Whether you are building a new home, remodeling the outside look of your home, or replacing your old garage door, installing a garage door for your Houston home is a big investment. The overall look and security depend on getting the right garage door for you and having your garage door installed properly. However, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the process of getting a new garage door to the point where you are not sure what to ask when buying a new garage door. We have been installing garage doors for Houston since 2006 and have helped hundreds of new garage door customers get the right garage door. From our experience, here are a few tips on what to ask when buying a new garage door.
Questions to Ask About the Garage Door
Garage Door Size
The size of your garage door is a crucial consideration. Before you begin shopping, measure the width and height of your garage opening. Most garage doors come in standard sizes, but if your opening is an unusual size, you may need to order a custom door. Make sure you measure both the width and height of your opening, as well as the depth of the garage to ensure you get the right size door. From there, when you talk to a garage door company, you can ask ” do you carry (insert your size) garage door?
Garage Door Materials
Garage doors are available in several materials, including steel, aluminum, wood, and fiberglass. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to consider your needs when choosing. Steel doors are durable and low-maintenance, while wooden doors offer a natural look but require more upkeep. Fiberglass doors are lightweight and resistant to dents, while aluminum doors are affordable and rust-resistant. If you are talking with a garage door company, and if you don’t have a material picked out, it may benefit you to explain what you are looking for in a garage door. For example, are you looking for something extra sturdy or to let natural light in?
Garage Door Costs
Keeping in line with the different types of material are garage door costs. Some of the most affordable garage doors 8 feet by 8 feet start around $800 (25 gauge steel garage door) without installation. Instinctively from there, the better the material and the bigger the size, the higher the cost. It’s important to set a budget before you start shopping and to consider the long-term value of your investment. A high-quality, well-installed garage door can add value to your home and save you money on energy costs in the long run.
Questions to Ask A Garage Door Installation Company
Deposits
One of the key things you want to find out is how is the transaction handled. If you call a garage door company and talk to their sales team, you will want to find out if there is a deposit or if all the money is paid upfront or upon completion.
Garage Door Labor and Installation.
When shopping for a garage door, it generally is better to have the garage door company install the door themselves unless you are a very handy person. That means you need to not only ask about the garage door cost, but also what the cost is to install it themselves.
Parts and Labor Warranty.
Different garage door installation companies in Houston offer different warranties. There are some that offer a warranty just on parts, some offer parts and labor warranty. Here at Spectrum Overhead Door LLC, we offer two-year parts and labor warranty on the garage doors we install. So, when you call a garage door company, ask what are your installation and parts warranties? Also ask if there is a manufacturer warranty.
Availability, Shipping, and Delivery.
Not all garage door companies carry garage doors in stock. Add in the fact you may want a custom garage door. So, you will want to ask, if you do not have this in stock, when can it be shipped and what are the shipping costs?
Liability insurance.
When an installation company comes to install your garage door, anything can happen, such as a slip and fall. A good garage door company will have liability coverage, so they cover the cost of any medical issues that arise from the installation instead of you. Ask, do you have liability insurance?
Issue Resolution.
There might be an instance where the garage door installer has left, and the door comes off the hinge the next day. Or if you ordered a white aluminum garage door and come home to an almond one instead. Things happen. The good question is, how does that garage door company resolve those issues? It’s best to know beforehand. So, a good question would be, if something was not done right or I did not receive what I asked for, how do you resolve that?
Use these questions when ordering a new garage door and you should get the most out of your order from a company you can trust. If you are in the Houston area and need a new garage door, call Spectrum Overhead Door LLC at 281-748-9542 and ask us these questions. We will be delighted to answer these and any other questions you may have so you get the most out of your new garage door.
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Your garage door is actually a complex system of moving parts. Like any piece of machinery or major part of your Houston area home, there will come a time when one piece or another of that system is going to break down. Now, there are countless other blogs and resources that describe the different common garage door problems you could have by scenarios, such as your garage door not closing correctly. Now many in Spectrum Overhead Door are not just field technicians with years of field experience, but also homeowners and home renters. So taking that into account, we wanted to give you a quick breakdown of each of the garage door parts and what could go wrong with them. This way you are a little more prepared when, not if, that particular garage door part breakdown.
Garage Door Springs.
Your garage door springs create the tension to hold the weight of your garage door when it opens and closes. Most garage door springs are rated to last about 10,000 cycles. With using your garage about 4 times a day, comes out to about 7 years. Now, that is not taking into account Houston’s humidity. That is why keeping your garage door springs lubricated twice a year is important. If this is not kept up with this Houston humidity and storms, that lifespan can be shortened.
If your garage door spring breaks, you may encounter several problems such as:
Difficulty in Opening/Closing: A broken spring can make it difficult or impossible to open or close the garage door. The door may become very heavy or may not move at all.
Damage to the Garage Door Opener: The garage door opener is responsible for lifting the weight of the garage door, and a broken spring can cause it to work harder than it should. This increased workload can damage the garage door opener, leading to costly repairs or replacements.
Safety Risks: A garage door that is difficult to open or close can be a safety hazard, especially for children or pets who may try to play around it. Additionally, if the spring breaks while the garage door is in motion, it can cause the door to slam shut, potentially injuring someone or damaging property.
Inability to Use the Garage: A broken garage door spring may render your garage unusable until it is fixed. This can be an inconvenience if you use your garage for storage or as a workspace.
Damage to the Garage Door Panels: When a spring breaks, it can cause the garage door to come down quickly and unevenly, causing damage to the door panels, especially if they are made of lightweight materials like aluminum.
If your garage door spring has rusted and is about to break or has broken, you CAN replace the spring yourself, but we do not necessarily recommend that. That is because it can be dangerous to replace the springs yourself. You can read more about that in Risks of DIY Garage Door Spring Repair. Instead, it’s best to call a professional to get your garage door springs repaired or replaced.
Garage Door Panels.
Garage door panels can easily become dented from a vehicle bumping into the garage, or other objects hitting the door. This can cause the garage door to buckle depending on the extent of the damage and how long it was left untreated. If caught early, you can get away with replacing the garage door panel instead of having to replace the entire garage door.
Garage Door Hinges.
Garage door hinges connect the panels together and are made from metal and can and will rust if not properly maintained. It is important to inspect and lubricate them twice a year. Replace the ones that look too rusted or have broken. This will prevent worse issues in the long run.If the hinges on your garage door break, it can cause a range of problems including:
Inability to open or close the garage door: A broken hinge can prevent the garage door from opening or closing properly. This can be a major inconvenience and can make it difficult to use the garage for its intended purpose.
Misaligned garage door: When the hinge is broken, the garage door may become misaligned, which means it may not fit properly in the opening. This can cause gaps around the door, which can allow heat, cold, and pests to enter the garage.
Safety concerns: A broken hinge can make it unsafe to use the garage door. If the door is not securely attached to the tracks, it can fall suddenly and cause injury or damage to property.
Additional damage to the door: If the hinges are not replaced promptly, the extra weight and stress on the remaining hinges can cause additional damage to the garage door.
Noise and vibration: A broken hinge can cause noise and vibration when the garage door is opened or closed. This can be annoying for you and your neighbors.
Energy inefficiency: A misaligned garage door with gaps can cause energy inefficiency, as it allows outside air to seep in and disrupt the temperature inside the garage. This can result in higher energy bills.
Garage Door Rollers.
Metal garage door rollers can rust. Any rollers you find in any of these conditions need to be replaced. If your garage door rollers rust and break, you may experience a range of problems that can impact the performance and safety of your garage door. Some of the most common issues include:
Difficulty Opening or Closing: Rusty and broken garage door rollers can make it challenging to open or close your garage door smoothly. This can lead to frustration and inconvenience, as well as potential safety hazards if the door becomes stuck or difficult to operate.
Increased Noise: As garage door rollers rust and break, they may produce more noise when the door is opening or closing. This can be a nuisance for homeowners and their neighbors, especially if the garage is located close to living spaces.
Damaged Tracks: If rusted and broken garage door rollers are not addressed promptly, they may cause damage to the tracks that guide the door’s movement. This can lead to costly repairs or even require a complete replacement of the garage door system.
Safety Hazards: A garage door that is difficult to operate or has damaged rollers can pose a safety hazard. The door may become unbalanced, potentially causing it to fall unexpectedly and injure someone or damage property.
The garage door tracks are where the rollers go in order to open and close the door smoothly. If your garage door tracks are bent, it can cause a number of problems that can make it difficult or impossible to use your garage door. Some of the most common problems include:
Difficulty opening or closing the door: Bent tracks can cause the door to get stuck or move unevenly, making it difficult to open or close the door smoothly.
Uneven wear and tear on the door: If the door is moving unevenly due to the bent tracks, it can cause uneven wear and tear on the door and its components, which can lead to further damage.
Damage to the door rollers: Bent tracks can cause the rollers that guide the door along the tracks to wear out faster or even become dislodged from the track entirely.
Damage to the door opener: If the door is not moving smoothly along the tracks, it can put extra strain on the door opener, which can cause it to malfunction or break down.
Safety risks: A door that is not moving smoothly along the tracks can be a safety hazard, particularly if it falls unexpectedly or gets stuck partway open or closed.
There are some instances where you can bend the track back in place. Yet, if the bend is pretty severe, or if the track is damaged, then it’s just best to replace your garage door track.
Garage Door Openers.
We could not go into commonly replaced garage door parts without mentioning garage door openers. Garage door openers are usually built for 10-15 years of use. If your garage door opener is that old and causing your problems, then it is probably best to replace the garage door opener. However, there can be other reasons as well, such and getting an opener that is quieter or one that has newer features like lights and a built-in camera. LiftMaster is the gold standard of garage door openers and the ones we here at Spectrum Overhead Door recommend.
Whatever your Houston garage door repair needs are, Spectrum Overhead Door LLC can take care of it, often within the same day. We provide fast, friendly, and affordable garage door repair service in Houston that has satisfied hundreds of customers. Call 281-748-9542 or if you are on the East side of Houston 713-557-3407 to schedule your appointment
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Fiberglass Full View VS Wooden Garage Doors: Factors to Consider
Here in Houston, we provide Fiberglass Full View and Wooden Garage Doors to meet the unique needs of each home. Deciding between Fiberglass Full View and Wooden Garage Doors can be difficult, but with our expert help, we can make sure you get the perfect door for your home.
Fiberglass Full
Fiberglass Full View garage doors come in a variety of styles and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect door for your home. Fiberglass is one of the most durable materials available and comes with a 25-year warranty. Fiberglass is also low-maintenance, so you won’t have to worry about painting or staining your Fiberglass Full View door. Fiberglass is also a great insulator, helping to keep the temperature controlled inside your garage and reducing energy costs.
Advantages of Fiberglass Full View:
Durable construction– Fiberglass is one of the most durable materials available, making it an ideal choice for garage doors.
Low maintenance– Fiberglass does not require painting or staining, saving you time and energy in the long run.
Energy efficiency– Fiberglass is a great insulator, helping to keep the temperature controlled inside your garage and reducing energy costs.
Variety of styles– Fiberglass Full View Garage Doors come in a variety of styles and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect door for your home.
25-year warranty– Fiberglass is covered by a 25-year warranty, ensuring that your garage door will stay looking great for years to come.
Disadvantages of Fiberglass Full View:
Limited colors and styles– Fiberglass is available in a variety of colors, but the style options are limited.
Transparency– Fiberglass can be slightly transparent, which may not be ideal for some homeowners who want a completely private garage space.
Price– Fiberglass garage doors are typically more expensive than other materials.
Installation Difficulty– Fiberglass is a heavier material so it may be more difficult to install than other materials.
Wooden Garage Doors
Wooden Garage Doors offer a classic look that adds beauty and value to any home. Wooden Garage doors come in many styles, from traditional panel doors to custom carriage house designs. Wooden Garage Doors are made of durable, high-quality wood and come with a 20-year warranty. They require regular maintenance, however, and must be painted or stained regularly to keep them looking their best. Wooden Garage Doors provide great insulation and are often considered the most stylish option available.
Advantages of Wooden Garage Doors:
Timeless look-Wooden Garage Doors offer a classic and timeless look that adds beauty and value to any home.
Variety of styles– Wooden Garage Doors come in many styles, from traditional panel doors to custom carriage house designs.
Durability– Wooden Garage Doors are made of durable, high-quality wood and come with a 20-year warranty.
Insulation– Wooden Garage Doors provide great insulation, keeping your garage temperature regulated and helping to reduce energy costs.
Stylish look– Wooden Garage Doors are often considered the most stylish option available.
Disadvantages of Wooden Garage Doors:
Expensive– Wooden Garage Doors are typically more expensive than other materials.
High maintenance– Wooden Garage Doors require regular maintenance, including painting and staining to keep them looking their best.
Susceptibility to weather damage – Due to the material, wooden garage doors can be susceptible to warping or cracking from extreme temperatures.
Installation difficulty– As a heavier material, wooden garage doors can be more difficult to install than other materials.
Factors to Consider When Deciding Between Fiberglass Full View or Wooden Garage Doors:
Cost – Fiberglass Full View doors are typically more expensive than wooden garage doors.
Maintenance and durability – Fiberglass is low maintenance and highly durable, while wooden garage doors require regular painting and staining to stay looking their best.
Insulation – Fiberglass is a great insulator, while wooden garage doors also provide great insulation.
Style – Fiberglass full-view garage doors come in a variety of styles and sizes, while wooden garage doors offer a more classic look.
Installation difficulty – Fiberglass is heavier than other materials and may be more difficult to install, while wooden garage doors can also be difficult to install.
Ultimately, the decision between Fiberglass Full View and Wooden Garage Doors comes down to cost, maintenance requirements, insulation needs, and style preferences. Both Fiberglass Full View and Wooden Garage Doors offer great durability, insulation, and style options, so it’s important to consider all of your needs before making a purchasing decision.
Your Solution to Fiberglass Full View and Wooden Garage Doors
If you are considering Fiberglass Full View or Wooden Garage Doors, our Garage door installation services are available to help you make the best decision. We offer a range of services including installation and maintenance, as well as advice on the best materials for your home. Our experts have years of experience and can answer any questions you may have about Fiberglass Full View and Wooden Garage Doors. We are committed to helping you make the best decision for your home and budget. Contact Spectrum Overhead Door today to learn more about Fiberglass Full View or Wooden Garage Doors and how we can help you make the best choice.
Garage doors are like most things in your home, they wear out and need replacement over time. A new garage door and garage door installation can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the door. Understanding how long a garage door last can help you save money and time in the long run. That is why we wanted to provide some basic facts on how long your garage door should last and tips on increasing the lifespan of your garage door.
What Is the Typical Lifespan of a Garage Door?
The typical lifespan of a garage door is about 15-30 years. Metal ones such as steel and aluminum usually last over 20 years. Wood can last just as long if not longer with proper care. However, how long a garage door lasts also depends on several factors though. Frequency of use, maintenance, if there were any left-over issues from installation, and environmental conditions such as humidity, wind and hot sun can all contribute to the wearing out a garage door. However, proper maintenance and regular check-ups can help extend the lifespan of a garage door.
How to Maintain and Extend the Life of Your Garage Door
You should also inspect the door for any signs of wear and tear and have any repairs done as soon as possible. Extend your garage door’s life by following a few simple maintenance tips. For example, keep an eye on the weather stripping and replace it as needed to ensure a tight seal. You don’t want water to seep into the edges of your garage door.
Look for any chips or scratches in the paint. You will want to fix those right way to prevent rust. Here in Houston, we have seen rust happen fast because of the humidity. We have a great post, How to Fix Chipped Paint on a Garage Door to help you on fixing the garage door’s paint job.
While you are looking for chips and scratches, clean your garage door. Dust and dirt can accumulate on the door over time. That crud can make it’s way into the garage door tracks and into your hinges. Clean it with a soft cloth and mild soap to keep it looking like new.
Lubricate and check your hinges to make sure they are not rusting. If any are broken, replace them immediately. If you don’t have issues, you soon will if you already have a broken hinge.
Check for other loose hardware. Check the screws, nuts, and bolts on things like your garage door track regularly to make sure they are tightened. Loose hardware can cause the door to operate poorly and increase wear and tear and shorten the lifespan of your garage door.
Another factor in the lifespan of your garage door is garage door springs Your garage door springs are what keep your garage door open and not slam down closed while they are up. The lifespan of a garage door spring is measured in garage door cycles, with the garage door going up and down one time considered a cycle. Most garage door springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles or 7-15 years. Make sure your garage door springs are lubricated twice a year, and if they look really rusty, consider replacing them before they break to prevent damage to your garage door.
One of the biggest killers of garage doors is dented panels. It should go without say that you should keep objects away from your garage door. If you do have something dent your garage door, it could be fixed with a garage door panel swap or adding strut braces. Leaving it should not be an option. A door with damaged garage door panels will often sag when the door is opened. This type of damage will get worse over time, and the door can eventually get jammed, or cause rollers to pop out of the track and damage the door further.
Your garage door should last you 15-30 years depending on the different factors and conditions we have laid out here. If you think it is time for a new garage door, call us at Spectrum Overhead Door LLC here in Houston. We have been installing garage doors in Houston since 2006. Call 281-748-9542 for a free design quote today!
Garage doors are heavy and need something to counterbalance and control that weight as it opens and closes by the garage door motor. The garage door spring system is what controls that weight and helps keeps it open. Two major types of garage door spring systems that do this are torsion springs and Wayne Dalton Torquemaster springs. Both garage door spring systems will need repair at some point and plenty of houses here in the Houston area have both, so we want to dive into what are the differences between torsion springs and Wayne Dalton springs.
The Torsion Tube
First let’s discuss the most visible difference between the two systems, the torsion tube. Now the torsion spring and Wayne Dalton spring are both horizontally mounted in the center of the door opening above the door. The most visible difference is that you actually don’t see the Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring. Wayne Dalton’s Torquemaster springs are stored in a hollow tube known as a torsion tube, so you can’t actually see them when looking at your garage.
The Springs
One of the next biggest differences between a Wayne Dalton spring and a torsion spring is the size. The springs in a Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system are of a very small diameter and wire size and thus require more winds to provide the strength to counterbalance the weight of the garage door. The internal springs provide the force to counterbalance the weight of the garage door while the cables and drums do the lifting. Winding these springs to the proper tension involves using an electric drill, in older models, or a socket and socket wrench in newer models. The spring(s) are then wound a set number of times depending on the weight of the garage door. In the Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system if only one spring is used the spring winder will always be on the right side and on a two spring system there will be a spring winder on each end. Winding a torsion spring consists of using a winding bar that fits into the slots at the end of the spring and turning them.
Drums and Cables
The drums and cables on a Wayne Dalton spring are different than what you see on a torsion spring system. Wayne Dalton’s Torquemaster spring system has small plastic drums that are attached to the tube on each side. A torsion spring system uses metal drums. The cables that are used with the Wayne Dalton spring are thinner than its torsion spring system counterpart. These thinner cables wrap around these plastic drums and then attach to the bottom bracket located on the bottom of the bottom garage door panel on each side.
Which Garage Door Spring System is Better?
Of course, if you ask Wayne Dalton, they will tell you theirs is better. However, most garage door pros, including ourselves, would disagree. Here are a few reasons why we favor the torsion spring system over the Wayne Dalton spring system.
Visible Inspection and Repair
With a torsion spring system, you can visually inspect your garage door spring and see if it’s rusting or about to break or has broken. With a Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system, the spring is hidden, so you don’t know what’s going on up there until your garage door stops working properly. This means you have to wait until something goes wrong and have it taken apart to see if the spring as broken. An unbalanced garage door is the best sign of spring failure in this system. An unbalanced garage door will be heavy and difficult to open manually.
Easier for Spring to Fail
As we mentioned before, both the wire size and spring size of the Wayne Dalton spring is much smaller than a torsion spring. This makes them require more winds to provide the strength to counter-balance the garage door. These extra winds add more stress to the springs causing them to fail sooner than their torsion spring counterparts.
Cables
We mentioned that the Wayne Dalton system has thinner cables. This makes them prone to fraying and breaking faster than the ones used for a torsion spring.
Though Wayne Dalton had a good thought to have the spring not exposed so it would be protected from things like dust and dirt, there are many disadvantages to their system that just make it hard for us to ever recommend it to a homeowner. However, if a homeowner here in the Houston area has a Wayne Dalton Spring that has broken, we recommend converting it over to a torsion spring system. We have been converting Wayne Dalton springs since 2006, and can do it for you, oftentimes on the same day! Call us at 281-748-9542 to schedule your appointment!
