Nowadays, with the Internet at everyone’s fingertips, you can see all sorts of myths being spread and many people don’t bother to find out the truth. You might not believe it, but myths exist about garage door systems. Some of these have been spread for years and years, while others seem to be more recent. Regardless of how long they have been around, getting rid of them can be a lot of trouble.
If you are a current garage door owner or you are looking for a new one, it’s important to be aware of what is true and what is false. You don’t want to be taken in by something that isn’t realistic. If you aren’t sure about a certain statement, a garage door expert can let you know what the truth is.
All garage doors are essentially created the same way
A garage door is a garage door is a garage door, right? That actually isn’t entirely true. For one thing, the material that is used to create a door isn’t always the same. Doors can be aluminum, wood, and metal. Each of these options has its own perks and downfalls. Aluminum is known for being lightweight while doors made entirely of glass let in a ton of sunlight. Metal is known for the best strength and the most practicality, while wood is considered the most beautiful garage door option. What really matters is which material best meets your needs.
Not all garage doors are the same thickness either. Someone with a 16 x 7 ft double garage doors might come in 1 ¾ inch thick and be filled with polyurethane foam. That’s because when you are outside working and leave the door open for an extended time, both of those things make the door more solid and strong than the alternative.
Insulating a garage door isn’t something you need to do
Sure, a garage door is there to close the garage when a vehicle is inside. That might lead you to think insulation isn’t needed. That might be true with a detached garage away from your home that you store no valuables in. However, if you have an attached garage and important items in it, you want to have insulation on all the walls and that includes the garage door. If you have a bedroom over the garage, that’s another good reason to install a weathertight insulated garage door. You may also appreciate that this can cut down on your energy costs. With effective thermal breaks and weatherstripping, you protect yourself from the cold and can keep the space cool in the summer.
Repairing a garage door can be done by anyone
It might seem like swapping out a part on the garage door would be simple, but the truth is that it isn’t. Just like you wouldn’t hand a random person your tablet to fix a technical issue, you shouldn’t try working on your own garage door. This doesn’t count doing maintenance, which is possible by anyone. You can tighten up screws and inspect your door visually without running into problems. If you need to have something a bit more serious taken care of, contact us at Doorcraft Manufacturing Ltd.. We are able to determine what the problem is and take care of it for you.
Maintenance isn’t important for garage doors
You might think your garage is simple and that means there is no need to maintain it. You push a button and the door comes up then push it again or the door to come down again. That isn’t true, though. As with any appliance in the home, caring for your garage door at least once a year is crucial. If you use your garage door as the main way to get into your home, this is even more important. The largest mechanical object in the house is your garage door, which means a certain level of respect needs to be used. Refer to this guide to learn more about how to maintain and care for the garage door to keep it in great order.
Garage doors are supposed to make lots of noise
The average garage door has a ton of moving parts, which makes it less than surprising that it makes some noise. In fact, most of the components of your garage door are crafted out of metal for high durability and strength. This is why it is so important to listen to your door on a regular basis. Both the hardware system, including tracks, rollers, and lifting springs, and the electric door opener can change sounds when something is wrong. If this is something you have noticed occurring, make haste in contacting us.
There’s no need to worry about safety
Wondering if garage doors can be dangerous? If you aren’t paying attention to potential malfunctions, the doors can be. There’s a piece of data what you should be aware of that comes from the US National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. On an annual basis, more than 10,000 garage door accidents occur that involve crushed fingers, being hit, and other injuries. Keep that in mind, when understanding why keeping the door in the best shape is so important.
The most important things to pay attention to are the two automatic reverse mechanisms, one of which is mechanical and the other of which is photoelectric. Testing these systems twice a year is recommended and won’t take up too much time. Place a 2x4 on the floor under an open garage door to test the mechanical system before trying to close the door. Once the door touches the wood, it should start to reverse. As for the other system, start it closing and put your foot out in front of the units on the side of the door a few inches from the floor. This should cause the door to reverse and go back up. Does either system not work right? You should immediately get in touch with us.
Repairs for garage doors are super expensive
It might seem outlandish that a technician can come out and swap some components on the door only to leave you with a bill for a few hundred dollars. The bills can seem pretty high, but there are two ways to avoid them as much as possible:
- Twice a year, be sure to do regular maintenance on your garage door to prevent needing work done on it. The sooner you find an issue, the quicker and less expensive fixing it will be. If you prefer, we can offer a tune‑up program, so you don’t have to do it on your own.
- Before you have any kind of repair work done, make sure you get an explanation of what will be done and how much it is going to cost. This is something you can ask when you call in, but you also should verify the amount when someone comes out to your home. A garage door professional can give you an idea of what needs to be done as well as providing tips to prevent problems in the future.
The inexpensive garage door openers work just as well as the others
It might seem strange to spend $200 or more for a garage door opener that comes from a dealer when there are cheaper options online. However, you may not always know what you are getting when you order from the Internet. Think about these things: how often are you and other household members using the garage door to get into your home? You should also consider whether you find safety important, which most people do.
So why are some garage doors more expensive than others? One of the reasons is because many of the less expensive garage doors have trolleys made of three pieces, which means the bolts are going to untighten more often and the opener is not going to be as strong. This is true especially if you have a double door of 16 x 7 ft. Another thing to know about inexpensive Internet units is that they often do not come with a wall unit. This prevents you from reprogramming your remote. Many of the less expensive models also have fewer accessories. Think about how much these things matter to you before you go with a budget version. The last thing you want is to end up buying a second garage door opener when the first doesn’t meet all your needs.
Everything else you should know
If you are located in or near Fredericton, you can get in touch with us at 506-450-3031. We have a great knowledge of garage doors and we can help you choose the right system to meet your budget and specific needs.
Add new comment