Do you use your garage – I
mean for your car? Many garages are storage areas and workshops, while
the vehicles sit outside, at the mercy of the elements. But no matter
what you use your garage for, your garage door is important. Without
it, your belongings, including your vehicle, would be open to thieves.
So although many of us take garage doors for granted, there are some
things you need to know about them. And our top 10 garage door
questions will reveal those things.
1. What’s R-value and why is it so important?
The
R-value on a garage door tell you how well it insulates. You might
think that it isn’t important to insulate your garage, but there are
several reasons why it’s necessary. If you happen to spend more time
than usual in your garage, like if you have a workshop there, for
example, then you’ll definitely be aware of the importance of
insulation.
But
your garage is also affected by its connection to the rest of your
house, particularly if you have a room above it. Of course, if your
garage isn’t attached to your house, you can get a garage door with a
low R-value, or even no insulation at all.
So
check the R-value of a garage door before you buy it. The higher the
number, the better its insulation properties. For example, if you have
a good quality 1-3/8" garage door, the R-value could be as high as 6.5.
For a lower-priced door, with a 9/16" thickness, the R-value could be
around 4.4.
2. What’s headroom, backroom and sideroom?
Headroom
is the amount of space inside the garage between the top of the garage
door and the ceiling. Backroom is the inside length of the garage, from
front to back. Sideroom is the distance between the sides of the garage
door and the side walls of the garage.
You
need to know these dimensions when you’re installing a garage door
because the hardware needs a certain amount of room to operate freely.
3. If I’m replacing my garage door, how do I remove the torsion springs?
Torsion garage door springs are under extreme pressure and, if not handled properly, could release with enough power to kill you! You need specific tools and training. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you have a professional do this job.
4. How many cycles should the torsion springs be on my overhead garage door?
Torsion
spring cycles are figured out mathematically. You take the average
number of times your garage door goes up and down every day, multiply
by 250 days, and multiply again by 10 years. The reason they use 10
years is because that’s the average life of a garage door.
You
have a choice of 4 torsion spring cycles for garage doors: 25,000
cycles, 50,000 cycles, 75,000 cycles or 100,000 cycles. So you just
have to know how many times your garage door will be opened and closed
every day, and figure it out from there.
5. Can I paint a steel garage door?
You
can definitely paint a steel garage door. If you use a good quality
latex paint, it’ll last a long time. But don’t use an oil-base paint –
it’ll bubble and peel off.
You
can paint other garage doors, too. Wood garage doors look great when
painted or stained. Fiberglass garage doors can be painted, too. The
great thing about painting a garage door is that you can match it to
the décor of the rest of your house.
6. How can I tell if my garage door is unbalanced?
You
should be able to lift your garage door with one hand, no matter what
the size. Garage door systems are specifically designed to take the
weight off the door. If you can’t lift the door easily, then it’s
probably unbalanced, and you need to call a professional garage door
installer to fix it.
7. What are the advantages of aluminum garage doors?
Aluminum
garage doors are easy on the mechanisms because of their light weight.
Therefore, they last longer. However, there isn’t much difference
between aluminum and steel garage doors if the door is 12 feet wide or
less.
And, of course, when the garage door is finally worn out, aluminum is recyclable, which is really good for the environment.
8. How do I find out what high-wind rating I need for my garage door?
In
high-wind areas, garage doors can be blown off their hinges – then they
become very dangerous projectiles! So special steel-reinforced garage
doors are made, using heavy-duty hardware, that can withstand winds
from 75mph to 170 mph.
There
are many areas, especially in the United States, that are subject to
these very high winds. These areas have local standards for garage
doors, depending on the severity of the winds. You can find out your
local standards by contacting the building department of your local
city hall.
9. Do I need to do anything after my garage door is installed?
It’s
important, after your garage door is installed, that you totally
familiarize yourself with the operation and safety guidelines. Make
sure you have owner’s manuals for the garage door, and for the garage
door opener, too, if you have one.
Your
manual will outline the operation and maintenance requirements you’ll
need to know to make your garage door last as long as possible. Also,
garage door safety has been a source of great concern in the past. With
new technology, it’s not as much of a problem anymore, but you do need
to follow certain guidelines to avoid injuries.
10. What’s the best kind of garage door opener to buy?
There are many garage door openers
on the market. Many of them are good. Some of the more popular ones are
Stanley garage door openers, Liftmaster garage door openers and Genie
garage door openers.
Which
one is best for you is really a matter of choice. There are certain
garage door openers that are designed for certain styles and sizes of
garage doors but, on the whole, they all do the same thing – they
automatically open and close your door so you can comfortably get in
and out of your vehicle away from the elements.
In Conclusion
There
are many choices when it comes to garage doors. There are wood garage
doors, aluminum garage doors, fiberglass garage doors and steel garage
doors. There are many styles to choose from, too. Many people like the
retro style of the old carriage house garage door. Most people have
their garage door match the rest of their house.
And
of course, there are many manufacturers, too. Some of the more
well-known ones are Clopay Garage Doors, Wayne Dalton Garage Doors, and
Genie Garage Doors.
If
this is too much information for you to handle all at once, then just
relax comfortably at your computer and check www.aaaremotes.com, the
most comprehensive garage door opener, garage door , gate operator and
entry control systems online. You’ll find everything you need to know
about garage
doors online. And if you haven’t started to build yet, you can even get
garage plans online. It’s all right there, at your fingertips.
So do some research and planning and, before you know it, it’ll all come together in the shape of a beautiful garage door!
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