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June is Garage Door Safety Month

The International Door Association and the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association have designated June as Garage Door Safety Month.

Garage door manufacturers, like First United Door Technologies,  and garage door dealers throughout the U.S. and other countries are working to increase awareness of the possible hazards of garage doors and automatic opener systems, and the need for periodic inspection and maintenance to keep them safe.

It’s important that the public is aware of garage door safety and that safety checks should be done to insure it’s in proper working order by using these ten garage door safety and security tips.

1. Make sure garage door opener control button is out of the reach of small children.

2. Do not let children play with garage door remote controls.

3. Consult the owner’s manual and learn how to use the garage door’s emergency release feature.

4. Visually inspect the garage door each month. Look at springs, cables, rollers and pulleys for signs of wear. Do not attempt to remove, adjust or repair these parts or anything attached to them. A trained door repairman must make adjustments to these parts, which are under high tension.

5. Test the garage door opener’s reversing mechanism monthly by placing a 2 x 4 board or a [more]

Carriage House Garage Doors Are Opening Up Homes to Beauty and Value

Garage doors just aren’t what they used to be. The garage door is a fundamental part of the blueprint, structural design and sanctuary of a home. The garage door is one of the most important visual features of a home, representing up to a third or even more of the front. They are now eye-catching, beautiful and — dare we say it? — even “cool.” In a marketplace where enhanced curb appeal, residential diversity, and neotraditional architecture are in demand by municipalities, we’re seeing an onslaught of more unique garage door styles, especially steel, three-section, carriage house-style garage doors.

Carriage house garage doors help us recall the charm of that turn-of-the-century swinging barn-door style, behind which hid a jaunty horse-drawn carriage. Today’s doors may look attractively retro, but they are also durable and they open overhead like any other modern sectional garage door.

Original carriage house doors were made of wood. Garage doors today are made from various materials including wood, composite and steel. Each type offers its own benefits, characteristics and costs.

Most builders and homeowners want affordable beauty with low maintenance. That means a moderately priced, steel, carriage house garage door. Because they are all steel, all the parts expand and [more]

12 Reasons You Need A New Garage Door & Opener

Here are a dozen reasons why you need a new garage door and garage door opener.

1. New garage doors can increase the value of your home.

An online survey says that 71% of homeowners who recently replaced their garage door believe it increased the value of their home. When nationwide real estate agents were shown “before” and “after” photos of houses upgraded with new, stylish garage doors, they increased the list price of the home anywhere from 1 to 4 percent. That means a $2,000+ investment in a garage door could increase the sale value of your home by as much as $7,000 if you’re selling a $175,000 home. Look at some dramatic “before and after” photos at GarageWowNow.com, and you’ll see the difference a new garage door can make.

2. New garage doors can put money back in your pocket.

The Federal Government’s Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 extends tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. This includes qualifying insulated garage doors. That means that adding a new garage door in 2009 can save you money by helping to lower home energy consumption and costs AN D it will help pay for itself this year through the tax credit incentive, [more]

It’s cold out there: Is your garage door insulated?

An insulated garage door can create a stable, dry, warm atmosphere all year round as well as vastly increasing the security, soundproofing and sealing properties of the garage door opening from dust, vermin, leaves and rain.

It will also help to save you some money on your energy bills. This is why the demand for insulated garage doors is increasing year on year as so many garages are now used for many other purposes other than storing a vehicle.

Insulated garage doors offer various advantages over standard garage doors namely:

1.They allow the garage to be used for other uses – e.g. hobbies, gym, play room, office, damp proof secure storage etc. etc.

2.They keep adjoining rooms and bedrooms above the garage warmer.

3.They offer increased security due to thicker and stronger door construction.

4.Weather stripping prevents leaves and debris blowing into the garage.

5.Weather stripping stops heat loss and prevents cold air getting into the garage.

6.An insulated garage door will help save on your heating bills and help the environment.

7.Reduced condensation.

Garage Doors: Threshold to a Home

The garage is the shelter for your car. That is its main function. Hence, most people then think about their garage doors as strictly functional. They protect the contents of the garage. Now, more and more people care about how they look. The garage doors have to look good and welcoming. Garage doors after all make a huge personal statement about one’s taste and style.

The garage is considered the threshold of a home. First thing that we come faced up with when we enter a house is usually the garage door. Garage doors are becoming a major design element as they say. Most homeowners use the garage as the primary entrance to the house and are subject to much wear and tear. It is only fitting that the garages must be impressive and attractive, as it is durable and secured. The style and the condition of the garage door is influential on the appearance and impression that the house projects.

Today, several manufacturers have created different styles of garage doors with various exceptional features to choose from. The appearances of garage doors have improved dramatically over the past few years adding to the aesthetic value of your home. The erstwhile [more]

Break Into Your Garage from the Outside (…and how to prevent others from doing it.)

Can’t get into your own house?

Got a garage?

Just stick a long metal wire with a hook on the end through the door to grab the garage door latch and force it to lift the door open. You can get back into your garage in seconds with this trick. (See the video below for a demonstration.) If you’d like to prevent people from doing this to you, all you need to do is bind your opener’s quick door release lever with a zip tie. This will make your emergency latch a bit more difficult to open, but you won’t have to worry about any troublesome individuals breaking into your garage with this trick.

Friday Funny!

OMG! Garage Door Noise

No we’re not talking about the kind of noise that local garage band is making, we’re talking about that irritating and annoying noise caused by the opening and closing of your garage door.

So what’s the cause?

For starters, old garage door parts that have gone worn out for ages may be the cause for the annoying garage door noise. These worn out garage door parts may include hinges, garage door rollers or garage door springs. It’s also often caused because of poor care and garage door maintenance. Replacing the worn out parts plus timely garage door maintenance could greatly increase the unlikelihood for hearing the next garage door noise. Conducting regular and periodic garage door maintenance can prevent costly repair expenses and give longevity to your door.

Most of the garage door noises you hear are often cause by the door itself. Consequently, a quality garage door is more likely to be quiet and less annoying.

Different kinds of garage door openers also produce different volumes of noise. With a chain drive garage door opener, you can expect it to be the noisiest of all openers. Screw drive garage doors are better because they produce less noise. Surpassing that of a screw drive [more]

Garage Doors Can Make a Change

Updating your curb appeal adds value and beautifies your home simultaneously.

A house with curb appeal stands out from the other homes and is noticed because it provides us with simple visual pleasure every time we pass by.

Here are some ideas that you can use to enhance your home and create curb appeal with your garage doors.

In an era when two-car garages are becoming standard in new home construction and door sizes are increasing to accommodate SUV’s and RV’s, garage door design matters more than ever in distinguishing the look of a home.

They come in a variety of design styles, colors, decorative windows, insulation values, material and sizes. The garage door is the largest working part of a house and often its most prominent feature. So, when you are buying, you want to choose carefully. Garage door replacement is one of the better home improvement projects in terms of recouping value when a house sells.

The right garage door can make or break many of those curb-appeal enhancements and considering the style of your home before purchasing a new garage door is important. If your house is Victorian, Farmhouse Country or Mid Century Modern, it will have an impact of what [more]

Garage Door Security for the Holidays

This can be a hectic time of year, and if you’re planning to go away for the holidays, it’s all too easy to overlook crisis prevention.

While dashing around packing presents and suitcases, be conscious of any and all safety measures you should take before you start your travels. One of the more valuable tips for avoiding trouble while you’re away is about securing your garage door.

You must treat the door from your garage into your home as seriously as you do your front and back doors. It’s often the preferred door for a burglar to break in because after they get in your garage they can close the garage door and then break into your house from inside your garage without being seen by neighbors.

Having a second car parked in the driveway is always a good idea. Keeping the garage door opener in the vehicle while you’re gone is not. Be sure to remove the garage door opener and lock the door that connects the garage to the house before you leave.

Your garage door can and should be monitored by your security alarm just like your other doors are. With the holiday season coming up fast, keeping burglars out of [more]