

3. Repair

Another important factor responsible for changing a door is to avoid frequent repair costs. If you owe a sagged and bowed garage door that's difficult to open and close, replacing it is a good option. This will help in avoiding frequent repair costs. 

4. Reduce Energy Bills

An insulated garage door plays a significant role in reducing the cost of energy bills. Insulation helps in maintaining convenient temperature inside the garage, that helps in reducing the need of an air conditioner. 

5. Reduce Maintenance

A newly installed overhead door requires less maintenance compared to an older one. If one needs a maintenance free door, its crucial to replace it every 5-6 years.

6. Raise the Level of Safety

With recent advancements, new garage doors come will pre installed features such as photo eyes. These photoelectric eyes prevent an automatic opener from closing the door, in case, there's any underlying obstruction. This feature provides safety from injuries and protection against the damaged door. 

7. Reinforce Home Security

Today's residential garage doors come with increased security and durability. They are strong enough to prevent a break in. For stress-free nights, save your home from thieves by installing a heavy and strong security shutter.

Though one can easily replace a garage door with little help, calling professionals can really pay off. Richmond Hill Garage Doors is a reputed company that offers highly reliable maintenance, installation, and repair services for both residential and commercial overhead doors at affordable costs. Visit http://www.richmondhillgaragedoors.com

Top Reasons to Buy a New Garage Door

A new garage door installation offers many enhanced features to a garage and home. Along with looks and appeals, it also increases safety and security level. It will be a good choice to go through all the door materials and categories before choosing one to install.

Modern garage doors are more strong and durable compared to older ones, therefore they should be given a try to enjoy high end functionalities.

Advantages of buying new overhead doors:

Insulation

A garage is an integral part of every home that serves variety of purposes such as a workshop, parking lot, gym, office and others. For few homeowners, it's an extra room that stores all the extra stuff or simply acts as a store. Due to its increased use, it's important to insulate a garage that can be easily reached by installing an insulated overhead door. One can hire garage door technicians to insulate an old door, in case it's in a good condition. 

Security

An old door is often too easy to break through due to poor locks. The doors which were manufactured many years ago, lacked the modernized features of a locking system. More often, the door material tend to degrade with time which makes it easy for burglars to tear inside. Almost all new garage doors come with guaranteed security, which ultimately leads to peace of mind. Out of all available varieties, sectional doors offer the highest level of security, especially if they are double skinned.

Height and Width

New overhead doors are designed and manufactured in such a way, that reduces the space and area previously needed for opening and closing mechanisms. Another reason for replacing the old doors is the need of a more longer and wider opening. Most possibly, a new roller shutter or sectional garage door can serve the purpose in a better way. These doors don't swing through the opening, thereby, offers the most effective drive in through dimensions.

Ease of Use

All old doors wear out with time and have a tired operating mechanism, that is quite difficult to operate and risks safety of a vehicle and its owner. The only solution is to install an automatic or electric garage door that doesn’t require manual force to operate. The convenience offered by these doors is incomparable.

Improved Looks

A major factor responsible for replacing this giant opener is improving the curb appeal of a home. A new shutter door can make a dramatic impact as garage doors are the largest part and one of the first thing that people view while they visit your home. Timber and coloured steel over doors are the most common one to create a long time impression. 

These were the few outlines that new garage doors offer in comparison to the older ones. We at www.richmondhillgaragedoors.com are a premier garage door repair company that offers a full range of high quality overhead doors maintenance, installation, sales and repair services at affordable prices.

3 Tests to Check Working of a Garage Door System

An automatic garage door system needs to operate properly at every moment to ensure effective functioning and safety. A door that opens and closes perfectly can provide its owner with better accessibility and comfort. Therefore, an automated door is regarded more convenient to use as compared to manually opening doors. If this system broke down or doesn't operate correctly, then there is a need to contact an emergency garage door professional immediately to get it repaired. Few basic tests can help a homeowner to find whether a garage door is operating as desired or not.

In order to make sure if the automatic opening system is running smoothly, some tests needs to be performed that include:

Visual Test

As the name suggests, it's an inspection test in which every element of a door, whether small or large is inspected. Carefully examine the springs, cables, bolts and rollers from the inner side of a closed garage to avoid any failures before beginning the motion test. The actual things you need to find are damaged or cracked cables and loose mountings. If everything is found to be fine, then open and close it for few times, just to watch and listen the moving parts. If an unfamiliar sound or a shaking element is noticed, there is need to schedule an inspection again to find the actual culprit for the nuisance.

Balance Test

If the overhead door is able to pass the above test, then move towards the second test that involves testing its overall balance. In order to perform this test, release a door from its automatic opening system to operate it manually. It should offer little resistance while opening and should not close until it is allowed to. If a door isn't operating in this manner, then it is doubted to be unbalanced and requires professional repair.

Photo Eye Test

In this testing mechanism, an invisible beam is shot across the path of a garage door, usually at some distance off the ground, to detect if there are any foreign objects in its closing path. If a disturbance is detected, it will alert the system and the door will reverse its direction to open up. Test the automatic system by closing the door and then wave an object into the path of the photo eye light. If an overhead door reverses its direction, then it indicates that the photo eye is working well. If this doesn't happen, then its sure there is a defect with the system and it needs to be examined by a door repair expert.

Though an overhead door professional is a best option to get a door inspected and repaired efficiently, but these simple tests can offer an idea related to well functioning of a system. Contact Richmond Hill Garage Door for professional garage door repair services.

Which Type of Garage Door Material is Best for You?

As you know shopping for a garage door is a very daunting task if you are not familiar with the different types of material of the garage door. Installing a new garage door or replacing your old one is the greatest way to enhance the curb appeal of your house. There are four types of doors available in the market, including swing out, swing up, slide to slide and roll up.

Maybe you have already decided that which type of door you want, but choosing the material and the design of the door is a very difficult. Garage doors are available in different materials and the designs. Each material has benefits and drawbacks. With the material and design of the door, ensure you pay attention to the other parts of the door such as the opener, spring, cable, hinges and many more.

Before start shopping for garage door, take a look at different garage door materials.

1. Steel: Steel is one of the most popular materials for doors. Steel garage doors are available in a numerous range of design, insulation and price options. You can paint your steel door with your favorite color or match to your home.

The main drawback of steel door is it’s a poor insulator. If you want to save energy and want a less noisy door, steel is not a perfect choice for you.

2. Wood: If you want to provide a traditional look to your house, wood garage door is the right option. Not all the doors are manufactured alike. Wood garage door is different from others. It offers a huge range of design options. Wood overhead doors will not dent and better than other materials.

Wood doors require more repair and maintenance as compared to other doors. If you have your house near to beach or in rainy areas, you cannot install wood door in your house.

3. Aluminum: Aluminum doors are very lightweight. These doors are rust proof and durable. It is one of the best choices to modernize your house. It’s lightweight, making it easier to install. If you are not able to hire a professional to install it, you can install it on your own.

The main drawback of aluminum door is that there is a high risk of the dent. Once you get a dent on your garage door, it is very difficult to repair it.

4. Vinyl: Like a steel material, vinyl is also a first choice of homeowners. Because it is more durable and requires very less hose down. It comes in limited colors and designs at very fair price.

As you know a vinyl garage door is available in different colors, so you cannot paint it with your favorite color like a wooden door.

Most of the garage doors are come with energy saving and insulated features. If you use your garage as an extra room or guest room in your house, only insulated door is good for you.

Want to know more about garage doors, feel free to visit www.richmondhillgaragedoors.com