FAQ
What are the benefits of an insulated garage door?
A garage door opening represents a large opening in your home’s thermal barrier. An insulated garage door will help to reduce the amount of outside temperature that enters your garage, thus reducing the amount of energy required to cool or heat your home. Insulated doors also reduce noise from the exterior of your home.
What maintenance is suggested for my garage or overhead door?
While we suggest a certified professional undertake any major repairs, there are some steps you can take to maintain your door. They are:
- Periodically lubricate your garage or overhead door moving parts. The hinges, rollers, torsion springs and bearings are moving every time you open or close the door. Spray some lubricant on the rollers, hinges and torsion spring. We recommend a garage door lubricant or a 3-in-1 oil which can be purchased at a local hardware store.
- Periodically clean the frame’s weather stripping with vinyl cleaner and lubricate it with an appropriate product to keep the stripping pliable.
- Inspect the rollers every six months and replace any that are worn or broken, or call us to have them replaced.
- Check the eye sensors to make sure they are secure and lined up properly.
What should I know about garage door durability?
Garage Door Springs
A "cycle" is one full opening and closing action. Garage door torsion springs are rated by cycle life, with 10,000 cycles as the industry standard minimum. Upgrades are available. The average spring breaks about every 7 to 12 years with average usage for the recommended product. If a garage door has two or more springs and one breaks, all springs should be replaced to maintain proper balance. If a spring breaks, please call a garage door professional to replace them. Spring tension can cause injury or death if not handled properly.
Garage Door Failure
The leading causes of garage door failure and/or replacement include lack of maintenance and being hit by vehicles. A proper maintenance schedule for a garage door includes lubrication of the rollers, bearings, pulleys, and springs once a year; washing painted steel surfaces several times a year; painting or refinishing wood surfaces as necessary; and making proper adjustments to the counter balance system as necessary to maintain door balance. A properly balanced garage door should be able to be stopped mid-travel without drifting down or up when operated manually.
What should I know about garage door safety?
(provided by International Door Association www.doors.org)
DO NOT let children (or adults) play "beat the door." It is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example. Know how to use the emergency release, in case someone is pinned by the door.
DO NOT let children play with or use the transmitters or remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children.
The pushbutton wall control should be out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door.
Do you only offer service to Virginia?
While we're based in Winchester, VA, we serve a much wider servica area! We also serve parts of Maryland, including Hagerstown & Frederick, and West Virginia, including Romney & Martinsburg.
