Considerations When Choosing a Garage Door And Installation

Jan 29, 2016 12:52

Some people don’t give a lot of thought to the garage door manufacturers that are out in the world. Most homes have a garage door when you move in people don’t think much about them until they have to repair or replace them. A garage door is more than just ornamental, though. It needs to be sturdy, functional, and protective as well. Let’s look at some elements of good garage doors by high-quality garage door manufacturers:

Durability
A good garage door is going to be made to last. It should be able to withstand being opened and closed on a regular basis. How regular? At least daily, and with the ability to open and close it smoothly and safely as well. Most of today’s garage doors are on cables so that the door can swing upward and fold in overhead. This makes the door able to be hidden when it’s open, it practically disappears. A garage door needs to be durable to withstand constant opening and closing --- sometimes roughly.

Sure, you may have to replace certain parts on occasion, such as: cables, windows, or insulation and depending on the style and garage door sizes, the costs will vary but if you purchase a well-made door, your expenditures should be infrequent and minimal in cost. If you do have to make a major investment, do consider it to be an investment in the value of your home and make an informed choice.

Weather Resistance
Garage door manufacturers need to consider that their doors are exposed to elements. Rain, winds, hail, maybe even a tornado or hurricane. Weather resistance is vital for a garage. The door should also have a decent seal so that the contents in the garage stay safe and dry. A lot of people store more than just their cars in the garage so protection from the elements is vital.

Garages are workshops, they’re sometimes used as laundry rooms, used for storage, and used to store a car or two. Therefore, weather resistance is important. Your garage may not be as warm as the inside of your house but a good seal and weather resistant garage door is going to be helpful.



Attractive - Curb Appeal
The door to your garage should give your home curb appeal. As much as it’s got to be strong and have the ability to withstand being opened and closed often, you want it to look good, as well. After all, it often takes up a large area of space on the very front of your home.
Not all garages are built-in on a home. Not all face the curb. Various styles and configurations exist. For that reason, there are quite a few garage door makers out there. Some homeowners who shop for replacement repair parts or replacement doors altogether will look for the best price alone. It’s much more advantageous to you, as a homeowner or commercial building owner, to also look at other areas, such as: warranty, reputation, reviews from other consumers who have bought the product, and the curb appeal factor as well.

A garage door can be functional, attractive, durable, and reasonably priced. Learn more about garage door manufacturers and their reputations to help you make the best choice for your home. Now lets take a look at the installation process.

Garage Door Opener Installation
Installing a garage door opener can make your life much simpler and safer, because the garage door opener will keep unwanted people out while also protecting loved ones that are around the garage door. A garage door is often quite heavy, and if it has nothing keeping it from closing on its own, then the garage door could fall and seriously injure someone. Also, performing a garage door opener installation is not at all complicated. Many people lean towards hiring a professional to take care of the installation. If you're installing a new door it would be wise to have the Austin area garage door company install your automatic opener at the same time.



But for those who would rather do the garage door opener installation themselves. Here are the steps required to install a garage door opener.

Before starting your garage door opener installation, you will need to get together the following items to use on the installation and additionally check a few things. You will need to make sure that you have an electrical outlet located where the opener motor will be installed, as you will one within three feet of the motor. Also, you will need an electrical wire that runs from the same area where the motor will be to a separate location where the main garage door switch will be located. If your system has safety sensors and/or a garage door frame key-panel included, you may need electrical wires ran to them as well.

As far as tools needed for the garage door opener installation, you will, more than likely, need all of the following: the actual garage door opener, a drill, a hammer, a pencil, a stepladder, a measuring tape, screwdrivers, drill bits, a 2x6 board, pliers and safety glasses. Remember if you're unsure about attempting the process on your own.... call a professional. If you decide to do this on your own, we are not responsible for any injuries.

Installation Steps:
Step 1 - With the garage door open, measure the distance between the top of the opened garage door and the ceiling. The track for your garage door opener must be a minimum of two and a half inches above the opened door. Now close the door and mark on the wall above the door at 2 and a half inches. This mark will be the bottom of your header bracket. Now install a 2x6 on the center line of the garage door from the ceiling down to the top of the garage door frame. The board will be where you attach the track that has the chain.

Step 2 - Attach the door bracket to the garage door as per the factory recommended location. Certain companies supply extra brackets to reinforce the garage door, or you may need to reinforce the garage door yourself. Now, you can attach the header bracket to the 2x6 that you added above the garage door. Make sure that you have enough clearance for the garage door.

Step 3 - Assemble the garage door opener as per the provided instructions. After this is completed, you can then insert the end of the track into the bracket that you just installed on the 2x6. Now, raise up the motor end of the opener and place it on top of the stepladder so that you can measure exactly where it needs to sit without holding it.

Step 4 - Mount the motor to the ceiling per the recommended method from the manufacturer. Make sure that the track that has the chain runs at a 90 degree angle from the garage door. Next, attach the door arm that is on the track to the bracket that is on the garage door.

Step 5 - If your system has safety sensors, you can now install them on each side of the garage door. They usually need to be installed about six inches from the floor, but anywhere from 5-10 should be ok. Just make sure that both sides are equal. Now connect the wires to your sensors and to your garage door frame key-panel (if needed).

Step 6 - Plug in the garage door opener and test the system. If the garage door opener functions correctly, you can move on to adjusting the limit switches. As per your manufacturer's instructions, adjust the open and close limits with a screwdriver.

Now, your garage door opener installation is complete, and you can enjoy the ease and convenience of having a garage door opener. Once you have had the pleasure of using a garage door opener, you will never be able to go back to not having one.



Compass Garage Doors
5511 Parkcrest Drive 111
Austin, TX 78731
United States
(512) 643-6663
http://compassgaragedoors.com/

garage door company, garage door repair, garage door, garage door installation

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