Is Your Garage Door Safe? Follow These Garage Door Safety and Maintenance Tips

April 25, 2019 By C Town Doors

Most homeowners don’t think a lot about their garage door unless the need arises for garage doors repair. And that’s understandable on some level. But a garage door is more than just that thing that goes up and down when you hit the remote. First, it’s the largest moving part of the house. And second, it likely weighs several hundred pounds. As such, if something goes wrong with the door it can have potentially devastating consequences. The job of the Calgary homeowner then is to look beyond the remote and ask themselves “What do I have to do to ensure those devastating consequences don’t occur?” Below we’ll provide some key safety and maintenance tips.

8 Tips to Ward Off Accidents and Garage Doors Repair

A poorly maintained garage door is an accident waiting to happen. The best way to stave off catastrophic accidents and keep the repair man at bay at the same time is to follow these tips:

Keep your eyes and ears open – The first step in avoiding big problems is to recognize them when they’re still small and have them dealt with. This will not only safeguard you and your loved ones, it will also minimize the amount of money you pay for garage doors repair work. So keep your eyes and ears open when operating the door. Does it sound normal? Is it making any scraping or screeching noises? Is it vibrating while it opens? Is it closing all the way? If you see anything out of the ordinary call C Town Doors in Calgary for help.
Check the hardware – The rest of these safety and maintenance tips require you spending some time with the door. You can do this on the week, or perhaps one Saturday a month. That said the first thing to do is to look at the various hinges, bolts and brackets. Tighten any screws and, if you find any loose bolts, tighten them down as well. This will only take a few minutes and will stave off lots of potential problems.
Check the balance – You don’t have to be a technician to do this. But if you don’t have time we’ll be happy to send someone out to perform this and any other tests. To check the balance disconnect the motor by pulling the red release cord above the door, inside the garage. Once the motor is disengaged lift the door about waist high, stop it there and let go of it. If it’s properly balanced it will stay where it is. If it’s not it will either rise or fall after you let go. If you find it’s unbalanced give us a call.
Inspect the weatherstripping – While you have the door open to check the balance look at the bottom of it. Is the weatherstripping still intact? If it’s not it could cause the door to sit unevenly when it closes. Plus frigid air will blow in under the door during the cold weather months and turn your cold garage into an ice box. If the weatherstripping is old and worn it’s relatively easy to remove and replace it. If you’d like us to do if for you just give us a call.
Check the garage door safety sensor – In the days prior to the auto reverse system dozens of people, including children, were killed every year when doors would accidentally close on them. The auto reverse – also called the garage door safety sensor – sends a beam of light across the width of the door when it’s in motion. If anything breaks that beam the door should stop and return automatically to the open position. Likewise, if the door touches anything on the way down it should also stop and then reverse. To test the beam simply wait until the door begins to close and then break the beam with a broom. The door should stop and go back to open. To test the contact feature place a chair under the door. When the door touches the chair it should stop and return to the open position. If your garage door safety sensor doesn’t work, give C Town Doors a call ASAP.
Inspect the rollers – The door rides up and down in the tracks. But it’s held in the tracks by the rollers. If the rollers are broken or so dirty they can’t roll it’s going to cause a cascade of problems throughout the entire door mechanism. The safest way to check the rollers is to disconnect the motor and have someone lift and lower the door slowly while you stand to the side and observe the rollers. Look and listen for any that might be dragging in the track. Look at the way the door is moving too. Is it being held back on one side? Or is the motion nice and smooth? Check the tracks too while you’re at it. Are the clean and clear? If you have roller or track problems call the pros at C Town Doors.
Inspect the springs – While the garage door opener gets all the press it’s the springs that actually lift the door. So it’s important that they’re always properly lubricated. But working on torsion or extension springs is not something homeowners should ever do. They harbor vast amounts of pent up energy and are extremely dangerous. Do a visual only inspection from a safe distance. What you’re looking for is whether they are properly lubricated or if they’re rusting, dry and corroded. If they need lubrication call C Town Doors. We’ll send someone out.
Arrange for regular maintenance – The simplest and best way to ensure your door is always in optimal working order and to stave off expensive garage doors repair is to have the pros from C Town Doors in Calgary perform regular maintenance on your door. It’s the affordable, common sense way to ensure the convenience of the garage door doesn’t turn into a potential hazard for you and your loved ones.

Call us today on 403-668-6686 for free estimate on your garage door

Fixing Garage Door Openers: 10 Troubleshooting Tips

March 11, 2019 By C Town Doors

Automatic garage doors are a godsend in Calgary and other areas where the winters can be cruelly cold. However, it is often only when they malfunction that we realize how much we rely on them to protect us from the elements. Whether you are currently experiencing problems with the automatic door opener on your integral garage or you are interested in finding out how to troubleshoot some of the most common issues that local homeowners encounter, we hope you will find the information in this article useful. In the event you identify a problem that cannot safely be fixed without the help of a qualified professional, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time to request assistance: we offer a 24/7 garage door opener repair and replacement service in the city and surrounding area.

Table Of Contents

Problems You May Encounter with Your Garage Door Opener in Calgary

10 Problems You May Encounter with Your Garage Door Opener in Calgary

A couple of the issues listed below may safely be rectified by homeowners without any outside assistance but most will require the services of an experienced garage door opener repair specialist. If you have any doubts about your ability to safely tackle a problem with your garage door opener, we urge you to contact us at the earliest opportunity rather than take any unnecessary risks.

Dead Transmitter Batteries

If your garage door opener is not responding at all when you press the buttons on your remote control, one possible reason is that the batteries are flat and need to be replaced. Obviously this is a very simple procedure that can safely be carried out without professional assistance so this is something you can try for yourself if you think it may solve your problem.

Trying to Use Transmitter Out of Range

Another common reason that garage door openers in Calgary and elsewhere fail to respond to remote control signals is because the remote control is too far from the antenna that is affixed to the motor unit of the opener. The simplest solution is to wait until you are nearer to your property before attempting to open your garage door but sometimes the effective range of your transmitter may decrease as its batteries drain so following the advice above may also solve your issue.

Damaged Antenna on Motor Unit

Yet another reason that automatic garage doors sometimes fail to respond to remote control signals is a damaged antenna on the motor unit attached to the opening mechanism.

Broken or Worn Torsion Springs

If your garage door will not open, even though you have replaced the batteries in the remote control and you can hear the motor running, you may find that the torsion springs that provide the energy to open the door are broken or badly worn. If they are not compressing properly as the door closes, and storing enough energy to open it, they will need to be replaced. A garage door opener service engineer will be able to verify whether this is the problem with a visual inspection.

To repair and replace your garage door springs contact us at 403-668-6686

Misaligned Safety Sensors

Some automatic garage doors open fine but refuse to close and this is often due to misaligned safety sensors. On either side of a garage door frame that is fitted with an automatic door opener are electronic photo eye sensors that are pointing towards each other, creating an invisible beam that prevents your garage door from closing if it is broken. This is a safety feature that has been included in the design of all automatic garage door openers since the early 1990s. In the event your sensors are misaligned and therefore not pointing directly at each other, your garage door will not close.

Dirty Safety Sensors

If one or both of your safety sensors are very dirty, they may be unable to see each other, leading to the same problem discussed above. For this reason, it is always a good idea to wipe them clean before calling a local professional to check for alignment issues.

Debris in the Tracks

If your garage door starts to open or close but is unable to complete the operation, this could be due to debris in the tracks along which the rollers travel. The easiest solution is to call our Calgary service centre and have a qualified engineer inspect the tracks before removing any debris that may have collected in them.

Bent or Misaligned Tracks

If you encounter a similar problem to the one listed above but there is no debris that could be blocking the path of the rollers, it could be that the tracks themselves are bent or have shifted out of alignment. If this the case, a garage door opener repair specialist will be able to resolve the problem in short order.

To get the best garage door repair service contact us at 403-668-6686

Incorrectly Calibrated Range Limits

If your garage door closes then immediately opens again, it could be due to incorrectly calibrated range limits. Automatic garage door openers have open and close limit settings that should be calibrated by the installation team when the doors are fitted so if you have just had a new door fitted, call the company responsible for the installation and ask them to resolve the problem for you. If you have an older garage door that has recently started behaving in this manner, we will be more than happy to recalibrate the open and close limits.

Incorrectly adjusted closing force

When a garage door starts to open again before it has fully closed, one possible cause is a poorly adjusted closing-force screw. The closing-force screw on your garage door opener can quickly and easily be adjusted by an experienced engineer.

Whatever problems you may be experiencing with your garage door opener in Calgary, please feel free to call us at any time. We operate a round-the-clock service and our engineers are intimately familiar with the internal workings of all common types of garage door openers on the market today, along with many of the less common older units that may still be in use.

Contact C Town Doors for any garage door repair service in Calgary @ 403-668-6686

8 Unwanted Consequences of Not Calling for Garage Door Repair When You Need It

November 14, 2018 By C Town Doors

It can be very tempting to put off having your garage door repaired, especially if you fear the cost of repairs may be more than you can afford right now, but there are a number of very good reasons you should call a garage door repair specialist in Calgary at the earliest possible opportunity, the most important of which we examine below. Furthermore, should you decide to contact us for help, we guarantee to perform the necessary work for a very competitive price so it may well cost less than you imagine. As the number one garage door installation, servicing and repair specialist in Calgary, we have the knowledge and expertise to complete all types of repairs at economical rates and we are also well aware of the unwanted consequences of delaying essential repair work on residential garage doors.

8 Reasons You Should Call a Garage Door Repair Specialist Today

Failing to attend promptly to a damaged or malfunctioning door can have unwanted and unexpected consequences, which is why we advise every one of our clients in Calgary to call us as soon as they spot a problem with their garage door. For those who have never considered what might happen if a garage door is not repaired in a timely manner, the following list is sure to contain some points of interest:

Damage to Your Vehicle

Damaged or malfunctioning garage doors have the potential to cause serious damage to cars and other vehicles, especially if their condition worsens over time. The worst case scenario is a door that comes completely off its rails and falls onto a vehicle as it enters your garage but there are other ways in which a door in poor condition could end up damaging your car if you do not have it repaired. A door that starts to close unexpectedly as you are driving into your garage could be especially dangerous, as could a door that stops halfway when you try to open it. If you would like to make sure you do not end up with a large bill for vehicle repairs, it is a good idea to have garage doors installation sooner rather than later.

To get the best garage door repair service contact us at 403-668-6686

Injury to You or a Member of Your Family

A garage door that fails to open completely or that starts to close unexpectedly could also result in serious injury to you or another member of your household. If it should happen to come off the rails completely, snapping cables and chains in the process, a fatal accident could be a real possibility. Nobody wants to live with the guilt arising from knowing that their failure to take action was directly responsible for a serious injury or worse, which is why we strongly advise you to play it safe and call a garage door repair specialist if you encounter any problems with your door, no matter how insignificant they may seem at the time. A reputable service provider will not perform unnecessary repairs purely to make a small profit but they will let you know if your garage door is in a dangerous condition and talk you through your options if it is.

More Expensive Repairs at a Later Date

Although a real possibility if the problem is serious enough, most damaged or poorly functioning garage doors will not fall onto unsuspecting victims without warning but, in many cases, the act of leaving a small repair job for longer than is really necessary can lead to bigger problems down the line. Misaligned rollers, for example, can come off their tracks and put extra strain on cables, leading to major component failure and repair costs that are much larger than would otherwise have been the case. Another good example is a damaged spring on one side of your door, which would leave the spring on the other side having to support a load far heavier than it was designed for, with the result that it too could be damaged beyond repair. Apart from the fact your door will no longer open or close if both springs are seriously damaged, you will now have to pay for two new components rather than one. With this in mind, we recommend calling us or another reputable garage door spring repair team in Calgary at the first sign of a problem.

Security Issues

Whether you just keep your car in your garage or you also keep a lot of valuable tools and other equipment in there, a malfunctioning or damaged door could make it much easier for thieves to gain entry and steal whatever they want. What could be an even bigger problem for you if a theft does occur, is your insurance provider refusing to pay your claim because your door was damaged and could have been repaired at an earlier date. The potential losses arising from such an event would certainly exceed the cost of most types of repairs so it is simply not worth trying to save a few dollars by leaving your garage door in a poor condition. This is especially so for homeowners who have converted their garages into extra living space and who may have installed expensive stereo equipment, computers and televisions in them.

To get rid of the security issues of your garage door call us @ 403-668-6686

Heating and Air Conditioning Costs

Leading on from the above point, owners of homes with converted garages, or those who are renting such a property, may well find their utility bills soaring in the event they leave their garage door in a poor state of repair. Misaligned doors and doors that do not close completely leave gaps between themselves and the door frame, through which cold air can enter in the winter and hot air in the summer. The cost of heating and cooling a converted garage with a damaged door can be very high over time and considering the competitive repair services available in Calgary, we suggest fixing your door as soon as possible if you notice any gaps between it and the frame.

Scarcity of Replacement Parts

In extreme cases, such as those where a homeowner leaves a barely used garage door in a poor state of repair for many years, there is a real possibility that the parts needed to fix it will no longer be freely available. In such cases, the cost of repairs can be many times what it would have been if the door had been fixed when the problems first arose. As the leading garage door repair team in Calgary, we carry a comprehensive stock of spare parts for all leading makes and types of door but in the event we encounter a very old door that has been left to deteriorate over a period of years, we sometimes have to recommend garage doors replacement as the most cost effective solution. If you have a damaged garage door that is quite old already and you would like to have it repaired rather than replaced, please call us or another trustworthy service provider as soon as possible. The sooner you make the call, the more likely it is that you will be able to have the repairs completed for a reasonable cost.

Get a free quote for spare parts for your garage doors call us @ 403-668-6686

Difficulty Selling or Renting Out Your Property

A crooked or dented garage door can be a real eyesore that has a negative impact on the curb appeal of your property, which may not be something you worry about now but could cause you problems in the future. If, for example, you wish to move at some point in time, and you need to rent out or sell your property, you may well find it harder to attract buyers or tenants: a damaged garage door is one of the first things that potential buyers and tenants will notice when they come for a viewing and is unlikely to impress them. Even if the rest of your home is immaculate, they may still decide to look elsewhere due to nagging doubts about other problems that may exist.

Damp Walls

Poorly fitting garage doors that are not forming a decent seal with the door frame because of failing components or damage resulting from an accident can lead to problems with the interior of garages, especially those that have been converted into dens, playrooms, music rehearsal rooms or other types of living spaces. Whilst humidity is not a major issue in Calgary, rain and other types of precipitation can enter your garage through gaps between the door and the door frame, eventually leading to problems such as mold and other fungi. In addition to damaging your property, these problems can cause potentially serious health issues among family members who use the garage on a regular basis.

As you can see, the unwanted consequences of not calling your local garage door repair specialists as soon as possible could be quite severe, leading to unnecessary expense and even personal injury in some cases. If you are looking for a no-nonsense service provider that can fix your garage door in Calgary, call or email us today for a competitive quotation.

Contact C Town Doors for any garage door repair service in Calgary @ 403-668-6686

10 Signs That You Need a Garage Door Replacement

November 9, 2018 By C Town Doors

Most homeowners pay very little attention to their garage doors unless they are damaged or begin to malfunction, which is perfectly understandable. However, as a consequence, a lot of homeowners are not really sure how often garage doors should be replaced and whether their own doors have outlived their useful life or not. Whether you live in a palatial mansion with a cavernous garage that could accommodate a fleet of vehicles or a compact townhouse with a garage that only has enough room for one family car, you will almost certainly need a garage doors repair at some point in the future. Below, we list 10 of the most common signs that indicate it may be time for you to consider investing in a new garage door for your Calgary home.

10 Reasons to Consider a Garage Door Replacement Sooner Rather Than Later

If any of the points that we have listed below apply to you, it is well worth contacting us to request a quotation for a new garage door installation in your Calgary property. Modern garage doors come in a wide variety of styles and finishes so we are sure to have one that is just perfect for your home and we would be happy to provide you with a no obligation quotation if you notice one of the signs in our list and decide that now is the right time to make a change.

Higher rates for Home and Contents Insurance Costs

If insurance companies are no longer willing to offer you competitive rates for home and contents policies after surveying your property, your garage door may well be the culprit. Older models that lack the security features of modern doors or that are simply too weak to deter a determined intruder often prompt insurers to raise their premiums and the only sensible solution is a garage doors replacement. You can easily find out whether it is your garage door that is the problem by asking your insurance company of course and if it is, a replacement will definitely prove to be a valuable investment over time.

For garage door replacement call us @ 403-668-6686

Difficulty Maintaining a Comfortable Temperature in a Converted Garage

If you start to notice your utility bills going up over time, to the point where they are a real cause for concern, your converted garage door may need to be replaced. Poorly fitted or warped doors do not form a good seal with the door frame, making it more difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature when it is too hot or too cold outside. If the air con unit in your garage conversion is working overtime all summer and your winter heating bills are getting out of hand, we recommend taking a close look at your garage door to see whether it might need replacing. If it has never been a very good fit, was installed improperly or is poorly insulated, replacing it with a higher quality modern garage door will help you to make significant savings on your monthly utility bills.

It Simply Doesn’t Look Good

Even the best made garage doors will deteriorate over the years and if you have not replaced yours since you moved in, it may be time to consider doing so now. Take a good look at your garage door the next time you drive home from work or from a visit to the shops and see whether it is still pleasing to the eye. Compare it to other garage doors in your street if you are not sure: if it is starting to make your home look a little run down compared to the other homes in your neighbourhood, a new garage door installation could make a big difference. Good quality, modern garage doors are a great investment for Calgary homeowners who would like to increase their properties’ curb appeal without spending a fortune in the process.

For all garage door installation services in Calgary call C Town Doors @ 403-668-6686

Frequent Repairs for maintenance

If you always seem to be calling your local garage door repair company and the cost of maintaining your garage door is beginning to mount up, investing in a replacement makes good economic sense. A well-made new door should serve you well for many years with a minimum of maintenance required, in contrast to an older door that develops new faults at an alarming rate and requires almost constant care and attention to keep it working as it should. If you use our garage doors service in Calgary, our technicians will let you know when they think it is time for a new door; if you use the services of another local firm, please feel free to call and ask for our advice at any time. We will be happy to inspect your door and give you an objective opinion on whether it needs to be replaced or not.

Difficulty Locating Spare Parts

One sure sign that now would be a good time to think about a garage door replacement is the disappearance of spare parts for your existing door from the local marketplace. Once spare parts start to become scarce, the cost of repairing your door and maintaining it in good condition may skyrocket, easily exceeding the cost of a replacement when considered over a longer period of time. At C Town Doors, we, in common with other reputable service providers, stock a wide range of garage doors parts in Calgary but we tend to focus on the most commonly installed models for obvious reasons. If you own an older or rarer door, we will always be happy to help if we can but sometimes it is simply not possible to obtain the parts you need without spending an unreasonable amount of money. A replacement door is the easiest and most cost effective solution in almost all such cases.

Get a free quote for spare parts for your garage doors call us @ 403-668-6686

Numerous Holes or Cracks in the Surface

Doors with many cracks or holes in their exterior or interior surfaces are often in a far worse state on the inside and likely to deteriorate even further over time. If you notice an increasing number of holes and cracks in your garage door, you will probably have to consider replacing it in the near future. Apart from the fact it may pose security and safety issues that need to be addressed without delay, a door with major structural weaknesses will not provide adequate insulation in extreme weather conditions. Even if you only use your garage for its intended purpose – to park your car – it may make your whole house more expensive to heat in the winter and cool in the summer if it is an integral unit. By investing in a new garage door installation, you can avoid the possibility of future accidents, make your home more secure and cut your utility bills at the same time.

It Lacks Many Features Compared to Modern Doors

In common with many other home features, garage doors may become obsolete over time. If you notice that your friends and neighbours have doors with considerably more features than yours, a replacement could be well overdue. Newer doors boast safety sensors to stop them closing when objects or people are in their path, more effective insulation, more appealing designs and many other attractive features. If you would like to find out exactly what the latest doors have to offer, please do not hesitate to call and speak to a member of our team at any time during normal working hours.

It Is Easy to Force Open

If your garage door is relatively easy to force open, whether due to structural weaknesses, failing components or an obsolete design, we recommend that you replace it as soon as it is practical to do so. Integral garages with easily forced doors are a major security issue and considering how easy this particular issue is to fix, there is no reason to delay. Installing a brand new door that is solidly constructed will help to deter potential intruders from targeting your home, protecting both you and your property.

The Same Components Keep Failing

A clear sign that it is time for a garage door replacement is when the same components fail repeatedly. If the torsion springs need replacing on a regular basis, the rollers are always coming off the tracks or the remote is always on the blink, it is probably because the door as a whole is beginning to develop serious issues that make it uneconomical to maintain. In some cases, constant component failure may be due to poor installation work but for older doors that had previously functioned well for many years, it is normally a sign that the door has reached the end of its useful life.

Too Many Close Calls

If you have narrowly avoided a number of accidents due to opening and closing issues with your garage door, we urge you to consider replacing it before your luck runs out!

Contact C Town Doors for any garage door replacement service @ 403-668-6686

Buying a garage door in Calgary? Read our comprehensive guide

September 12, 2018 By C Town Doors

It’s been said that a home’s “curb appeal” has a major impact on the value of a property. Before guests or potential buyers ever step foot in your home, their first impression is based on what is immediately visible from the driveway: the siding, the roof, the landscaping, and, of course, the garage doors.

Garage doors command attention. From the moment your guests pull into your driveway, your garage doors are often the first thing they notice. Naturally, then, most homeowners want their garage doors to be a showpiece of their property. From the height and panel design to the style and functionality, homeowners are meticulous about every aspect of their garage doors.

Is your garage door starting to age? Maybe your garage door is an eyesore, in a state of disrepair, and in need of a facelift. If so, you might need to replace your garage doors with something new and inviting.

When you replace your old, worn out garage doors with a pair of custom garage doors or contemporary garage doors, you breathe new life into your property. Instantly, a fresh pair of modern garage doors can raise your property value, provide you with a confidence boost, and bolster the “curb appeal” of your home.

Want to find the right garage doors for your Calgary home? The experts at C Town Doors, Calgary leader in garage door sales and installation, put together this hands-on guide to help you choose the perfect garage doors for your home. From weatherproofing to picking between steel or wood, read on to discover everything you need to know about purchasing garage doors.

Table Of Contents

Choosing the Right Style for your Garage Door
Choosing the Right Material for Garage Doors
Getting the Right Measurements
Choosing Your Door: Step-by-Step

Choosing the Right Style for your Garage Door

Nobody wants an ugly pair of garage doors. While functionality and security are usually the first considerations most garage door buyers have in mind, style and aesthetics always follow right behind. After all, garage doors are the centerpiece of any home’s exterior. It means sense that you would want them to look inviting, elegant, and stylish.

Carriage House Garage Doors

These days, carriage house doors are one of the most popular styles among modern garage doors. Carriage house doors, once popular in the 1940s and 1950s, have surged in popularity in the recent years. For most homes, they offer an elegant aesthetic that is timeless and reminiscent of an older architectural style.

Available in both steel and wood, carriage house garage doors open up and down like traditional garage doors, although they appear as though they open like double interior doors. In most cases, they feature faux handles on the outside and are equipped with a row of glass windows at the top. We find that carriage house doors offer charm and sophistication to a home.

Get a free Estimate from leading Calgary garage doors service Provider @ 403-668-6686

Contemporary Garage Doors

Contemporary garage doors are unlike the garage doors of the past. These doors feature clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. In other words, they value function over form. Contemporary garage doors rose in popularity in the 1980s when most homeowners became fed up with the high maintenance costs associated with wood or artisanal garage doors.

Unlike most other styles, contemporary garage doors can be made of a wide variety of materials, from aluminum and glass, to wood or steel. These garage doors typically feature a plain, no-nonsense pattern on the exterior and a nondescript interior. Occasionally, small windows will allow natural light to brighten the inside of the garage.

To get a Quick Estimate call @ 403-668-6686

Traditional Garage Doors

Whereas contemporary garage doors are sometimes available in aluminum and glass, traditional garage doors are predominantly made of wood and, to a lesser extent, steel. These are the classic, old-school garage doors that your grandparents probably once owned. They raise up and down, and feature a plain, repetitive pattern throughout.

What sets traditional garage doors apart from modern garage doors is the fact that traditional doors emphasize strength and durability over aesthetics. These doors are notable for their long, ribbed panels and low-maintenance design. With traditional garage doors, your garage will stand out with a look that is timeless, familiar, and bold.

Get a Free Estimate for Traditional Garage Doors Installation @ 403-668-6686

Farmhouse Garage Doors

Farmhouse style garage doors have been a staple of American architecture for years. Farmhouse garage doors are notable for their lack of windows and monochromatic design. When made of wood, they are traditionally painted all-white. However, in recent years, glass farmhouse garage doors have risen in popularity.

Farmhouse garage doors have a rustic, bucolic appearance that resonates warmth and comfort. They are generally painted in one neutral color and have cedar wood shingles. Most homeowners recognize farmhouse garage doors by their distinctive “X” shaped center pattern that gives off the impression of a barnyard entrance.

Choosing the Right Material for Garage Doors

Although steel is the most common garage door material today, there are four standard materials that are used in the construction of garage doors. Each of the four commonly found garage door varieties have their own unique benefits and drawbacks. Let’s run through each of them and discuss the importance of finding the right material for your custom garage doors.

Natural Wood Garage Doors

Historically, wood has been the material of choice for garage doors. It wasn’t until the 1980s when the appeal of low-maintenance steel and aluminum-based garage doors started taking hold. Wood garage doors are generally constructed with cedar, redwood, or oak wood, and are heavy, durable, and charming when stylized properly.

Wood is still popular among modern garage doors, yet they have fallen out of fashion to some due to their relatively high maintenance costs. For example, natural wood garage doors require consistent repainting every two to three years, depending on its exposure to inclement weather. Also, they are notoriously heavy to lift, which renders them impractical for some owners.

On the bright side, natural wood garage doors provide stellar heat insulation compared to most other garage door varieties. Also, these garage doors tend to be more sought after by luxury homeowners due to their rustic charm and artisan quality. Since most wood garage doors are handcrafted, there is a certain prestige that comes with owning them.

Steel Garage Doors

Unlike wood garage doors, steel garage doors are mass produced and factory-finished. Steel garage doors tend to rank among of the most affordable garage doors Calgary has to offer, and they also provide the most flexibility in terms of customization. With steel garage doors, homeowners have the ability to get creative and choose from countless personalized designs.

Steel garage doors suffer from a lack of insulation. While insulation material can be installed as an aftermarket upgrade, most steel garage doors are purchased without added insulation. Not only does this cost homeowners money due to heating inefficiencies, but it can also cause loud drafts to seep in underneath the door.

There are also several key advantages of steel garage doors. Since steel garage doors are modular in their design, they can be upgraded to feature several important upgrades. For example, steel doors can be reinforced with wind guards to protect against high-wind environments. Likewise, multi-layer insulation can also be added.

Get a Free Estimate for your Garage Door @ 403-668-6686

Aluminum and Glass Garage Doors

Aluminum and glass designs have become increasingly popular among modern garage doors. This is because their translucency allows for lots of natural light to seep through and enter the garage. If you spend lots of time in your garage, this can make the environment seem more inviting and pleasant to be in.

While aluminum and glass contemporary garage doors are sleek and modern-looking, they suffer from a lack of weight and sturdiness. By far, these garage doors are the most vulnerable to damage and denting during rough weather. Nonetheless, glass and aluminum garage doors are often reinforced with rust-proofing and reinforced metal to render it more durable.

Aluminum and glass garage doors are a good choice for homes that are looking to take on a chic, modern appearance. We often install glass and aluminum garage doors in older homes that are undergoing major exterior renovations or preparing for listing on the real estate market.

We are #1 Modern Garage Doors Service Provider in Calgary Get a Free Estimate Today @ 403-668-6686

Composite Garage Doors

Lastly, composite garage doors are made of a unique blend of metals. In nearly all cases, steel is one of the primary metals found in composite garage doors. Since they are made of metal alloy, these garage doors tend to sell at a cheaper price point than most other builds. However, they suffer from the same durability defects as steel garage doors if they are not reinforced.

We recommend installing composite garage doors if you want a budget-friendly solution for your garage. Generally, custom garage doors made of composite material are nondescript, monochromatic, and do not draw much attention. While they may not boost your property’s “curb appeal”, they certainly can offer a lot of value for your dollar.

Getting the Right Measurements

When it comes to finding the right custom garage doors for your home, you need to get your measurements right. Even the smallest miscalculation or measurement error can cause major headaches later down the road and can incur serious costs in garage door repairs and adjustments.

While we recommend hiring a professional garage door specialist to take your property’s measurements, you can always measure your door size yourself. Once you have your measurements taken, can take them to your local garage door installer or retail to find the ideal garage door for you.

Height and Width

First, you need to find your garage door’s height and width specifications. For this, you need to take note of the “rough opening”, which is the height and width (in inches or meters) of the framed opening of your garage minus the stop molding around the perimeter. In virtually all cases, the rough opening will equal the size of your garage doors.

Side Room (Left and Right)

Next, you need to measure the side room of your garage opening. Side room refers to the distance required on both sides of the door to accommodate the vertical track assembly attachment. Without these measurements, you won’t be able to install the lifting mechanism for your custom garage doors.

Generally, 3-3.75 inches are required on each side of the door to allow for a standard extension spring or torsion spring system. Alternatively, 4-4.5 inches are needed for a torsion spring system above the opening for the torsion spring attachment.

Headroom

Headroom refers to the space above the door required for the lifted door, overhead tracks, and springs. Within this space, there should be no obstructions blocking the tracks or door path. For an extension spring system, ensure a minimum of 10 inches of space from the top of the door opening to the ceiling. For a torsion spring system, ensure a minimum of 12 inches.

Backroom

Last, take note of your available backroom. Backroom refers to the space between the garage door opening and the rear wall of the garage itself. At minimum, you should have a distance equal to the height of the door plus an additional one and a half feet.

Choosing Your Door: Step-by-Step

Now that you know the basics about garage door designs, styles, and builds, it’s time to decide which garage door is right for you. If you can’t decide, we recommend asking your local garage door retailer or contact our team at C Town Doors if you live in the Calgary area. To help walk you through the process, we put together this quick guide for you to follow.

What Size Do I Need?

When purchasing a new set of custom garage doors, your first consideration is sizing. In most cases, a single car garage door will measure 8-9 feet in width and 7-8 feet in height. By contrast, double-wide garages will typically measure 16 feet wide and 7-8 feet tall. If your garage is a non-standard size, simply inquire with your local installer or retailer about sizing for custom garage doors.

What’s My Budget?

Like any major purchase, your budget needs to be a top consideration. A lot goes into the cost of modern garage doors, including the material type, insulation level, sizing, design, and hardware involved. When drawing up a garage door budget, you need to consider how much you value aesthetics, insulation, and durability.

If you want a garage door at the lowest price point possible, without installation, you will likely purchase a single car composite-made garage door without insulation. If your garage door will be rarely used, or if you live in a mild temperature environment, this may be the most appropriate option for you.

Homeowners looking to add value to their homes and bolster their curb appeal should invest in carriage house or contemporary garage doors featuring a raised panel design. For a time-honored appearance, wood garage doors are the material of choice. However, you can expect to pay several times more than you would for a basic composite single-car door.

What Style Should I Choose?

Ultimately, the style of your garage door will be a matter of your personal taste. For many homeowners, choosing the right style is the most difficult aspect of the garage door purchase. If necessary, your local garage door retailer can help you decide on a style that best suits the aesthetic of your home.

In our experience, many older homes built in the first half of the 20th century and earlier tend to opt for carriage house or farmhouse style garage doors made of wood. Newer homes generally suit modern garage doors in the “contemporary” style which feature full view doors and glass elements.

What Material Should I Choose?

Your garage door material will be a product of your budget, style preference, and living environment. If inclement weather is a concern, you may be interested in steel garage doors. However, if a rustic style is your primary consideration, you may want to opt for natural wood doors. Artisan wood doors are often the best choice for boosting property value.

Should I Choose an Insulated Door?

Last, you need to choose whether you should purchase a garage door with insulation. Most garage doors Calgary has to offer come with insulation, due to the cold-weather climate. If energy efficiency is a major concern of yours, you will likely want to invest in insulated garage doors with a high R-value.

Get a Free Estimate for your Insulated Garage Doors Calgary call @ 403-668-6686

Ready to Upgrade Your Garage Doors?

At C Town Doors, we specialize in providing the best garage doors Calgary has to offer. For years, C Town Doors has helped Calgary homeowners and those in the Greater Calgary Area (GTA) find their dream set of garage doors.

If you need quality garage doors Calgary can be a difficult market to navigate. However, the expert team at C Town Doors has the right set of people skills, technical expertise, and industry connections to find the perfect garage doors for you. Plus, with a two-year hassle-free labor guarantee, you benefit from peace of mind that only C Town Doors can provide.

Are you ready to enhance your home’s curb appeal? Call us today, visit our Calgary garage doors showroom, or drop us a line here. Conveniently located in Calgary and we are open Monday-Sunday 24 Hours. If your home needs garage doors, get in touch with us today.

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