El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Author: Tony M

Clean Your Garage and Organize Your Life in Easy Steps

Weekends are precious. When we use them as time to get work done, you want that time to count. The trouble is that much of our weekend work takes place in the garage. And if your garage isn’t clean, most of your Saturday will be spent trying to find tools and find enough room to pull of the task you want to accomplish. Messy garages are time killers. You tell yourself you don’t have time to do it, but the reality is you’ll waste more time putting up with a messy garage than you’ll use to actually solve the problem.

Is Your Messy Garage a Problem?

Can you park your car in your garage if you had to? If the answer is no, it’s time to get your cleaning gloves on.

Parking outside might not seem like such a big deal, but you’re exposing your car to the elements. And considering the heavy rain and hot sun we tend to get in the El Dorado Hills, your car can suffer some serious weather damage. Plus, parking in your garage is also a theft deterrent, which is a pretty big deal in Southern California.

And if you can’t park your car, chances are you also can’t find your tools. You’ll waste most of a Saturday just trying to find a screwdriver. Get organized and your to-do list gets done before you even know it.

Break It Down

We get it. Really messy garages can be overwhelming. But they make life so much harder. In fact, too much stuff can even damage your garage door. Objects can get in the way of the tracks, for example, causing the door to go off track or be out of balance.

Mark a day off your calendar to tackle it. Plan a reward system for yourself — stock the fridge with your favorite beer, order out for pizza, take the family out to dinner as a victory prize. Bribery works, especially when it’s self-prescribed.

And don’t be afraid to enlist the whole family. If you’ve got a lot of family knick-knacks stored in your garage, it can even be the perfect time to bond down memory lane. And don’t forget it’s their mess too. Let the whole house own the cleanup job.

Organize to Live Better

Sort your stuff into 3 piles: keep, donate, trash (or recycle if possible). Some chemical products such as cleansers, batteries, even old electronic equipment will have to be disposed of properly. Here’s a list of places that handles E-waste and hazardous chemicals for El Dorado Hills.

Next, map out a floor plan of how you want to organize the stuff you do want to keep. Make sure you leave plenty of room for the garage door to open and close so you don’t need to fix it later. Plan where you’ll want your trash, recycling, and compost cans to be.

It might be time to bone up on your storage. Shelves, bins, hooks, and overhead compartments do wonders for containing the clutter. Peg boards and hooks are great for lightweight stuff. And don’t forget about overhead storage. If done safely, it’s a great way to optimize space without losing storage capabilities.

Stay Safe

It’s easy to forget but garages can be dangerous places, especially when messy. Be careful when you are rearranging heavy tools, boxes, and equipment. Give your garage a decent visual inspection. Check out your pulleys, springs, and cables for any rust, wear, or breakdown. If you do notice an issue, call a professional. These can be seriously hazardous garage door repairs best left to a garage door repair service that knows what they’re doing.

Any questions or concerns? We’d be happy to help. We serve thousands of families and businesses in the El Dorado Hills area.

August 6, 2018
Considering a New Garage Door? What You Need to Know About Material

People don’t talk about it out loud, but neighbors pay attention. And when it comes to curb appeal, the single biggest factor that can affect the value of your home is the quality of your garage door. Your neighbors notice — not just because they’re noisy, but because the quality of your door affects not only the value of your own home but the entire neighborhood as well. That’s why paying attention to quality and garage door material is so important when considering a new garage door. You are part of the community. Showcase your very best.

When it comes to aesthetic appeal, it is important that any new garage door installation match the style and decor of the home. That means if you have a rustic looking house, you need a new garage door that has the same rustic look. Fortunately, there are plenty of options these days to creating a rustic look even if your door is brand-new.

The Natural Beauty of Wood

Wood is the obvious choice when you want to create an older more natural feel to match the rest of your home. There really is no substitute for its beauty. Most wooden garage door installations are custom-made to match the rest of your home. Wood is easy and inexpensive to fix if the door is damaged. Pieces can simply be swapped out and remade without having to do an entirely new door.

The catch with wood is it does require more regular maintenance. The wood will need to be retreated, sanded and painted from time to time. Still, many homeowners consider the maintenance totally worth the beauty of a wooden door.

Types of Wooden Garage Door Installations

Plywood is the most inexpensive option when it comes to wooden garage doors. It doesn’t have the same panache, protection or longevity, but you can cover it with a thin layer of a more expensive wood for aesthetic purposes. Insulation is still an option if you include an insulated layer between the two portions for increased R-Value and strength.

Cedar is a beautiful option that is also naturally resistant to rot, insects and weather moisture issues. The catch is it needs to be treated every two years to maintain its strength and durability.

Redwood is a beautiful wood that’s also exceptional strong, but you naturally pay for that with increased cost.

Mahogany offers the best strength and is also known for its dramatic beauty. It’s a heavy hardwood, so it is one of the most expensive doors on the market. You can cut the cost by getting a composite door that has mahogany on the outside and Douglas-fir panels inserted in between.

Non Wooden Garage Door Installation Options

Aluminum, steel or vinyl garage doors are the most common alternatives to a wooden garage door. They are inexpensive but second to none when it comes to durability and strength. Steel offer is one of the cheapest options and can be manufactured to imitate the appearance of wood. Fiberglass are lighter doors but tend to have durability problems. Aluminum has the advantage of being both lightweight and durable, but it does tend to dent easily.

July 30, 2018
4 Ways to Save on Garage Door Repair Cost

We don’t often think about how heavy our garage doors are. The average garage door weighs hundreds of pounds. Considering most people use their garage doors 2 to 3 times per day, that adds up to nearly 1000 cycles of use over the course of a year. Keeping a garage door repaired and working well is important to family safety, especially if you have kids or pets. How expensive is garage door repair? That depends on how you go about it, especially when it comes to routine maintenance and upkeep. If you are smart about garage door repair, you can better control the costs. Here are 4 ways you can save with a smarter approach.

Quality Parts is Worth a Little Extra Expense

Saving money in the long run doesn’t mean being cheap in the short term. When it comes to the parts you use to repair and maintain your garage door, you get what you pay for. The same rule applies to garage door opener repair, service, and installation. Invest in quality. How thick is the hardware? What’s the quality of the weatherstripping? What is the material of the door made of and how will it stand up to wear and tear? This is especially important if you’ve got kids who love to play sports.

Routine Maintenance Saves Overtime

Most people don’t worry about their garage door until something’s broken. The truth is keeping your door well lubricated, nuts and bolts tightened, and being sure the door is well-balanced goes a long way to both its function and how long it will last. Is your garage more than a couple of years old? Have it tuned up annually by a professional garage door service company.

Hire a Quality Garage Door Repair Service

There are a lot of run-of-the-mill, fly-by-night garage door repair companies out there. Do your research before hiring one. Ideally, don’t wait until there’s a problem. A good company is like a dentist. It’s good to know who to go to for both routine work and emergencies. Check out their reputation in the El Dorado Hills area. Talk to your neighbors and get some recommendations.

Know When to Trust a Professional

Some garage door repairs are DIY if you’re pretty good with a screwdriver and a wrench. Other repairs like fixing garage door springs or cables are extremely dangerous. Know when to hire a professional company. They have the knowledge and tools to do the job safely and correctly.

July 23, 2018
Why You Should Install a Sectional Garage Door on Your Tool Shed

Have you ever considered a sectional garage door for your tool shed? There are a number of advantages when it comes to space and accessibility. They don’t work with every structure, but if your shed (or even a small garage) is the right size, a sectional garage door can be an ideal choice.

Space Issues

To fit your shed, you’ll need enough space so that the door can be lifted up under the roof. This means you’ll need at least 110 square feet of floor space to meet the basic needs of physics. That’s about 8 feet wide by 14 feet deep. You’ll also want at least 5 inches of headroom over the head of the door if you are considering installing an electric garage door opener.

Space Advantages

The beauty of a sectional garage door on a shed is space and accessibility. You can open the door without shoveling snow, especially handy if this is where you store your snowblower. You also don’t lose space on the walls by opening the doors inward or sideways. As long as there is enough room between the door and the stuff you are storing, you can pack things pretty tight.

This means you can store large items like snowmobiles, bikes or ATVs more easily. There’s just more room to fit everything.

Have You Considered Installing an Electric Opener?

Another advantage to a sectional door is you can install an electric garage door opener, which simply isn’t an option for most traditional storage doors. So if you are storing a snowmobile or ATV, you don’t have to get off to open the door. It’s as convenient as parking your car in your garage.

Windows

If you don’t already have windows in your shed, they are easy to include in a sectional door. This way you get natural light into your shed, which can be handy if you use it as a work area.

Size Considerations

You have several size options to consider when installing a sectional garage door. The minimal size is about 4 feet with no maximum width. Heights tend to vary between 6 feet or 7 feet, though you could order a custom door for whatever size is necessary.

Keep the Rustic Look

If your shed has a carriage house style, you can still maintain the rustic look with decorative hardware made from wrought iron that mimics the look of hinges and handles. It’s a timeless look that’s beautiful on an old shed. You can still look historic and have an electric opener installed at the same time.

July 16, 2018