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Keep your Garage door well-maintained with these tips

September 23, 2019 By C Town Doors

Your garage door is opened and closed multiple times a day, and through the course of a year this can add up to over a thousand open/close cycles. Wear and tear is inevitable with such rigorous use and a breakdown is essentially guaranteed. A broken garage door can easily throw off your daily routine, leading to schedule delays and other inconveniences. This is why keeping yours it in the best possible shape is one of the most important things to do for your home. Here are a few maintenance tips that Calgary homeowners can do to keep their garage door going for as long as possible.

Observe Your Garage Door

The first and foremost thing you can do for your garage door is to look and listen to it as it moves up and down to open and close your garage. Take note of anything that squeaks or rattles; also keep an eye on how the garage door opens. Does it move in a jerky manner that looks like something might have gotten stuck? Do the tracks shake as your garage door moves? All these may be signals that something is wrong with your garage door, the tracks, rollers, or even the automatic garage opener itself.

Some Things You can do to Maintain Garage Door Parts

1. Bolts and Fasteners

Each time your garage door opens or closes, it causes vibrations that can eventually lead to bolts loosening on your roller brackets. If you spot any of them starting to come loose, make sure to tighten them back again using a socket wrench. Also check the bolts and fasteners keeping your automatic garage door opener secure. While these don’t receive as much vibration from the garage door’s motions, they are still liable to loosen up as time progresses. Be careful when tightening the bolts on the bottom rollers as well, as these are where the cables are attached.

2. Garage Door Roller Tracks

Keeping the tracks your garage door rollers run on is extremely important. If your rollers run over any debris left inside the tracks, it may lead to some misalignment. A properly clear track can also ease the strain caused by your garage door openers working just a bit harder during the cold Calgary winters. You can keep your track clear with either a cloth or perhaps even by running a vacuum cleaner through the top and bottom of the track. Make sure as well that your tracks are vertically level as this can also lead it issues. Use a carpenter’s level to check the plumb. If there’s a problem with the alignment of the tracks, make sure you have a professional fix the issue for you.

3. Garage Door Rollers

Properly working rollers are essential to the continued working of your garage door. Make sure to inspect these regularly for any chips, cracks, or the beginnings of rust. Make sure you replace these rollers whenever you spot issues. Replacement rollers come in different materials and each one has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic rollers are cheap but would last at most 2-3 years before needing replacement.

Steel rollers are more durable and can last from anywhere between 4,000-15,000 cycles depending on the type; but these types of rollers can be very noisy which isn’t really ideal for suburban or residential settings. These also require regular lubrication.

Nylon rollers are the most expensive choice but runs along the tracks a lot more quietly than steel rollers and have comparable or even superior lifetimes, with some of the high end varieties lasting over 100,000 cycles before needing to be replaced. Ask a garage door servicing company for advice when choosing the type of roller you should use.

4. Garage Door Cables and Springs

The mechanism that runs your garage door opener consists of a number of cables and springs, as well as a band or chain on a track in the center that leads to the garage door opener motor that actually does the work of pulling up the garage door when you press that button on your garage door remote.

Garage doors usually use one of two types of springs: extension, or torsion springs. Extension spring garage doors consist of two springs installed above the two horizontal sections of the roller tracks of your garage door. Torsion spring garage doors usually have one spring installed right above the door itself. In both cases, the force is stored in the spring when the garage door is closed and released when the door is opened to help the garage door opener pull the door up. The difference is that extension springs extend to store energy while torsion springs coil tighter to do the same.

Regardless of spring type significant forces are stored inside the springs and cables that make up your garage door. Attempting to fix these yourself is very dangerous and can lead to severe injury. If you spot worn out springs or fraying cables, make sure you call a garage door specialists to perform the installation of new cables.

5. Garage Door Safety Features

Modern garage doors have 2 primary safety features: mechanical and sensors. To test the mechanical safety feature, just place a piece of wood or brick on the ground in the way of the garage door. The door should immediately raise itself back up if it hits the obstruction.

To test the sensor, it’s as simple as breaking the line of sight between the sensors as the door comes down. The garage door should stop and open itself up immediately if the line of sight is broken.

Lubricate, Lubricate, Lubricate

Lubrication is the most important form of maintenance the Calgary homeowner can do for their garage. Especially when preparing for the winter. Unlubricated garage rollers and hinges run the risk of freezing over and stiffening up in sub-zero temperatures, this forces your automatic garage door opener to exert more force trying to open your garage door and in some cases can lead to your it being stuck altogether.

The type of lubricant you should use is also important. We suggest using a silicon or lithium-based lubricant spray rather than your typical mechanical grease or oil. The primary reason for this is that typical grease or oil is prone to having dust and other particulates cling to it, which would be counter intuitive to the proper functioning of your garage door.

The important places for you to lubricate your garage door are the rollers, the springs, the hinges of your garage door panels if they are made of metal, as well as the lock to your garage door.

Your Garage Door Itself

1. Test the Balance of your Garage Door

An unbalanced garage door can lead to significant difficult to the proper functioning of your garage door opener. Unbalanced rollers can lead to the cables having to strain themselves more than they should; mainly because the cables on both sides not have to exert unequal amounts of force to open or close the garage door. An unbalanced garage door can also lead to gaps at the bottom, letting in the elements.

To test your garage door’s balance disconnect the garage door from the opener and manually lift it halfway. There should be minimal movement by the door when you release your grip on t

he door. If there’s any movement up or down, that may be a sign that your door is unbalanced. It’s advisable that you call garage door repair specialists to re-balance your garage door as the forces exerted by the cables on the door itself are very dangerous.

2. Weather stripping

Weather stripping is the lining at the bottom of your garage door. It keeps elements away from the inside of your garage by forming a seal between the door and the ground itself. This is especially important for Calgary homeowners during the cold winters as it prevents snow from reaching the garage floor.

Weather stripping deteriorates over time but unlike balancing your garage door, replacing it is a far less involved affair. You can purchase weather stripping from Canadian Tire or other hardware and home supply stores, cut it to the length of your garage door and install it to the bottom of your garage door yourself for relatively cheap.

3. Maintain the Garage Door Material

Just as important as the mechanisms of your garage door is the garage door itself. As time goes on, your garage door will see some deterioration. Paint might start to chip off or rust might start appearing. The type of material your garage door is made with informs how you should maintain it. If your garage door is made of wood it can warp and water damage is a major problem so make sure you inspect your garage door annually for these issues and have them fixed before repainting. Steel garage doors can rust so you’ll have to sand the rust out before priming and painting. Fiberglass garage doors are a bit simpler to clean as they can be washed with an all purpose cleaner.

When you’re repainting your garage door, make sure you choose a weatherproof paint. Living in Calgary, you’ll be dealing with humid summers and cold winters so choosing a paint meant to withstand these conditions is important.

If you’re experiencing Other Issues with your Garage Door Opener…

We at C-town have prepared a troubleshooting guide that covers most typical issues you may face. Now if you’re looking for a new garage door installation, or hoping to have your garage door repaired, we’ve got your back!

Just Contact Us at 403-668-6686.

New Garage Door Installation For A Refreshing Curb Appeal

June 10, 2019 By C Town Doors

Choosing a new garage door installation for your home is always an exciting process as it is your opportunity to transform your visual of an essential part of your home into reality. Once the new door is installed, your home will have a new, refreshed appearance and look!
There are a few decisions you may want to make prior to having a new garage door installed.
To help you select the best new garage door for your home, we invite you to review the following suggestions:
Table Of Contents

Decide what garage door style you want for your home
Most Popular Material: Fiberglass

Decide what garage door style you want for your home

The first step, is to determine what style of door you would like. There are plenty of styles to choose from, based on your own preferences as well as the right material to match with your entire home appearance.

Traditional raised-panel garage doors

Raised-panel garage doors are perfect when you’re seeking a clean, classic look for your home’s exterior. These garage doors are characterized by symmetrical, raised rectangular panels. They come in both insulated and natural-wood options.

Carriage-house garage doors

Carriage-house garage doors, known by some as “barn style garage doors”, have a distinctive, rustic look that can stand out and are often the perfect complement to craftsman style or mission style homes, among others. It all depends on your aesthetic preference and your existing home exterior décor.

Glass-paneled garage doors

For a contemporary look, consider a garage door that features clean lines and translucent glass panels. Without sacrificing security, a glass-paneled door admits light during the day and when backlit at night, radiates like a jewel.

Steel garage doors

Material does not determine style, a fact evidenced by these classic carriage house garage doors in steel. The best are made of two layers of galvanized steel, either primed and painted with a top coat or clad with a composite material.

Most Popular Material: Fiberglass

Fiberglass garage doors are the easiest to maintain and come in nearly any design. They are paintable, so you can finish them to match the trim on your house.

Take into account the Canadian weather

If you live in a city where the weather gets brutally cold in the winter, such as Calgary, you will want to get an insulated garage door. Insulated garage door ensures that your garage is warm and the heat is well-circulated for this specific space of your home. In regards to colour selection, dark coloured doors will absorb light and can help keep your garage a little warmer. On the other hand, light coloured garage doors will reflect sunlight, so the garage can feel a bit cooler.

Consider how the garage door colour choice can affect the curb appeal of your home

Adding to the curb appeal of the home does help increase its overall value. A good choice if you are planning on selling your home is to consider modern, trendy colours. Otherwise, if you are planning on remaining in the home for quite some time, a neutral coloured door is a better choice as it is versatile and timeless.

Select a garage door colour that complements the other colours of your home

A big part of choosing the right colour requires comparing how the colour of the door fits with the other exterior colours of your home, like your roof colour and siding colour.

Compare what colour garage doors your neighbours have on their homes as well. Look around your neighbourhood and look what colour garage doors are on other homes. Think about how the door looks and how it affects the curb appeal of the home. It can be beneficial to try to choose a door colour that is different from your neighbours so your home can stand out from the rest.

Consider if you want a solid or two-tone coloured garage door

Some people like using a single solid colour door for their home while others like a two-tone coloured door. For instance, you could get a two-tone door in grey that has white trim on the outside, which looks simple but not yet too monochrome. Moreover, the garage door colour can create different illusions. Light coloured garage doors can make your home look bigger, while dark coloured garage doors can make the home look a bit condensed.

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

If you’re still contemplating on how to enhance your home’s curb appeal or looking for a new garage door installation, don’t hesitate to reach us at 403-668-6686 for a free estimate and consultation from a professional, honest and dedicated team.

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

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

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