Author: Tony M

  • California Spanish Style Home

    From San Diego to Sacramento, there are various Spanish style homes which were built in the 1600s and 1800s. Most Spanish Homes are found in L.A. County from a beach side cottage in Malibu to a hillside mansion in Beverly Hills. Those who own a Spanish home love the personality which lies in the architecture. There’s definitely an earthy vibe from it’s vibrant yet neutral colors. Need us to help point out such style? Look for the low pitched brown roof tops, arched doorways, and a white painted exterior. On the inside? Wooden beams at the ceiling, gorgeous painted tiles on the floors, in the kitchen or in the bathroom, more arches, dark wood and terracotta tiles on the floor.

    Hacienda or Spanish Revival House

    A hacienda refers to a mansion style home. These types of properties are found in many areas of Northern California. Being that some of the older cottages were built over 100 years ago, the new revival wave of Spanish homes are built brand new and with plenty of space in mind. A Hacienda usually contains a large estate with courtyards and plenty of space indoors. Some of these types of homes are also commonly found in our own California neighborhood of Wine Country. The main reason being that there’s plenty of space for vineyards and wine making.

    Spanish Style Garage Space

    Many of the old style homes do not have an attached garage space. Some actually do not have a garage at all. This reflects on what was needed at the time. A garage was definitely not something many opted for in the 1800s. It wasn’t until the 1920s that the first attached garage began to appear and they were often located in the back of the house. Thus, if you’re in the market for purchasing a spanish style home, you might consider building a garage. Unless you’re purchasing a Hacienda or brand new Spanish revival home. The new properties have delicate details which match those of the home. Simply beautiful!

    Attached Garage or Stand Alone?

    Depending on your property, you can decide on whether you’d like an attached garage or stand alone. Detached garages are easier to add and you can add an overhead door. An attached garage also adds comfort as you can easily step into your house without facing rain or heat outside. What about when you need repairs? A detached garage is easier to deal with when it requires maintenance or repairs as it does not connect to your home directly. It really is up to you on what your needs and preferences are.

  • Garage Door Styles For Your Business

    Whether you’re looking to renovate a new space or change up the vibe to a more industrial style, an overhead garage door can be the solution! There are many reasons as to why garage door installations for restaurants and other businesses alike has been a recent hype. Are you on the fence about this conversion? Read our points below as to why this would be a great addition to your business!

    Garage Doors Create More Space

    No matter where in the US of A, many businesses have incorporated glass garage doors for their gym, restaurant or brewery. These types of doors are especially useful for the brewery or distillery. The large opening makes it easy to transport large items or for vehicles to have access inside the property. As for the seasonal weather changes, you can definitely expect more people to come out during the summer months. A restaurant garage door comes in handy for more outdoor seating and for more air to circulate inside. Maybe you’ve opened a cross fit gym in the area? Garage style doors for the gym are great for air circulation and to market your business directly to the outside world.

    Trendy Overhead Garage Glass Door

    Not only is a garage door great for extra space at the bar or for a patio area in a restaurant, it’s also beautiful to look at. With more passerby’s having a chance to glance inside your establishment by way of the garage door opening, the trendier you’ll look. Plus, accommodating more people means more business. Well, what about the cold winter weather? Sure, you’ll have to keep those doors shut for months on end. But for the most part, you can decorate the glass for seasonal holidays and even add decorative lights all around to give it a cozy feel. Plus, with glass windows, the public can still peer in to see what your establishment is all about.

    Safety First, Inspect for Garage Repairs

    Sure, the business garage door style is an amazing idea! Although, safety should always come first. Make sure you have a professional install that frame and perfectly adjust the new overhead door. Well, you can have any type of garage door installed, but the most common is an overhead garage door style. The clear glass aluminum overhead door is hot commodity these days. Nonetheless, you want to make sure your customers feel safe and keep coming back! If you need a garage door repair in the Sacramento area, give us a call and we can schedule an appointment!

  • Instantly Weather Proof Your Garage Door

    If you live in our region of Northern California, also known as Norcal, you’re definitely familiar with the seasons. Known for our wine region due to a Mediterranean climate, the seasons can change from damp wet winters to hot dry summers. California is a very large state and thus SoCal weather is more desert like in comparison to a forest filled NorCal. Have you ever visited the California Redwoods? Definitely makes you feel out of this world! And there’s also snow showers up in the mountain tops of California’s two ranges. The Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada Range, respectively,

    When Does it Start Raining in Sacramento?

    Also known as Sactown, Sacramanto and its neighboring cities have rainy winter months starting in October. Although late season rain can also begin to occur in December. During the wet season, the highest recorded rainfall usually occurs in the month of January. Although most who are native to Northern California are aware for the rainy winter months, this can have a whole different meaning as a new home owner.

    Weatherproofing the Home Garage Door

    Whether you just purchased your home or if you’ve had the house for a few years now, weatherproofing is definitely a necessity. Inhabiting a home for many years equals to random repairs over time. Sometimes it’s hard to notice the new needs of a home, especially when you see it everyday. How is your garage door functioning in terms of keeping water outside of the frame? Have you noticed any sort of flooding recently? If so, you may need weatherproof seals installed for the garage. Some of these are easily installed and can be a cool DIY home project. But, if you need help installing garage seals, definitely give us a call! Garage door seals are also a great addition to keep away unwanted pests, insects, drafts, etc.

    Garage Door Repair for Water Damage

    If there is tremendous water damage to the garage, call us today for the best garage door repair service in town. Perhaps your grandparents haven’t quite noticed the damage on the garage door due to weather conditions. Or maybe you’ve been out of town for months only to find a flooded garage upon arrival. We’re located in the Sacramento area with services provided for Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Clarksville and many more. Here in Northern California, we’re blessed with amazing weather all year round but we must protect our homes from potentially hazardous conditions.

  • 4 Garage Door Styles Trending Right Now

    So, you’ve purchased a new home with awesome garage space. Or perhaps you’re a new business owner who needs some re-design ideas for the newly acquired property. A brand new garage door can be the perfect addition or renovation you’ve been yearning for. With so many options to choose from, what’s a modern garage door design that can remain both elegant and timeless that’ll increase both your property value and your curb appeal?

    A Style That Compliments Your Home or Business

    You can customize a garage door to be the perfect fit in size, paint color or wood stained; plus have additions like extra doors or windows added. Some property owners feel like adding some pop or vibrant color to the home by adding a bold paint color on an overhead style garage door. Others may wish to add a classic vibe with a wooden look. Business owners in particular often want to add an eye-catching and inviting overhead door to entice customers.

    Take the time to explore the options that are out there. If you see a particular design that catches your eye take a picture to some qualified garage professionals who can help you figure out the best way to get those results on your own property.

    Modern Glass Garage Doors

    For a sleek and modern new look, we recommend a glass garage door. Glass overhead doors are a good way to show off your store from the street during colder months. Or perhaps you want to show off that convertible car parked in the garage? Glass is glamorous, super sleek, and adds some class to any building with overhead doors. With a good security door and the high-tech, nigh-indestructible glass fabrications of the present era, glass garage doors are an excellent way to show off your space.

    Craftsman Style Faux Garage Design

    If you’re looking for instant curb appeal, at a low, low price, look no further. You don’t need to install a whole new garage door to up your appearance levels. You can purchase these vinyl decals at a low cost and change up the entire look and feel of an outdated or old garage door. Vinyl decals on your garage might not compare to the real thing a new professionally installed garage door can bring, but it’s a cute addition that can help cover up years of use.

    Tempered Frosted Glass Garage Windows

    Okay, so maybe you prefer some privacy after all while acquiring a glass garage door. If you love the style and the sunlight, but don’t necessarily want to deal with the upkeep of garage window cleaning and potential peepers, then you should go with the tempered frosted windows. Frosted glass looks great pretty much any house, and it comes in multiple levels of opacity. You can also opt out for the white laminate glass on the garage door windows instead. Either or, both of these will up your garage’s curb appeal without sacrificing your privacy like clear glass would.

    Rustic Wooden Garage Doors

    If you’re really looking to turn heads with your garage door’s style, and of course price is no concern, then a classic wooden look may be for you. Wooden garage door’s change the entire aesthetic of your house’s façade to a warmer and inviting look. Price-wise wooden garage doors can be quite expensive, and likely will require a whole new system to operate safely. However, if you’re looking to really make your home pop and give it a high-end look, then wooden garage doors may be right for you.

    We Can Help You Explore Options

    Looking to install a new garage door? Let the garage professionals show you what’s available. We can lend a hand exploring the myriad of stylish options on the market right now for garage doors. We have the experience needed to help you find a new door that is both logistically feasible to install, and add that much desired curb appeal you’re looking for.

  • Quick Tips For Garage Door Safety

    In our experience, most pets and children are afraid of garage doors. They emit loud sounds from the motor and it can always be startling to be exposed to the weather outside. Because of how loud and large garage doors are, it’s no surprise that pets are terrified of them. However, we understand that having an indoor and outdoor cat is also a challenge. Seeing as the garage door is technically an entrance to your home, you might be wondering about the benefits of installing a pet door for your garage. Before you go ahead and make that decision, it’s important to focus on garage door safety tips. 

    How To Keep Your Pets And Kids Safe From The Garage Door

    If you are new to owning a home with an attached garage, it’s likely that you feel anxious about the effects it can have on your pets. To ensure they’re safe, make sure you always know where your pets are roaming before and after a garage door is opening or closing. Consider putting pet barriers or gates near the door attached to the garage. This way they’ll never be able to get into the garage without you knowing. These gates can especially come in handy if they get startled by the noise of the garage door and want to inspect it themselves.

    The same logic extends to your children as well. Make sure you know their whereabouts. Are the kids able to access the garage door opener? Make sure children can’t make their way inside the garage without supervision. If you’re worried, consider placing cameras inside the garage – this can come in handy even beyond the safety of your kids. While we’re discussing the garage, how is your sensor working? Are your door springs rusty? When did you last get the door inspected? In other words, make sure your garage door is operating the way it should be. The best way to get ahead of a potential accident is to have your overhead door inspected and repaired. You never know what can happen if your pet or child wanders into the garage and gets their hands on an extra remote lying around. Call us today to help you with a garage door inspection.

    Having a Pet Door: Pros and Cons

    If you want to give your outdoor pet or cat the ultimate amount of freedom, it’s likely that you’ve considered installing a pet door. Although it might seem like a simple solution, some suggest not to do it. First and foremost, you should always have your pets stay away from the garage door. As we’ve mentioned, garage doors are dangerous fixtures that could hurt your animals. By giving them a safety door that’s attached to the garage, it might  make them too comfortable with the door moving. If your animal confuses the moving door with an entryway while you’re backing out of your garage, you could be dealing with some serious pet injuries.

    However, there’s a reason why pet doors are popular with homeowners. If you trust your animal and have trained them well, garage doors with a pet door can be a great installation.Some may be comfortable with the installation since the weather conditions outside might vary and your pet may need to run it quickly. These doors help accommodate your busy schedule and the pets’ necessity to urinate or play outdoors and safely come back inside to the garage in case of an emergency.

    Installing A Pet Door

    If you think a pet door is the right decision for you and your pet, consult a garage door installation company to receive a quote. Installing a pet door can be relatively difficult if you do not have experience with tools or working on garage doors, so it’s important to seek out licensed professionals. Once your pet door has been installed, spend time training your pet to not use the door while it’s moving to ensure they’re safe! 

  • Safety for the Convenience of a Garage Space

    Most garage owners love having the extra space attached to their home. You can easily store anything in your garage and still make room to park your vehicle inside. A garage also offers a safe space for your beloved car or drum set. The kids wants to start a band with their neighborhood friends? Go ahead and use the garage. A place to build furniture or to start a homebrew kit. Pretty soon, your garage can turn into a very important meeting space. Now, what does this have to do with the new California law?

    Electric Opener vs a Battery Powered Opener

    In case of an emergency, for example: when the power goes out or if there’s a fire, the electric opener will not work. For the elderly or people with disabilities or living alone, this is a huge problem. Getting stuck inside without a battery powered garage door opener can be deadly. This is why the state has focused on a mandatory law which can increase the homeowners spending bill but will ensure safety.

  • Top Door Gadgets to Purchase Right Now

    For one day only, Amazon featured a sale on the Meross Smart Garage Door Opener which features WiFi connectivity, Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, Voice Control and much more. Don’t worry, there are many other to choose from with their own sale dates. You may ask yourself, “so why do I need this type of gadget?” Making your garage door smart is the next step to having a safe and comfortable home environment.

    New Smart Garage Controllers

    Other brands include the ismartgate, Lift Master, Chamberlain and Insignia just to name a few. In addition to what we mentioned above, some of the top features for these gadgets are real-time video monitoring, opening and closing the garage door from anywhere at anytime, two-way audio technology to communicate with others and real time alerts straight to your phone.

  • The Basics to Painting a Garage Door, Fast

    So you’ve come to realize that painting a garage door shouldn’t be more complicated than painting the interior of your home. Well, probably easy for those who really have a knack for painting. But for starters, let’s go over the basics. Grab the most durable paint from your local hardware store so it helps prevent flaking and paint discoloration over time. Make sure you have a compatible primer as well. Next, set up a cloth in front of the door for easy clean up. With a piece of sandpaper start sanding down the rusted areas. Clean the door with diluted soapy water and cover the nadles with masking tape.

    The Best Quality Primer and Paint

    A special shout out to the make-up gurus, you know how important it is to have a great primer before applying the foundation. Just like applying make-up, the garage door paint needs a base. Make sure the primer sets completely (dry) before applying that new beautiful coat of paint. Time to show off the new door the neighborhood.

  • New Garage Door? 3 Installation Upgrades to Consider

    Want to improve the performance of your garage door? If you are considering installing a new garage door, it may be worth upgrading and improving your game. Here are our top 3 upgrades for improved garage doors.

    Heavy Insulation

    You live in El Dorado Hills, California and don’t need insulation? Yeah right. The truth is that a well insulated garage door keeps out the heat in hot climates as well as it keeps out the cold in wintry conditions. This means that in the hot summer, your home will be easier to cool. This will help you save on your electricity bill.

    Get an Impact Resistant Garage Door

    Older doors just aren’t that impact resistant. They dent easily. Overtime, it really shows. (In fact, dented and banged up garage doors are the most common reason for new garage door installation.) Fortunately, newer garage doors are designed to be impact resistant. This is great if you’ve got kids. It’s worth investing in a higher quality door because it will be dent resistant and will last a lot longer.

    Battery Backup

    In El Dorado Hills, California, battery backup is required on all new doors. This became law this year in an effort to address wildfire concerns. This way, your door will open even when the power’s out. Honestly, it’s a great feature to have and worth installing as an upgrade even if you don’t get a new door. Whether you live in California where it’s required or you have an older door, battery backup is just a matter of convenience.

  • We Answered Your 3 Most Common Questions to Garage Door Opener Repair

    We rely on our garage doors every day. Most of the time, they work so well it’s easy to take the opener itself for granted for granted. It’s only when something goes wrong that we even think about garage door repair. And when it does, it’s extremely stressful — only because we rely on our doors so much. When a door gets stuck, refuses to open, or doesn’t close all the way, it feels like the end of the world.

    That’s when our customers call us — and boy do they have a lot of questions. We don’t mind. We’re happy to help. But we thought we take some time to answer some of your most common frequently asked questions about garage door opener repair so you can brush up online.

    Why Isn’t My Garage Door Opener Remote Working?

    Honestly? Nine times out of 10 it’s a battery issue. Replace the batteries, and it’s good to go. The repair was so simple that many people overlook it. In fact, we stock the trucks we send out for garage door emergency repair with batteries for this very reason.

    Another reason is you might be trying to open the door from too far away. Many doors don’t open well at a long distance range. You might also want to check the antenna on your garage door opener. Make sure it’s not bent, missing, or otherwise dysfunctional.

    My Wall Switch Won’t Work! What Gives?

    Again, this is often an electrical issue. Many times, it’s as simple as a flipped fuse or an unplugged opener. Check both. It could be a more complicated wiring problem, which may require an electrician. Before you call a professional for garage door repair, check to see if the opener is in a locked position. The lock on an opener can either be engaged with a separate button or by holding down on the remote button for an extended period. It’s an often overlooked feature, but pretty handy for going on vacation.

    My Opener Still Doesn’t Work! Help!

    Not exactly a question, but we’ll still try to address this issue nonetheless. There are many reasons why your garage door won’t open. Let’s break down a few of the most common.

    It could be a blocked power source, disconnected wires. It may be the sensitivity levels in your opener are not set appropriately. It could be that the gears in the motor of your opener are stripped. In this case, your motor will need replaced.

    If your stuck, or more exactly your garage door is stuck and you’re not sure what to do, call us! We offer 24/7 emergency garage door repair to the El Dorado Hills area. We’ll come fix it at 6 in the morning — even on Christmas! Relax. We’ve got your back.