Garage door Weblog

What about a Garage Tune-up?

Is your garage in state of disarray or close to be a disaster prone area? Too often, homeowners forget that the garage is the largest room to their home and neglect it.  They move in piles all of their garage stuff alongside the walls and let just a little space to park the car.  However, today’s garage is no longer just four walls and a roof in which to park the car and store items.  It can be use as workshop, office or expended playroom for children. It is possible to clear the clutter and even make enough room in the garage for the family car. This is why GARAGA, garage doors, Inc. (www.garaga.com), the largest garage door manufacturer in Canada, want to present some very useful tips for efficient storage.  The only thing you need is a little bit of motivation and imagination.

1.  Uncluttered the area : «Do not pile up your garage too much because you need to leave room for your car as well as enough space to be able to manoeuvre it while driving in and out of the garage» explains Nancy Labbé, communication coordinator at Garaga.  To leave enough space in your garage, the first thing to do is to sort through your belongings and antiquated stuff that you do not need anymore.  Doing a yard sale might be a good idea too.  After this you can start to organize your garage.

2. Divide your storage into zones:  To be efficient, Nancy Labbé suggests you to categorize every item and create different storage spaces like one for garden tools. Seasonal stuff, sports gears, electrical tools, maintenance products etc.  Your different items have to be store by seasons and if you put them into specific places, it will be easier for you to find them.  Also, things that you use everyday should be kept in a place easy to reach.

3. Storage solutions: You can maximise space with modular storage like shelves, cabinets, hooks or pegboards.  The best thing to do is putting shelving in your garage. Suspend shelves from the ceiling and on the upper portions of the outside walls so you will be able to park your car easily without any incidents. At the hardware shop, it is easy to find everything you need and fit them to your garage however it is common to use old lumber to make shelves.  It is important to know what space is available for storage.  «You may think about between rafters, along walls and between benches and do not forget to check wall weight ratings to make sure they can carry the load you put on them» says Nancy Labbé.  Remember that even large items like bikes and wheelbarrows can be hung on the walls.  Finally, the ceiling is also a great place to consider for storage.  You can balance some stuff across rafters.  For larger objects, ropes and pulleys can hang them.

4. Create a workplace: Keep area of your garage as a workshop corner.  You can organize it with a desk and install cabinets and a pegboard above the work surfaces for easy access to supplies.  Use clear bins to be able to see what is inside.  Do not forget to keep the area cluttered.  To clear the floor as much as possible will be the rule of thumb to have a tidy environment.

5. Drop zone:  Finally, include a drop zone near the door to the house with a shelf or rack for an umbrella, coats and keys.   You can also relocate trash and recycling bins to nearby entrance.  It will make it easier for you and your family to dispose of these items.

In conclusion, the garage is more than a place to park your car.  It presents enough space to store items which you cannot place anywhere else in the house.  With a good storage organization and a lot of motivation, you will be able to transform your messy garage into a cluttered area. 

These tips are some suggestions to helps you use your garage as efficiently as possible, and especially to make it comfortable regular use.  If you need more information about garage doors we suggest you to visit the website of Garaga, a Canadian garage door manufacturer at www.garaga.com

What you should know before purchasing a garage door

A garage door is an important component to any home. It represents much of a home’s façade and is your home’s largest piece of moving equipment. But you know little about garage doors. How are you going to choose a door and have it installed to your satisfaction? We contacted J-F Morin, marketing director at Garaga Inc. (www.garaga.com) to learn more. Keep reading below to find out the three most important things you need to know.

No. 1: What kind of door should I buy?

Garage doors are typically made of three different types of materials: metal (steel or aluminum), wood or vinyl.

• Metal (steel/aluminum) garage doors are among the most popular today (80% of the American and Canadian market).The cost of a steel door is lower than a door made of any other material. Aluminum is mostly chosen for its weight. They may be ordered in many colours. Both are insulated and require very little maintenance.

• Wood garage doors have been around for the longest period of time. Wood has a natural beauty and is versatile. It may be painted or stained. The quality of a wood door varies from wood composite to solid wood construction. They are available in a very wide price range. The more you pay, the better the quality.

• Other materials such as vinyl or fibreglass. Vinyl garage doors are completely maintenance free. They are scratch resistant. While the initial cost of a vinyl door is greater than doors made of other materials, the long-term cost is lower.

No. 2: What company should I buy from?

Unfortunately, the garage door industry in Canada is not strictly monitored, J-F Morin says. There are many fly-by-night companies that are not insured and do not provide their employees with workers’ compensation. You want to look for a company that:

• is professional and courteous;

• supplies references from previous customers upon request;

• provides their technicians with uniforms and clean trucks;

• carries adequate insurance.

No. 3: Where do I purchase a garage door?

There are three types of retailers to choose from when purchasing a garage door: mega home-supply stores, door and window dealers, and garage door specialists. J-F Morin strongly suggests dealing with a reputable garage door specialist. This company will send a sales representative to your home and/or may have a showroom that you and your family can visit so that you can see exactly what you are buying. These companies employ their own installers and technicians and will guarantee materials and labour. Their motto is “Quality work time after time!”

In the end, if you remember just one thing, according to Mr. Morin, it should be that a garage door’s performance and long-term durability depend as much on the quality of the installation as on the quality of the product itself.

Choosing a Garage Door Dealer

There are a variety of sources you can turn to purchase or obtain garage door products, the most popular of which is the garage door specialist.GARAGA (www.garaga.com), as an important garage door manufacturer located in Canada, has built a professional dealership, named Garaga Experts. These Experts are often the most reliable and dependable source for several reasons. These include experience, knowledge and - most importantly - the fact that they make their living by selling, installing and servicing door systems.

Safety: A Primary Concern:
a garage door isoften the largest moving object in home or commercial business facility. An improperly installed door and operator system can exert tremendous force when the door closes. This could lead to the entrapment of children or adults and subsequent injury - or worse.

 

Therefore, selecting the right person to install and service your door and / or operator is an extremely serious decision. It is not one that should be taken lightly! There are thousands of door dealers in business today. What can you do to assure yourself of selecting the right one? Here are these five checkpoints for you to use:

-          Experience:

of all the five checkpoints, this is perhaps the easiest to validate. How long has the company been in business? If a new company, do the principals have experience in the door and operator industry? How much?

-          Workmanship:
this may be the most important checkpoint. And it is also easy to verify. Does the door dealerhave satisfied customers? If so, do they have letters of recommendation from their customers? Depending on the project, you may want to talk to a customer or two.

-          Code and Regulatory Compliance:
there are numerous requirements pertaining to safety and the installation of a garage door system. Federal, province / state, and local codes and regulations must be followed. Ask the dealer you select about how they comply with the codes in your city.

-          Insurance Coverage:
it is important to you that the door dealercarry proper insurance on their business and employees. One checkpoint is to ask for a copy of the company's Certificate of Insurance. If they don't have one or hesitate to comply with your request, it could be a negative signal.

-          Financial Integrity:
depending on the size of your project, financial integrity of a door dealer can be very important. Although this is a sensitive issue, a dependable, honest door dealer won't mind telling you about the basic financial integrity of their company.

Selecting the right garage door dealer is as simple as asking a few questions. The most important deals with the issue of reliability. Is the dealer dependable, trustworthy, and safety-conscious? These questions take only moments to answer, and yet they can help you avoid tremendous problems in the future.

GARAGE DOOR: A HOME IMPROVEMENT IDEA THAT IMPRESSES

What is the most dramatic, eye-catching home improvement project you can launch into this year? It’s an exterior upgrade that adds style and curb appeal to one-third or more of the front of homes: the garage door.

 

Chances are, if your home is 10 years old or older, you’ve been living with a good old-fashioned raised-panel steel door – just like every other home on your street. And they probably all look pretty much the same. Here are some observations highlight by Nancy Labbé, Marketing Dept., at GARAGA, garage doors, Inc. (www.garaga.com)

 

A Stylish Statement

You’re probably thinking, “How much difference can a garage door really make? It goes up, it goes down; what does style have to do with it?” GARAGA features “before & after” garage door photos that show the effect that a replacement has on a home. All the major Canadian garage door manufacturersare producing dramatic new styles and you can review them and decide what’s best for your home.

 

Hot Trend: Carriage Doors

The industry’s hottest trend is the carriage house door. The look that was popular on carriage houses and stables a century ago is today’s new chic in garage doors. The styles, windows, accessories and colours vary so widely, there’s little chance the garage door on your home will look like another one down the block. Did you note also for 70% of Canadian homes, the garage is front to the street?

 

The Latest Features

What else is new in garage doors? How about energy savings? Many of today’s garage doors feature insulation that helps reduce heat loss in Canadian  winter and helps your home stay cooler in the summer, Nancy Labbé says. And as energy bills continue to rise, a new door begins to pay for itself soon after installation. If you’re thinking about a new garage door, think about a new opener, too. Today’s  garage door openersare quieter and provide more convenience and safety features than ever before. Yes, garage door openers have gone high tech.

 

Keypad Kids

Homeowners with keypad entry consider it a necessity, not an option. Yesterday’s “latchkey kids” have become today’s “keypad kids”, Nancy Labbé says. But even the keypad has taken a step up the technology ladder. How about fingerprint-activated entry? It is here and available today. Only those who have scanned their fingerprint into the system can open the door with the pad. Another modern tech update is laser-aided parking accessories that tell you exactly when to stop in the garage. Battery back-up systems mean that your door will open every time, even when the power goes out. Finally, there’s even an in-house monitor that tells you when your  garage door isopen, a handy tool for those of us who forget to close the  garage door atnight.

Garage door: not a DIY Job

Garage door installation is something best left to the pros. A  garage door is the largest and heaviest moving piece of equipment on your home.  Garage door springs are under a remarkable amount of tension, and these can cause serious injury to even the handiest weekend warriors. GARAGA has a professional  garage door installation network, named “Garaga Experts”, spans across  Canada. A garage door’s performance and long-term durability depends as much on the quality of the installation as much on the quality of the product itself.

What about a garage door makeover !

Replacing your old garage door system can completely change the appearance of your garage and bring undeniable benefits to your home. According to J-F Morin, Marketing director at Garaga (www.garaga.com), there are 10 valuable reasons to replacing your old garage door by a new one:

1. Increase the value of your home

In fact, a better-looking garage door can increase the perceived value of the home by 1% to 4% ⁽¹⁾. Investing in an upscale garage door is a very good return on your investment as many Real Estate agents will confirm that it is easier to sell your home when the garage looks great ⁽²⁾. Your will see, replacing an old garage door with a new stylish maintenance free door will do wonders for the value of your home.

2. Improve the appearance of your home

Garage doors can take up between 30 to 40% of a home’s facade. How much is it worth to upgrade 30% of your front view of your house? Some garage doors come in as many as 15 colors in a baked-on paint finish, many different styles and a wide variety of windows, all of which can give your home a new look.

3. Lower your heating and cooling bills with an R-16 garage door

A properly insulated garage door system can pay for itself over time by reducing your energy costs by keeping the heat out in the summer and the cold out in winter. This savings will occur when you have living quarters above the garage or when the garage is being used as a work shop. Your living area will feel more comfortable.

4. Reduce your maintenance time

Many steel doors are low maintenance when you choose a pre-finished color. They require only mild soap and water for cleaning. So say goodbye to painting and scraping and hello to more leisure time. Go enjoy the outdoors!

5. Protect items stored in your garage from weather conditions

Many people use their garage for storage. To protect those items from the damage caused by extreme heat and cold, choose an insulated door with a thermo barrier that prevents heat or cold from travelling from the outside surface to the inside surface. You can also combine this with a PVC weather-strip with screw cover and double fin rubber weather-strip.

6. Increase the use of your garage

With the use of an insulated garage door between R-12 and R-18, you will find the garage a more pleasant place to work in. Your garage can be used as a workshop, art studio, playroom or a heated storage room.

7. Increase the security of items stored in your garage

It’s much easier to kick in or drill through a wooden or steel non-insulated door then it is a 1 3/4 in. thick. A thicker door can be enough to deter a thief from trying to break through a steel insulated door.

8. Prevent easy access to your home

The garage door is the largest access to your home. Many new garage door openers come with the rolling code technology, which makes it far more difficult to gain access when the opener uses one of 100 billion new codes each time the door is opened.

9. Reduce the risk of injury

Photo eyes, which are now mandatory, sense when something is in the way or passing through the opening when the door is going down. This has two benefits, when the light beam is broken, the garage door will reverse back up when coming down to prevent an injury and/or turn on a light so you will see where you are going when it is dark.

10. Canadian made

If you are green-savvy consumers, you may want to support a Canadian made product. Ask if they are offering products from suppliers who are eco-minded (example:  efficient distribution process).  

Buying a garage door is a long-term investment. A new garage door increases

the value of your home, the uses of the garage and reduces the risk of injury. More information on the trendiest line of garage doors is available at www.garaga.com.

(1): Stratamark study - 2006

(2): According to Harris Interactive study – 2004

Why an insulated garage door ?

If your new home will have an attached garage, it's a good idea to insulate this area as well. The wall between the garage and the interior of your home should be considered an exterior wall and insulated to the level of other exterior walls. An insulated garage door can dramatically reduce heat loss. A well-insulated garage will also help keep your vehicles running smoothly during cold weather. If you'll be using your garage as a workshop, you might consider investing in radiant floor heating. This option will provides better warmth, uses less energy and eliminates the safety hazards of a portable space heater. Ask your builder for more details. Source: Alliant Energy's PowerHouse is an educational program designed to help you improve the energy efficiency, safety and comfort of your home ( www.powerhousetv.com )

Planning, the key to building a garage

Are you considering the addition of an attached garage to your house ? Do you wish to convert your carport into a garage ? Now that's a great idea! Adding a garage will not only prove to be very practical, but it will also increase the resale value of your property.

However, such an important project requires some serious planning. In order to avoid making mistakes that could become disastrous while at the same time staying within your budget, you need to act properly. Here are some advice from GARAGA Inc (www.garaga.com) , an important garage door manufacturer in Canada.

Garage attached to the house

The main steps involved in planning the construction of an attached garage are the following:

1. Determining your needs
2. Determining the size of the garage
3. Designing the plans
4. Obtaining the building permit
5. Planning financing and construction

Now let's look more closely at these planning steps.

1- Determining your needs

Start off by deciding how much money you wish to invest in this project. Think about the reasons that justify building a garage and how you plan to use it.

• Will you use it to park cars?
• Will it become a large storage room or a workshop?
• Will you add a workbench to it?
• Will you need several electric outlets?
• Will you need a service door?
• Will you need windows or heating?

At this point, it would be appropriate to visit your town's department of urban planning to know more about the local building codes regarding an attached garage. For example, there might be setbacks to take into account when choosing a location or even a maximum height to consider when the time comes to design the plans.

2- Determining the size of the garage

The size of your garage is unquestionably one of the most vital aspects of the planning. An unnecessarily large garage will reduce the available space on your land while a garage too small will greatly limit possible uses.

Generally, the minimum size for a single garage is 12 ft. wide by 22 ft. long (3.7 m x 6.7 m) and 18 ft. wide by 22 ft. long (5.5 m x 6.7 m) for a double garage. However, these numbers are a strict minimum. Many home owners choose to make their garages wider so they can open their car doors freely, and longer so they have enough room to put in a workbench.

When it comes to garage size, the rule of thumb is this: build bigger when in doubt. You will appreciate having extra storage space for bikes, the lawnmower, gardening tools and sports equipment, especially since it is impossible to predict what your needs will be five or ten years from now.

If you plan to park cars in the garage, keep in mind that car sizes vary considerably. For example, you could one day replace your subcompact car by a larger family van. Would you have enough room in your garage to accommodate this type of vehicle without having to change its interior design completely? Do a sketch to better visualize the layout of your garage.

3- Designing the plans

Once you have determined your needs and the required size for your garage, consult an expert who will be designing the construction plans.

The designer will make sure the garage does not clash with the house, but rather complements it. A garage that does not match the house, either because of its size, its finish or its architecture, could even reduce the property's resale value.

A garage and a house should have several common elements, including the slope of the roof, the exterior finish and the type of doors and windows.

4- Obtaining the building permit

Now that you are ready to start your project, go back to your department of urban planning to obtain a building permit. In some instances, a permit to connect your garage to an electrical power utility and to the water supply could also be required.

It is essential to respect local codes to the letter since an inspector will meticulously examine the garage once the construction is finished. If the building does not exactly match the plans or meet local codes, you will have to, in the best-case scenario, modify the building or, in the worst-case, start the construction over.

5- Planning financing and construction

Since building a garage is a project that requires a hefty investment, financing must be carefully planned. Whether you decide to get a loan from your bank or increase your mortgage payments, your financial institution will be able to inform you of the various options available and offer sound financial advice.

You will also have to decide whether you want to hire a general contractor, hire subcontractors while assuming project management or even do some of the work yourself.

If you choose to hire a general contractor, ask him to obtain the building permit from your town. This way, he will be responsible for making the necessary changes so the garage meets local codes.

One thing is sure, planning the construction of an attached garage is not a luxury, but a crucial step that will help make this important project a success.

If you plan to add an attached garage to your house, do not hesitate to contact Drummond Designs' Renovation Service. Working from pictures or sketches provided by clients, Drummond Designs' team of experts can suggest ideas and offer advice that will take into account your needs and budget.

You can reach Drummond Designs by dialing toll-free 1 800 567-5267 (ext. 2) or visit Drummond Designs' Web site at www.drummonddesigns.com

Reduce noise on your garage door opening cycles

Every time the garage door opens and closes, a loud rumble comes right through your bedroom floor making things particularly unpleasant for you or friends, relatives occupying your guest bedroom that is probably just above the garage. Can’t stand it ? J-F Morin, a technical expert at Garaga (www.garaga.com), an important garage door manufacturer in Canada, wants to give you some advice to help you reduce noise generated by the up and down movement of your garage door.

1. The first thing to do is to change the steel rollers on your garage door to nylon. With nylon rollers, you will obtain almost silent running on the tracks.

2. Another point to look at is your electric operator. Any model with a rubber belt reinforced with metal wire is best because the motor of this model is insulated from the metal case and will cut vibrations. The rubber belt is also quieter than the steel chain.

3. If your garage is made of concrete, a noise isolator system (semi-rigid rubber 6 mm) can be effective. The supports that hold up the horizontal tracks can be insulated with a piece of rubber to cut the vibrations. On a wood frame, do not fix directly under the beams, place a piece of wood perpendicular under which you will have installed a rubber insulator. If you have a bedroom or living space above your garage and intend to add hardwood flooring, it is recommended to sound proof it by installing carpet and under carpet .

4. A good lifting system (springs) can also contribute to noise reduction. ''Torsion'' type springs (instead of ''Extension'' springs) is ideal because they allow precise balancing of the door and avoid friction of cables and springs on the horizontal tracks.

5. Concerning the tracks, it is best to choose tracks with the largest radius possible. In fact, the larger the radius the smoother the door action will be. The standard radius is 10 inches (''extension'' spring) and 12 or 15 inches (''torsion'' spring). Opt for the largest radius possible if you have a big clear space above the door.

6. Finally, regular lubrication (twice a year) of perimeter frame weatherstripping (silicone), rollers and track (motor oil) is important.

7. If you are planning on purchasing  a new garage door,  the experts at Garaga, recommend you choose an insulated garage door with an aluminum coating, especially if it is a double garage door (ex: 16 ft). They are lighter and easier than a steel door on mechanism long term.

With the above advice, it should easier to reduce noise problems from your garage door. Do not hesitate to call your nearest Garaga Expert. A network of distributors in  Canada who are trained to offer you top quality work and service and in the end, peace of mind.

For more information, consult the Garaga website at www.garaga.com.

Is there such a thing as a "Green" garage door ?

Many consumers these days are eco-minded and always on the lookout for "Green" or Eco-friendly products.  Currently, there is no such standard for the moment in the garage door industry or norm that can categorize a garage door as environmentally friendly like in the window industry (ex : CSA standards  A 440.4). However there are few things that can be helpful when one arises this objection :

1. Energy efficient: Garaga (www.garaga.com) insulated doors are pressure injected with polyurethane foam that have a true R value (R-12 to R-18), a solid interlocking joint with double lip weather stripping contact increases weather tightness and less air infiltration. An efficient thermal break (wood end blocks) prevents the transfer of cold to inside of door.
2. Door longevity: Garaga doors have a lifetime warranty and but are designed to surpass 25 years . Garaga residential «Dura Plus » hardware is top rated by garge door dealer network.
3. Recycled components: the aluminium used by Garaga is recycled.

Although there are many energy saving benefits to purchasing a Garaga door (www.garaga.com) they do not comply with the« Energy Star » rating program.

"R" factor, "U" factor: what is the difference ?

Garage door energy efficiency levels are usually rated in terms of U-values (conductance of heat) and R-values (resistance to heat flow).  The higher the R-value, the less heat a garage door will lose. R-16 is better than R-10. If a door's U-value is low, it will lose less heat than one with a higher U-value. Finally, "R" is an imperial measurement, "RSI" is metric. "U" is imperial, "C" is metric. R = 1 / U and RSI = 1 / C.

Source: Garaga, garage door, Inc (www.garaga.com)