Garage doors cover up to 40% of your home’s front facade, so they play a major role in your curb appeal. Norman Garage Door can instantly modernize your home or add character to an older house.
Some of today’s biggest companies got their start in someone’s garage. What’s more, many garage doors can be customized to fit your aesthetic.
The garage door is a modern convenience that has evolved from its humble beginnings to play a huge role in the way we live. It’s the perfect example of that old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” As people began driving automobiles, it became obvious that they needed a place to store them away from the elements. They started by storing their cars in sheds and barn-like structures with doors that opened outward. This was a pretty messy approach, especially in the winter.
Eventually, people realized that they could make their garages more convenient by putting up overhead doors, like the ones on the front of houses. These were much easier to open than standard doors, and they allowed you to keep your car out of the elements without having to leave your vehicle.
However, these new overhead doors were still quite heavy and not terribly easy to operate. In 1921, C.G. Johnson came up with the idea of making garage doors that could be lifted upwards, folding parallel to the ceiling of the garage. This was a game-changer, and five years later, he also invented the electric opener to help with the lifting process.
Today, garage doors come in a variety of materials and styles to suit any home’s aesthetic. They can be made of steel, aluminum, wood composites, vinyl, and more. They can even be insulated to improve energy efficiency. However, a good portion of all garage doors are still made from wood. They are built from sections that are joined together by hinges on the end stiles and center stiles of each section. These sections are then welded or bolted to the horizontal track.
The earliest garage doors were made from wood and attached to a single door opening on the outside of the house. As more and more people owned automobiles, entrepreneurs saw the potential to build large garages for automobile storage and charged a monthly fee. These became known as “parking lots.” It wasn’t until the automobile boom in the 1700s that these garages went out of business, and individuals started to build private, fee-based garages for their vehicles at their homes.
The Basics of Garage Door Repair
Garage doors are often one of the most overlooked parts of the home. They protect our vehicles, belongings and possessions from the elements and would-be burglars, but are typically far from our minds until something goes wrong. When that happens, it is critical to act quickly and hire a professional to diagnose and fix the problem. This is especially true for homeowners who are unfamiliar with working on garage doors. Attempting to repair a garage door without the proper knowledge and experience can lead to costly damage and further problems down the road.
Spring Assembly
The springs that support the weight of a garage door help it open and close, but they can wear out over time. It is important to regularly visually inspect the springs and other hardware components for signs of wear or tear. It is also recommended to lubricate the hinges and rollers of the door, though caution should be taken when lubricating plastic parts as some types of lubricants can cause them to break down over time.
Hinges
The hinges are located in between each sectional piece of the garage door. They are designed to bend when the door is opened or closed, allowing it to move smoothly and to help with the overall weight distribution of the garage door. It is important to inspect and replace any damaged hinges as soon as possible.
Tracks
The tracks that the garage door runs along are important for allowing it to move easily and safely. They should be free of any dirt, debris or rust, and they should always be properly aligned. It is also a good idea to periodically clean the tracks with a mild solvent like cleaner or paint thinner to keep them in good condition.
Weather Stripping
The weather stripping on the bottom of a garage door is designed to create a tight seal against the ground to prevent drafts, dust and pests from entering the home. Depending on the type of weather stripping, it may be made from rubber, foam or brush. Some types of weather stripping are able to be replaced on the door itself, while others must be removed and replaced by a professional.
Garage Door Installation
Garage door installation is a complicated process with many parts and components. Having a professional do the job will ensure proper, safe and long-lasting operation of your new door.
First, the installer will inspect the frame and track mounts for rot or other damage. He’ll also use a level and square to check the framing for level and squareness. This is important because a poorly-constructed or unlevel garage door can create problems that are difficult and expensive to fix later.
Next, he’ll assemble the hinges that connect the door’s sections together and install the vertical and horizontal tracks. He’ll then align and anchor the springs to the header bracket. He’ll also bolt the garage door’s motor to the ceiling to give it power to open and close the door. He’ll also install infrared sensors to prevent people or pets from getting trapped under the door.
Once the installer has all of these parts installed, he’ll finish up by connecting the opener wires to the photo eyes and wall button. He’ll also replace the exposed wires if they are nicked or worn. It’s a good idea to have your installer run new wires anyway since these are the ones that are most likely to get damaged over time by tripping on objects or being hit with cars.
Depending on your preferences and budget, you may decide to add extra features to the garage door. For example, some homeowners choose to have the door insulated to prevent heat loss in colder months and to help cut down on noise transmission between rooms. Another optional feature is weather stripping, which provides a barrier against moisture and pests like rodents.
Some older garage doors used extension springs to counter-balance the weight of the door. These springs required containment cables to prevent broken spring parts from flying around the garage if they broke. Newer garage doors, however, usually use shaft-mounted torsion springs, which don’t need containment cables. Lastly, you can also have your garage door equipped with a remote control and keypad, which will allow you to open and close the garage door without having to get out of your car.
Garage Door Replacement
If your garage door is making squealing noises or vibrates excessively as it moves, it may be time to replace it. Buying a new garage door can be an expensive upgrade, but it can also boost home value and give the entryway a fresh look. In addition, the average homeowner can expect to recoup about 95 percent of the cost when it comes time to sell.
Many homeowners are surprised to find that modern options are available in an array of attractive styles and price points. Wood, steel and aluminum are among the most common materials in use today, but manufacturers also offer faux wood and vinyl doors that are relatively inexpensive. It’s important to note that material selection will affect price, as will any additional customizations or upgrades.
For example, insulated doors generally carry a higher price tag than non-insulated models. In addition to providing energy savings, insulated garage doors also boast higher R-values than other types. The best way to compare prices is to start online, where you can browse stock and semi-custom looks and drop them onto images of your house. Many companies also offer virtual “try-on” options, where you can get a sense of how different doors will look on your home.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll need to determine the size of door that you need. The most common sizes are single-car and two-car doors, but you can also buy custom-sized garage doors if your home requires it. It’s also important to check for safety features, such as a wall-mounted switch that can be activated even when the garage door is down. It’s critical to ensure that this switch is mounted at the highest point possible — above the reach of children — so they can’t open and operate the garage door.
Finally, it’s a good idea to install weatherstripping on the bottom of the door to keep moisture and pests out of the garage. A number of different types of weatherstripping are available, including vinyl, rubber strips or gaskets and brush or pile. Each type offers a unique set of advantages and disadvantages, but all provide effective sealing against drafts and insects.