Choosing a garage door is not really as simple as it may sound. When it comes to choosing the garage door, there are many things one may need to consider: whether the garage is adjoining the property, or whether it is a single or a double garage. Also the materials used for the construction. Some prefer an old style tilt up garage door whereas today, most people prefer a roll-up garage door. In these cases, the door rolls up inside a drum. This is located above the opening of the garage door. Apart from these, there are sectional garage doors that open vertically. Sectional garage doors are sometimes quite similar to roller garage doors.
Today the mere mention of residential garage generally brings to mind automatic garage doors. These are often the most preferred amongst many as they are highly convenient and offer a great amount of safety. One can operate the garage door when you are inside your own vehicle. This would save you the mundane task of getting in and out of your car for quite a number of times. This would especially mean, that on a rainy night, you would be saved of the unnecessary trouble of running through the wet grass and struggling to get your garage door opened.
But sometimes with automatic garage doors, the garage door opener may pose to be a problem. This is because the garage door opener is battery operated and this would mean the power in them is limited. Therefore always ensure you have another set of batteries on you. Also, the range of the signal may sometimes prove to be a major problem as they can even activate your neighbor's garage door.
Common Problems and Repair Tips for Residential Garage Door
Garage doors also come with their own set of problems. Here are a few ways to tackle these. There are times when your garage door may go halfway down and back when you try to operate it. At such times, you must be aware that the garage door has a safety sensor system that detects any obstruction when it is trying to shut down. In such cases, you must know if there are any objects that get into the way like a bucket or a broom, which may cause the door to go back. The tracks, springs, hinges and rollers of the garage door need to be lubricated regularly. This would help in the proper functioning of the door. Always keep a regular check on how the door opens and closes. With the regular use of motor oil, you can minimize a lot of problems in the functioning of the door. Always ensure you check the metal tracks inside the garage and the mounting brackets that hold the tracks to the walls. This is applicable more for the roll up garage doors that have tracks that curve from vertical to horizontal. With the garage door closed, work from inside to examine the tracks. Look for any dents or flat spots. Repair them with a hammer or if you find them beyond repair, then replace them immediately. Always check for loose garage door hardware parts and tighten as needed. Check the hinges on the roll up doors to tighten and replace any damaged screws. Sometimes the wood can be cracked at the hinge. If this holds true, then remove the hinge and use the wood filler to fill in the cracks. Once dried, you can replace the hinge. For lubrication of the tracks and the rollers, use a special garage door lubricant spray. Household oil can be used to spray on the rollers. These can also be used on the pulleys as well. Sometimes you may have noticed your garage door opens and closes down on its own. Well, this could be because there could be somebody who has a similar security code as yours. In such cases, the only solution would be to change your code. Also keep a check on the transmitter and ensure you change the batteries when required. Maintaining a residential garage door can be a very tedious task if you do not follow these tips on a regular basis. So, if you want your door completely problem free, all it needs is a little maintenance from your side regularly.