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. 

Creating a “Man Cave” in Your Garage

A man cave has always been considered the special part of the house and is allotted for him to carry out his pursuits, including spending quality guy time with his friends. The ideal man cave is loaded with all the items guys appreciate: a pool table, foosball table, arcade games, dart board, poker table, a well-stocked bar and a mini home theater. One of the main issues of having a man cave is where to place it. Some people place it in an extra room or perhaps the basement, but what happens when this isn’t an option. The only alternative source you may have is your garage. So what can you do to optimize space in the garage for your man cave? Today, we will go over the appropriate steps you can take to making your garage your new man cave. Let’s get started!

Putting Your Plans on Paper 

You should focus on how you want to get your idea of a man cave from paper to reality. You should draw out what type of layout you would like to have by taking into consideration building materials you might need. Building your man cave may be a long process from start to finish based on your unique style. But it shouldn’t just stop with unique surroundings, you have to remember to incorporate the flooring as well.

For a Great Floor, Use Epoxy Flooring

If you want to protect your concrete floors, then opt for epoxy flooring. When making a man cave, the floors could be stained due to oils or fluids, and this will cause damage due to its corrosive effects. When you coat your concrete floor with epoxy, it forms a protective layer on top and fluids or oil will not penetrate into the floor. In addition to this, epoxy forms a much harder and durable film when compare to other paints, and gives you a floor like no other. You can custom design your floor with epoxy to have your friends wondering how this work of art was perfected. As an example if you choose a metallic pearl epoxy floor, and not only does it look cool but it hides repair work that may have been done to the surface, and it is simple to maintain its glossy look.

Insulating Your Garage

Your garage tends to be one of the most uninsulated portions of your home. It’s important to have properly installed installation to keep your man cave cool in the summertime and warm in the winter time. This would include insulating your garage door and can be easily done by yourself though online DIY or by contacting a local contractor in your area that knows how to handle this kind of work.

Stepping Up the Electrical Work

Typical man caves have extra goodies like flat screen TV's and stereo equipment and the typical garage may or may not have the proper electrical outlets in place. Electricity can be very dangerous if not respected. You should seek the help of a certified electrician in your area to install extra outlets to make sure everything is up to code.

Sharing Your Man Cave Creation

As guys, we all need a place to call our own in our homes. A place to escape from the wife and kids where we can relax and call our own. We hope that you take into consideration some of the steps you learned today to transform your garage into the ultimate man cave. Good luck!

4 Benefits of an Insulated Service Door

As a business owner, you strive to provide excellent products and services to your customers, and a quality workplace for your employees. One easy way to do that is by installing a quality, insulated service door that provides additional climate control, energy-efficiency, noise reduction and safety to your workplace environment.

Climate Control

An insulated service door provides excellent climate control when you need thermal or cooling efficiency for your business operation. It will keep your indoor temperatures even and prevent you from making thermostat adjustments every time outdoor temperatures rise and fall. You have no control over the weather conditions, but you can easily control your business environment with an insulated service door. Any type of business will benefit from a comfortable work environment, but for businesses that produce or store electronics, pharmaceuticals, antiques, furs, food, or other items that can be damaged by heat and cold, insulated service doors are essential to business operations.

Energy-Efficiency

Every business owner knows that an energy-efficient workplace can save thousands of dollars each month on heating and cooling costs. A service door that isn't properly insulated can let outdoor hot and cold air indoors, even through the smallest cracks around the door or door seals when the door is closed. An insulated service door will keep your business warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with more even temperatures from room to room. If you have a large warehouse with hundreds of employees, an insulated service door will help to provide a more comfortable, year-round work space that can increase employee production and reduce employee illness.

Noise Reduction

Excessive noise levels are often an unpleasant workplace factor for many businesses, especially those in manufacturing industries. In industrial settings where there are hundreds of workers on an assembly line or operating machinery, noise levels can be deafening at times. A service door that's properly insulated with a quality, dense polyurethane foam can reduce noise levels in adjacent areas by a significant amount. Rather than the noise from workers and machinery echoing off of a thin steel or aluminum service door, a lot of the interior noise will be absorbed by the foam insulation. An insulated service door will also keep noise from the outside from entering the workplace.

Safety

Although most commercial service doors are made from steel or aluminum, they don't always provide adequate safety from burglaries and break-ins. Doors that have no insulation are thinner, lighter and easier to puncture or damage. Safety is important to any type of business to protect equipment, merchandise and employees. Whatever type of business you operate, a burglary can cost you thousands and thousands of dollars in lost production time and lost revenue. An insulated service door that's stronger and more durable will provide additional protection for your business against unwanted and unexpected theft. It will also provide additional wind resistance against storms that bring heavy rain and strong winds.

Although an insulated service door for your business may cost you a little more up front, the benefits will pay for the extra costs in no time. Whatever type and size of business you have, an insulated service door is a great investment. As a business owner, you can help protect your business, your investment, and your employees with a top-quality insulated service door that offers many advantages.