El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Author: epicnine

  • Leaving Your Garage Door Open May Not Be a Good Idea

    Overhead garage doors are under immense amounts of pressure. Thanks to quality engineering and a variety of intricate parts that work in tandem, garage doors can automatically be opened thanks to a push of a button. While this makes opening and closing doors easier, it doesn’t change the fact that overhead doors are extremely heavy and can be dangerous. It’s not just the act of leaving the garage unattended that’s worrisome. Homeowners also have to keep in mind that a door needs reinforcement if it’s expected to be open for a prolonged amount of time. 

    One thing we notice while driving through neighborhoods for service calls is how many garages are left wide open – with no one in sight. Even late at night, vacant garages are a plenty. Just as you wouldn’t want to leave your front door open all day, you shouldn’t leave the garage open either!

    An Open Overhead Garage Door Is a Security Risk

    If you leave your garage door open, be aware that thefts should be an expected possibility. Anyone from a nosy neighbor to nefarious thief could stumble into your garage and take your pricey belongings or worse, enter your home, disturbing your family. But don’t take our word for it: theft via open garages is a real risk. Police have also been warning residents to keep their garages closed when not in use. Don’t take chances by leaving your garage door open while it’s not occupied. For enhanced protection for you and your family, consider installing a security door between your garage and your home. A security or safety door can prevent even the most experienced thieves from entering your home after they’ve made their way into your garage. One of the best safety tips is to stand by the door until it completely closes, especially late at night when someone could be watching for a window to enter. 

    Keeping Your Overhead Garage Door Open Is a Safety Risk

    As stable as garage doors appear to be, there’s an extremely strong chance that your door doesn’t have the reinforcement necessary to be open for a lengthy amount of time. You might spend considerable time in your garage tinkering away on projects, which means it’s possible you’re keeping your door open to let fresh air in. While you might think it’s alright to leave your overhead garage door open as long as you’re in the room, think again.

    Stress-Free & Safe Ways to Keep Your Door Open

    To ensure your garage door’s springs don’t snap and that it doesn’t come crashing down, you should install garage door reinforcement struts. These helpful garage door parts will allow your door to stay open far longer without causing significant wear or tear, as well as damage that could lead to a costly replacement. If you have an average sized double garage door, it’s recommended that at least three struts are installed, though it’s best to consult with a garage door installation company depending on your door. Remember: the best garage door repair and installation only comes from licensed professionals who have years of experience. 

    While keeping your door open for a long period of time is never recommended, it can be a must for some homeowners. Always stay inside your garage while it’s open and don’t hesitate to close it even for a few moments if you’re stepping away. To increase security, consider installing cameras near your overhead garage door so you can always keep an eye out for intruders. 

  • Reinforcing Garage Doors in Preparation for a Hurricane

    Is Your Garage Ready for Hurricane Season?

    Do you know what your garage door wind rating is? Most people would say no! You may want to find out, as many counties do require a minimum rating to be compliant with building codes. As recently reported by WFTV 9, older and weaker garage doors are vulnerable to strong winds, such as those in a storm or hurricane.

    Many people fail to realize how important sturdy garage doors actually are. When your door is blown away by the wind, it creates a sudden air pressure change in your garage. This pressure change has the potential to tear off your roof, blow out windows, and just deal catastrophic damage to your home.

    To ensure that your home is prepared for hurricane season, take the following steps:

    1. Determine Your Garage Door’s Wind Rating

    Contact your garage door manufacturer to find out the wind rating and impact resistance of your existing garage door. Understanding these ratings is the first step in making informed decisions regarding reinforcement.

    2. Consider Upgrading to Sturdier Overhead Doors

    Homeowners in hurricane-prone areas should seriously consider upgrading to garage doors designed to withstand strong winds. These doors are constructed with reinforced materials and are engineered to offer superior protection during extreme weather.

    3. Install Additional Garage Door Bracing and Support

    In areas susceptible to hurricanes, it’s advisable to invest in additional bracing for your garage doors. Reinforcement kits are available for purchase at hardware stores, and they can provide an extra layer of support. However, in regions prone to exceptionally strong winds, these DIY kits may not be sufficient. When in doubt, it’s best to seek the expertise of a professional who can assess your specific needs.

    By taking these steps, you can better prepare your garage for hurricane season and significantly reduce the risk of damage to your home. Remember, when it comes to safeguarding your property from the destructive power of hurricanes, being proactive is key. Don’t wait until the storm is on the horizon—act now to ensure the safety and resilience of your garage doors.

    If you want to know how to install a wind bracing kit for your garage door, watch this video showing and explaining exactly how to install them.

  • Have You Performed a Safety Inspection for Your Garage Door?

    The Importance of Frequent Garage Door Inspections

    Our team here in El Dorado Hills takes your safety as our utmost priority. As June marks Garage Door Safety Month, we believe it’s the perfect time to offer essential tips for maintaining a safe environment around your garage door. One of the key aspects to bear in mind when it comes to garage doors is their weight. Surprisingly, garage doors can weigh in excess of 400 pounds. As a result, the force they exert when coming down can be incredibly destructive and, in some tragic cases, even deadly.

    You Can Test Your Garage Door’s Safety Features Yourself at Any Time

    The Department of Pediatrics devised a great way to safety test your garage door. Place a large roll of paper towels under the door and hit the automatic opener. The door should automatically reverse when encountering it. If you have sensors, then it may not even operate. Should the door actually crush the paper towel roll, this is a sign emergency maintenance is required.

    Moreover, it’s crucial to maintain a vigilant approach when operating your garage door. When closing the door, always stay present and watch until it has completely shut. While modern garage doors have enhanced safety features compared to their older counterparts, it’s essential to remain cautious and responsible when operating one.

    Regular Inspections are Not Considered Optional

    Regular garage door inspections play a fundamental role in maintaining the safety of your garage door. We recommend scheduling routine inspections by professionals on an annual basis. A professional installer can identify and address potential issues with your garage door before they become dangerous. These inspections encompass various aspects, including checking the door’s balance, testing the auto-reverse function, ensuring the safety sensors are operational, and inspecting the overall condition of the door and its components. Even if nothing is unsafe, they can potentially catch smaller problems with the overhead door before them become expensive repairs.

    By prioritizing regular garage door inspections and adhering to safety guidelines, homeowners can ensure the ongoing safety and security of their garage doors. Don’t wait until a problem arises—take proactive measures to safeguard your family, property, and peace of mind. Our team is dedicated to helping you enjoy the utmost safety and convenience with your garage door.

  • How to Tell If It’s Time for Garage Spring Repair

    The best way to prevent a broken spring is by performing a few garage door tune-ups every year. By keeping your spring lubricated, you can avoid rust and damage before it begins. If your torsion or extension spring is already rusted, it may be salvageable.

    First, estimate the lifespan of your spring. Most springs are rated for 10,000 cycles, which is one open and close. Check your spring manufacturer for yours. Based off of this, you can make a rough guess on if your spring is nearing the end of its life. If so, we recommend replacing it. It’s not worth the hassle of trying to fix, and a broken spring could cause the garage door to come crashing down.

    If your spring isn’t severely rusted or too old, then a little maintenance should do the trick. Use a solvent and carefully wipe down the spring, making sure you don’t stick your fingers in it. Once clean, apply a light layer of lubricating silicone or white lithium grease and you’re good to go.

    In addition to regular maintenance and replacement, it’s also important to ensure that your garage door spring is balanced. An unbalanced garage door can cause excess strain on the spring, leading to premature wear and tear. To check the balance, disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. If it stays in place, then it’s balanced. If it starts to fall or rise, then it’s unbalanced and needs to be adjusted. Balancing your garage door is best left to a professional, as it can be dangerous to perform without the proper training and equipment. By keeping your spring well-maintained and properly balanced, you can extend its lifespan and avoid repairs. But if your garage door spring is broken, we strongly advise you not to attempt repairs.

    Never Repair Your Garage Door Springs Yourself

    While we encourage you to do routine spring inspection to spot any issues before they become real problems, under no circumstances should you attempt garage door spring replacement yourself. These springs are under incredible tension. If they should suddenly snap, they can cause serious bodily injury — even death. This is a repair you should always save for a professional. They have the tools and expertise to perform the job safely and correctly. The risk just isn’t worth it.

    If you notice anything amiss in your inspection, we strongly encourage you to call us so we can come out and do a more thorough professional inspection. If a garage door spring needs replaced, we’ll be happy to do so, that very day. And yes, we do make emergency house calls. 24/7 emergency garage door repair is a service we offer for your safety and convenience.

  • How to Convert Your Garage into a New Room

    Most people think that the garage is for storing your car and other household belongings. At most, you might think to use the extra space at the back as a workshop or a place for your teen to play his drum set outside of your house, for obvious reasons. But did you know that you can actually add living space to your home just by making modifications to your garage? Take a look at these 30 sweet garage transformations that show what a little creativity can do. If you browse through the photos in that HGTV article, you’ll notice that there are many choices of how to convert your garage, and also that they vary from very little work and investment, to extreme makeovers that make it almost unbelievable the space was ever a garage.

    But hold on a second, because first, depending on the extent of your plans, you’ll need to find out if a building permit is required. Even though you may own the home, there are zoning laws that must be followed. If you’re located in El Dorado Hills, you can find the county website here. Even if you aren’t changing the structure of the garage itself, there are still legal codes you have to consider; for instance, if you want your renovation to be a legal bedroom, you need at least one egress window. Do your research before you finalize your plans, because it’s always a bummer to have a vision, or worse, spend money on supplies or services only to find out what you’ve done is either structurally unsound or just straight up illegal. Rooms or structures that don’t meet code are seriously negative factors in residential real estate.

    Get Started with Proper Planning

    Get started by drawing out a detailed blueprint for how you want your garage conversion to look. Once you have developed a plan, you can better estimate the budget required and timeframe needed. If it’s a total transformation, you may need a contractor, and expect the process to take a month or two. Depending on your plan, you may need to install insulation, heating/cooling, and run wiring for electricity. Windows and plumbing are also possible, but the latter is more complicated and could drive costs up further.

    Costs involved in renovating your garage depend on the scope of the project, with minor conversions (like a workout room) being a few hundred dollars and complete transformations (like a master suite) being as much as $40,000. When you’re working with areas like El Dorado Hills, where many of the foundations are slab cement, you really need to consider what utilities you’ll need for your project. Insulating and running electric before you drywall is one matter, but if you’re trying to alter plumbing, you have to literally jackhammer into the foundation to reach the existing plumbing (if there is any) and trench new paths for whatever new plumbing you’re installing. That is a big cost, because after all that destruction, you’ll essentially have to have that part of your foundation redone, and that takes time as well as money.

    Start Your Renovation with New Garage Doors

    If you thought garage door replacement would be the first step in the renovation, you’d be correct. New garage doors will help protect your investment, and provide a great starting point for your project. If you’re making a new living room or a gym, a glass garage door is a great solution. Another factor in keeping a garage door in the room, no matter how much you’re altering the space, is because when it comes time to sell your house, it’ll make it way easier to convert it back to a garage, if that is what the new owner wants. Regardless, a garage conversion definitely deserves a garage door upgrade.

    Install an Insulated Garage Door to Start

    An insulated garage door is a fantastic starting point for this transformation. It serves as a barrier between the outdoor elements and your new interior space, providing numerous benefits.

    Firstly, insulation in the garage door helps regulate the temperature inside the converted room. It keeps the space warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, ensuring year-round comfort. This temperature control reduces the need for additional heating or cooling systems, saving you on energy costs. This alone is worth it to install a brand-new garage door.

    Secondly, insulation improves soundproofing. It helps reduce noise from outside, making the converted room quieter and more peaceful. This is particularly important if you plan to use the space as a bedroom, home office, or recreational area. Furthermore, insulation enhances energy efficiency. With a well-insulated garage door, you’ll have better control over the indoor climate. This translates into energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint.

    Lastly, an insulated garage door contributes to the aesthetics of the space. It provides a clean and finished look while ensuring that the room is not compromised by drafts, moisture, or temperature extremes. 

    If You Don’t Want the Garage Door, You Might Need a Permit 

    If you’d rather eliminate the garage door altogether and make that area into an exterior wall, this is another time you need to consult your county’s building codes, as well as an engineer, so that whatever alterations you make are legal and structurally sound.