Maintaining Your Home's Automatic Security Gate System

Your home’s security gate provides protection, but it’s also the main entrance to your property and residence. Routine maintenance will ensure the gate works reliably while also looking it’s very best. Also, there’s a good chance your gate’s warranty benefits are based on the premise that the gate will be maintained on a regular basis. Failure to observe recommended maintenance could compromise the warranty.

SAFTEY NOTE: It’s always best to err on the side of caution so please cut the power to your gate before performing any maintenance to avoid injury or gate malfunctions.

Tips For Maintaining Your Home Security Gate

1. Take a Lesson From the Installer. When the security gate installation is complete, meet up with your installer and have them give you a short tutorial on basic gate maintenance. They can show you the gate maintenance basics and will also train you in some simple trouble shooting matters so you don’t have to rely on professional repairs for more minor problems.

2. Read the Manual. Once the gate was installed, the installer should have left a copy of the gate’s operation manual with you. It will have a section on basic maintenance that is specific to your gate. While we can provide a list of generalities here, you are best off reviewing the maintenance steps recommended for your particular gate. Failure to do so could affect your gate’s warranty.

3. Pay Extra For a Solid Warranty. Speaking of warranties, it’s worthwhile to research the warranty options available to you when purchasing a new gate or looking into a replacement. It can be worth it to pay a little more for a gate with a more solid maintenance warranty. While you’re still responsible for routine maintenance tasks, larger repairs or malfunctions will be covered and that can pay for itself in the long-run.

4. Keep Them Clean. To look their best, clean the automatic gate every month or so to prevent the accumulation of dust and debris that will dull the gate’s appearance. Most gates are coated with heavy-duty, corrosion-preventative finishes, but the more dirt and grime that accumulates, the more moisture can settle onto the finish. This will slowly break down the coating, which leads to rust and corrosion. Have the gate re-coated if you notice any signs of peeled, flaking or missing paint.

5. Lubricate the Hinges. Hinges bear the brunt of the workout in terms of daily wear-and-tear so they need a little attention from time to time. Well-oiled metal parts work more smoothly and efficiently, but that lubrication also acts like a water repellent, which minimizes the hinges/joints vulnerability to rusting. Different hinges may require different types of lubrication so – again – referring to your manufacturer’s recommendations is always the best bet. In most cases, you’ll need a standard grease gun and a tube of heavy grease. Look for “zirk fittings,” or the grease fittings – and insert the end of the grease gun there. Pump grease into the fitting until it begins to ooze out. You can do the same thing at any hinge-pin locations. 

6. Grease the chains. If your driveway gate is a slide model, relying on a chain, use axle grease to lubricate the chain at least once a year, perhaps twice if it looks like it needs it. If the chain is sagging more than an inch or two, it probably needs to have its tension adjusted.

7. Beware of pests. Homeowner’s mistakenly believe their automatic security gates are pest-proof since they’re made of metal. However, snail and slug tracks can wreak havoc on a gate’s circuit boards because their dense slime trails harbor moisture and then act like electrical conductors. Similarly, dense spider webs and cobwebs soak up moisture. This moisture will wick up the web fibers and make contact with gate materials and components, leading to unnecessary rust and corrosion. 

Not interested in doing all of the security gate maintenance yourself? No problem. Give us a call here at R&S Door and we’ll be happy to do it for you. We can set you up with a gate maintenance service contract, which ensures your gate receives the TLC required for an optimal lifespan. (925) 671-7606.

How to Avoid Loading Dock Injuries

Your loading dock is an integral part of your business, regulating the flow of shipments and deliveries. It’s also one of the busiest building hubs. Without proper maintenance, education and training – employees are at risk for injuries ranging from lower-back, shoulder and neck injuries, to slip and fall accidents, and some of the more serious injuries that can as the result of fork lift scenarios gone wrong.

Avoid Loading Dock Injuries With These 7 Tips

The following tips can help to make sure your loading dock is as safe as it is efficient.

1. Observe regular safety meetings. Safety meetings are typically greeted with a roll of the eyes and a groan. The last thing a busy company needs is another meeting, right? In fact, those Friday morning safety meetings – or whatever day/time works best for your company – are integral to the health and well-being of your employees – and the company’s bottom line. Not only does it offer a chance for employees to refresh their memory in regards to your company’s safety guidelines and protocols, it helps to foster a company safety culture, which goes a long way in preventing injuries. When education, training, and weekly safety meetings are routine, workplace injuries are reduced.

2. Keep the paint fresh. The edges of your loading dock should be painted with bright, visible, reflective colors. Sometimes, the business-as-usual mentality can result in faded or missing paint that goes un-noticed because everyone is used to the lay of the land. Make it a point to have the edges of your loading dock repainted on a regular basis so it always looks as bright as new.

3. Post signage. While loading dock personnel have an innate respect and understanding for safety regulations, guests, pedestrians and passersby may not realize how dangerous the area is. Post signage letting passersby know that large, heavy equipment, trucks and trailers are in use. Use verbiage indicating that large trucks and heavy equipment may improperly neglect to yield for them. Again, brightly-painted boundaries and edges will indicate the “safe areas.” Safety lighting is also important for cloudy days and/or the late-night and early-morning hours.

4. Review forklift safety. Forklift falls off a loading dock are one of the most dangerous, possible loading dock accidents – and can result in a workplace fatality. Only OSHA-trained and authorized employees should be allowed to operate powered hand trucks, hand jacks or forklifts. Keep the area safe for forklifts and employees by mitigating wet, icy or slippery conditions that can cause a forklift to continue moving when the brakes or locks are activated, being aware of tail swing, maintaining a safe distance from the edge of loading dock (See #2) and maintaining clean, clear work surfaces.

5. Keep the area clean and clear. Even the smallest amount of debris, grease or oil, moisture or ice can lead to serious injuries. Maintain a clean and clear area in and around loading docks. Spread absorbent materials on spills that cannot be avoided until they are cleared. If chemicals or toxins have been spilled, use caution tape, cones and relevant signage to clearly secure the area and isolate it until it can be remedied. Always move slowly and cautiously over and around slippery areas that cannot be avoided.

6. Protect the people. Protect the individuals and personnel who need to move through and around the loading dock area by using padding or guards on sharp corners. Safeguard open dock edges by using dock barricades. Review warehouse ergonomics and make sure that conveyor heights are adjusted properly, that heavier products are stored at knee- to chest-high levels and that employees are provided with proper safety equipment so they can complete required tasks with the lowest level of risk. Keep an eye on pallets and inspect them regularly, moving products on compromised pallets to safe pallets.

7. Conduct routine inspections. Create a routine inspection procedure to prioritize safety at all times. Some of these inspections will occur daily or multiple times per day. Others may only be required weekly, by-monthly or quarterly, depending on a product’s or equipment’s manufacturer’s instructions.

Worker comfort and safety should always be the top priority of any warehouse, industrial building or manufacturing plant. These 7 tips will help. For more information, contact your local OSHA safety representative.

Benefits of a Well-sealed Garage

Spring is almost here and that means the return of warmer, dryer weather. But, you know what they say: March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, so we haven’t seen the last of blustery winter weather yet. 

Garage door seals are instrumental in protecting your garage from moisture infiltration as well as cold drafts that affect the interior of your home. Once warm weather hits, you’ll also appreciate a well-sealed garage door because it will help to keep the garage a more habitable place.

5 Benefits of a Well-Sealed Garage Door

Garage door sealing is cheap and easy. It’s a simple DIY chore that should only take you an hour or two at most – depending on how far you live from your local hardware store. Remember that a well-sealed door requires high-quality materials and correct installation. If you aren’t up to the task, never hesitate to contact a garage door installation company who will gladly get the job done for you.

The following are some of the benefits of keeping your garage door seals (also called weather stripping) in good shape.

1. Reduced utility bills. As mentioned above, a leaky garage is more susceptible to outdoor temperature fluctuations. A super-cold or super-hot garage space will slowly affect the interior temperature of your home. While insulated walls do their best, there’s no way to permanently stop the laws of thermodynamics. Thus, living spaces attached to the garage – including the floors above – can experience temperature fluctuations if your garage door seals are shot. This will result on more wear-and-tear on your HVAC unit and increased energy costs.

2. Reduce garage door malfunctions. The more the mechanical components are exposed to moisture and debris, the more likely they are to malfunction. The garage door track can get clogged up by larger dust and dirt particles, leaf materials and so on. Water can cause electrical components to short out. Even something as simple as a small pile of leaf and twigs can prevent the door from shutting all the way or will throw the lasers off, causing your automatic door to open back up. If you’ve already driven away, this can leave your garage – and your home – more susceptible to thieves and vandals. By sealing the door, you minimize the amount of water and debris that can come in or affect door function.

3. Reduce service calls and repair bills. Some garage door malfunctions can be corrected or repaired by the homeowner, others are best left in the hands of the professionals. Excess wear-and-tear as the result of heavy debris accumulation, rust and/or corrosion will lead to increased customer service calls and higher repair and replacement costs.

4. Improve interior comfort. While the idea of a swanky garage man cave is appealing, it’s simply not a realistic goal for most homeowners who need their garage space for a variety of purposes. That isn’t to say that you can’t enjoy hobbies or a little game time in a garage corner though, right? Sealing the garage door will make it more comfortable to enjoy your garage year-round for yourself, family and friends.

5. Protect items stored in the garage. It goes without saying that if water, moisture, dust and debris can get into your garage, they can also affect the contents stored within. Your shovels and rakes may not mind so much but your car, toys and other electronic or mechanical equipment sure will. The last thing you want to do is replace a bunch of tools or expensive toys damaged as the result of old or deteriorated garage door weather stripping.

High-quality garage door seals should last for several years so a little work now will pay off for a long time to come.

Garage Spring Cleaning

When the season changes from winter to spring, it’s time to do a little spring cleaning and organize your garage so it’s ready for the warm months. Get those winter decorations up and out of the way once and for all. Put away the snowboarding and winter sports gear, and get the summer fun equipment front and center. Finally, it’s time to clear the remaining leaves and debris out of the garage once the winter storms are over.

Tips to Clean and Organize Your Garage This Spring

The following tips will help you clean out your garage and get it organized for spring and summer.

1. Pull everything out. The best way to clean a garage is to make sure it’s empty. Not only does this make it easier to clean, it allows you to create a mental inventory of what you need and what you don’t need from this point forward.

2. Get rid of stuff. If you haven’t organized your garage in a while, this is a perfect opportunity to go through everything and decide what stays and what goes. Typically, professional organizers recommend getting rid of anything that hasn’t been used in a year or two. If you haven’t used something in two whole years, it’s wasting valuable space. Decide whether it makes more sense to donate, sell or trash it. Read our tips for making space in a cluttered garage for ideas on how to organize what’s left.

3. Give it a good cleaning. With everything out and off the garage floor, you’re ready to clean. Sweep the garage from back to front. Use a shop vac if you have one to get every last bit of dust and debris from the corners and edges. While you’re at is, run the vac or a clean broom along garage door tracks to keep them clean and to prevent jamming. Use your broom to sweep the cobwebs from corners and the upper-reaches. Take the time to wash the windows as well. You’ll be amazed at the difference if you haven’t don’t this in a while. You may even want to hose your garage out and use a push broom to get the floor ultra-clean. Let it dry out completely before putting everything back.

4. Check for evidence of leaks or mold. Now that everything is cleared out of the way, and the surfaces are clean, you may notice signs of a leak from the roof, around the windows, or areas the wall that appear damp, moldy or stained. Inspect the area above and around your water heater if it’s stored in the garage. Any signs of a water leak should be addressed immediately, by a plumber or contractor, to prevent further damage.

5. Clear fall and winter stuff out of the way. Make use of rafter space and ceiling or wall-mounting systems to get fall and winter gear off the floor and out of your way. Ideally, your garage floor will only contain the items you use use on a regular basis for the next few months or so. Anything else is taking up space, which creates unnecessary clutter. Just think – enough stuff cleared out of the way and you may even have the space to create a man cave in a corner or section of the garage.

6. Maintenance your garage door. In most cases, everything required to maintain your garage door can be done by you. This includes things like visually inspecting the door and its tracks, cleaning the tracks (as mentioned in #3), lubricating hinges, springs and bearings with a non-silicone lubricant and listening/watching the garage door for signs of imbalance or inconsistent movement. Read, The 1,2,3s of Maintaining Your Automatic Garage Door, for more detailed instructions on DIY garage door maintenance.


Need a little help with an automatic garage door issue? Contact R&S Garage Doors and schedule a consultation.

When It's Time to Hire a Professional to Fix your Garage Door

You know the old expression, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em…” That is certainly the case with DIY repairs, especially when you’re dealing with expensive items that have voidable warranties. Your garage door falls into that category.

DIY Gone Awry? Maybe It’s Time to Hire a Professional Garage Door Installer

It’s a pretty awesome time to be a DIYer. Between blogs and YouTube videos, you can learn how to do or fix just about anything. The problem is that watching and learning isn’t always enough, especially if the repair doesn’t go quite as you thought it would.

One thing to keep in mind: your garage door came with a warranty. If it’s still under warranty, you may risk voiding it if you take on more than you can chew before enlisting the help of a professional. Even if your garage door is out of its warranty period, you don’t want to the expense of an unnecessary replacement as the result of DIY gone awry.

Read, The 1, 2, 3s of Maintaining Your Automatic Garage Door to read a comprehensive list of DIY maintenance tips you can tackle on your own. If you run into trouble, or your gut tells you you’re in over your head, never hesitate to contact a licensed garage door installer to come in and assess the situation.

The following are signs that your automatic garage door issues are in need of professional help.

· Visible damage to the door or track. If there is visible damage to the garage door and/or its track, there isn’t much you’ll be able to do. In most cases, this will require a full replacement of parts.

· There are broken wires or cords. Not only will they need to be replaced, trying to fix them on your own can result in serious injury via electrocution. Additionally, broken wires can result in a garage door that opens and/or closes suddenly and without warning, which is another safety hazard. If you know how to cut the power to the automatic garage door via your circuit breaker, it’s a good idea to do so. Keep people and pets out of the garage and away from the door, and call a professional immediately.

· Inconsistent door movement. First, cut the power to the garage door or pull the emergency release cord to return the door to its lowered position. Then, visually inspect the door track and laser boxes (located at either side of the base of the garage door tracks). If there is visible debris or obstructions along either track and/or make sure the lasers are aligned. Re-connect the door and see if that does the trick. If not, don’t spend any more time. An erratic door is a safety hazard and should be looked at by the pros.

· It’s making crazy sounds. Again, debris on the track or a lack of lubrication could be the culprit so you can read our, “1, 2, 3s…” blog mentioned above to see if that does the trick. In most cases, though, a loud, grinding, whining and/or screechy noise is a sign that the door needs to be professionally repaired or replaced.

· Sagging sections. Are the sections of your garage door sagging? It could be that the door needs to be balanced. Do a quick “balance test” by pulling the release cord and manually moving the door to the half-way spot. If it stays put, you’re fine for now but should call someone to take a look at the sagging part(s). If it starts sliding up or down, the door needs to be balanced.

· It’s off the track. This indicates a damaged door or a damaged track. In either case, it’s dangerous to mess with a door that’s partway off its track. This is job for the professionals.

Looking for a Bay Area garage door repair company? Contact R&S and we’ll be happy to come take a look. We are available for emergency garage door repairs, 24-7, every single day. Give us a call at (925) 671-7606.

Loading Dock Maintenance

Your loading dock takes a beating day in and day out. Not only does it provide safe accommodation for heavy equipment and trucks, it’s also suspect to the very occasional bangs, bumps and calamities that are bound to happen when a large truck is backed into a narrow space.

Routine maintenance of loading dock parts and equipment is a foundation for keeping the loading bays in your warehouse or manufacturing plant functional, safe and efficient.

Loading Dock Equipment Maintenance 101

The following tips will assist you and your personnel in creating a routine maintenance plan so the equipment has a chance to perform as designed every day of the week. 

1. Keep an organized binder or single-reference-point. If you haven’t done so already, keep a binder with originals or copies of the manufacturer’s instructions and references for every part comprising your loading dock. Many companies keep great records, but they are all filed away into different file folders, at different desks, or are digitally archived under miscellaneous headings. By keeping a single binder in the warehouse office, it will be easy to access those references when you need them. The maintenance records should be housed here as well and old records should be archived and kept for at least 10-years.

2. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Next, you’ll want to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to what parts need what maintenance, at what intervals. Not only do manufacturer’s know best, they are sticklers for details when it comes to warranty claims. By doing what they say to do, when they say to do it, and providing time-sensitive records, any potential warranty claims will be taken care of more efficiently, and with a minimum of hassle.

3. Create a calendar. Now, organize the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions by date and make a note in the calendar. Now your maintenance team will have a schedule to follow, be it weekly, monthly, bi-annually and so on. Use a calendar alert system so key personnel know what needs to happen when. They can consult the binder or maintenance guide for further details.

4. Clean, clean, clean. Cleanliness is key. The addition of spills or debris can result in slip-and-fall hazards or equipment failure that is detrimental to a worker’s health and safety. Always clean and/or remove any noticeable debris, spills or other objects that are out of place. Depending on the activity level of the loading dock in question, this may require hourly attention.

5. Visual inspections. Visual inspections sound simple, but they are an integral part of any loading dock maintenance program. Look for signs of wear-and-tear that may compromise the way a particular part will work. Are dock bumpers maintaining their shape or are the notably worn on one side of the other? Take a close look at the chains, hinges and springs in your mechanical and hydraulic levelers. Examine the tracks and seals around the loading dock doors and make sure the doors are operating safely.

6. Test safety system. From lighting systems to alarms, and trailer-restraint systems – the facility’s safety mechanisms should be tested regularly. Any signs of failure or questionable operation should be addressed immediately.

7. Change light bulbs before they go out. Lighting is a critical component in your loading dock’s safety plan. If a light bulb goes out, you have a potential safety issue on your hands. Know the average lifetime of each light in the loading dock, bay and immediate warehouse vicinity and set up a lightbulb change system. The goal is to replace a bulb before it goes out. Have plenty of replacements on hand so you can replace any bulb that burns out before anticipated.

8. Refresh signs, taped and/or painted lines. It’s easy to ignore fading signage or chipped or missing lines. However, new employees, delivery persons and others are not as familiar with the terrain as your crew, and these lines are integral to safe entrance and egress in and around the loading dock area. Make sure the signs and lines are refreshed regularly so they are bright and obvious in appearance.

Always maintain clear, organized and detailed records of routine maintenance tasks so they can be checked at a moment’s notice. Keeping loading dock maintenance records up-to-date will ensure that even the smallest maintenance items are taken care of in a timely manner, and before they can lead to bigger and more serious issues.

How to Make your Garage Green

Are you looking to build a LEED certified home? Or do you simply want to renovate your own garage to make it a little more eco-friendly? There are several things you can do to make your garage “green” and they range from features that improve the interior air quality of your home, to choosing high-quality, durable residential garage products that keep you from repairing and replacing the garage door and hardware, reducing demands for energy-consuming product manufacturing.

Also, green upgrades have a positive return of investment because they make your home more attractive to future homebuyers.

7 Things You Can Do to Make Your Garage More Green

Here are seven things you can do to make your garage more green.

1. Make it detached. If you are building a new home, consider detaching the garage. In the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Whole Building Design Guide, “avoiding detached garage if possible” is one of the top recommendations for building a green home. This is because even with a well-sealed access door, it’s almost impossible to keep car fumes and other toxic chemical fumes (depending on what you store in there) from permeating the home. This leads to compromised interior air quality, which can cause respiratory problems and low-grade symptoms that many homeowners are oblivious to unless the toxicity is so severe that the CO detector goes off.

2. Insulate the garage. In an effort to save money, and because garages were never considered “livable,” most contractors avoid insulating the garage. The problem with this is two-fold. First, if your garage is attached, an uninsulated garage can keep the temperatures lower or higher in the rooms adjacent to the garage, depending on the time of year. Second, if you work or hang out in your garage often, odds are you use some type of portable heating or cooling system, which increases your home’s energy consumption. An insulated garage mitigates these issues and you can even include an HVAC system vent - or set your garage on its own zone - that can be adjusted for when the garage is in use.

3. Select an insulated garage door. The cost difference between uninsulated and insulated garage doors is negligible, but the benefits are multi-fold. An insulated door will maintain a more consistent temperature inside the garage – better for occupants and your attached home’s interior.

4. Up the daylighting ante. Use solar tubes, a skylight and ample windows, especially if your garage serves as a shop, hobby or hangout spot. This will decrease the amount of energy used to illuminate the space during daylight hours.

5. Invest in durable products. Compare lifetime costs, in addition to first-time costs, when selecting a new garage door. While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, odds are this will require more maintenance, repairs, repainting and replacement over the years. All of those things use more energy and resources. Choosing a higher-quality, durable garage door means you can enjoy a single garage door for a lifetime, and that’s a very eco-friendly step to take.

6. Use weather stripping and sealing products. To prevent drafts, which cause temperature fluctuations and the accumulation of dirt and debris inside the garage, make sure your garage door has adequate weather stripping and sealing products in place. Inspect them annually and repair or replace them when they are notably damaged or worn.

7. Choose eco-friendly products. Some garage doors are considered more green than others. If you are purchasing a wood garage door, make sure the wood used by the manufacturer is FSC certified, meaning it was harvested sustainably. You can also specify paint and finish products that are low-VOC, so they don’t release as many volatile compounds into the environment or your interior living spaces.

Contact R&S to discuss green options and upgrades for your residential or commercial garage door. We’re always happy to go over your options and can provide a free estimate for your consideration.

What 5 Upgrades Can You Make to Your Garage to Make it More Appealing to Buyers?

 There’s curb appeal and then there’s home appeal. Your garage sort of straddles both worlds. The exterior is usually visible from the curb and the interior will be viewed when potential buyers tour the home.Thus, we’ve put together a list of 5 simple upgrades you can make to your garage in order to sell your home faster, and to help get the price you want.

Keep in mind that in many cases, the garage is to the man what a nice kitchen remodel is to the woman, so your home will be more attractive to at least 50% more home shoppers if you do a mini-makeover.

5 Garage Upgrades to Impress Future Buyers

1.      Replace the garage door. If your door is damaged, dented or scratched beyond what a fresh coat of paint can handle, consider replacing the door. Base model garage doors are a small investment that will improve how your home shows on the exterior and will prevent a potential buyer from thinking, “well, we’ll have to replace the garage door ASAP….” If it needs a new coat of paint, read Painting Your Metal Garage Door for quick tips. Replace any obviously worn or torn weather stripping to maintain a clean look. Buyers these days want automatic garage doors – period – so replace your door if you have an outdated, manual version.

2.      Organize it. Even if buyers know that the clutter in your garage will go with you, it’s not a good selling point. You want the buyer to open the garage door and think, “aaaaah….look at that nice clean space,” rather than, “eeek! What a nightmare to clean this junk out of here…” Organizing your garage will help your garage show better and it will also simplify your own packing and moving process when you sell your home. If your realtor is staging your home, resist the temptation to move the boxes of stuff into the garage. See if a friend or relative will store them for you for a couple or months or load them into an affordable storage unit.

3.      Clean it. As long as your organizing the garage, clean it up. Get all the dust, grime and cobwebs cleared from every nook and cranny. Try to get rid of the oil stains and hose/soap the floor down with a cleaning agent designed to get rust and oil stains off garage floor concrete. If certain, stubborn oil stains won’t come out, cover them up with a basic oil drip pan from a local hardware or auto parts shop – it shouldn’t set you back more than $15 or so. Wash the windows to increase natural lighting. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes when a garage is organized AND clean.

4.      Throw in a few cheap extras. There are some garage organization tools that don’t cost much but add a whole lot of panache to the space. While investing in a full set of metal storage racks might be a bit much (unless you plan on taking them to your new space), you can screw a few hooks into the rafters to hang bikes and lesser-used kid toys, which looks like an added perk. If you have a tool bench that isn’t used, make sure it’s cleared off - with unused tools organized above it on a cheap peg board – to show the work area off.

5.      Add some lights. If you only have a single, florescent strip – consider adding another light fixture or two, or put a decent floor lamp in the corner by the workbench. If the garage looks like a gloomy cave, it’s not as enticing. If it’s well-lit – homeowners can start imagining themselves working out there and tinkering on their own, future hobby projects.

Need a little help upgrading your garage door and operating system? Need some new garage door weather stripping? Contact R&S and we’ll hook you up. 1-925-671-7606.

Maintaining Rolling Aluminum Grilles

Rolling aluminum grilles are a simple solution to keeping merchandise safe while still allowing visual access to those inside the building. While high-quality products should require very little maintenance, all doors need occasional TLC to operate smoothly and reliably day-after-day, and year-after-year.

Tips for Maintaining Your Business’s Rolling Aluminum Grilles

The following tips will ensure your doors are well taken care of to maintain optimal performance.

1. Work with a reliable installer. The quality of the product and its installation has everything to do with how it performs. Make sure you work with a licensed and experienced commercial door installer so you purchase the product that is right for your application. Not every business – or business location – is created equal, and doors should be designed specifically for their location, climate and use. This is a huge first-step in enjoy the low-maintenance attributes these doors are known for.

2. Keep the tracks (guides) clean. Any dirt, grime and debris that builds up in the door’s guide (commonly referred to as a track) will affect how it opens and closes. Over time, accumulation of debris in the track can lead to the breakdown of the door’s mechanical parts or can prevent it from opening, closing and/or locking completely. Remove larger debris by hand. Use a soft brush or broom to sweep smaller debris out and away from the track. A damp, wet cloth can be used for very small particles or more stubborn debris.

3. Use the doors regularly. Some rolling aluminum grilles are used on a daily basis, others are used less often and that can become a problem. A door that is left unused can begin to stick as the result of settling dust or potential rust or corrosion. It’s best to open and close the door at least once a week to keep things moving fluidly and to address any problems that arise before they become more permanent.

4. Be mindful of excessive elements. If you have a door that receives more sun exposure, is constantly faced with high winds or is the focus of driving rain in the wintertime, give it a little extra attention. Speak with your commercial door installer to make sure there aren’t any additional maintenance measures that should be taken – such as the addition of an awning, a specialized protective coating, and so on.

5. Refresh paint/coatings as needed. Metal is susceptible to moisture damage and the elements. For this reason, most metal doors are sold and installed with a protective coating suited to their environment. If you notice any peeling, scratching, bubbling or gaps in the coating, it needs to be replaced. Refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations in regards to approved coating products. Failure to adhere to their guidelines can compromise your warranty, not to mention the well-being of the door.

6. Make immediate repairs. If you notice rust, corrosion, breaks or the door isn’t working properly, schedule repairs ASAP. The longer you wait, the more damage can be done. This results in more expensive repairs or, potentially, an unnecessary door replacement. Also, holding off on a necessary repair may void your warranty.

7. Schedule annual inspections. It’s a good practice to schedule annual or bi-annual inspections with a local commercial door company. This small investment will pay off in preserving the durability and longevity of your rolling aluminum grilles as well as other commercial and personnel doors. Invoices from these inspections are excellent proof to have on hand should you need to process a warranty claim in the future, and routine inspections and maintenance will help to prevent potential code violations for hardly-used doors that aren’t functioning up to local building code requirements.


Have a rolling aluminum grille or service door that’s giving you problems? Looking to schedule annual door maintenance? Give us a call here at R&S - 1-925-671-7606 - or contact us online. We’ll send someone out to visit the first chance we get.

Replacing Weather Stripping on Service Doors

Weather stripping seems like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in your building’s interior comfort, not to mention temperature regulation, energy efficiency and even theft control.

Did You Answer Yes To These 5 Questions?

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself and/or your employees to determine whether or not it’s time to add – or replace – your service door’s weather stripping.

1. Do your exterior service doors have weather stripping? When were your service doors installed? If you’ve recently taken ownership or moved to a new commercial space, inspect the service doors to see if they are currently equipped with weather stripping. If not, consider installing it or hiring a professional to do it for you.


2. Is there an obvious draft? Weather stripping serves a variety of purposes but one of its most important roles is to prevent air leaks. Air leaks can increase utility spending considerably (more on that below) but they also interfere with interior comfort and/or maintaining a consistent temperature. If employees notice a draft, take a look around the service doors to see if there is a perimeter edge that lacks weather stripping, or if the weather stripping around a particular door seems worn, cracked or corroded.

3. Is climate control an issue? If you have a building with an HVAC unit, climate control should certainly be a focus. The more you can maintain a consistent interior temperature, the lower the energy bills will be. Weather stripping seals air leaks and also helps to insulate exterior doors, preventing undesirable heat gain and loss as exterior temperatures fluctuate. Take a look at the heating/cooling bills for the past several years and perform a month-by-month analysis. If you feel like costs are increasing, taking fuel price hikes into consideration, inadequate or poor-performing weather stripping could be a contributing factor.

4. Does water leak into the building when it rains? Do rainy days and nights mean employees have to get the mop bucket out? Not only is this a nuisance, it’s not a good idea to have moisture inside the building. The more moisture there is, the more difficult it is to control temperature and humidity. In addition to interior comfort for staff and clients, excess moisture also threatens the structural components in the building (especially metal doors that are more prone to rust and corrosion). Accumulated moisture also makes it easier for mold and mildew to develop, which compromises interior air quality.

5. Is there visible wear and tear around the edges? If your doors lack weather stripping, or your current weather stripping is outdated, you may notice extra wear and tear around the edges of the doors. In addition to helping with air leaks and insulation, weather stripping also works as a buffer, keeping the perimeter of the door from unnecessary scraping that can slowly wear down the materials.

Replacing Weather Stripping on Service Doors

Installing and replacing weather stripping is a fairly simple DIY task. That being said, there are a few things to consider:

1. Manufacturer’s Recommendations. Get out the service manual that came with the door and read the manufacturer’s recommendations. They will probably list specific products that are recommended/approved. Always invest in the products they recommend because veering from these recommendations could potentially void any existing warranty.

2. Read the Warranty. You’ll also want to read through the warranty stipulations. Sometimes, manufacturers require their doors to be serviced by a licensed, approved vendor and any DIY work you perform on your own may compromise the warranty.

3. Use a licensed commercial door supplier. Don’t have time to be bothered with maintenance requirements? That’s where a reputable, licensed Bay Area commercial door supplier comes in. Research online or call the door’s manufacturer to connect with preferred vendors in your area. Scheduling routine inspections and warranty work is a smart way to keep your doors functioning as reliably and efficiently as possible.


Have a questions about the service doors at your place of business? Contact R&S and we’ll be happy to schedule a service call or answer any questions you may have.

7 Tips for Storing Holiday Decorations Safely in Your Garage

Holiday decorations are like a beautiful fungus, they seem to multiply year by year. The problem is that while boxes of holiday decorations may multiply, your home’s storage space does not. That means you need to get creative about where and how to store them.

Rather than using interior storage space, which is best left to the things you use on a more regular basis, we recommend storing your holiday decoration collection in the garage. The trick, however, is to store them safely.

Too many boxes stacked one on top of the other pose a hazard to both the people and pets who traverse your garage, as well as the possessions stored around them.

1. Organize your garage. If your garage is already too-crowded-for-comfort, make a New Year’s resolution to organize it. Use one of the bay area’s beautiful, crisp, clear winter days and haul everything outside of the garage so you can assess what needs to stay and what can go. Read or post, 8 Tips For Making Space in That Cluttered Garage for more detailed instructions on a simple, no-nonsense approach to de-cluttering and adding storage space.

2. Ditch the cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes are fine for moving and temporary storage but not for permanent collections – like holiday decorations – which are used every single year. For one thing, cardboard has a tendency to collapse – especially when stacked - which can mean breakage of valuable or sentimental ornaments and decorations. Also, cardboard boxes harbor pests. Spiders and cockroaches are particularly drawn to them, and rodents will happily chew their way in if they smell a hint of anything edible or sense there is potential nesting material or space inside. Instead, upgrade to durable, plastic storage containers in uniform sizes.

3. Opt for clear containers. When you go to select your new storage containers, spring for the ones with clear plastic and red or green tops. The colorful tops are indicators that holiday decorations are stored inside. The clear plastic allows you to get a better idea of what is stored inside so you have quick access to the tree stand, for example, and can leave the wrapping paper or table setting boxes alone until you’re ready for them.

4. Purchase high-quality shelving. If you haven’t done it already, invest in high-quality metal shelving that is easy to assemble and high storage options. The shelves should be wide enough to accommodate the depth of your boxes with only a very minimal amount (if any) of the box bottom extending over the edges to avoid toppling. Use the top and corner shelves, the most difficult to access, for holiday boxes.

5. Test and wrap lights. Get rid of any light strings that don’t work. Then, wrap each strand of your holiday lights around a section of cardboard to avoid the frustrating tangle that always ensues, regardless of how carefully you wrap them in loops. Then store the lights in plastic tubs as well to prevent breakage or exposure to moisture and/or cord-chewing rodents.

6. Utilize the rafters. If you aren’t handy, hire a local handyman to use plywood and/or 2x4s that can be installed to reinforce the rafters. The “shelf-space” you acquire this way will become invaluable extra storage space and makes an excellent spot for storing decoration boxes, the artificial Christmas tree and so on.

7. Heavy duty hooks. Does your artificial tree come with a sturdy bag? If so, you can use heavy-duty garage storage hooks and suspend the tree from its bag handles. This can be an easier option if lugging it into the attic or into the rafters is too cumbersome.

Safe storage of your holiday decorations will pay off in a more organized home and garage space, and the assurance that your favorite decorations and ornaments will be protected from breakage, pest damage and dust.

What is a Personnel Door?

If you own a business, odds are you have at least one or two personnel doors in your office or establishment. They are a type of commercial door but – typically – rather than serving the public’s needs, personnel doors are used most often by the employees who live and work in the building during normal business hours.

Examples of Personnel Doors

These doors are built much differently than the ones you use in your home for several reasons.

They are more heavily used. Doors that are used internally by employees experience more rigorous wear and tear than a bedroom or bathroom door. Consider the hundreds of times a day the door leading from a doctor’s or dentist’s office to the waiting room is opened and shut, for example. This level of use requires heavier-duty hinges and hardware than a residential or small office door might require.

There are building codes to consider. For health and safety reasons, personnel doors can have very specific design requirements. For example, depending on the building design and use a door may be required by law to have:

• An automatic closer.

• A fire rating for 30, 60 or 90 minutes (or more).

• Special sealing or insulation to keep chemicals or toxins confined.

• Other specialized features that increase the health and safety for both employees, customers and/or other building occupants.

• Panic hardware that allows a door to be pushed open rather than requiring a harder-to-use handle.

These specialized versions of commercial doors may also require specialized security features preventing them from break-ins, vandalism or broken glass.

Door designs may be more varied. To accommodate larger or more unique design dimensions, a personnel door may not fit the standard commercial or residential door dimensions, requiring special sizing and parts accommodation.

Examples of personnel doors include doors that:

• Swing

• Slide

• Revolve

• Include extra-large double-door systems

• Provide style and security to an exterior entrance/exit

• Offer corrosion resistance particular to their environment and daily exposures.

How to Choose the Right Personnel Door For Your Business

Choosing the right personnel door for your business can be tricky. Here are a few questions to consider:

What is required by code? The first step is to bring your building plans to your local building department to have them reviewed. Working with an experienced commercial architect and a licensed commercial door supplier can also benefit you as they are typically familiar with the commercial door codes in your area. This can ensure you install doors with the legally required fire rating, egress considerations, panic hardware and so on so you don’t have to replace anything you just installed as the result of a code violation.

Is the door visible to the public? Consider the huge glass revolving doors popular for big swanky banks and law firms. Even if these buildings are largely used by employees, rather than the public, these doors are still highly visible to passersby and can make a positive impression of the company. In this case, in order to add curb appeal, style is important. 

Will it be exposed to the outdoors? Personnel doors that are exposed to the exterior of the building will experience more dramatic temperature and humidity fluctuations, as well as serious weather depending on your geographic location. Even things like wind direction and sun exposure should be considered to ensure your door is designed to handle its environment.

What style is your commercial design? Personnel doors come in a wide range of materials and styles. Most doors are made from commercial wood, hollow metal, fiberglass, aluminum, glass, herculite glass and even bullet- and blast-proof materials. However, fabrication has come a long way so most of these “tougher” door types can be customized to blend with your business’s interior design.

For professional assistance designing, repairing or replacing personnel doors for your business, give us a call at R&S Erection. 1-925-671-7606. You can also contact us online to schedule an onsite consultation.

8 Tips For Making Space in That Cluttered Garage

Are you having to suck in your belly every time you squeeze between the tool bench (or that stack of boxes) and an open car door? Sounds like it’s time to buckle down and create a little more space in the garage.

Driving into a clean, organized garage is good for the soul and makes coming home from work that much more pleasurable. Plus, it can open up room for your favorite hobbies or the design of your dream man cave. Most people find that spending a weekend or two adding more efficient storage also opens up closet and storage space in the home as well.

So, let’s get started.

1. Take it all out and analyze it. Regardless of which tips you opt to implement, you need to analyze/organize what you have - distinguishing between what’s needed and what needs to move on out. Put on your favorite music and start clearing everything out. Designate “trash” and “donate” piles and get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year or more. Odds are those items won’t be used this year either, and they can always be rented or purchased if you need them down the road.

2. Utilize the rafters. Are you using all that available space between the rafters and the underside of the roof? Throwing a large piece of plywood up there - creating a horizontal platform - is a cheap means of gaining accessible “attic”. It’s an ideal space for storing the holiday tree and decorations, suitcases, childhood mementos, sleds, seasonal sporting gear and so on. 

3. Make use of the high spaces. Continuing along this vein, install shelves up high on the walls so you aren’t wasting that last 12- to 24-inches between the ceiling or rafters and the highest shelf on standing storage racks. This is another place where you can store items you don’t use as often, things like serving platters and other rarely used dishware, camping gear or blow up mattresses for guests.

4. Install wire storage shelves. We love the stainless steel, wire storage racks and shelving units because they don’t collect dust and are less pest- and rodent-friendly. Maximize your mounting opportunities by first installing a layer of 3/4-inch plywood over drywall or bare studs. Now you have a continuous, reinforced surface for mounting uninterrupted shelving, and it will also come in handy for hooks to hang bikes and other tools or toys.

5. Suspend bikes, toys and ladders. The more bikes and toys that are parked on the ground, the less surface area and more cluttered your garage will be. Use designated hooks to suspend these items, the higher the better of course. Adult bikes can be suspended from the rafters. Ladder(s) can be stored out of the way there as well. Even low suspension hooks will be helpful with the kids’ bikes. While it doesn’t get the bikes very high off the ground, it does give them a designated place to be, and this goes a long way towards an organized garage.

6. Invest in a storage shed. If you have the space in your backyard, even a small storage shed can make a big difference when it comes to storing items that have filled up the corners of your garage. If you’re a gardener, make the storage shed your potting shed. If you are an avid camper or hunter, it might be a designated, weathertight location to store items related to those activities. It’s also an ideal place for kid’s toys, preventing the all-too-common occurrence of the runover bike or trike.

7. Neaten up the wires. Do areas of your garage look like a thick and colorful spiderweb, laden with criss-crosses of extension cords and other wires. Neaten those up by running them along your garage wall and/or ceilings by mounting metal or plastic wiring channels and outlet boxes right on the wall or a series of open studs.

8. Utilize unfinished walls. Use the consistent spaces between exposed studs in a garage’s unfinished walls to your advantage. You can connect bungee cords from the top of one section to the bottom, spaced a few inches apart to store balls and miscellaneous sporting equipment. Cover the back of any number of sections with plywood and then screw angled, 6-inch PVC pipe sections (between 4- and 6-inches high) to store shovels, rakes and other long-handled outdoor tools. 

Now that your garage is all tidied up, you might notice it’s suffering from random debris - in the form of dirt, leaves and miscellaneous litter. That’s a sign your garage door seal needs to be replaced. Not only will this keep your newly-organized garage a little cleaner, it will also enhance its insulation and interior comfort. 

Now your goal is to train the family with the idea that “there’s a space for everything, and everything in its space!” If you can do that, you’ll enjoy a spacious and organized garage for years to come.

Signs of an Unbalanced Garage Door

An unbalanced garage door can be an issue many homeowners are completely unaware of until one of two things happen: (1) you need to manually open or close the door and can't or (2) your garage door opener motor burns out prematurely, causing substantial expense to replace it. The average metal residential garage door weighs more than 150 pounds. Most of the time you’d never know it, even if you open or close it manually without the aid of an automatic opener. Powerful springs serve to counterbalance that weight, making the opening and closing action amazingly effortless—as long, that is, as the door remains properly balanced.

How Can You Tell?

When manually operated, a properly balanced door should feel easy to lift and safe to close. When raised to the half-open position, you should be able to release your grip and the door will remain in that position. When operated by an automatic garage door opener, action should be smooth and the opener motor and chain drive should not be straining or faltering. When a garage door is becoming unbalanced, however, certain telltale signs may give you advance warning:

• Observing the door, you may notice that one side closes flush with the ground while the other side doesn’t contact the ground and a gap becomes visible.

• While the door is opening or closing, one side may move upward or downward noticeably faster than the other side.

• The garage door opener motor makes loud, straining sounds due to the excess weight of an unbalanced door. Opening and closing may take longer than normal and you may hear other odd noises like gears stripping or popping and cracking as the door tracks absorb abnormal stress.

• The panels of a metal door may flex, buckle or bind as the door is ascending or descending.

• The door may not open at all as the motor is eventually unable to lift the weight.

• When attempting to open the door manually, it may be too heavy to lift. Closing an unbalanced door manually may be dangerous as the heavy door may abruptly slam to the ground with great force.

What Goes Wrong?

Professionally-installed garage doors are carefully balanced at the time of installation. However, a couple of changes may take place later to throw the door out of balance.

Often, the most frequent cause of an unbalanced door is weakening of the large springs that provide counterweight force against the weight of the door. Over time and many opening and closing repetitions, these springs may begin to stretch and lose their force. The door will gradually become harder to lift and will also close with greater force. If an automatic door opener is utilized, the motor, gears and chain drive will be subject to increasingly greater stress and shortened service life. An overstretched spring may eventually break entirely, usually making the door impossible to lift.

Adding any weight to the inside of the door after it was installed can also disrupt proper balance. Some residents choose to mount a long fluorescent light fixture to the inside of the door, for example. Even that modest amount of weight can tip the careful balance of the door. Another common addition to garage doors is insulation to reduce heat loss through the door in winter and heat gain in summer. DIY kits are available to insulate the inside of the door. Insulation typically adds up to 20 pounds to a door, more than enough to unbalance the door and affect easy operation.

Protect Your Garage Door Opener From Being Hacked

A garage door opener is an incredibly convenient feature to have. Not having to get out of your car and manually open the door every time you arrive or leave saves a lot of time and frustration. However, some garage door openers can actually pose a security issue. Believe it or not, your garage door opener can be hacked. This may seem hard to fathom; after all, don't hackers only go after computers and smartphones? Think about this, though - if a hacker can hack into someone's computer, why would they not be able to hack into your garage door opener? Your garage door can't be more complicated than a computer, right?

How can  garage door be hacked?

A garage door opener that makes use of a fixed code can be hacked using nothing more than a kid's toy. To understand how this is possible, you need to understand how your electric garage door opener works. Basically, the garage door opener's motor has a receiving module that responds to the waves transmitted by your garage door remote transmitter. A remote that sends a fixed code to the Garage door when a button is pressed can be easily figured out using an old texting-type toy that be used to pick up simple frequencies.

How can you prevent your garage door from being hacked?

You need to make sure that your garage door opener uses a rolling code and not a fixed code. A rolling code makes use of an algorithm that changes the code every time it's used, making it much more difficult for hackers to figure out. Check your garage door opener manual to see what kind of system it uses. If your system uses a rolling code or is indicated as a security plus or a security 2.0 system, then you should be relatively safe. If not, you'll want to have your garage door opener upgraded. If the manual doesn't say or you no longer have the manual, unscrew the casing of your remote to check and see if there is a DIP switch. If there is, it generally means that it uses a fixed code.

Additional security measures

In addition to making sure that your garage door opener makes use of a rolling code instead of a fixed code, consider using additional safety measures. Using a manual lock on your garage door may not seem very convenient on a daily basis, but you should use one if you are going out of town for more than a few days. This way, if a hacker manages to break through your code, they will still have to break through your physical lock. You should also make sure the garage is well lit - most thieves won't want to take the risk of trying to break in through your garage if it exposes them at night. Not to mention that a motion-sensing light can be very effective at scaring them away.

Don't assume that your electric garage door opener will keep thieves at bay - thieves with hacking abilities will have an easy time opening your garage door if it operates on a fixed code. So make sure that you don't have a fixed code system and upgrade it to a rolling code system if you do.

Maintaining Your Businesses Rolling Counter Door

Having an office that has a customer service counter cut into one wall can be very convenient, but it presents a security problem because there's no door to lock. Installing a rolling counter door -- like a rolling garage door but on a much smaller scale -- can eliminate those security concerns as long as you care for the door properly. Here are four tips that will help you keep that door in great shape for a long time.

Care for the Materials Properly

Dust, excessive heat, and constant sun exposure can cause rolling counter doors to deteriorate. Dust can also stick to the guides and other parts of the door, making operation difficult. In addition to following the cleaning procedures in the manual you received when you had the door installed, dust the door and guides, daily if need be. Inspect the door for rust spots or chips in the coating, if there is one, and have those repaired as soon as possible.

Use It

Letting the rolling door remain immobile often leads to the parts freezing as dust settles on them and rust forms. Using the door regularly ensures that the parts don't lock themselves in place.

Using the door to keep it working sounds like a simple thing, especially if your office closes daily and you close the rolling door each day. But if your office switches to being open 24 hours per day, for example, you could find that lots of time goes by before the door is actually lowered and raised. To prevent the door form freezing up, assign a time when the door is to be lowered and raised.

Keep the Guides Clear

Check the guides -- the tracks in which the door slides up or down -- clear of obstructions. Clean them on a regular basis and watch how the door moves in them as you open or close the door. Call for repair if you notice the door catching on something or not moving smoothly as you raise or lower it.

If the guides on the door's frame are adjustable, you might be able to make them a little wider depending on the model of door that you have. If the door moves haltingly but the guides aren't obstructed, it could be that they just need to be made a little wider.

Lower Humidity

If the rolling door is made of wood or has decorative wood parts -- you will find models like this -- watch the humidity levels. Humidity can cause wood to swell, eventually causing the door to stick in the guides. For exterior rolling doors, inspect them frequently and adjust the guides as necessary. For interior rolling doors, place a dehumidifier in the office to try to keep levels constant.

Residential Automatic Gate Safety

The biggest concern of most homeowners today is the safety and security of their family. This is a selling point for most subdivisions to help keep families safe and by adding an automatic gate at the entrance of a subdivision adds to that safety. While some subdivisions feature manual residential gates, studies show that 90% of these gates often remain open for convenience. This poses dire risks to the property and its inhabitants.

For this reason, installing an automatic gate comes out as the ideal choice to achieve a maximum level of security and comfort. Nevertheless, automatic gates are classified as machines and extreme care ought to be taken to make sure they have proper safety features and are regularly maintained. Today, we will go over some basic safety and maintenance tips for your automatic gate.

Servicing and Maintenance of Your Automatic Gate

While automatic gates provide security and convenience to homeowners living in a subdivision, most people are oblivious to the fact they are installing a machine. If not properly installed the system risks the potential of inflicting serious harm.  

Just like any machinery, maintenance and servicing of your automatic gate ensures its long life and safe operation. It is recommended that a service check be performed twice a year for normal subdivision residential gates. This, however, may vary depending on the frequency of use.

Ask your automated gate installation expert about a service contract to ensure your gate system runs safely and smoothly.  

Understand How to Operate Your Gate Automation System

Your Gate Installation professional should demonstrate to you the safety systems related to your Gate Drive Mechanism.

• Learn how to operate safely the automatic gate

• Learn how to keep the gate open for prolonged periods

• Learn how to operate manually the gate opener should there be system failure or power outage

• Know how to restore the gate drive system after a manual operation

Safety Precautions When Handling Automated Gates

Children should not play near and around an automatic gate. Keep the opening devices such as the remote control device away from their reach. It is imperative that you teach the children about the importance of safety in the proximity of an automated gate.

Additional Gate Safety Procedures

The location of opening systems like Intercom Gate Station and Keypads should be installed at least three meters away from the gate. This is so to ensure that the person operating the gate doesn’t reach the opening device.

 Trying to reach through a gate to operate a gate opener device is extremely risky, once activated and the gate staring to move can be at risk to get trapped and cause serious harm.

The use of Safety Photocells can enhance the safety of your gate system. These photocells can be fixed across the gateway on the posts or photocell supports, either at the end of the opened gates or in front of the gates. This improves safety both behind and in front of the gates.

Protecting people in your community matters and this is why it’s important to have automatic residential gates. Settling on what type of automatic gate to install can be a big decision as there are various styles and materials to choose from. 

Painting Your Metal Garage Door

Metal garage doors are a part of many different structures in today’s modern day society from residential houses to commercial buildings. Metal garage doors are susceptible to rust and the natural elements, and the garage door should be protected. Painting will increase the life of your metal garage door for many years. Today, we will go over DIY steps to paint your metal garage door. Let’s get started!

Five Steps for a Long Lasting Paint Job

Be sure to follow these five steps and your metal garage door will look amazing and be able to last the test of time.

Step 1: Wash the Metal Garage Door Thoroughly With Water

It’s important to wash your garage door with a garden house to get off all the grit and grime that has built up over time. After the initial spray down you should take a brush or sponge with soapy water and give it a good cleaning. Make sure you give it a final rinse and move onto step number 2.

Step 2: Power Sand the Door

You should go out to your local hardware store and pick up a medium to high grade sandpaper to sand the entire door. Sanding your garage door will ensure the new paint that is applied goes on effortlessly. Make sure you dust off where you sanded and clean up where you sanded with a broom.

Step 3: Set Up For Painting

You will now want to get the prep work out of the way to make sure you don’t have any primer or paint on your driveway or garage floor. Simply place a tarp or newspaper around the area of the garage door. If you happen to have windows on your garage door, you will want to make sure use painters tape around the windows and handles.

Step 4: Apply the Primer

If you want to make sure you have a good paint job for your garage door, then you will want to have a coat of primer down. The primer will help the paint adhere to the metal and gives it a smooth appearance. Primer usually will take up to 8 hours to dry, but this can vary depending on the temperature and if it is windy.

Step 5: Apply Paint

You should have your garage door the color that you want it to be as long as it’s an acrylic paint. Acrylic paints are best used for galvanized metals such as those used in garage doors. Starting from the top move downwards in straight lines using a brush or roller allowing overlapping of parallel laps. You will want to pay close attention to edges and corners that may be hard to reach. You can always come back after one coat is dried and look for any missed spots that can be corrected with touch ups. You should allow 12 hours per coat when painting your metal door and when it’s dry it should look brand new.  

Painting your metal garage door shouldn’t be hard as it only takes proper preparation and time. Painting your metal garage door adds life to the door and keeps it safe from the outside elements. We hope that you take into consideration what you learned today as it will help give you the best results for your garage door.