What it takes to accomplish a garage door install isn't actually very involved though these steps in it can confuse someone who is not really a do it yourself-type person. Understand that a garage door is a very large object and it could be dangerous to do such a job if the procedures or instructions given with the door are not followed to the letter. Generally, home improvement or garage door installation experts advise that any garage doors that a person is going to install that will be requiring an automatic door opener be left to a professional installer to accomplish unless the do it yourself person possesses certain skills. This doesn't mean that it can't be done; it just means that it might not be a good job for a first-time do it yourself enthusiasts. For the most part, manual garage doors are doors that are raised and lowered without aid from an electric motor and the like. Depending on their material they can be relatively light or very heavy. Automatic garage doors, on the other hand, are generally extremely heavy. Therefore, lightweight garage doors might be unsuited for certain garages or for owners who would like really thick wood doors. When it comes to installing manual doors there are several steps in the process that need to be followed in sequence. The first thing to do is to install what are called "flag brackets" and horizontal angle track sections. Once those are installed they should be a fixed securely to the door's jamb. It is necessary, then, to connect to torsion tubs and springs. Always check to make sure these springs are loaded into each bracket, and then check to make sure that the drum on the left side is installed first and then secure the drum on the right side. After those steps have been accomplished is now time to secure the tube retainer and wind the spring tightly. Treat the spring as a dangerous object, as it can be under a lot of tension. When it comes to automatic doors, a do it yourself person should make sure that he or she has a partner to assist in the installation. If you have neither experience nor a partner, it might be a good idea to pay an installer to come out and do the door. If you are still game, however, start out by affixing door tracks correctly to what's called a "drive unit" and then begin to assemble the rest of the track sections and put them together. Check the end of each track and make sure that a mounting bracket has been a fixed securely and attach the whole thing to the beam that lies above the garage door in the garage's ceiling. Make sure that motor installation is done according to instruction and then affix it securely to the ceiling. Run all motor wires from the motor down to the wall switch and then install any sensors down at the bottom of the door. After completing all these steps, it is then time to marry up with the garage door to the garage door opener. Never forget that electricity is involved in this installation in addition to a garage door spring that can be under a lot of tension. Work with an assistant to do the garage door install process and try never to skip a step in the installation instructions for any reason. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3031958
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A lot of work and planning goes into constructing a new home or building. From interior to exterior a full list of workers and designers are needed. The garage is an especially important part of a building's aesthetics and safety. Not only is the garage a main entrance for many homeowners, but it can be a focal point of the exterior of the home. It is important to consider both safety and design when installing garage doors openers. There are three main options that are used for garage door materials. Those are steel, wood, and vinyl. Steel is known for its durability and environmentally friendly advantages. Steel doors can be insulated which allows homeowners to save on energy bills. There are many different designs, decorative hardware, and window options for this material and this has become a very popular choice for those devoted to "going green". Wood is an attractive material and can really add a luxurious look to a home. There are a number of different wood options to work with and from all different price ranges. Although this option will require some maintenance in order to hold its original beauty, the customization options are irresistible for many. There are also many different glass and window trims for wooden doors. Vinyl can easily be considered the most popular material chosen by homeowners, and for a number of reasons. Like steel, vinyl is great for saving energy because they are insulated. Not only are they durable, but there are resistant to scratches and dents! Vinyl also does not rust and will have the least amount of maintenance involved. There are full lists of designer door options along with window styles that can be engraved and etched. Vinyl panels also should have a lifetime warranted from the manufacturer. When designing the panels of your doors, there are five main categories that people typically consider. Those are raised, recessed, short, long, and flush panels. If you live in an area that has hurricane weather, it is important to consider installing a kind of garage door that is hurricane rated. This type of doors will have specific tracks, rollers, hinges, jamb brackets, and reinforcing struts. In order for a door to be considered "hurricane rated" it must be tested and approved up to code. There are also wind load kits available. There is a lot that goes into the design of a garage. The materials used are all based on the homeowner's desire for design, safety, energy saving, weather resistant, and more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6949968 The garage doesn't just house our vehicles and provide protection from various elements, but also provide fully functional additional rooms to our houses. It works likes an extension of the house, or more of a little outhouse where we can store some excess possessions such as gardening equipment, work with handyman activities, and park our vehicles. But the functionality of our garage is only as good as its garage door. With the help of ever advancing technology for home improvement, traditional garage is slowly becoming obsolete, as electric garage door services are starting to take over houses all across the country. If you're considering of this type of door to give your garage a revamp, then read on for its advantages: Better Security It's no secret that crime rates are on the rise, and they're one attack away from destroying lives. This is why you need to make sure all entry points in your house are secured. Traditional garage doors can only do so much to prevent burglars from breaking. Out of all the recorded cases of burglaries and break-in, majority of their entry point are garages, as they can easily pick locks make easy entries. Remote control and electric garage doors on the other hand, have taken security into consideration. You can't find locks from this type of door rather, electric motors are used for closing and locking and controlled by homeowners through a remote. Superb Convenience We all want convenience, whether accessing the internet anytime anywhere through our smartphones or tablets, purchasing items and good online, pay bills online, etc. Well, speaking of convenience, remote-controlled garage doors do the same - you operate the door with a simple press of a button on its remote, even from a distance. This is perfect for driving home from work, or opening the garage from the kitchen, etc. The best part of it is that, there's no need to step out of the car and lift to roll-up the heavy door, as electric motor does the rest all by itself. Space Saving Most of us store bulky things on our garage, and most often than not, we run out of spaces over time, and we end up with clutters all over the garage. Electric garage doors however, are rolled or folded neatly into its top box, leaving significant space inside the garage. This means more room to keep and maneuver things in and out the garage. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7384160 Have you ever driven along an otherwise-attractive street and found your eyes riveted on someone's dingy, unpainted garage door? It got your attention, but certainly not in a good way. No matter how nice the property might be, that one eyesore can change your opinion in a heartbeat. That's because it sticks out like a sore thumb and detracts big-time from the curb appeal of that particular abode. Having seen or imagined such a spectacle, it's easy to see what effect a similar door could have on your own garage. Stand back and take a look at your own curb appeal, and you may decide you need a new door. Replacing a garage door is no longer a difficult job; you just need to know what to look for. Your first decision will be in the type of door you want to buy. Basic styles include roll-up, retractable, side-hinged, or sectional with hinged sections. Although any style will look lovely and add to the look of your home, most people choose doors that retract up into the ceiling of the structure as they take up the smallest amount of space. If you've never had an automatic garage door repair, you're in for a treat. Manual doors hardly exist any more, because the convenience of being able to open and close the door from your car has made manual doors very unpopular with consumers. Door openers keep you out of the elements and don't require you to get out of your car outside your home when you come home late at night. They have also made the once-tight and inconvenient space more open and usable. It isn't difficult to install an opener, and prices are nominal. The style of the door your choose should be something that will blend in with the décor of your home. Doors come in wood, fiberglass, and steel, each with their own pros and cons. Wooden doors, although attractive, have lost a lot of favor, because they lack the durability of steel and need more maintenance to keep them looking nice. Wood also expands and contracts with the heat and cold, and it can develop unsightly cracks as it spends years exposed to the weather. A fiberglass door is a good choice when you want to let in more light or near oceans where salt becomes a factor. Fiberglass is tough and durable and will look nice for many years with only a little cleaning. It is not necessary to paint or stain it. Steel doors are also a good choice, because they a low-maintenance, don't crack, warp, or otherwise succumb to the weather, and they always look stylish. They are coated so that they do not rust, and they do not need to be painted. Some of these doors have been designed with steel that's imprinted with a wood grain so that if you choose to stain it, it will give the impression of wood. If you buy a more expensive door, it will not dent so easily. Repair, when required, can be more difficult than with the other types of doors. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7074319 If you are the Jones's or simply trying to keep up with them, garage doors are quickly becoming an integral part of America's homes. Homeowners are becoming savvier when selecting the 'right' garage door for their home. The garage door has always been a functional concern but style is now a major factor. A growing trend in modern architecture is to use doors as the focal of a home's facade. As this trend continues to grow more and more design options are becoming available. Curb appeal is at the top of the list when it comes to a home's value. A expertly designed facade with a fashionable garage door can make a significant difference in the overall appearance of the house. The Carriage House Garage Door is back in style! A century ago horses and buggies were kept in the carriage house. Those carriage house doors were a set of barn doors that swung outwards using strap hinges. Many styles of houses call for this old world look. Currently Garage door manufacturers are producing garage doors that appear like old carriage house doors. Theses doors reflect the impression of the yesteryear with the advantages of modern technology. Carriage house garage doors roll overhead in tracks and are sectional. In other words they work the same as any standard garage door but look like they swing out. Carriage house garage doors are made out of a variety of materials including steel, wood and composites. There are many different styles of Carriage House Garage Doors available today. Consider this old school look when you are selecting your new door. Glass garage doors are also very popular for today's contemporary style homes. They are garage doors made out of glass panels with an aluminum frame. They can accentuate the sleek lines of a contemporary style house as well as allow plenty of natural light into your garage. Use them for a great transition to indoor/outdoor spaces such as a room with glass doors that opens up to an outdoor patio. The glass and frame are available in a numerous colors. Of course, if you have a 90210 zip code and you'd like to show off your vintage Ferraris clear glass would be an ideal choice. As every home product on the market is 'going green' you can be sure garage doors are as well. Well insulated doors can provide energy savings. Doors with high R. value will trap heat in your home and block cooler air from coming in. The garage is the largest open area to in the house this can make a significant difference in your utility bills. 'Going green' also applies to manufacturing materials. There are doors available today that are made with as much as 75% recycled materials. If you skateboard to work or use a fuel efficient car now because you just got to be "green" consider a door that is energy efficient. When installing a new garage door, homeowners need to be alert to the restrictions governing many neighborhoods. Many Home Owner Associations and architectural committees might have restricted options which are your only choice. Many Home Owner Associations will allow what is referred to as short panel steel doors, which is the most common door on the market. It is always a good idea to talk to your HOA prior to buying a new garage door to save you the headache of buying and installing a new door that might have to be removed after installation. Another good idea is to drive around your neighborhood and look around at what your neighbors have. Garage door companies can provide the literature to submit to your Home Owners Association in many cases. The process can be simple and smooth. Keep in mind, no matter what kind of home you have, the garage door can make an instant impact to the curb appeal of your home for a fraction of the expense that other exterior projects may cost. The garage is typically 1/3rd of your home's facade!TREAT IT ACCORDINGLY! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1895737 Whether you have just bought your first starter home or have upgraded to your dream house, the overall design of the home as well as the decor can be the single greatest way to showcase your personal sense of style and taste. Designing a home and choosing decor can be an expensive and time consuming proposition; however, for those on a shoe-string budget, it is still possible to create the look you want without breaking the bank. Making a few wise decisions early on and sticking with your plan will help ensure your complete your home makeover on budget whether that budget is $100 per room or $5,000.00 per room. Creating an overall plan is the first step towards a unified home design. Utilizing your own tastes, decorating magazines and books and some of the excellent home decor television shows, think about what you would like to showcase. Determine what your overall decor theme will be. Are you contemporary or traditional? Do your taste lean towards fussy or minimalism? These answers can serve as a jumping off point as you begin to design your home. One of the easiest ways to begin working on your overall home design or even a simple redecorating project is to develop a plan and there is no better way to do so than by using simple software designed to help you move from layout and color palette to accents and furniture pieces seamlessly. The HGTV Home Design and Remodeling Suite is fully loaded with features that make remodeling even the fussiest of rooms easy. The software can help you utilize the tricks of the professionals to create floor plans complete with style notes, color choices and even furniture. The software eliminates paint chips with its library of brand name paints and tints. Browse through the library, select your ideal color and 'paint' the walls of your three dimensional room. No more picking a paint color based on a 1 inch square chip. The software also includes a full library of three dimensional furniture pieces, allowing you to design spaces that fit your existing pieces or help you determine what size and shape furniture you should be looking to purchase. For those looking to redo their bathrooms or kitchen, the software even has an extensive library of cabinets, appliances and floor selections. This allows you to complete 'see' your new room without spending a dime on the expensive appliances and cabinets. It is easy to create the perfect room and even easier to stick to a budget when you are utilizing a well developed floor plan and style guide. Professional designers are talented. They will often offer you a computerized presentation of your 'new' home or décor. With budgets as tight as they are, why spend the money on a professional designer when you have the ability to do it all yourself. Take a quick tour through the library of colors, furnishings, doors and windows and design the room of your dreams. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4108758 The typical garage is a dingy place, containing as much 'dead space' as it does cobwebs. However, many homeowners forget the fact that garage has the potential to be a high-traffic asset to their storage problems. Plane Thinking A garage can add considerable garage door opener systems to any household. However, too often it is seen as a dumping ground for items that are in need of repair - or in need of throwing out. A lack of thought can result in space that is used ineffectively and offers little benefit to the owner. In essence, a garage is a place of storage and could be a place that people frequent regularly. In this respect, it is much like a kitchen, which many homeowners spends hours designing to maximize their home organization. By applying the same ingenuity and creativity, garage storage can take on a new dimension and even become a selling point, should the house ever go on the market. When designing a kitchen, thought is applied to all the planes in the room to create as many effective storage systems as possible. The same thought processes could be implemented in maximizing the potential storage capabilities of a garage. What can be hung vertically? Can anything be hung from the ceiling? Are there areas of space that could be used better? In answering these questions, the garage can take on a completely different quality, offering itself up as a space that can be used for other purposes. Lofty Ideas For some, the answer is to add a loft to their garage, creating space where there was none before. However, this can be a false economy, as unwanted and unused items still find their way into the main space in the garage. A better way to manage this space is to use garage storage systems. They are much less expensive than a loft extension and the visibility of systems such as tool storage racks makes important items much more accessible. Using garage storage systems often inspires a level of previously untapped creativity in many homeowners. Suddenly, the walls and ceiling become a blank canvas with potential for home storage; some owners use ceiling racks for clothes storage, hanging winter-wear in the summer and summer-wear in the winter. Using a well-organized garage to store household goods opens up space within the home without compromising the space within the garage. Other ideas include using wall-space on which to hang outdoor furniture during the colder months. Not only does this reduce clutter in the garden, but can extend the longevity of these items that are protected from rain, hail and snow in their new home. Garage storage systems are now more advanced than ever before. Peg boards, hangers, cabinets and fittings for ceilings can all combine to create a space that is organized and effective. Many homeowners are astonished to find that they have far more space than they originally thought and are able to find new and inspired ways to use the reclaimed areas. If the garage is considered as an extension of the home rather than a place in which to hide waste, it can offer tremendous benefits in return for just a little thought. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4746197 A well designed set of garage doors will do a great job of accenting any home and improve its equity. Large door sizes should be considered when designing your home. In many cases a home with 3 slightly over size garage doors will be more attractive than using standard double garage doors. In recent years the carriage door design has become very popular. In terms of garage doors pricing custom wooden doors that use the carriage design are expensive where as steel carriage garage doors often are more reasonably priced. One of the drawbacks to a wooden doors besides there price comes from the increased maintenance that is required to keep them looking great. Granted you do want the weather look for your door but if you do not keep it sealed it will crack and warp. Wood garage doors are very pleasing to eye if they are maintained properly. In general wood is a good insulator but cannot match the insulation efficiency of foam insulation. Another drawback to a wood door is the lack of strength and security that galvanized steel carriage garage doors can provide. Steel carriage garage doors have many advantages over wood doors. The first is strength. Metal garage doors that is constructed of multiple 25 gauge or heavier steel layers will provide the durability and strength to keep the weather out. If you live in areas that have very cold winters or you choose to heat or cool your garage you should consider a door with a high R-value. Sandwiching polyurethane foam between two or more sheets of galvanized steel will give you an R-value of 15 or more. This will not only save you money but also allow the use of your garage year around. An additional feature of steel doors comes from the fact you can have a wood façade exterior. Many manufactures produce steel carriage garage doors that closely mimic the look of genuine wooden carriage doors. A layer of Cedar, Redwood or Hemlock plywood veneer is placed on the exterior of the door giving it all the look of a wood door. However you will still be saddled with the higher maintenance cost and effort of standard wood doors. Another option to consider if selecting steel carriage garage doors is to have either an embossed metal finish that emulates real wood texture. This option will give you all the strength of metal doors but also the look of real wood. Some manufacture also offer steel carriage garage doors designs that feature a composite exterior that does a great job of looking like wood. We feel that steel garage doors are a much better choice. A galvanized steel door will be stronger, more energy efficient, more durable and require less maintenance than a wood door. After you have browsed the web visit your local home improvement store and check out all the steel carriage garage doors design options that are available. Remember to purchase the best garage door you can afford. When it comes to garage doors purchasing a cheap product is penny wise and pound foolish. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1742989 |