How to Automate Your Garage Doors

By: Garage Doors

There are hundreds of garage door openers to choose from but before you can do that there are two key considerations concerning your garage door itself.

Before deciding on an electric garage door opener check that an able bodied person can effortlessly open the garage door manually as a motor will not do what they can’t.  If the door works smoothly and effortlessly, then adding an electric operator should be straight forward.

You will also need to check that your door balances at around chest height to ensure you have the correct spring tension for the operator to lift the door.  If the springs are broken or the door is not balanced properly the electric operator will not work effectively.  You may need to service the door by lubricating the moving parts or replace the door springs and other moving parts.

The other consideration is to know what type of garage door you have.  This is because it is essential for you to choose the correct device to suit your door mechanism to ensure the safe and smooth operation of your garage door.

There are four main types of garage door mechanism: retractable door, canopy door, side hinged door, and sectional door.

Up & Over – Retractable Garage Doors (Tracked)

These are identified by a single door panel with springs either side or horizontal ceiling tracks which support the door in the open position.  When the garage door is fully open, the bottom edge of the door is flush with the garage door frame

If you have a retractable up and over garage door then you are in luck, as these are ideal for automation and you can safely use any type of operator.  Your main considerations must be the noise (AC or DC motor) and the material, width and weight of the door to ensure you choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

Up & Over – Canopy Doors (Trackless)

This door type is not recommended for safe automation although there are options available; I would never recommend or safety and reliability.  If you don’t want to replace the entire door and mechanism you can purchase a retractable door mechanism and replace the canopy door gear.

An up & over canopy door is identified by the large spring which runs over the head of the door and when the door is open the garage door panel protrudes by approximately 600mm from the opening.

Side Hinged Doors

These garage doors can be automated using a conversion kit with most operators.  You will need to check the operator can be use for side hinged doors so that the auto-reverse safety feature functions normally.

Sectional doors

Sectional Garage Doors are identified by hinged panels that allow the door to rise vertically without swinging out as the door opens.

They are perfect garage doors for automation as no additional parts are required and you can use any type of AC or DC operator.  To ensure the operator will fit it’s a good idea to check the clearance above the door during its opening cycle then check the minimum clearance requirement for the operator as they vary.

Again your choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

About the Author

A garage door can make up to 25% of the frontage of your house, so making sure you have a garage door to complement your home is important in maximizing its value and appeal. Do not forget to visit -http://www.garagedoorsuperstore.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – How to Automate Your Garage Doors

Choose the Best Garage Door in Modern Life

By: Garage Doors

A garage door is one of the most important apparatus of your garage. It not only provides protection but also can be a design statement for the rest of your property.

Before you build a garage or decide to give existing one a facelift, it is indispensable for you to determine the style, shape and size of your garage door. This will give you a fair idea on how much drive through width you require and also so you don’t end up compromising on a mannered garage entry.

Select The Material Wisely:

The most important apprehension in setting up your automatic garage door is the material used. Selecting the best automatic garage door materials for your needs will depend on a few things like the style of your home, and how warm you want your garage to be. When you’re planning to establish a garage door, you must think about door type and materials. You can also incorporate into your plan such things as heated garages or unique window options.

Automatic garage doors are by far the trendiest type of garage door available to homeowners. With automatic stop and begin features, people find automatic garage doors easy to use, with wonderful options and security features. Automatic garage doors work with a rolling system. The door rolls up and stores along the roof of the garage. Automatic door features to look for are that they are smooth, quiet and condensed. Installing an automatic garage door is simple; do it yourself, or get help from the manufacturer.

Walk With The Upcoming Trend:

Automatic prefab garage doors are becoming progressively more fashionable because of the economy. Everyone wants to have a beautiful garage door and still purchase within his or her budget. By purchasing a automatic garage doors you can have the beautiful home and not worry about the stress of building or paying several businesses to make your home look great. By purchasing an automatic prefab garage door, you still get to choose your options and most places allow you to personalize your home so that you feel like you build it. You get to have control on what it looks like, but you get it for a fraction of what it would cost for you to build.

People who procure automatic prefab garage door from all of the social classes have different interests. There is no specific group of people who purchase prefab doors. Automatic doors are usually associated with rednecks since most automatic prefab garage door are like trailers, but that is not the case. Don’t stereotype prefab doors because even people who are well to do have a prefab home.

About the Author

A garage door can make up to 25% of the frontage of your house, so making sure you have a garage door to complement your home is important in maximizing its value and appeal. Do not forget to visit -http://www.garagedoorsuperstore.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Choose the Best Garage Door in Modern Life