Get to Know Your Garage Door Support System
Considering everything about your garage, the garage door is the star of the show. Without the unwavering security it provides, you wouldn’t be able to store anything safely in your garage. Without its ability to easily and quickly open and close, you wouldn’t be able to drive your car in and out of the garage; or simply wheel out your lawn mower, snow blower, boat or anything else, large or small, you keep in your garage.
When movie stars get an award. they often thank all the people who supported them and made the award possible. Well, as the star performer of the garage, your garage door owes its ability to do so many amazing things to a long list of supporting hardware. Every piece works together in order to create the garage door’s support system.
A Garage Door’s Support System
Without the following list of hardware, your garage door wouldn’t even be able to remain upright on its own.
Springs
Two types of springs work together to make it easy to open and close your garage door. A coil-shaped torsion spring sits horizontally above the door. It counterbalances the huge weight of the door. Extension springs located above the horizontal tracks help keep the door level from side to side.
Door Hinges
Connecting the panels of the door, the hinges bend to allow the door to rise vertically to open and roll into a horizontal position when fully open.
Rollers
Extending off either side of each door panel, the rollers sit inside the roller tracks. They support the door vertically when it is closed and horizontally when it is open. And they allow the door to roll smoothly between the two positions
Lifting Cables
Located on either side of the door, the lifting cables keep the door stable during its operation.
Roller Tracks
Running along either side of the door from its vertical position to its horizontal position, the roller tracks guide and support the door.
Weather Stripping
Between each panel, along with the bottom of the door and around the outside of the door on the door frame, weather stripping helps to insulate the garage from outside temperatures and wind.
Most homeowners never realize the complexity of their entire garage door system. If you want to learn more about your garage door and garage door’s support system, how it works and how to keep it working, contact us at Markham Garage Doors.
5 Ways to Reduce Your Chances of Needing Garage Door Repair
You might not think of it this way, but one of the most amazing facts about your home is that you don’t need garage door repair more often.
Think about it. It’s the largest, heaviest and one of the most frequently used moving objects in your home. The next largest moving object (maybe your front door?) is a fraction of its size. Even your garage door opener, which lifts and lowers this massive moving object every day, can give you decades of repair-free operation. Wouldn’t life be great if you got that kind of performance from everything in your home, like your washing machine?
But that remarkable track record of worry-free operation can leave you unprepared. Your garage door and door opener aren’t infallible. They can break, stop working and need emergency repairs. For you, the real problem can be that when you need a garage door repair, you’ll be stranded, either inside or outside of your garage.
How to Minimize Your Garage Door Repair
While it’s not necessarily a terrible situation, the need for garage door repair can happen at inopportune times. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of it happening.
1. Keep Stuff Away from the Door
If you’re like most people, you use every available space in your garage to store things – even your car sometimes!
But you should never store anything too close to the door for a number of reasons. First, stacking boxes just inside the door can present a hazard of them falling on you when you open the door.
But even storing things at the sides of the door can be a problem. The cables on either side of your door help to keep the door balanced as it opens and closes. In the closed position, the cables remain fairly close to the door, making it look like you have more space than you actually do. But when the door opens, the cables are pulled back into space just behind them. Anything you store in that space just behind the cable might get damaged when the door opens and closes, and the cables may stretch or fray over time.
2. Keep Your Eyes Peeled
You should regularly give your door and opener a visual inspection. Check that the bottom of the door meets the garage floor evenly across the width of the door. Look for signs of corrosion metal parts. And watch the path of the door as it opens and closes to make sure it moves smoothly throughout the operation.
3. Listen Carefully
Simply due to its sheer size, your garage door can make some noise as it operates. But any change in the sound it makes can be a sign of an impending repair. Any sort of grinding, scraping or other unusual sounds should be investigated immediately.
4. Make Your Garage Door Part of Your Regular Home Maintenance Schedule
“Clean the eavestroughs” is on it. So is “replace the furnace filter”. And those things get done, right? But “inspect your garage door” probably isn’t on your list of “things to do” around the house. But if you put it there, it’ll get done and you’ll be less likely to need a garage door repair.
5. Don’t DIY
Yes, your garage door is huge. It is very heavy. It’s balanced by cables and springs that are under high tension. And if you decide to work on your garage door yourself, you’ll probably need to disconnect it from the garage door opener, which means all the safety systems are disconnected. The potential for needing even more repairs to the door, and the threat to your personal safety, are very high.
Stating it as simply as possible: do not try garage door repair yourself.
Instead, call the repair experts at Markham Garage Doors at 905-472-9178!
Your Garage Door Might be the Most Important Part of Your Home’s Curb Appeal
It’s not often that your garage door will be included in any discussion about your home’s curb appeal. Curb appeal is the attractiveness of your home when viewed from the street in front of it. And garage doors are way down the lists of most people’s ideas of what affects curb appeal.
The Importance of Curb Appeal
Despite its popularity in real estate listings, the importance of curb appeal is most likely underestimated by homeowners and real estate agents alike. More than one study tells us that buyers can make a decision to buy within 30 seconds of seeing a home.
That doesn’t mean they end up buying the home. Other parts of the home can turn the buying decision into ‘let’s move along’. On the other hand, if no other part of the home changes their mind, then a buyer will have made a decision to buy based initially on the curb appeal of the home.
How Does Your Garage Door Affect Curb Appeal
We’ve told you before that garage doors can account for one-third of the appearance of your home. Yet, if you asked homeowners, they will much sooner list things like ‘windows’, ‘landscaping’, or ‘entry doors’ as curb appeal’s greatest influences.
But how can you ignore something that accounts for such a large part of the look of your home?
It turns out you can’t ignore your garage door.
“Garage Doors Offer the Best Return on Investment”
Last summer, U.S. News & World Report published ‘10 Home Renovations With the Best Return on Investment’. In it, they listed the home renovations that offered the best return for the investment, based on how much the improvement increased resale value. The research was conducted and originally published by Remodeling Magazine.
Second on their list was ‘New Garage Door’. According to the article, “when it comes to what it considers upscale renovations, Remodeling Magazine says replacing the garage door offers the best return on investment.”
So now, instead of ‘installing a new garage door’, you can make a great ‘investment in a new garage door’, an investment with the best ROI! Call us at Markham Garage Doors.
What Can You Get When You Get a New Garage Door?
Have you ever been in your garage with the door closed and heard someone pull up in a car outside? It might be someone you’ve been waiting for all day, or it might be your neighbor who you don’t really want to see right now. Do you risk opening the door to find out, potentially betraying your location to your neighbor?
What if there was a window in your garage door? Then your problem would be solved, you could check things out without risk.
Interestingly, while garage door windows can make the garage brighter, and other options available in new doors can deliver other benefits, many homeowners opt to replace their garage doors with a new one that’s much the same as the old one.
“It’s funny, but the new door has been lifechanging.”
If the idea that a new garage door can be ‘lifechanging’ seems a little over the top, it’s a quote from a homeowner who installed a new garage door made by Clopay, one of the great brands that we offer here at Markham Garage Doors.
When the homeowner approached his garage door dealer, he initially asked for a door that was a similar color and style as his old one, except he was planning to get an insulated version.
Fortunately, his dealer convinced him to consider some options. After discovering a wide variety of different designs, the homeowner’s venture into the ‘unknown’ of what’s possible for his garage door took its first step when he chose a carriage-style door.
Before it was all over, the homeowner opted for an insulated steel door, in black to contrast the home’s exterior color.
“When we arrive home each day, it really makes a nice difference.”
You’ll never know what’s possible in a new garage door until you start investigating. Your first step should be to call us here at Markham Garage Door where we can show you the great designs from Clopay and many other leading manufacturers. You never know, getting a new garage door might be lifechanging!
What to Consider When You’re Considering a New Garage Door
We’ve mentioned more than once that most homeowners will only ever replace their garage door once or twice. While that’s good news for your pocketbook, it isn’t without its downside. If you’re thinking about replacing your garage door, chances are you’re not sure about your options. It’s a problem that means many homeowners settle for a new door that’s very similar to the old one and they miss out on some of the looks, features, and benefits that can improve the value they get from the new door.
To get you ready for your garage door shopping here’s just some of what you’ll need to consider.
Type of Garage Door
There are three main construction styles for newer garage doors.
1. Sectional doors are currently the most popular type for all types of homes. They are called ‘sectional’ because they are made of a series of horizontal panels, or sections, that are hinged together, allowing them to open straight upwards and roll under the garage ceiling.
2. Up & Over doors are made of a single large panel that swings out from the bottom to open fully.
3. Roll Up doors are used mainly in commercial applications, like warehouses, but the fact that they roll up compactly when opened makes them ideal for smaller garages.
Garage Door Design
Your garage door is the largest single visual element of your home when it’s viewed from the front. As such, its design can greatly affect the look of your home and its curb appeal. From the traditional look of carriage doors to the sleek, contemporary look of aluminum and glass, chances are there are lots of new garage door designs that you’ve not seen before.
Garage Door Material
The last time you bought a garage door, you probably had one choice of construction material: metal. Today you can choose doors made of wood, steel, aluminum and/or fiberglass.
One of the best ways to find out what’s possible for your new door is to find a retailer who represents many different manufacturers so that you’re not limited in your choices. Call us at 905-472-9178 or fill out our contact form, we’ve got lots of great options to show you.
How Not Replacing Your Garage Door Can Cost You More
Your garage door is great, eh? It just keeps on working, up and down a couple times a day, every day, year-round, and it’s like you never have to think about it. Every homeowner knows that, when it comes to maintaining the house, “there’s always something”. But that something never seems to be the door on the garage.
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the incredible dependability of your garage door might be costing you money. Intentionally or not, most homeowners live by to old adages: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”. While these are good guidelines for a lot of the maintenance around the house, they don’t apply very well to garage doors for a number of reasons.
While your garage opens and closes to let your car, or anything else, in or out of the garage, it’s a mistake to think that’s the only function of the door. In addition to its everyday operation, garage doors also help insulate your home, protect your house and belongings and they are usually the largest, single element of the appearance of your home.
To tie those functions into the ‘squeaky wheel’ and ‘if it ain’t broke’ guidelines for home maintenance, none of them squeak and it’s difficult to tell if they are broken.
And that’s where keeping your old garage door, even one that opens and closes faithfully every time you need it to can actually be costing you a lot of money. Here’s how:
1. Higher Heating and Air Conditioning Costs
Attached garages can have a huge effect on the cost of heating and cooling your home, especially if your old door isn’t well-insulated and properly sealed. Many homeowners treat the garage as being ‘outside’. So, if it’s freezing in the winter and stifling hot in the summer, it’s no different than any other part of your home with an outside wall.
Except, by having an insulated door, and insulating any outside walls in your garage, you can significantly reduce your HVAC costs and increase the comfort of your home, especially in areas of the home that are above or beside the garage.
And it’s not just energy costs you’ll be saving. Insulating your garage door and walls means less heat entering your home in summer and less cold entering in winter, which means your furnace and air conditioner have less work to do and will last longer before needing to be repaired or replaced.
2. Less Curb Appeal
Most people don’t realize how much of an effect their garage doors have on the overall appearance of their home. In many cases, the garage door can account for over 30% of the visible area of a home. That means, even if you spend lots of money to improve the exterior appearance of your house and your landscaping, if the design of your garage door isn’t up to date, or it simply looks shabby, your home will look that way too.
If you want to get a better idea of just how much a difference a new door can make to the look of your home, upload a picture of the front of your home to the Haas Create page at HaasDoor.com, which is the website for one of our top-quality garage door suppliers. Once your picture is uploaded you can highlight the area where your garage doors appear and substitute any number of new doors to see how they look on your home.
3. Compromised Home Security
Even if you have a garage door opener and a security keypad, older systems can be very easy for a burglar to get through – and garages doors are one of their favorite ways of getting into a house. If you don’t have a door opener, the simple lock on your door does little or nothing to protect everything you keep in your garage, everything in your home, and your family’s personal safety too.
There are lots of other ways a new garage door can save you money and improve the enjoyment of your home. Call us at 905-472-9178 to learn more.
Why Isn’t Your Garage Door Working Properly?
As we write this post, we’re in the midst of the first real snowfall of the winter here in Markham. For us, the first sign of snow makes us think of problems that may occur this winter. Luckily, we’ve got some tips to help keep your garage door working properly.
Why? Because it seems like, while it rarely happens, if your garage door is going to have a problem, it’ll be at the worst possible time, like the middle of a snowstorm.
Just in case it happens to you this winter, here are some of the reasons why your garage door might not open, or close all the way.
1. Photo Eyes are Blocked
The photo eyes located on each side of your door are one of the main safety systems of your garage door. If something is blocking a clear path between the sensors, they will prevent the door from closing.
2. Photo Eyes Are Not Aligned
Just like when something is in their way, if the photo eyes are out of alignment, the signal won’t pass between them and they will prevent the door from closing.
3. Sensors Need Repair or Replacement
If there’s nothing blocking the photo eyes and they are properly aligned, they still could be the problem. If there is a power interruption, or there’s some other reason why the signal isn’t passing between the sensors, then they may need to be repaired or replaced.
4. Broken Springs
The massive weight of your garage door is balanced by one or more springs. If they are worn or broken, your garage door opener might not have enough power to lift the weight of the door.
5. Roller Tracks Not Aligned
If the tracks in which the rollers on either side of the door roll are out of alignment to each other, it may be so difficult for the door to run along the tracks that it might get stuck.
Despite their size and weight, garage doors are fairly simple systems. But, not every garage door repair should be done by the do-it-yourselfer. Contact us here at Markham Garage Doors to learn more.
What Happens When Your Garage Door is Unbalanced
If your garage door is unbalanced it may not close completely. Your garage door is a bit of a mystery. It tends to work day in and day out with very few problems. But, if you took a closer look at exactly what your door goes through every time it opens or closes, you’d be surprised that something doesn’t go wrong every time.
Think about it. Your garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. Yet it is held above your head by tiny rollers that run along a slim aluminum track. The door’s bulk is also made more complex by being distributed across a number of hinged panels, that need to bend and fall perfectly into place every time the door closes. The door is operated by a small motor that turns on and off automatically, lifts and lowers the door, and automatically lights up the garage too.
When you think that you probably have problems with each of the doors inside your home about as often as you do with your garage door, despite the incredible differences in size, weight, and complexity, you can only be left with one question.
How Does Such a Complex System Operate so Efficiently?
Balance. It’s one of the great tools of engineering. Keeping everything well balanced can result in remarkable achievements, like putting up the mammoth stone blocks at Stonehenge – or opening and closing your garage door every day and expecting to do so for decades without any downtime.
Your garage door is balanced in a number of ways to help it work properly.
Balanced for Weight
Without being balanced by a spring, you would probably find it very difficult or impossible to lift the door and close it without having it crash.
Balanced Side to Side
The roller tracks are ‘balanced’ or kept in perfect parallel to each other so that the rollers move freely and don’t come off the track.
Balanced to Close Completely
The rollers on each side of the door run independently of each other. They need to remain aligned for the door to close properly.
Most of the problems with your garage door will either be caused by one or more imbalances, or they will cause an imbalance.
What Makes Your Door Close on One Side and not the Other?
One of the most common problems, when your garage door is unbalanced, is a gap on one side at the bottom of the door after it closes. The door might still open and close, but continuing to operate the door if it doesn’t close evenly can bring on more problems.
The door is balanced to close completely both sides by two side-mounted extension springs. One extension spring is installed above each of the roller tracks on either side of the door. One side of the spring is anchored to the vertical support of the roller track and the other end connected to a pulley system that is, in turn, connected to the side of the door.
As the door lowers into place, the extension springs make sure the door lowers evenly on both sides.
But if one spring is over-stretched or broken, then the side of the door it is connected to will open and close at a different rate than the other side of the door.
So, if your door doesn’t meet the ground evenly across its width when it closes, it’s very likely the result of a damaged or broken spring. Either way, you’ll need to find and install a new spring.
If you’re looking for quality replacement parts for your garage door spring system, or any other part of the door, call or visit us here at Markham Garage Doors, we have lots of great quality parts in stock and ready to go.
An Important Layer of Security for Your Garage & Home
If you’ve never heard of ‘consumer paralysis’, you’ve probably experienced it. It can happen when you’re shopping for something and are faced with so many options, you don’t know which one to choose.
Nowhere is consumer paralysis more likely to set in than when you’re trying to find new locks for the entry doors of your home. In addition to the almost limitless designs, colors and finishes, there always seems to be a new technology, like biometric locks or Bluetooth-enabled locks, vying for your attention and offering higher levels of security.
But, interestingly, if you’ve ever looked for locks for the largest door in your home, your garage door, you’ve probably wondered why there were so few options. While garage door openers keep the door closed, your choices for locks beyond that are generally limited to regular cylinder locks opened with a key.
Now You Have a Choice
Garage door opener manufacturer, LiftMaster, is famous for its wide selection in performance, features, and durability. So its no wonder that earlier this year they released a new option for securing your garage door.
The LiftMaster 841LM Automatic Garage Door Lock is an add-on accessory that combines the security of a deadbolt lock with technology that allows for monitoring the lock from anywhere with your smartphone using LiftMaster’s exclusive MyQ® app.
The 841LM automatically locks and unlocks every time you open and close your door, so you never need to worry about if the door is locked. And you can check if the door is open or unlocked through your phone. Those features combined with the strength of a deadbolt lock, give your garage and home an added layer of security in a place where it might be needed the most, considering that the garage is a popular way for thieves to get into your home.
To learn more about the 841LM and all of LiftMaster’s products, please call or visit us here at Markham Garage Door, we’re happy to help.
How to Choose a Garage Door Installation Company
We’ve talked before about the fact that, if you suspect that you need a new garage door, it’s probably one of the only times on your life that you’ll ever buy one. That means it’s tough to know how to go about finding a garage door, how much to pay and how to get it installed.
While we’ve told you before about how to spot garage door scams, today we’ll tell you what to look for in a garage door company that tells you they are the most reliable choice.
1. Check Them Out Online
The beauty of the internet is it gives you a great place to shop for garage doors without leaving your home or even picking up the phone. You’ll find lots of options when you search for a local garage door company online. A few of them will catch your eye for different reasons. When you’ve made your ‘short list’, make sure to go beyond their website and check them out on third-party rating sites, like Houzz and Homestars, to get a better idea of the work they do.
2. Check Them Out in Person
First, if any company gives you an over-the-phone quotation to install a garage door, be suspicious. To get an accurate idea of what’s involved in an installation, and to show you what doors are available, the company should be willing to visit your home free-of-charge. When they do, see if they arrive in branded uniforms and driving branded trucks. Also, pay attention to the vibe you get. Your intuition is invaluable and usually quite right in these situations. If things don’t feel quite right, they probably aren’t.
3. Ask About Their Products & Services
The company you choose should offer doors from many different manufacturers so that you have more options to choose from. Also, find out what other services they offer. In addition to installation, maintenance and repair, look for emergency services, other products for the garage, like door openers, and garage door replacement parts too.
The garage door and installation company you choose can make the difference between years of trouble-free use from your new door and lots of headaches. The bottom line is that you want to use a company that can prove they have done lots of successful installations in your area, and that installs only top quality doors and parts. Call us here at Markham Garage Doors and we’d be happy to arrange for an estimate to install your new garage door.
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