Garage Door Blog

Mornings are tough, especially if you are a parent who has to prepare your children first before heading to work. A stuck garage door might happen unexpectedly, leading to more stress and anxiety in the morning, which translates to a stressful day. Garage doors use complex mechanisms to open and close and can malfunction for any given reason. A garage door could malfunction due to its age or outdated technology; however, it could still malfunction due to minor issues that someone can fix immediately. This is what to do when your garage door is stuck.

What to Do When the Garage Door Gets Stuck When You Are in The Garage

If the garage door does not open, you might have to open it manually by unlocking ay locks and latches, ensuring that the door opens manually. You will then unplug the motor, which disconnects the door from a power source, then find the emergency release cords and pull it down; most garage doors have a red-colored handle located in the middle of the door track. First, ensure that the garage door is fully down before pulling the door closed. Then start lifting the garage door until it stops moving; if it does not stop on its own, it can rapidly close, leading to a fatal accident.

Check The Remote Batteries

The garage door remote opener could be the problem due to expired batteries. When the batteries in the garage opener remote device die, the remote will not open the door. However, you are least likely to think about the batteries as an issue for a stuck garage door, but it could help if you checked the batteries first. You can fix the batteries in minutes by following the manufacturer’s information on how to change the remote batteries. New batteries are easily found in your local stores and are cheap to replace.

Check The Garage Door Track

The garage door track could be another issue as they can get dirt, debris, and chunks of old lubricant accumulating on it. The obstructions can make the garage door malfunction as it prevents the rollers from traveling smoothly along the tracks. Sometimes the tracks could have bumps, warping, and dents which make the door get stuck. If the track has dents and bumps, you can place a wooden block against the track and use a hammer to knock the marks out of the garage door track. If there are bents, a piece of pliers will push and pull the warping leading to little distraction. However, if the track is too damaged, you can opt for professional maintenance from a door specialist or buy a new one.

Check The Door Springs

If the garage door springs break, it might make the garage door stuck. You should first check these springs by looking for door springs above and on top of the garage door; when you notice sagging springs on the torso bar or notice a safety cable with a gap in the middle of the spring, it indicates that the door springs are the real cause of stuck garage door. However, you will not replace the springs by yourself as it requires professional care.

Check The Lock Switch Button On the Wall

The lock switch button on your garage door disables the remotes’ use to open the garage, and people rarely lock their garages using this lock switch. The lock is handy when people are away from home for an extended time, and it prevents intruders from breaking into the house through the garage. Once the lock switch is activated, one can only open the garage door using the wall control unit, and if the garage door is stuck, it could result from a locked door.

Check The Garage Door Sensors

Garage door sensors are safety precautions placed to prevent the doors from closing on a car or a person. If the sensors malfunction, the garage doors are likely to get stuck, and it could be wise to check them to ensure that they are working correctly. The first indication would be blinking lights that indicate that the garage doors are not working correctly, which helps troubleshoot any possible problem.

Inspect The Garage Door Opener Engine

If the garage opener does not work correctly, the garage will likely get stuck. If the garage is stuck and you hear a grinding sound, it could indicate problems with the engine, which could show that the drive gear needs replacement as it is the most common component of the machine that is likely to fail. However, replacing the garage door engine parts might require professional skills, which you could lack.

Some Final Thoughts

You might be frustrated if your garage door fails to budge; however, you should find ways of resolving the problems. First, you should ensure that the garage door lock switch is deactivated and the remote batteries are working. If there is no problem with the remote or lock control, you can inspect the rail tracks to ensure there are no obstructions that prevent the door from opening fully. If the problem relates to the springs and the remote engine opener, it is wise to have it checked by a professional.

Wooden garage doors are naturally aesthetically pleasing but still need to be maintained regularly to retain this property. Besides keeping natural texture and beauty, regular maintenance helps protect the wood from the extreme outdoor conditions that lead to cracking, warping, or rotting. Additionally, correctly maintained wooden garage doors remain functional for many years, and safety features are not compromised, eliminating inconveniences.

Read through this guide to learn more about wooden garage doors and how to maintain them. Below we share 8 tips for maintaining the beauty of wooden garage doors.

Choose the right finish

Applying wood finish to your garage door offers 24 hours protection from rain, snow, sun, and wind. To achieve this, you need to choose a finish that is of high quality and durable. A good finish will offer the door a scratch-resistance effect and hence minimize overall maintenance requirements. A quality finish also helps protect the wood from warping or cracking, rotting, and pests.

Keep your door clean

A dirty door is not appealing. The accumulated dirt may also lead to warping and bending due to moisture in the dirt, which can host pests. It would be best if you cleaned your garage door at least once per year with a mild detergent and water solution. When cleaning, avoid scrubbing roughly as this can cause the finish to come out. Instead, use a soft sponge and rinse the soapy water with clean, clear water. You can clean more often than once per year if dirt builds up quickly in your area.

Lubrication

Oiling helps the door’s mechanisms to open smoothly and to last longer. Oil the door mechanisms adequately every month to ensure it opens smoothly without noise. It would help if you oiled any other time when your door alerts you to do so by producing screeching noise when opening or closing. Be careful not to lubricate too much as it can affect the door’s working mechanism since the excess oil can also attract dirt.

Re-sand and Refinish

This is done to give your wooden garage door the beauty and look it had when you first installed it. You should do this after 3-5 years, especially after a harsh season of beaming sun to heavy snow. You will be required to completely sand down your wooden garage door and then refinish it.

Repaint and Re-stain

Repainting and re-staining the wooden garage door helps it to remain beautiful and also protects it from damage. You should do this after 3-5 years, depending on your region’s climatic condition. If possible, it is recommended you do it annually to maintain the beautiful design all year round.

Before repainting, clean the wooden garage door to remove debris, dust, or peeling paint. Fill any cracks using the wood filler and leave it to dry, then sand down the door. Degrease the door using a special cleaning spray and remove mildew with a mildew cleaning solution. Allow the door to dry, then mask up the handles and apply the primer to the whole door. Apply paint and finish until full coverage is obtained.

Look for rot

A garage door made of wood is susceptible to fungi and bacteria, resulting in wood rot when exposed to too much moisture. Look for signs of this, including softness at the bottom part of the door, and get professional help immediately.

Look out for pests

Pests that feed on cellulose in the wood damage the wooden garage door. These pests make tiny tunnels and holes, and they include beetles, slug, snails, and termites. When you see these pests or any signs of their invasion, use the correct control measures to eliminate them and terminate their spreading.

Inspect frequently

Regardless of how aesthetically pleasing the garage doors are, they will not serve their purpose if they are not functioning correctly. To avoid any inconvenience, inspect all aspects of the garage door to ensure they are functional. Inspect the hardware, seals, surface component of wood, and moving parts for damage and act accordingly.

Benefits of maintaining a wooden garage door

When you maintain your wooden garage door, you will have achieved more benefits, not just maintaining its aesthetic features. The other advantages include:

• Improved safety and security

Faulty garage doors cause the most common operation injuries; hence if the garage door is well maintained, such are avoided. A well-maintained wooden garage door is secure, and it is hard for thieves to find a weak area.

• Reduce overall cost

A well-maintained garage door has fewer problems; thus, the repair cost is reduced. When repairs are done, the risk of installing a new garage door due to significant damages is also minimized.

• Keep safety features updated.

The security technology evolves and changes relatively fast, and hence if you maintain your wooden garage door regularly, you can always incorporate new security features.

• Prevent damage to a vehicle and other items

A faulty garage door may fall when the vehicle is on the door’s pathway resulting in damages. Other essential items are stored in the garage, and since the garage door acts as the shield if it is faulty, the items may get damaged by exterior conditions.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have learned the tips needed to maintain the beauty of your wooden garage door. Clean, lubricate, remove chips and peeling, and control pests to preserve the beauty of your wooden garage door. Ensure you re-sand and refinish, repaint and re-stain annually to ensure the wooden garage door has a fresh look at all times. Finally, don’t forget to engage the right professionals when your wooden garage door needs any repair works.

Are you thinking of installing windows in your garage door but wondering whether you are making the right decision? Installing windows can transform your garage door into something unique, stylish, and modern. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of installing windows in a garage door and you can always speak with a garage door contractor Pflugerville Texas to get a their opinion on this as well.

Windows allow natural light in

One of the benefits of installing windows in your garage door is increased visibility. Windows allow more natural light in the garage even when the door is closed.

Having natural lights coming into your garage door has many benefits. First, it helps to lessen the chance of injuring yourself. Accidents are common in the garage due to poor visibility. When you install windows on your garage door, you will increase light penetration during the day, thus lessening the chance of getting an injury. You will no longer have to worry about how you will get to the switch without slipping.

Perhaps the most significant benefit of installing windows is that it helps to lower your electricity bill. The natural light coming in from the window will be sufficient to perform your tasks in the garage smoothly. That could help reduce your energy bills.

Increased curb appeal

Installing windows on your garage door helps to increase curb appeal. If you want your house to look more attractive and appealing, installing windows in your garage is a wise move. Studies have shown that most homebuyers prefer garage doors with windows.

Windows are available in different patterns and designs, meaning you are free to install a style that suits your taste and preference. If you plan to sell your home in the future and want to increase its value, then a simple but effective way to do that is by installing windows on your garage.

High property value.

Recent research showed that houses with garage doors with windows are highly sought after by buyers. Installing windows in your garage door increases your chances of attracting serious buyers.

There are plenty of customization options. For instance, you can install one or two rows of windows or install large rectangular panes. The possibilities are endless. It is up to you to choose an option that suits your needs. For instance, you can match your garage window design with other windows for a uniform look. Garage windows are also available in different glasses, including laminate, mirrored, frosted, tinted, and more.

They are easy to maintain

Installing windows on your garage door won’t cost you a fortune. On average, the cost is between $15-$50 per window. Additionally, garage windows are solid and durable. They are also resistant to nature, including temperature, humidity, and rainfall, meaning you won’t have to replace them often.

Common concerns about garage door windows

Despite its incredible benefits, some people still have concerns about installing garage windows.

Privacy

The first concern that people have about garage doors with windows is privacy. People are concerned that outsiders may peep into the garage. Although this is a genuine concern, the windows are usually installed at a height that most people will not see through them. You can also install tinted or frosted glass to make it difficult for outsiders to see inside your garage.

Broken glass

Another concern is that windows could break. Stray rocks from the lawnmower, children playing, or even thieves can pose a danger to your windows. Fortunately, you can make them more secure by installing tempered glass. Additionally, replacing a broken window is cheaper than replacing aluminum or steel panels.

Garage door balance

Garage doors are fitted with an opener system that functions by lifting the door evenly. This system is programmed to consider weight distribution. If there is no equal weight distribution, the opener could malfunction, thus weakening the door. If your garage door came with windows installed by an expert, this would not be an issue.

A garage door is one of the features that create the first impression of your home. Depending on how you maintain your garage door condition, you have the power to build or kill your home’s curb appeal. It is not just about the looks. A garage door protects most of your precious belongings, which can only be affected if the door is maintained in an excellent working condition.

Do you want to revitalize your garage door’s exterior look and give it a fresh, new look? You are in the right place. In this post, we will discuss refinishing tips that you can leverage for your garage door repair Pflugerville TX.

Start with the inspection

To know if your garage door needs refinishing or the level of refinishing required, you need first to inspect it. No garage door is maintenance-free, so none are spared this.

Inspecting evaluates your garage door’s painted or stained surface structure and identifies any defects or surface deformities. If you observe the following signs, your door needs refinishing:

• Painted garage doors: Color fading, dullness/chalkiness, cracks in the topcoat, flaking, and scaling.
• Stained doors: Degradation, change in texture and thinning of the protective film.

Now that we have mentioned painting and staining, which is the more preferred refinishing technique?

Painting and staining are similar surfaces refinishing techniques; only that painting provides broader coverage, various sheen degrees, and better color uniformity.

When it comes to garage doors, painting is more suitable for metallic door varieties, while staining works best for wood doors. Staining adds a thin transparent, protective film, and it does not blur the wood’s impressive natural coloring and texture.

You cannot apply stain on the painted surface, and hence it is better to stick to repainting if paint already exists on your garage doors. It all comes down to personal preference and the look you want to achieve on your garage door. Below we go through the process of refinishing your garage door.

Prepare the garage door for refinishing

If the existing surface coat is significantly damaged, you should first do the following preparation practices before resurfacing:

Power wash your garage door

• Wear protective equipment (mask, gloves, and safety goggles).
• Use a wire brush and hard grit sandpaper to scrub off rust, dirt, grime.
• Use a sponge, soap, and water to remove soil on the outside of the garage door
• Rinse the garage door with a hose and leave it to dry.

Switch your garage to manual operation

To ensure that you don’t strain your back when repainting your garage door, you need to deactivate the automatic openers.

• Acquire all the items needed

The main items you will need for this job include handheld brushes and rollers, painter’s tape, primers, maintenance coats, access in case your garage door is a huge one, and of course, paint or stain that you think will bring out the desired look on your garage door.

• Tape the areas that do not need recoating

To reduce messes and ease your work, especially when repainting, you need to cover the sections you want to keep free of colors and drips with the painter’s tape.

Applying the coat or stain

• With your protective equipment still on, apply the first coat (primer) to the prepared surface and wait to dry.
• Use your brush and rollers to apply the first layer of the paint or stain and leave to dry satisfactorily
• Apply subsequent layer until you are satisfied with the uniformity and look of the garage door surface
• Round up the process by applying a thin layer of protective coating to protect your new paint or stain layers from outdoor elements.
• When everything is set up and wholly cured, reactivate your automatic openers and use your ‘brand new’ garage door.

Minor refinishing

If the existing paint coat or stain film on your garage door is not significantly damaged, you need to sand the scratched or dented sections and apply paint or stain on these areas. Just ensure that you even out or blend these sections with the surrounding areas.

Additional garage door refinishing tips

• Prepare in advance- Although the process of refinishing a garage door is not complicated, you need to delegate about three days for the task. Also, it would help if you were very strategic about the weather. Choose days that have low chances of experiencing extreme conditions such as heavy rain. A weekend that is not too cold or too hot could be perfect for a garage door refinishing project.
• Close your garage doors when drying sections- As seen above, repainting or re-staining is done in multilayers, and time must be allowed for one layer to dry out before the next one is applied. Closing your door during this stage ensures that there are no unwanted drips.
• Purchase multicolor paint coats- If you want a bright hue on your garage door, you should consider purchasing multiple compatible coats. In case you are handling this task on your own, you can get advice from the paint shop attendant.
• Hire a professional- If you want the garage door refinishing process to be error-free, you should hire an experienced professional for the task. It is also easier to achieve the desired look on your garage door when you work with a specialist that has handled several similar projects.

Conclusion

With the above tips, you can refresh your garage door’s look and maintain it in pristine conditions at all times. A garage door is arguably one of the features that ‘overwork’ in a home environment. The only way to pay this back is to keep it looking fresh and as good as new. So, don’t let your garage door look dull and boring. Take advantage of the above tips, and this investment will always be making a statement.

If you are having problems with your garage door, it would be best to act sooner rather than later. This is because physical damage to your garage door will degrade the curb appeal, make the door less efficient, and leave it prone to further damages.

Aside from function, physical damage to your garage door may also result in issues like security, safety, and inconvenience. But how exactly do you decide whether it’s repairs or a garage door replacement in Pflugerville that you need?

The following are some necessary factors to consider.

How Bad is the Damage?

Garage doors experience different types of damages. Some of the common incidents that may damage your garage door include high winds or collision with a vehicle.

Additionally, a garage door consists of many parts that facilitate its functioning. You can assess the damage, even with help from a professional, to see if you need repairs or an entirely new garage door.

Also, it would be best to confirm with your insurance company and see whether they offer any coverage on garage door damage. They might cover a part of the repairs or replacement costs, depending on several factors like nature and cause of the damage.

Wear and Tear

Apart from damages, wear and tear will also determine whether you need to replace or repair your garage doors.

In some cases, you might only require a single panel replacement. When this happens, then improving your garage door becomes the better option over a complete replacement.

But if more panels start to rust, fade, and need replacements, then it would be best to replace your entire garage door.

If you have a wood garage door, then you should check for cracks and warping. Wear and tear or cracking go hand in hand with the age of the door.

Is Your Garage Door Functional?

When deciding between repairs and replacements for your garage door, ensure you check if it’s fully operational. If it was working the day before and suddenly quit on you, several issues might be causing it to break.

In most cases, instant damages to your garage door are fast to detect and easy to fix. But if your door has a prolonged issue, it might take time to assess the problem before settling on the correct fix.

It might be a severe issue that may bring you long-term problems, which means you shouldn’t overlook it. That’s why it’s advisable to have any issue with your garage door assessed by a professional.

When you do this, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision on whether your garage door needs repairs or a replacement.

Budget

Your budget is a significant determinant when deciding to replace or repair your garage door. For instance, it’s assumed that a garage door repair will cost you less than a complete replacement of the same door would.

While that is true to some extent, the cost variation between replacing and repairing garage doors will vary depending on the size of damages, materials used, and even the door’s age.

If your garage door damage is beyond repair, it wouldn’t be advisable to continue to seek repair services because it will end up costing you more if the door keeps on breaking down even after servicing.

At this point, it’s necessary to invest in a new garage door. Think of replacing your garage door as a long-term investment – something that will offer you value for money alongside security, convenience, and efficiency.

The first step to ensuring that you can completely keep insects out of your garage is storing food away not to attract insects. Therefore, you can opt to use airtight containers to keep off vermins and insects from smelling at your food. It should apply to both wrapped and unwrapped food that you might want to store in your garage as a backup pantry. Even though most people usually keep freezers and fridges in a garage to preserve their food there, thinking that it is very safe, insects can still smell the presence of food in them and get attracted.  Learn more about Ridgeline Overhead truck door repairs.

Hence, if you are going to preserve food in the fridge, you should ensure they are tightly closed. If you spill anything on the floor by chance, you should clean the surface immediately before it starts attracting insects. Below are additional tips on how you can get rid of insects in your garage.

They are as follows:

Ensure you clean up the spider webs in your garage

Having spiders in your garage can be advantageous and still not good because they are also insects. For instance, it can be great having spiders in your garage as they help you get rid of other bugs because they usually catch them using their web and kill them. However, they can still be messy creatures who will build their webs everywhere on the walls of your garage, making it look awful. They can also leave the dead bugs and other insects on the floor even after tidying up. Therefore, you are encouraged to remove these spiders by ensuring you clean the garage walls and corners to remove the spider webs. You can ensure that you remove the webs every week because it will give your garage an appealing outlook.

Spray the bottom baseboards of your garage

It would be best if you looked for an insecticide that is highly recommended by professions. Use it to spray your garage’s bottom baseboards on both sides, so insects that make contact with the insecticide are killed immediately. However, you are required to be careful, especially if you have pets or children whose toys are lying on the ground or do play on that ground because insecticides are very toxic. Even though some are a bit safer, they are not as effective compared to poisonous insecticides. Additionally, if it rains, you are supposed to re-spray the area so that the insecticide can continue being effective because most of it might have been washed by the rain.

Use a weather-stripping material.

Most insects usually get into your garage from the bottom. In most cases, you will note a crack through which even the smallest insect can get through. Therefore to prevent this, you are advised to buy a rubber seal or weather stripping material easily found in any hardware store. Also, remember to purchase the one that is of the right size for your garage door. Therefore, take measurements of your garage door to ensure that the strips you will buy fit the size of your door.

Getting rid of stagnant water

Water is a primary attraction site for many mosquitoes, especially if it is not flowing. The mosquitoes usually turn stagnant water into a home where they lay eggs and breed. Whereby once it starts breeding, it becomes challenging to control. Therefore you are encouraged not to store water in buckets or containers in the garage because mosquitoes can start breeding in them. Therefore if your main goal is eliminating insects, do all you can to get rid of stagnant water in your garage.

Look for anthills

In most cases, prevention is always better than cure. It would help if you took a walk around your garage while inspecting the foundation at least once per month, looking for anthills. You can also look if insects are trying to form masses around your garage. It is because ants can enter through any opening and cause annoyance in your garage. Therefore you can set ant bait traps to catch them before entering your garage.

Fill in gaps with caulk

Caulks are used to fill cracks in your garage to prevent insects from entering your garage. You can use silicone caulk for it is the best because it holds up for long. Doing so enables you to avoid insects that get into your garage through the cracks from filtering in.

Discard cardboard boxes

You are encouraged to dispose of or get rid of any cardboard boxes in your garage because most termites are usually attracted to organic substances like cardboard boxes or wood. Therefore, keeping them in the garage makes them habitats for the termites, allowing the termites to eat away your garage’s foundation. The boxes are habitats for termites and bugs that can also take coverage under them.

In most cases, if you keep the boxes on the floor, you cannot tell if the termites or other insects are in your garage. Therefore, you are supposed to build storage racks in your garage where you can place your boxes and other items. It will be easier to note when termites and bugs invade them. If you are also using cardboard boxes as dustbins, you can replace them with plastic bins to prevent them from harboring termites.

In a nutshell, insects are generally not pleasing creatures to have not only in your garage but also at home. Therefore getting rid of insects should not seem like a difficult task because it will do you more good. You can start by taking some preventive measures by inspecting your garage regularly, looking for cracks and anthills that may allow insects into your garage. After identifying gaps, use caulks or ant baits to get rid of the insects once and for all. Also, drain any stagnant water in your garage that might harbor mosquitoes. Finally, discard wood and cardboard boxes in your garage that can attract termites. Doing so keeps off insects in your garage for good.

If you have installed an un-insulated garage door on your property, you are risking spending a lot of money on air conditioning. Along insulated walls and ceiling, an insulated garage door can offer natural weatherproofing in your garage space and reduce the money you spend on your energy bills significantly.

You don’t have to replace your garage door if you’ve already installed one with no insulation. You can still add insulation and other related components such as weather stripping and a bottom seal to achieve this kind of cost-effectiveness.  Ridgeline also offers roll up door repair services.

If you can have been wondering how you can insulate your garage door to ward off that chilly condition or uncomfortable hot temperatures, you are about to learn about all that and more. In this guide, you will get the best insulation practices, procedures, and tips you can leverage to insulate your garage door for any weather effectively.

Start by gathering all the materials needed

To get appropriate insulation materials for your garage door, you first need to take correct measurements of the door’s cross-section and the bottom, side, and top openings. You also need to take and record the dimensions of any insulation component that you think needs replacement. A perfect example here is the bottom seal track. This said, here are the primary materials you will need for the project:

Insulation kit

Many local garage accessories shops offer DIY insulation kits with the insulation material and all the items needed for the job. In most cases, the insulation material is either vinyl-faced fiberglass batting or precut Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panel foam. The former offers better insulation and is suitable for a garage established in a region with extreme climatic conditions.

Suppose you are not acquiring your garage door in a local store. In that case, you need to specify the general climate in your areas so that you can get an insulating material with a suitable R-value (a measure of a material’s resistance to conductive heat flow).

Other complementary components to purchase

• Vinyl weather stripping to seal the top and sides of your garage door
• Vinyl seal for the garage door’s bottom. Please ensure that you acquire a seal that fits in your existing track. If the existing track is damaged, consider purchasing a new one too.
• Measuring tape
• A pencil or marker pen
• A utility knife

The procedure of installing the insulation material (we’ll focus on the vinyl-faced fiberglass batting)

• Measure the garage door panels and determine the attachment points

Guided by the horizontal rails, measure the width of one of your garage door panels. Determine where a third of the width’s distance is from each edge and in the horizontal rails’ midway. Mark these two points and repeat for other panels.

Please note: Garage door panels are not always similar in dimension, and you should not take the shortcut of using one panel’s measurement on all the others.

• Install the retainer pin and base on the marked pins

Fix the retainer pin and, base on the marked points on the garage door panels, ready to receive the batting.

• Cut the batting

Guided by your garage door panels’ width and length dimension, cut the garage door batting with a utility knife. For a smooth batting cutting experience, place it on plywood with the vinyl side facing down, and mark the cutting lines, and cut precisely along them.

• Install the batting sections on the panels and lock them up with retaining caps

Align the batting cut out so that they are centered in the panels. Push the insulation until the retaining pin punctures the vinyl facing. Push the retaining cap into place.

• Repeat this procedure until the entire cross-section of the door is insulated.

Installing the weather stripping

• Push the door against the bottom and side jambs and install the vinyl weather stripping at a 45-degree angle.
• Hammers the nails halfway to secure the stripping temporarily
• Move the door to its closing position and ensure a perfect seal between the door’s vertical edge and the framing.
• If there are gaps, adjust the weather stripping until the door is completely sealed on the side.
• Repeat the same for the top seal.
• Hammer the nails all the way to ensure a firm grip on the perfectly aligned weather stripping.

Installing a new bottom seal

• Remove the existing seal with the help of a screwdriver
• Lubricate the metal track with a detergent or a silicone spray
• Insert the new vinyl seal and slide it to fit in the metal tracks
• Crimp the slots on both sides of the seal to perfectly fix it on the metal track.

Test the insulated door

Since insulation features add weight to your garage door, you need to test by closing and opening it to see if the structure is balanced correctly. If, for example, you were insulating an overhead garage door, it should stay in place if you lift it partially and let go. A door that falls back to the initial position shows that the insulation has compromised the balance.

Operating your garage door in an unbalanced state is hazardous and can damage the installed door opener. You should reach out to a garage door service company as they will have all the knowledge and possible strategies to help regain your garage door’s balance. In most cases, they will readjust the spring tension until the door structure is balanced.

The bottom line

Whether you are established in a hot or cold region, insulating your garage makes the space habitable for people using it, perishables, and other valuable items stored there. Hopefully, you are now educated on how to insulate your garage door effectively. Don’t spend all your money on the air conditioning when you can insulate your garage and reduce this practice’s need. Frequently inspect insulating features such as the bottom seal and the weather stripes to ensure that they are functioning correctly at all times.

Many people do not realize that a garage door needs to be maintained until it produced that high-pitched sound when it opens and closes. If a squeaky door is left unattended, the sound may worsen to the point that it may be bothersome to your neighbors. No matter the level of the noise coming from your garage door or the section it is coming from, the fact remains that it’s bothersome and needs to be silenced.

Does your garage door squeak during operation, and are you wondering how you can fix this issue? This guide has all the information you need to solve this problem effectively and acceleratedly and prevent the same from occurring in the future.  We also offer box truck roll-up door repair you can read more about it.

Gather all the necessary materials for the task

To troubleshoot and remedy a squeaking garage door, you need the following:

• Silicone/Lithium-based lubricant
• A wiping cloth
• Access such as a ladder
• A screwdriver

Identifying the source of the squeaks

Listen to all moving parts focusing on the hinges, rollers to identify the source of the squeaks. You can also visually inspect any rusted area as this may be a sign of a potential noisy part.

If you cannot determine where the squeaking sound is coming from even after testing all the moving components, lubricate all of them and test if the sound is silenced. This is even more important when you have not lubricated the parts for long.

Even if you identify that the noise is coming from a particular section, you may still need to lubricate the other parts but put a little more focus on the noisy area.

How to remedy a squeaky garage door

Clean the track

The track is the tunnel-like structure where the garage door rollers slide to move the door up and down. Since this area does not need lubrication (follow though to find out why), you need to give it a good cleaning. Get the cloth you acquired, wet it, and wipe any dirt or grime accumulated on the track. You can use a ladder to clean the entire track up to the top of the garage door. Please leave it to dry as you proceed with the practices below.

Tighten the hardware

Do you hear a wobbling sound when you open or close your garage door? It would be best if you tightened the hardware first before you move to lubrication. Tighten any screws or hinges installed on your garage door but ensure that you don’t fasten them until they hinder motion. In the tightening process, you should identify if there are damaged units and consider replacing them.

Lubricate the primary moving parts

The two main components of a garage door that a squeaking noise will come from are the hinges and the rollers. Below are tips for lubricating them:

The rollers

The rollers are the wheel-like structures that ease the movement/sliding of the garage door up and down the rack. They are the most used parts of a garage door’s opening and closing system and may quickly build friction. When lubricating the rollers, your need to focus on the innermost part (the ball bearing). Use a spray lubricant to reach this part.

If your garage door has plastic rollers, you don’t need to lubricate them as they won’t have ball bearings. Also, note that lubricating products may compromise the working process of plastic rollers.

The track should not be lubricated, as doing so would only make it prone to dust, dirt, and grime. The extra layer on your track may hinder the rollers’ movement and the operation of the openers.

The hinges

The hinges can either be the connection or movement points of your garage door components or even the entire door. They bear most of the door’s weight. When lubricating the hinges, you need to focus on the pivot points and the rod that connects the two pivots. To get the lubricant inside, you need to spray along the rod’s seam. If the seam is hidden, you can spin the rod to access it.

Test whether you’ve silenced the squeaks

After tightening the screws, cleaning the track, and lubricating all the moving parts, you should test the garage door to see if you have silenced the squeaks. Move all the lubricated sections and ensure that the sound has been eliminated. Also, open and close the entire garage door and confirm no noise coming from the structure. If you still hear the high-pitched noise from any parts, give it additional lubrication and test it again. Call your professional to assess the situation if the noise from your garage door is not responding to lubrication.

Bonus tip: To avoid the same problem in the future, you should lubricate all your garage door’s moving components at least twice a year. You can also do this maintenance more frequently if you live in a dusty area.

Final thoughts

Don’t let a squeaky garage door disturb your peace and your neighbors. Take advantage of the above practices and tips, and you will eliminate the noises coming from your garage door without professional intervention. Please note that lubricating and maintaining your garage door is not a one-day task or something that you will do when such a problem arises. It would help if you frequently inspected your garage’s moving parts, cleaned and lubricated them as discussed above to keep the door operating noise-free and smoothly for an extended period.