Today’s garage doors come in a variety of styles and features (included added security). Finding the right garage door for your home, or even maintaining the one you have, can be challenging. Angie’s List provides a quick guide to garage doors including: features of garage doors, types of garage openers, DIY/professional considerations, and maintenance tips.

Features of garage doors

You’ll most commonly find rolling, sectional garage doors on the market. Single-section doors are also available, but you need to consider with these doors require clearance space in front of the door for opening and closing, which is not practical in areas that get a lot of ice and snow.

The range of styles is broad. Wood, steel, aluminum and fiberglass doors are available and can be customized to coordinate with the style of your home. As well, you can choose different window sizes and shapes, different wood stains and grains. Keep in mind, that with each additional feature, the price of the door will go up.

Insulation is available for most all styles of garage doors. Your options are single-panel doors with the insulation applied to the inside face. Having a second face to the door provides a maximum R-value because the insulation can be sandwiched between the panels. If you have an attached garage or a garage where you spend a lot of time (like a workshop area), insulation can be an essential and important feature.

Latest features include the following:

• sensors for automatic reversing
• infrared sensors to stop the door if something gets in the way
• security features with remotes that transmit a different signal each time you use the opener

Types of garage openers

• Chain-drive. This type of opener uses a chain to pull the door open or closed. It’s the most popular and most affordable, with prices ranging from $100 to $170.
• Screw-drive. With a slow-moving design, this type uses a long threaded bar to open the door. It’s prices range from $150 to $200.
• Belt-drive. Considered the quietest, this opener uses rubber belts to open and close the door. It’s the most expensive at $200 and up.

DIY or hire a pro?

Garage doors can be an easy challenge for experienced do-it-yourselfers. Internet resources, as well as instructions from the manufacture, make installation an easy, step-by-step process. However, doors and openers with more advanced features can make installation more complicated. If installing a garage door is over your head, contact Blue Sky Builders, Inc. if you are in the Chicagoland area, or consult Angie’s List for other homeowners’ experiences with local companies in your area.

Maintenance tips

Like all mechanical systems, garage doors require regular maintenance to ensure they operate properly and with maximum safety. The U.S. CPSC recommends checking a garage door for proper operation every 30 days. Here are some other maintenance tips:

• Metal doors are far more resistant to dings and the elements than wood doors, but any door will deteriorate if not properly cared for.
• Inspect your garage door at least once a year for damage that might affect the finish or lead to rust.
• Wood doors should be refinished/resealed at least every two years.
• Protect any type of garage door from water – especially runoff and splash back from the roof eaves. Direct water away from the door, including proper drainage in front of the lower section of the door.
• Keep kids from using the door as a backstop.
• Wash your garage door regularly, with water and a mild detergent. Use car wax on metal doors to protect the finish.
• Check that the weather stripping along the bottom is in good condition. If it is cracked, it can easily be slid off and replaced.
• Lubricate tracks, hinges, rollers and springs with a light household oil – don’t use petroleum-based lubricants. Apply and wipe away the extra. Openers do not require extra lubricant.
• Test the safety-reversing sensor once a month.
• Always refer to the owner’s manual for your door and opener.
• Garage door companies do offer annual maintenance plans, and will come out, check your door, make sure it is lubricated and in good working order.

An investment in a garage door can range from a few hundred dollars for a new opener, to a few thousand dollars for a custom-designed door. While it’s not a feature of your home you think much about, it is an important part of your home. And, if it’s not well maintained, it can lead to unexpected and expensive repairs that have to be dealt with right away.

Back in 2010, Blue Sky Builders, Inc. owner, Scott Wendell, discussed his favorite topic with White Rabbit Garage Organizers, a Chicagoland garage storage system provider: garages.

WR: What’s changed about the garage building industry in the last 30 years?

SW: 30 years ago, people just wanted the cheapest garage they could build, but now, people are using garages for so much more than storing cars. Their garages are an extension of their home; they want them to look good and have function beyond just car storage.

WR: What is the hardest thing about being a garage builder?

SW: The biggest challenge is keeping up with the coding requirements; each town has its own code, its own code inspector, and its own fee schedule. The building permit in one town may only cost $150 while the same permit will cost $1350 in another town. Each town has different height and footprint requirements, and it takes someone who really understands the regulations to make sure customers get what they want in their garage without violating any of their local codes.

WR: What was the wildest garage project you ever had?

SW: The wildest garage project we ever did was a garage that was never intended for cars. It cost more than a lot of people’s homes – bigger than many – and was designed strictly to be a hobby center.

WR: What does every Blue Sky Builder customer need to know?

SW: There are three questions we almost always hear: The husband wants to know how big the garage can be. The wife wants to know if we can build the garage without completely ruining their beautiful landscaping. And most of our customers want to know about special storage options, whether for an antique car or attic space for Christmas decorations.

WR: What is the most commonly requested feature?

SW: Most people ask about having windows in their garage door, and it’s also one of the more cost-effective ways to beautify the building. Occasionally, the owner will want taller walls for a car lift. We also have many antique car collectors who want special storage space for their babies.

WR: What makes you the happiest about your business?

SW: After 31 years, we still have the highest possible rating with the Better Business Bureau and on Angie’s List. That makes me feel good; we pride ourselves on doing everything we can to meet our customer’s needs.

About White Rabbit Garage Organizers

White Rabbit Garage Organizers initially focused solely on garage storage systems. The company has since extended their reputation for excellence into home office and basement organization systems as well. Their high-quality garage cabinets, storage shelves and racks will tame even the most unorganized of spaces, creating spaces that are both visually appealing and practical.

Source: Sanford & Son Overhead Doors

The most common garage door problem people have is with their safety sensors. They are located near the bottom of the track of the garage door near the floor. Generally, but not always, when the door opens but won’t close it tends to be a safety sensor alignment issue. Usually the light bulbs will flash on the garage door opener unit to alert you to the fact that it is a safety sensor or photo eye problem.

Regardless of the manufacturer, your safety sensors should have LED lights on them and those lights should be solid at all times. When the LED lights aren’t solid is when you have a problem closing the garage door. Realigning the sensors could be as simple as loosening a wing nut and moving the sensor until the light stays solid or, you may have to remove the sensor from the bracket all together and then re-install it to realign it. Some sensors are mounted on flimsy brackets which can simply be bent around a bit to realign them.

Another possible problem with the safety sensors could be that the lenses on the sensors have become covered with a layer of dust that blocks the beam which will keep the door from closing. The lenses can be cleaned with a soft cloth. Be careful not to move the sensors around when doing this or you could cause them to go out of alignment if they are currently aligned.

Watch this video for a quick explanation of how to align your safety eyes:

Original article here. Blue Sky Builders, Inc. is a Chicagoland Garage Builder. Please contact us with any questions!

Leveraging the vertical space in your garage is a great way to get your garage organized and make room on your garage floor. For example, hang tools on the wall instead of having a large container taking up valuable garage floor space.

There are a variety of shelving, racks, or hanging options available. Below we will share 5 garage storage ideas from Garage and Storage Spaces:

1. Metal Standards and Brackets

Metal standards and brackets probably don’t qualify as a formal wall system, but they nonetheless offer terrific low-cost shelving. In a garage with unfinished walls, the standards can be attached directly to exposed studs. You can put shelves as high and as low as you like on the wall, and you can run them from one end of a wall to the other.

2. Pegboard

Pegboard (perforated hardboard) is available at home centers and lumberyards. It is inexpensive, easy to install and provides a ready-made surface for a wide variety of storage hooks, racks, shelves, cords and other accessories. Attach the pegboard directly to studs in a garage with unfinished walls or use spacers over drywall to hold the panels away from the wall so that hooks can be inserted and removed. Use 1/8-inch pegboard for light items and 1/4-inch pegboard for heavier items, but be sure to match the hardware you buy with the size of pegboard you use.

3. Wall Tracks

Wall tracks are composed of a metal rails that are attached horizontally to studs. One product offers a decorative plastic piece to hide the rail. Rails are available in lengths of 48, 56 and 84 inches. Once the rail is in place, you can attach a wide variety of hooks, baskets and other holders.

4. Wire Grids

Wire grid systems are another easy to find, install and use system. Grid panels are available in sizes ranging from 2 x 4 feet to 4 x 6, and you can easily cover an entire wall using several panels. The grids are made of metal, which is sometimes coated, and attach to the wall with clips and spacers. Hooks, baskets, shelf brackets, tool racks, document holders and bin rails and stacking bins are some of the accessories you can attach to the grids to create customized storage.

5. Slotted Wall Panels

Slotted wall panels are solid panels with rows of horizontal slots, into which you can attach cabinets, hooks, bins, baskets and shelves. One potential advantage of this type of system is that it can serve as a finished wall surface itself; simply cover the framed wall with a full wall of panels.

We love the Chicagoland area and have been building garages here since 1979! Below are some common reasons it is beneficial to have a garage in Chicago & the surrounding suburbs. Many of these apply to a lot of areas, but they are definitely all problems faced by a Chicagoan!

1. Snow – Is it going to snow more than 2 inches? Chicago & many surrounding suburbs do not allow parking on streets for a certain period of time after a 2-inch snowfall. Besides, who wants to scrape off/dig out their car in the morning?

2. Parking – As in many major cities, parking can be a huge problem. Guarantee yourself a parking spot in your own personal garage and avoid the bad-parking epidemic depicted below.

3. Safety – Each year, $1.26 billion in personal items and accessories are stolen from vehicles in about 1.85 million thefts (Nationwide). A garage can help keep your car safe and secure from damage and theft.

4. Storage – In addition to providing car storage, a garage can help you store extra household items. Not only does a garage offer floor space, but you can also leverage wall and overhead storage.

Turn this…

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5. Chicago Summertime – If you’ve lived in the Chicagoland area, you know the drill, hot summers & frigid winters. Protect your car from the heat and sun in the summertime with a garage. A garage can help you avoid burning your legs on the hot seats, slow the car’s paint from fading, and even protect the interior from the effects of sun. Learn more about insulating your garage door here.

Thanks for reading! If you are in the Chicagoland area and looking for a new garage, please contact us. Or, view our garage portfolio for pictures of garages we’ve built.