Curb Appeal Contracting Solutions, Inc. » garage door

Garage Door Maintenance for Atlanta Home Owners

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:37:51 +0000

Spring is here, and everyone is ready to spruce up their home. Atlanta can be a difficult place for allergy sufferers to tackle large outdoor projects this time of year. Many home owners use this as a great time to catch up on some indoor spring cleaning. We’re all accustomed to hearing about checking the batteries in our smoke detectors to make sure our homes and families are protected, but did you know that most manufacturers recommend checking for safe operation of your garage door and opener once a month? Read on a for an general overview of the recommended monthly safety checks for your garage door.

1. Springs, Rollers, Cables, and Tracks

Visually inspect the springs, rollers, cables and tracks for any sign of wear or damage. Cables should appear taut and with no fraying. Springs should be one continuous coil with no breaks or gaps. All rollers should be able to travel freely inside the tracks. Tracks should be free of any obstructions. Springs and cables are under extreme pressure, as they take most of the weight of the door. Only a professional should attempt cable or spring repair or replacement.

2. Lubrication

This step is the easiest way to keep your garage door running smoothly and quietly. We recommend using a spray lubricant on all moving parts of your door, avoiding any plastic parts. Manufacturer recommendations can vary, and most garage door manuals will offer specific guideline for your garage door or opener.

3. Garage Door Balance

Garage doors can be quite hefty, with some tipping the scales at hundreds of pounds. All garage doors have a spring system to counter-balance that weight and make it functional. To check for proper balance, start with the garage door in the closed position. Disengage the opener by pulling the emergency release. You should then be able to easily lift your garage door. If it’s difficult or heavy to lift, your garage door opener could be receiving unnecessary wear and tear. We recommend scheduling a service call as soon as it’s convenient if yours feels heavy.

Always consult your owner’s manual for your garage door and opener for manufacturer specific instructions on maintaining your system. Most companies offer online resources for finding the appropriate manual for your model. We also offer service plans and reasonably priced repair and maintenance services. For more information about our garage door services in the metro Atlanta area, please contact us online, or call us at 678-714-7393.

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Oak Summmit Carriage Style Garage Doors in Metro Atlanta. Models 1, 2, 3000.

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:41:09 +0000

Old time fashion blends with modern materials in Amarr’s Oak Summit line of steel garage doors. Available for installation in the Atlanta area, these doors feature the style of carriage house doors without the price tag. Personalization is easy with over 70 styles to choose from. Choose from 3 colors, 3 panel designs and numerous decorative glass options to complement the style of your home. Model 3000 is also available in a dark wood grain finish, and with insulated glass. Many home owners in the Atlanta area add decorative hardware to the Oak Summit line to achieve the same look as a custom wood garage door, at a fraction of the price.

Color

Dark Wood Grain

White

Sandtone

Almond

Panel Styles

Recessed

Raised

Bead Board

Decratrim – Long

Clear	Cathedral	Cascade	Prairie
Sunray	Wagonwheel	Waterford	Stockton
Moonlite	Thames	Arched Thames

Decraglass – Long

Prairie V-Bevel	Chalet	Riviera Frosted	Heartland
Witchita	Harvest	Allegro	Metro
Tempo	Rosette	Arabesque	Trellis

Rust Resistant Aluminum Hardware

Canterbury Handles	Canterbury Hinge	Canterbury Knocker
Versailles Handles	Versailles L Hinge	Versailles Hinge

Stamped Steel Hardware

Alpine

Amarr Lock

Blue Ridge Handles

Blue Ridge Hinge

Amarr offers a warranty on both the parts/hardware and the finish of the garage doors. A 15 year, 25 year or lifetime warranty (depending on the model) covers the paint finish, and a 1, 2, or 3 year warranty on the hardware is provided by the manufacturer. We always back our work by offering a solid labor warranty, as well.

While many garage doors are available for same day installation in the metro Atlanta area, you may want to allow some extra time when considering a more customized garage door for your home. Some of the options above may require a lead time of a week or more. Contact us for a specific time frame regarding your choice of garage door.

As always, we are pleased to be able to provide free estimates for installations of new garage doors. If you’re in the metro Atlanta area, and would like pricing or more information on installing a new Oak Summit garage door, please call us at 678-714-7393, or contact us using the form below.

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Amarr Stratford Garage Door Model 1000, 2000. Available for Installation In The Atlanta Area

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:25:14 +0000

Stratford Garage Door

Amarr’s Stratford model steel garage door is another great example of a versatile, basic door. Made from 25 gauge steel formed into a raised panel design, these doors look appealing and perform well in any home. Different options available enable home owners to personalize their new garage door to match the home’s exterior. Amarr offers a 15 or 25 year warranty on the paint finish of the doors, and a 1 or 2 year warranty for the hardware. We also provide a solid labor warranty on garage door installations.

Insulation

Adding a layer of polystyrene insulation can not only add to the energy efficiency of a new garage door, it can make the operation of the door quieter as well. Amarr’s insulation option gives their Stratford model garage door a R-value of 6.84.

Color

3 Colors are available for models 1000 and 2000. We offer painting services as well, to ensure your garage door matches your home the way you like it.

White

Sandtone

Almond

Panel Design

Long Panel

Short Panel

Window Options

Decratrim – Short

Clear Glass	Cathedral	Cascade	Prairie
Sunray	Wagonwheel	Waterford	Stockton

Full Sunray

Decratrim – Long

Clear	Cathedral	Cascade	Prairie
Sunray	Wagonwheel	Waterford	Stockton
Moonlite	Thames	Arched Thames

Full Sunray

Decraglass – Short

Prairie V-Bevel	Chalet	Riviera Frosted	Heartland
Witchita	Harvest	Allegro	Metro
Tempo	Rosette	Arabesque	Trellis

Decraglass – Long

Prairie V-Bevel	Chalet	Riviera Frosted	Heartland
Witchita	Harvest	Allegro	Metro
Tempo	Rosette	Arabesque	Trellis

Using color choice, decorative window options, and panel lengths, many different styles can be achieved.

If you’re considering replacing your old garage door, please contact us at 678-714-7393. We always provide free estimates for new garage door installations in the metro Atlanta area.

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Raised Panel Steel Garage Door From CHI. Model 2250/51/55

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:04:42 +0000

CHI’s model 2250 is a great example of how versatile a steel garage door can be. Different window, panel, and color options allow home owner’s to personalize their garage door to match every home’s needs and appearance. Insulation options are also available, making your home more energy efficient all year round.

The garage doors above feature a short panel design, with a row of windows added. Four colors, white, almond, sandstone, and brown, are available. Other options include:

Long Panel Design

Decorative Inserts

2, 4 Piece Sunburst	8 Piece Sunburst
Cascade	Cathedral
Mission	Sherwood
Stockton	Waterton

Designer Lites

V Groove Sunburst

V Groove Diamond

V Groove Cathedral

Obscure

Plain	Somerset	Somerset Long
	Hawthorne	Hawthorne Long

We’ve been installing and repairing all brands of garage doors and garage door openers since 1998. All of our quality work is backed by a solid labor and parts warranty. If you’re interested in a quick, no obligation estimate on installing a CHI garage door in the metro Atlanta area, please call us at 678-714-7393, or request a emailed quote by using the form below.

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Why Won’t The Garage Door Go Up? — 3 Most Frequently Asked Troubleshooting Questions.

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:52:27 +0000

We receive plenty of questions from homeowners here in metro Atlanta, GA about their garage doors and openers. While there can be wide variety of questions, most revolve around the following three issues.

1. Why does it reverse back up instead of closing?

Most likely, your safety eyes are out of alignment, or something is blocking the path of the garage door. The safety sensors/eyes need a clear line of sight between each other in order for the opener to travel downward. They’re usually black, and attached at the base of the tracks. Each should have a small LED light that remains lit when both sensors are properly aligned. If bumped out of place, they can be adjusted by hand so that they are pointing at each other again. It’s fairly common for the lenses on the safety eyes to become obscured by dirt or other debris, as well. Take a look at this post for more troubleshooting advice on garage door openers.

2. Why is it so heavy?

Garage doors are generally at least 8′ wide and 7′ high. That amount of material can really tip the scales, making it the largest moving piece of machinery in your home. That’s why there are springs and a counter balance system to take all that weight, and make it manageable. Remember manual keylocks, and doing things by hand? Openers don’t (or shouldn’t) pull any more weight than a person would when doing that job. That being said, springs can relax over time, making things heavier. Stripped gears, which are a very common repair, are caused by this type of problem. It’s generally a good idea to do some maintenance about once a year. Have a professional check for proper spring tension, and adjust them if needed.

3. Why won’t it go up? / Why is it stuck in the down position?

Take a look at the springs located on the wall above the garage door. There should be no break, or separation in the coils. Springs generally last for about 7 years, depending on the amount of daily usage. Again, these provide the force for balancing out all that weight. When one breaks, it can make things too heavy to lift, causing it to seem stuck in place. If one of yours is broken, you’ll probably need to call a pro. If you’ve seen no separation in the coils, try pulling the emergency release. This will allow manual operation, without the motor. It may be that they’ve relaxed to the point that the opener can’t lift the weight anymore.

Hopefully, some of your questions have been answered. If you still have issues that weren’t covered here, you may want to take a look at our blog. We also have links available for manufacturer sites. Most manufacturers will offer online access to owner’s manuals. Manuals for your model product are the best source for learning how to safely troubleshoot, and maintain your system.

Alpharetta Buckhead Buford Chamblee Clarkston Cumming Decatur Doraville Druid Hills Duluth dunwoody Emory flowery Branch Gainesville Grayson Kennesaw Lawrenceville Lilburn Lithonia Loganville Marietta Norcross Oakwood Roswell Sandy Springs Smyrna Snellville Stone Mountain Sugar Hill Suwanee Tucker

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Clopay Avant – A Contemporary Garage Door For Metro Atlanta

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:04:06 +0000

Clopay's Avant Line

Clopay’s Avant line features a contemporary look with transparent sections. Different levels of transparency, from clear glass to a white or mirrored finish, are available for privacy and versatility. More information on these garage doors can be found at Clopay’s website.

We’re always happy to provide free estimates for new garage doors. If you’re interested in a quote on the Avant series pictured here, or a different model door, please call us at 678-714-7393, or contact us online.

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Carport Enclosure and Standard Raised Panel, Steel Garage Door With Wagon Wheel Inserts

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:55:44 +0000

Carport Enclosure with Steel Garage Door and Wagon Wheel Inserts

Having a carport was once considered pretty standard here in metro Atlanta. The Atlanta suburbs also abound with homes like this one. This home originally had an attached carport. Framing was done around the opening to accommodate the garage door. A standard raised panel, steel garage door with decorative wagon wheel inserts was installed, along with an opener.

Having a carport enclosed can provide added convenience, security and more value for your home. We always offer free, in home estimates to homeowners interested in new garage doors and carport enclosures. For more information, call us today at 678-714-7393, or contact us online.

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Top 5 Ways To Extend The Life Of Your Garage Door

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:39:12 +0000

Your garage door is most likely the largest moving piece of machinery in your home. Some of them weigh in at several hundred pounds. Replacement costs can be high, especially when coupled with a new opener. Take a look at the following five things you can do to ensure yours lasts as long as possible.

1. Get Professional Service.

Just once year, have a professional come to perform some simple maintenance on your system. It should cost less than $100 to have a company adjust both the opener and spring system if needed. In addition to any work done on the springs and opener, this type of service will typically include a check for wear and tear, as well. Some companies provide the option of a service plan, which can help reduce the cost. The springs are the heart of the counter balance system, and can relax over time. An improperly balanced spring system can damage the opener, and pose a safety hazard.

2. Lubricate

Some aerosol type spray on the moving parts will do the trick. Not only will regular sprays reduce wear and tear, but it can make everything a little quieter, as well. Pay attention to the tracks, rollers, hinges, etc. While your there, give everything a quick once over to check for wear, making sure nothing is loose, no cables are frayed, etc.

3. Know Your Opener

They are fairly simple mechanisms and don’t require many tools for maintenance. Some may need to have the chain or belt tightened occasionally. Check your manual for these types of maintenance procedures, as well as how often to lubricate the moving parts. Other settings a homeowner should be familiar with are the sensitivity (sometimes called a force setting) settings. This feature of the motor controls how much force will be applied to open or close the door. The owner’s manual will have instructions on how to achieve a good setting. Close attention is needed, as this will affect how safely everything operates.

4. Keep It Clean

It may sound pretty basic, but keeping the area around the opening free of debris, and other items can solve major problems before they start. A rake, baseball bat, or other similar item can cause serious damage if caught in the path of the door or hardware. Spiders also love to build webs inside the lens openings of safety sensors. Make sure yours are free of any obstructions or debris.

5. Keep It Painted

If you’ve got wood on the exterior of your home you already know it needs to be painted or sealed against the elements in some way, but don’t forget about the garage door. Rot or insect related damage is a common cause for repairs. The bottom section is the most commonly afflicted part. In severe cases, this can cause a safety hazard since the bottom section is under pressure from the counter balance system. Make sure to keep yours properly sealed.

That may seem like quite a bit to follow through on, but in reality it can save you time and money. This is a case where an ounce of prevention is worth more than pound of cure. Maintaining your garage door and opener costs very little compared to the hundreds of dollars it would take to replace them.

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Enclosed Carport with Garage Door and Decorative Inserts

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:27:32 +0000

Enclosed Carport with Steel Garage Door, Glazed.

This house originally had an attached carport that was enclosed. A steel garage door with windows and decorative inserts adds immediate value, security, and convenience to any home. Many homes here in metro Atlanta have had a similar remodel.

Going from a carport to having a garage door is a big switch that we know you’ll be glad you made. Having a garage door installed in the carport can provide a secure, weatherproofed space for storing your vehicles, lawn equipment and belongings. There are many different styles and options available for garage doors here in metro Atlanta. That’s why we always offer free, in home estimates to homeowners interested in new garage doors and carport enclosures. For more information, call us today at 678-714-7393, or contact us online.

We also have another photo of a carport enclosure available online. More information about carport enclosures and detached garages can also be found under Services.

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The Garage Door Didn’t Close!

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:29:39 +0000

Everyone’s finally dressed and ready to leave. You back the car out, hit the remote, and you’re off. Until you realize the garage door hasn’t gone down. You reluctantly pull back into the driveway, brow furrowing in frustration. It happens to everyone. Many homeowners don’t even realize they left it open until they return home.

Why didn’t it close? Garage doors usually fail to close as a result of the safety sensors being blocked. They’re located on each side of the opening, no more than a foot or so off the ground. Typically, each will have a small light that stays lit when everything is going well. If either of the lights are out, simply move whatever is blocking the sensor (sometimes even cobwebs/small debris can cause safety sensors to malfunction) or adjust them so that they are pointing at each other again. You can move these around by hand if they’ve been knocked out of alignment.

If you’re still stuck at home, make sure nothing is blocking the path of the door. This can be a common cause for service calls on garage doors. Always use caution when operating your door, but be extra cautious when it’s not working correctly. It’s the probably the largest, heaviest piece of machinery in the house. The counter balance system of the door is under EXTREME pressure, and when it doesn’t work properly, it can be dangerous. Many people have been injured or even killed by garage doors, some of them professionals. If your garage door is sitting crooked in the opening, has come off the tracks, or is not working properly, call a professional repair company immediately.

If the door works but the opener still won’t close it, there are a couple more things to try before calling a professional. Try using the wall button instead of the remote or keyless entry. It’s possible the remote’s batteries are dead, or the opener’s lock function has been enabled. If the garage door itself is working properly, you can pull the manual release on the opener. This will let you close the door manually, although the opener won’t be locking it shut the way it normally would.

Some openers have an indicator light that can help troubleshoot any problems. Again, you’ll need your owner’s manual for your opener. Many can be found online by doing a quick search for your make and model number. You can find the model and manufacturer on the back of the opener.

If all else fails, it may be time to call a pro. Some companies will be able to give an estimate on probable repairs over the phone, so let them know what steps you may have already taken. Call a few different companies to ensure their numbers are competitive. Since openers have an expected life span of about 10 years, it might also be a good idea to check prices for new openers, instead of repairing an older model. Newer models will have more up to date security features, as well. For more information about security vulnerabilities and older model garage door openers, take a look at “Is Your Garage Door Opener Leaving Your Home Unsecured?“.

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