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Why is garage door lifespan so essential for a home? Your garage door installation in Clearwater, Florida, is a focal point for your home and business. Meaning you can significantly enhance your homes or business curb appeal with a new garage door. Besides adding to your property’s value, your garage door provides a helpful point of entry and a sense of security. So, with your garage door being such a significant part of your property, you guarantee that it well maintained!

For instance, by inspecting your garage door and testing the safety sensors, you’ll know whether any parts are malfunctioning. Doing maintenance and fixing require parts will increase the garage door lifespan and avoid complicated garage door replacement in Clearwater service calls.

However, if you’re like most people, you won’t notice your garage door unless it makes loud noises or quits working. Let’s, find out how you can increase the lifespan of your garage door:

Two main components

It’s critical to know there are two main components of the garage door; the door itself and the torsion springs. For the garage door itself, the panels and frame—these parts weather the elements outside to guard your autos and different assets. The torsion springs make the garage door open and close safely.

Garage door

To make sense of the life span of your residential or commercial garage door, think about the daily usage. Do you use it always as the main entrance or mostly only for storing boxes? Besides usage, think about the construction quality, maintenance, and weather that your garage door faces.

For instance, an aluminum or steel garage door can last about 20 years, but a wooden door needs much more maintenance to last as long because of the material difference. Wood garage doors have warping and insects issues that steel and aluminum don’t.

Torsion springs

Concerning the torsion springs lifespan, you’ll get somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 cycles (cycle = one opening and closing the entryway). So, on average, you will get 8 to 12 years.

Below you can see the lifespan of 10,000 cycle springs determine by daily usage:

2 times every day = around 14 years

4 times every day = around 7 years

6 times every day = around 5 years

8 times every day = around 3 years

If you don’t like those numbers, then purchase a better quality garage door spring to get more usage and maintenance-free years.

The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance

You can extend the lifespan of your garage door and the parts by following a simple annual preventive maintenance program. A well-maintain garage door will last more years and require less expensive fixes. Most garage door installers like Sure Fix Garage Door Repair give regular maintenance services to clients who are not familiar with a garage door operation.

The increasing lifespan of your garage door includes regular cleaning and lubricating parts. Cleaning the door with a mix of mild detergent and water. Waxed steel doors can handle the effects of extreme climate. Wood garage doors are the most beautiful but need to be repainted whenever there are any signs of peeling or chipping so it will last longer than unprotected doors.

Garage door sensors perform a critical role in safety and everyday operations. They prevent the entryway from opening if there is an obstruction in the pathway. Keep the area around the sensor free from spider webs and clean the sensor eye with a dry cloth.

About every 3 to 6 months, it is essential to apply lubricant to door springs, hinges, and rollers. A normal penetrating oil or spray graphite compound will function admirably, but heavy oils will accumulate dirt and grime.

Sure Fix Garage Door Repair

Your home or business property is the greatest investment you will ever make, and you need to ensure the value of that investment increases. We realize that residential and commercial garage door issues start small.

However, if they go unnoticed, lead to the entryway binding, damaged panels, the entryway being off the track, and worse. Try not to let your garage door get to where you’ll need a new one! Call us today and keep your investment in tip-top shape!

We rarely consider garage door maintenance in Clearwater as a part of our home requirements. However, any part of a home (garage) that we always use will require care. No one enjoys the thought of having a major garage door repair in Clearwater, FL, service bill. Often, people will get frustrated because they could have dodged the issue from the beginning with early upkeep prevention. Read below how a garage door tune-up will enable your entryway to work properly and save you cash:

Purchase the best garage door from the start

If you want to save some cash on your garage door, ensure you purchase a quality one from the start. By smartly investing more cash into the door at the start, you’ll find that it lasts longer than if you purchase a less expensive entryway. To find the correct garage door, ask these questions below.

For instance, what sort of equipment does the door uses? Ensure the parts on the entryway, including the outside weather-stripping, are of high quality. Become familiar with the entryway by going online or using YouTube to find the best brand you like and finding what makes it a great option. Also, if you live up north make sure your garage door has insulation so you can save money on your utility bills. Don’t burn through cash on a door that doesn’t have the durability you require.

Keep the door well-maintained

Besides picking an extraordinary door, ensure you maintain your garage door properly. Garage doors have large parts that are always moving so the chances that something could turn out badly, or that parts could wear out increases twofold. This is a genuine statement even when you have a quality door. When you have a new entryway, it shouldn’t have any issues at first. However, if it gets old, ensure that you look for potential issues, for example, strange or loud noises.

So, as the garage door gets older, you need to have an expert come to the house to give it a tune-up. These experts can furnish you with a full inspection of the entryway to check for any issues, and they can give pointers, changes, and lubrication.

You can likewise lubricate the equipment by yourself. You can lubricate the parts of the entryway that move against each other, for example, the hinges, springs, and rollers.

Manage the issue immediately

The more you wait to manage the issue with your garage door the more problematic it will get. If you wait too long to have your door fix or maintain, the expense of the repair will probably increase costing you more cash. If you heard weird screams or grinding from the entryway, or notice that the entryway doesn’t open correctly, call an expert to have it replaced or fixed.

Don’t do DIY Repairs!

Although you can prevent damages by lubricating the entryway, that should be the extent of your work. Please, don’t do a DIY repair even if it looks like a straightforward home project. These systems are under much pressure and can put you at risk and possibly dangerous situations. Often, homeowners fix a running faucet or hammer a nail into a panel but the garage door is a different beast. If you have issues, you will need to contact an expert so they can deal with the problem.

Hire the best company

When you need an expert to assist you with your garage door system, hire the best garage door company, right? Hiring someone or a company who doesn’t have experience or skills with your garage door system could prompt issues. For instance, they probably won’t fix the garage door properly the first time around, which prompts more calls and excuses. They could also damage the entryway and system. Many disreputable companies may likewise attempt to charge you more than you should pay.

So, it is genuine to invest some time to find an organization that has excellent notoriety in the field like Sure Fix Garage Door Repair. Hire a company with many good reviews and satisfy customers.

A quality garage door installation in Clearwater, Florida, is something special that you should enjoy. These beautiful entryways make much of your home’s curb appeal which means a lot of design goes into this! Yes, with the present styles and materials of entryways accessible nowadays, it’s getting simpler to catch the attention of your neighbors with your modern garage door design. However, a noisy garage door grabs the attention of your neighbors negatively. 

Noisy garage doors are a typical issue for property owners. Regardless if you hear rattles, squeaks or shrieks like in a scary movie, it is a solid indicator of an approaching garage door repair Clearwater, Florida service call. There are some reasons your entryway is making noise, all of which show that something isn’t right: 

Bent tracks 

Bent tracks are a typical guilty party for an uproarious garage door. The tracks are the railings that guide your entryway open and shut. When they get bent, it makes rubbing noises that can awaken an entire home and even neighborhood! When you see loose screws along the rails is an indicator of bent tracks. 

Loose parts 

Usually, loose parts cause loud garage door noises. The garage door rollers, hinges, nuts, and bolts will loosen up when not properly maintained. The effect comes as loud shaking or vibrating sounds. 

Check the garage door opener chain 

A loose opener chain makes boisterous slapping sounds and causes a jerky entryway movement that smacks the rollers against the track. Therefore, start by tightening the chain but first find this technique in your owner’s manual. When you have a track drive opener, the following step is to lubricate the opener track with grease. Now, if you have a screw drive opener, grease the threads. 

Lubrication

Another reason for a noisy garage door involves a lack of lubrication. A significant part of the equipment of your garage door depends on well-lubricated parts that when lubricated work to create smooth functioning. Without the lubrication, we put an additional strain on the opener, resulting in horrible squeaks and grinding commotions. 

The unique lubricant Prime Flo penetrates the parts as a liquid and dries to shape a non-tacky grease that won’t draw in dirt and dust, which can gum things up. Lubricate all the moving parts at least once every six months to lessen wear and keep the entryway quiet. Avoid using different oils since they don’t penetrate as well and will pick up residue and grit. Residue and grit are exactly what you don’t need in garage door springs. 

Garage door maintenance tips 

Fortunately, a significant number of the above issues are preventable and fixable through garage door maintenance. It’s recommended that you contact an expert garage door services to inspect your door twice per year. As the biggest most used moving appliance of your house, it’s critical to ensure that everything works well. Maintenance is incredible for the consumer since your expert can address small issues and prevent further issues from developing. This saves you cash on costly fixes and time spent waiting for your entryway to work. 

We’re glad to share a couple of tips to make your garage door calmer: 

Do an inspection of your garage door rollers. If your rollers are worn, damaged, or not spinning, you must buy replacement ones. 

Consider installing a modern garage door opener. How old is your current opener? As time passes, the opener gets more used, and it becomes worn and noisy. A new garage door opener can eliminate the noise and make the ride a smooth operation for your garage doors! 

Like I said above, the metal parts of your garage door system need lubricant. The rollers, hinges, tracks, and springs all require a lubricant to work their best. 

Manufacturers designed commercial garage door installation in Clearwater, FL, with safety features to prevent accidents. However, in some business environments, many employees could walk or drive under your garage door. Your employees aren’t looking to get injured when they arrive at work every day even if they work in a high-risk environment. As a business owner or supervisor, garage door safety is something that needs some consideration. 

Regardless if the garage door stays open all the time or opens and closes repeatedly during the day, it is critical to take the best safety precautions to protect your workers from an unexpected accident. What are the most ideal approaches to protect your workers regarding your commercial garage door installation? 

Ensure you have a modern garage door

The more modern your commercial garage door is, the higher the odds of cutting edge security features. Have you checked whether your present door has safety features set up? If not, consider adding the safety features or replacing your garage door with a modern one. 

Invest in garage doors designed for safety

Like I mention above, ensure you have a commercial garage door with modern safety features that prevent accidents. Upgrade to new doors to ensure you’re compliant with overhead door regulations. The operating controls need set up in a place that keeps employees from dangers in case a garage door breakdown. Get some information about the different security highlights, for example, the sensor that turns on the door drive motor that automatically reverses direction when it detects resistance. Some garage doors always require a constant touch of a button to open or close an entryway. 

Ensure an expert installs and fixes your entryway

If you are getting a new entryway, don’t install it yourself or with an unskilled team. Allow experienced experts a chance to deal with the job. This will guard your employees against injury during installations and after. More likely the entryway will get installed correctly — which means an accident is less likely. Also, don’t compromise safety by being cheap regarding repairs. Ensure an expert repairs your garage door and has much experience who comprehend what they are doing. Make sure they use original parts. 

Schedule routinely maintenance 

Similar to other equipment and machinery, commercial garage doors have many parts that, if faulty, can bring about accidents. These parts include sensors, springs, support rails, and opener systems. Therefore, have qualified specialists routinely check the state of these parts and inspect the operations of the entryway. 

If one of your springs malfunctions or total breakdown, there’s no chance of knowing about it until it snaps, which can place your employees at risk. Twice a year maintenance by experts can assist you in identifying a potential issue and fix it before it turns into risk. 

Train employees 

Besides doing maintenance and repairs of the garage door, it’s significant to ensure you train workers in its operation. The training needs to include an overview of potential risks. The company that installs your garage door needs to give this training or at least give you tips. These tips can be straightforward as keeping a safe distance from the doors while operating the entryway. Your workplace safety program should be broad, considering all areas of your operations. Likewise, written rules need to be accessible to all employees and strictly followed. 

Call for repairs right away 

When your garage door isn’t working appropriately, don’t wait until the next day or the week or even the month. Call for fixes immediately and find a safe way to use it until the experts come to fix it. 

If you need commercial garage door installation or maintenance in the Clearwater, Florida, call Sure Fix Garage Door Repair. We have garage door experts who know how to ensure your door works well for operations. Get in touch with us to request services or to get a quote on installing a new commercial garage door.

A garage door installation in Clearwater is a home project that is more dangerous than others. A garage door can be an indispensable part of your property and in many occurrences, it can upgrade the overall look and feel of your home. It is a critical part of your home and a top reason you shouldn’t do it alone. You need to hire an expert garage door installation service to fit your new door.

So, what are the dangers of trying to install a garage door yourself and more significantly what are the things you truly need to consider?

Providing an inaccurate measurements

While it may appear to be straightforward, taking the measurements of your garage door is an important part of the procedure. There are various things to think about when taking measurements for a garage door and many homeowners don’t know the procedure.

Thus, if you miscalculate your measurements and submit them to your specialist, you will receive an entryway that won’t fit.

When this happens, regrettably, you can’t just send the entryway back and request a replacement. Therefore, this will cost you cash and it will take you more time to get the door you need.

It is a complicated job

A garage door may appear to be light when we open them with a controller. However, when they are not fitted correctly, they are bulky, large and difficult to work, not forgetting they weight a lot.

A small single garage door can weigh 130 pounds or more with accessories and a double door could weigh over 400 pounds.

If you try to do the installation yourself there is a wide range of dangers that you may face. You could injure yourself and your helper while trying to move the entryway into place. Moreover, you can damage the door too while attempting to move it causing severe damages. This will bring about you replacing it or repair it, the two of which will cost you more cash. Not to mention if you hurt yourself, a visit to the hospital.

There are intricate parts

A garage door is more than the huge door that we see at the entrance of our carport. To work effectively, it requires its mechanism and springs to work properly. These doors are intricate machines that need proper care. So, when you need to use it to gain entry or to exit the garage it will open and close effortlessly.

Safety

When you don’t install your garage door right, it could cause damages and injuries to the people who use it. Often the DIY rookie didn’t secure the parts correctly or may have not installed the parts right, all of which can represent a genuine hazard to the people who live there including pets.

Ways you can hurt yourself when doing a DIY garage door repair

While many things can turn out badly during DIY garage door repair, three accidents stand apart as the most widely recognized. The below accidents should serve as proof for you to pass on DIY garage door repairs:

Falls: Garage door repairs require that you use a stool or ladder. Yet working off the ground or close to the ceiling can place you in circumstances that make falls almost certain. If you fall, you could harm yourself or another person, and you may likewise damage the hardware.

Springs: The springs are the top danger mortgage holder’s face when working on their garage door. Torsion springs are under tremendous tension and pressure. It’s the tension and pressure that make your garage door raise and lower effortlessly. However, springs also may turn a garage door repair hazardous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Experts know how to deal with torsion springs and how to keep them from being projectiles that could cause genuine harm to everyone working in the carport.

Breakdown: Garage entryways weight hundreds of pounds. So when your inexperience and attempting to perform DIY fix, the probability of a garage door falling on top of you increases twofold.

Hire a Local Garage Door Expert

Don’t ignore the significance of using a garage door specialist. They have knowledge about garage door installations and repairs which implies that they better comprehend the entire procedure. Therefore, get the correct measurements, take advantage of a secure and safe installation and keep away from serious damage by confiding in a legitimate garage door specialist like Sure Fix Garage Door Repair. After the experts complete the job, you will have a door that is safe, secure and looks incredible.

Before choosing what kind of garage door installation in Clearwater, FL, you want for your house, it’s ideal to ask about the various alternatives, styles, and features accessible. A robust and high-quality garage door will last quite a while and provide years of worry-free maintenance which implies much less garage door repairs in Clearwater, FL, calls. It could even last forever but with frequent maintenance. 

It bodes well to take some extra time to get the best door. You should likewise stay away from low-quality entryways that need replacement after. Ultimately, you could spend more than on a high-quality door. 

Here are a few hints for picking your new garage door: 

Garage door materials 

Know the advantages and disadvantages of natural wood doors versus steel or aluminum entryways before picking a material for your garage door. The top garage door material is steel. Garage door manufacturers can insulate steel entryways to be more energy-efficient than wood doors. Also, they are less costly to maintain and more affordable than wood models. Aluminum entryways are the most economical type of garage door today. And the most lightweight and least demanding to lift manually yet the most prone to dents.

But, aluminum has the upside of being resistant to rust and corrosion, taking the lead in coastal areas. Natural wood doors need maintenance, for example, repainted or re-stained every couple of years. However, they can cost much more than steel and aluminum doors. Then again, the glow, warmth, and natural beauty that wood garage doors can bring to a house is undeniably marvelous! 

Consider the R-value of the garage door 

The higher the R-value of the garage door, the higher the insulation value and energy efficiency. If you live in a calm climate, this may not be a significant issue for you. But, when you live in a place with a harsh climate, live in the space above the garage, or plan to heat or cool your garage since you plan to use it as an office, the garage door R-value is something to consider. 

Newer garage doors have a much higher R-value than older versions which makes for a noteworthy difference in the colder temperatures. The negative of getting a garage door with a high R-value is the expense, the higher the R-value of the entryway, the higher the cost. So you need to weigh the requirement for a well-insulated garage door against the extra expense. 

Garage door color

Pick a garage door color that matches with the outside color of your home. Regardless if you choose one of the standard pre-finished entryway colors or painting/staining your door a custom color. Most garage door makers offer their doors in a few standard color alternatives. When one of the standard hues coordinates well with the rest of your home, then that’s perfect! A pre-finished door is the best approach if you can find a color that matches well since it’s almost maintenance-free. 

However, if no colors offered by the maker work admirably with the outside color of your home, think about painting it. To make the work of painting simpler, you can request to have the door conveyed to your home before installation. Then you can paint the individual sections of the entryway before hanging it. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to prepare your door before painting. Since the paint you use may void the warranty and read about the restrictions on painting with dark colors too. 

Garage door windows 

The visual impact of adding windows to your garage door is significant. Some older garage doors don’t have windows so if this option is new to you then consider it wisely. Use Clopay’s Door Imagination System, you’ll see what an astounding difference the addition of windows would make to the overall look of the home. The most alluring garage doors come with windows but also think about security. Remember, burglars could see inside your garage so to prevent peeping eyes add blinds, glazing, and tints to your windows.

Select a style of garage door that complements your home 

Don’t put a contemporary-looking aluminum and glass garage door on a traditional Colonial home or a carriage style entryway on a contemporary home. Also, if your garage door will have windows, know of the shape of the windows and the size of the window grilles that you pick. Whatever the style you pick for your garage door design always hire a professional for installation.