Probably one of the last things on your to-do list is garage door maintenance, and maybe it’s not on your list at all. Garage doors are an often easy to overlook item. Your garage door is the first thing you see when you get home and the last thing you see when you leave for work. We just assume that it’s always going to be in working order, but that’s not always going to be the case. There are a few maintenance guidelines that can keep us and our garage doors on track. Most of these are quick fixes that should be done at least once a year, and now that it’s summer, you have the perfect opportunity to check and fix your garage door before the snow and rain of fall and winter come back! Doing a few simple maintenance acts can prevent you from having to hire garage door Pittsburg experts for more costly repairs later on in the year for the life of your garage door.

1. Clean it out

Your garage door is one of the largest pieces of mechanical equipment that you use regularly, and it does need a tune-up every now and then. Give the door rollers, tracks, hinges, and latches a thorough cleaning with a citrus solvent and remove any built-up grime and dirt. Pay special attention that the tracks on both sides of the door are clear of leaves and other debris, and that they are evenly aligned. If you notice that the tracks need to be adjusted, this must be done by a professional garage door Pittsburg technician.

2. Lubricate it

The constant up-and-down motion that is required for garage doors day after day can take a toll on the pulleys, wheels, and tracks of your door. Make sure to check and regularly lubricate the door’s hinges, springs, and bearings with a non-silicon based lubricant. Most technicians recommend that if you aren’t sure what lubricant to use, motor oil is a standard garage door lubricant that is easily available. Make sure that you don’t oil the actual roller tracks on your door, as direct lubrication of the tracks can make the door become unbalanced, triggering the door to slip and causing injury or damage.

3. Weather-strip it

Check the rubber weather seal on the bottom of your door. If the seal is brittle, cracked, or ripped, replace it! Weather stripping can not only protect the bottom of your garage door, but it can keep the elements out of your house. Weather stripping is usually sold by the foot at hardware stores. Just simply measure the length of stripping you need and replace it yourself, easily!

Don’t let one of the biggest parts of your house go forgotten. Make sure you keep your garage door maintained and at peak performance. And when there are fixes or problems that require more than a cleaning cloth and lubrication, garage door Pittsburg experts Giel Garage Doors have the experience to get it working perfectly.

Having a garage attached to your home is a wonderful thing, with the extra storage space and covered parking for your car! While having a garage is a nice addition to a home, a garage door can also be a huge safety concern when proper garage door safety is not adhered to. Keeping a garage in proper working order will not only protect the contents of your garage, and your household, but it will also keep members of your family safe. Here are 10 Pittsburgh garage doors safety tips that everyone should be aware of.

1- Keep Garage Door Opener Out of Reach of Children

Keeping your garage door opener out of the wrong hands is the most important safety tip. Don’t let young children play with remotes. Keep remotes where children can’t find them and be tempted to play with the buttons.

2- Prepare for Emergencies

Should you need to open your garage door quickly during an emergency/accident, make sure you know where the emergency release feature is located on your door. Find out before it becomes urgent. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for all types of emergencies.

3- Be Smart Around Garage Doors

Never step, walk, run, or play around a garage door that is opening or closing. Teach young children to not play around garage doors. Garage doors are not a toy.

4- Inspect Door Components

Every month, take the time to inspect the components of your garage door to ensure they are working properly. Components to check include: springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys.

5- Test Auto-Reverse

If your garage door is equipped with an auto-reverse function, be sure to check it regularly to ensure that it is working. Placing a roll of paper towels in the door’s path is an easy way to check and make sure the feature is working properly. If your door does not have the auto-reverse feature, consider investing in a new garage door that comes equipped with the feature—it can prevent serious accidents!

6- Watch your Fingers!

Placing fingers in between door sections can result in a severe injury. Teach children to keep hands and fingers away from garage doors as well. If you are concerned about children getting hurt on your garage door, look into investing in a door with non-pinch panels to help prevent injuries.

7- Don’t Leave Door Agape

Leaving your garage door even partially open can be a safety and security issue. A partially open garage door can allow unsolicited entry into your garage, and ultimately your home. Someone trying to go underneath a partially open door could get pinned and seriously injured if the door is reactivated.

8- Unplug Your Garage Door when You’re Away

If you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, consider unplugging your garage door, or locking it so that is unusable until you return home.

9- Change your Garage Door Code Regularly

Regularly change the standard codes on the garage door opener and remotes to enhance security from unsolicited opening of your garage door. Another option is to get a rolling code that changes the access code every time it is used.

10- Prevent Invasion

A garage door is the first step in securing your home while you are away, but always be sure to lock the entry door from your garage into your home. If someone should get ahold of your garage door remote, it could mean access to both your garage and your home if the door is left unlocked. Keep tabs on your garage door remotes—don’t leave your remotes with parking attendants or others you do not know. Consider putting your garage opener on a key ring so that it stays with you at all times.

If your Pittsburgh garage doors are needing repairs or maintenance to ensure the safety of everyone, contact Giel Garage Doors . Equipped with the latest and safest garage doors on the market, Giel Garage Doors can outfit your home with a beautiful new garage door that will be both functional and provide the latest safety features to protect your home and family.

Do you know what kind of garage door will suite your needs? When the time comes to replace your garage door, it’s essential to pick the right material for your home or business. Giel Garage Doors , offers several styles, and construction that is right for your home (i.e. steel and aluminum, or wood, sectional, rolling, etc.). All these materials and styles have important pros and cons that you should consider when investing in a new garage door.

• Expense
  • If you are concerned with price, a metal door is the most economical choice. Even basic wooden garage doors cost more than the traditional wooden doors. Wood also requires extra maintenance (i.e., extra expense) that you won’t find with metal doors.
• Durability
  • While both of these materials can be susceptible to the elements and deterioration over time. You’ll need to keep up with staining a wood garage door over time, metal doors on the other hand are susceptible to rust.
• Insulation
  • If your garage is connected to your home, insulated doors can cut down the heating and cooling expenses. Wood panels don’t insulate rooms very well, but if your garage is not attached you shouldn’t be concerned with insulating your garage.
• Style
  • Attractive garage doors won’t only increase the visual appeal of your house, but can also boost your property’s resale value. If your home has a rustic look with wooden siding, wooden garage doors can give you the boost you need.

Aside from the material of your garage door, one thing to keep in mind is that you have a professional garage door company you can trust install your new garage door. Giel Garage Doors has been installing and advising garage door placement for over 50 years. Contact us today to learn more about the services and variety of garage doors that we offer.

Spring signals a time of change for a lot of people. Spring cleaning starts, days get longer, and flowers start blooming. It’s also a time when the rust and the elements of winter start to make themselves known. As the outdoors begin to thaw, start to consider replacing worn, weathered, and rusted equipment like garage doors. Spring isn’t just a convenient time to replace a rusty or outdated garage door, it’s usually the perfect time to replace a garage door at Giel Garage Doors. Most companies have the best deals of the year during spring when the weather gets better and tax returns are coming in, putting buyers in the best possible situation. Giel Garage Doors offers garage door options from a wide variety of manufacturers , allowing you to find the best option for your needs and negotiate a good price!

There a few more reasons to consider replacing your garage door, other than just cost.Every garage door implements a spring system that counterbalances the weight of the door. After a long, cold winter it’s not uncommon for these springs to break. Replacing springs in the cold months isn’t something usually recommended by garage technicians. However, Spring is the perfect weather for checking and replacing not only the springs, but the garage door itself, with the assistance of a garage door specialist. Make this spring not only productive, but preemptive against future garage door problems. Precautions taken this spring will prevent summertime disasters with your garage door. Assess your garage door needs for replacement or maintenance and contact Giel Garage Doors !

Many homeowners try to save a few bucks wherever they can by implementing DIY repairs around the house. For most common home repairs, this method works quite well. Generally a trip to the local hardware store and some time spent on YouTube or other internet sites will give you the information that you need to perform the repair. Garage door repairs , on the other hand, are a completely different matter, one that should be left to garage door repair experts and not a DIY homeowner.

Here are four reasons why is it imperative that you hire a professional, certified garage door technician to perform all repairs on your garage door:

Garage doors are dangerous

There are a variety of components that make up a garage door with many of them working together. If the garage door is not working properly, it can be dangerous to try and fix it yourself. Garage doors are heavy and large, which makes working on them awkward and dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. The door itself is not the only concern when repairing a garage door; there are tightly wound springs, electrical components, and moving parts. Faulty garage door springs can be especially dangerous if they unexpectedly fail.

You can make the problem worse

Often times when homeowners attempt their own garage door repairs, they don’t know what they are doing. Attempting to fix the problem on your own can lead to more problems (some of which are irreversible), or working on a part that doesn’t need to be fixed, in an attempt to correct the initial problem. Either way,attempting to repair your garage door yourself is not a good idea for the DIY homeowner.

Safety Concerns

Garage doors are heavy, weighing more than 150 pounds on average (depending on the size and material). That is a lot of weight to be messing around with. If you accidently pull the wrong part off, the garage door could come crashing down on you, your car, a pet, or anything between the door and the floor. Another concern with a falling door is they often times cause damage to the floor as well, which is another expensethat you as the homeowner will have to cover.

Increased Cost

If none of the other reasons have deterred you from attempting to DIY garage door repairs, maybe the thought of having to spend more money will. Every garage door has very specific requirements when it comes to replacement parts and materials. As a DIY homeowner,it’s likely that you don’t know the correct parts to buy, but may purchase what you think will work in an attempt to avoid the cost of professional labor. Using the wrong parts for your door could potentially lead to more damage, continued lack of functionality, or physical harm. When the functionality fails, you’ll have no choice but to call a garage door technician,and the entire ordeal will end up costing you more than if you had called them initially.

Contact your local garage door technician

For all your garage door repair Pittsburgh, contact Giel Garage Doors . We will be able to repair any garage door, saving you money and possible injury.

In part one of this two-part series, we talked about how experience, security, and insurance are important things to consider which choosing a company to install your garage door, entry/storm door, awning, or screen. Choosing the right company is just as big of a decision as picking which type of door and color you want on the outside of your home. In part two we will be looking at workmanship, warranties, and code compliance.

Workmanship

Workmanship is a measure of the quality of a company’s work. It relates to experience in a way. This is where a visit to a past job is helpful. As mentioned in the last post, call references! Ask them about the quality of the work and what they thought of the installers. Ask specific questions about whether the installers arrived in a timely manner, if they were courteous and focused, and if they cleaned up after themselves.

Look at the company’s trucks. Do the name and phone number appear on the vehicle? Company vehicles are one of the first outward signs of how the company is run and how your job will be treated. The trucks don’t have to be brand new, just well maintained, clean, and neat. This is often a reflection of the kind of treatment you will receive when the installers arrive at your home.

Ask about the average length of time employees have been with the company. This speaks volumes about the way the employees are treated. They generally don’t stay with a company that doesn’t treat their customers well. It takes more than a year or two to become a competent technician and installer, therefore, it is a good idea to ask about the training programs utilized for new employees and how veterans are kept up to date on their skills and industry changes. Companies with long term employees have an environment to allow for skills to be passed down from generation to generation.

Warranties

The real test of how much faith a contractor has in his own ability is reflected in the warranty he offers. A reputable contractor will generally offer some form of a “Written Labor Warranty.” Not one that is handwritten in the comment section of the bid, but one that is printed on the contractor’s estimate or proposal form as well as their literature.

In addition, the paperwork should list the manufacturers of the products they install along with the manufacturer’s warranty. Reputable manufacturers will have a printed warranty to accompany the product. Demand a copy of it before you pay for the work and read it! Don’t wait until you have a problem before you read it. Lastly, make sure you understand what you get and what you don’t get. Your contractor should be able to explain it clearly and give references of customers who used their warranty and will share their experiences.

Code and Regulatory Compliance

Building codes and safety regulations have been legislated to protect the installers and the homeowners. Find out how knowledgeable your contractor is about local building codes, industry safety practices, and government regulations. The best way to do this is by asking people you know who know about these matters. You are not trying to be an expert, but just be aware of some of the major concepts. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask them about the content of their training programs, it should be documented.

When selecting an installation company for your garage door, entry/storm door, awning, or screen, it is important that you examine the company itself and not just the product you are buying. The six areas you should consider are experience, workmanship, code compliance, security, warranties, and insurance. This post will cover experience, security, and insurance.

Experience

Experience means that the company and its employees can tackle your job efficiently and do it correctly. If something is novel about your job, they will have the knowledge to solve it quickly. Look at the company with longevity.

Beware of national franchise operations because franchises will normally have short ownership cycles. When you need to call for service (three to five years from installation) they are no longer in business and the next franchise owner is not responsible for helping you. Companies that have been around a long time usually have satisfied customers because they would not stay in business without them.

Find out how long the company has been installing its products and the range of models within each product. Is the job standard or will it require special work? Don’t be afraid to ask for references and call them.

Don’t forget; no contractor will give you a bad reference. However, after you have talked to a few, you should get a good sense of this contractor’s habits. Ask if they belong to the Better Business Bureau. If they do, you can contact the BBB to see if there have been any recent complaints and how they were handled. A company that asks you questions to understand your wants and needs and takes the time to give a full presentation has usually taken the time to relate their experience through the presentation they give.

Finally, do they offer educational information on their website? Take advantage of it so you are informed on the major issues prior to speaking to a representative.

Security

Having strange men in your home can make you apprehensive or uncomfortable. You can reduce this feeling by finding a contractor who screens his employees. Ask about the screening process and how often follow-up screens are done. You’re about to have strangers come into your homes and they may be there for a day or two. Don’t be shy about your family’s safety! Demand that your contractor performs semi-annual background checks and that all new employees or hires are checked before their first day.

Insurance

A contractor who is not properly insured can put you at substantial financial risk! For example, if a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor does not carry workman’s compensation insurance, that injured worker can look to you to pay all of his medical bills related to that injury. Make sure the company has workman’s compensation and liability insurance through a well-known and Best’s rated firm. Insist on seeing a copy of the insurance policy binder. Don’t be impressed by someone who says he is self-insured. Often this means NOT insured. Maybe even not insurable!

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh with all things garage doors, entry doors, awnings, and screens. We are the local experts with over 65 years of industry experience.

The opener is the electric appliance that opens and closes the garage door . They can be activated by push button, key switch or by a radio remote control. The radio frequencies have been refined to prevent the doors from automatically opening. Remember, the spring is actually the “motor” of the door. The electric opener or your arm is the “cruise control” of the door.

The weight of the door is supposed to be handled by the spring. If your door is becoming harder to open, it does not always mean you need new springs or an opener. Assuming there are no other impediments, you may only need a spring adjustment.

There are three types of drive mechanisms on openers: Belt, Chain, and Screw.

Openers having either a belt drive or chain drive move the belt/chain along a path between a gear on top of the motor of the opener and another gear located where the opener attaches to the door frame. You may not be able to see this on an installed opener, but it is there.

The garage door is attached by a “trolley” that moves along a track and is attached to the door by a bar called an arm. As the motor turns the gear, the belt or chain is moved by this rotating gear thus moving the trolley and opening or closing the door.

However, the screw drive has a steel screw inside aluminum housing. As the motor turns the screw in the housing, the trolley is drawn toward or pushed away from the motor, opening or closing the door. All three, when new, have the same strength in lifting ability. Therefore, the major determinant is quietness of operation over time.

The screw drive is very quiet for the first year or so but as the aluminum housing is worn by the friction against the steel, the housing becomes loose. What starts as a gentle whirring sound, soon becomes a deafening grinding sound, loud enough that a conversation is impossible while the opener is running. Lubrication will dampen the sound but it will return eventually.

The chain drive parts work with other metal parts and in time will wear. Metal gears driving a metal chain will get noisy quickly. Keeping the chain lubricated with petroleum jelly, or something similar, will increase its life but will not maintain quiet.

The belt drive is better than either. It is much quieter because there is no metal rubbing metal. The belt is the same material as the timing belt in your car but doesn’t experience the same RPMs. It is the only one of the three where a life time warranty is given by manufacturers.

One-third Horsepower openers will work on 95% of the doors out there, even ones 16 feet wide. Despite this, manufacturers put all of the bells and whistles on the one-half HP and higher doors such as timed lights and vacation switches. Most of the popular openers are three-fourths horsepower because they are not much more than the lower power openers, provide you with better features, and life time warranties.

There are also DC power motors on the market which allows for battery back-up systems that will open and close your door during power outages. Always makes sure that the locking mechanism on the door is disabled when your opener is operable. If it is not and someone accidentally locks the door, serious damage will be done to the opener and possibly to the door itself. Always makes sure the lift handle is on the bottom of the door inside and out in case the door needs to be worked by hand.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh. We handle all your needs when it comes to garage doors and openers! We also provide entry doors and storm doors that are installed in front of the entry door to protect it.

Maintenance on your entry door is essential to keep it looking as beautiful as possible and making sure you don’t have to replace them more frequently than usual. Different materials require a different kind of maintenance and this is everything you need to know!

Steel Doors

Once or twice a year, wash the outside of your door with a mild detergent. It is a good idea to apply a liquid silicone wax at the same time you wash the door. A liquid car wash & wax product that does both in one step works wonders and can be found at most auto part stores. Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax is a great option!

Remember this rule: If you can use it on your car, you can use it on your door.

If your area uses salt on the roads in the in the winter and your door gets wet, you should rinse the bottom of your door clean to prevent the salty water from hurting your product.

We also recommend that you don’t use a paste wax. Paste waxes tend to dry in the wood grain texture and beveled edges of the door and are difficult to buff out. This leaves behind a dried residue in the low spots which will ruin the aesthetic appeal of your door.

Fiberglass Doors

Apply the clear coat/paint annually or every other year depending upon the amount of sunlight your door receives. The clear coat is a two-part urethane to protect from the sun’s UV rays.

Finish is usually available in pint or gallon size from the manufacturer or a paint shop. We suggest using a water based clear coat. If the clear coat is not maintained, the sun will damage your door similar to a “sun burn” causing it to peel and pull off the stain finish in the process.

The only way to repair this damage is stripping the door completely. Consistent maintenance will prevent this extreme damage from happening.

Wood Doors

Wipe away dust and dirt monthly with furniture polish. On painted wood doors periodically check for blistering, cracking or peeling, particularly around any fixtures on the door.

The painted surface keeps water from damaging the wood. If the paint is coming away or is not sealed, water can soak into the wood and damage it over time.

If your door has a stained finish, check to see if it is still water repellent. If the door is becoming discolored, and water soaks into the wood, it is time to refinish the door. There are chemical treatments on the market that will rejuvenate discolored wood, for example polyurethane clear coat.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh. We handle all your needs when it comes to entry doors! We also provide storm doors that are installed in front of the entry door to protect it.

Weather can have different effects on your garage door based on the temperature, precipitation, and how both fluctuate. Here are the 3 ways the cold effects your garage door and what you can do to prevent the problems associated with them.

Problem #1: Steel Contracts

Garage Doors (mostly made of steel) contract in the cold weather. Anything on your garage door that’s made of metal (springs, hinges, track, etc.) can seize up or warp if not moved regularly in the cold.

So, that is why we suggest lubricating things like springs, hinges, rollers and other metal moving parts to keep them working properly. Regular maintenance is an important part of having a functional garage in your home.

Problem #2: Water freezes

The bottom of your garage door seals to the ground in an attempt to block weather and rodents. However, during the winter months when water freezes, this can create a problem if there is any sort of puddling at the bottom of your garage door. Some garage doors can freeze to the ground and will not open if this happens.

To help prevent this, make sure your gutters and any other part of your home surrounding the door is clog free and push away water from the bottom of your garage as much as possible!

Problem #3: Operator Issues

Garage door operators are also susceptible to changes in weather. The moving parts enclosed in garage door openers work best when lubricated and are kept moving regularly (especially during the winter months). In addition, your opener’s sensitivity may also play a factor, if the level is set to “light”. In this case, your operator may interpret the garage door hitting an object, which could halt the garage door suddenly (without anything being in the way at all).

Please make sure you check your operator sporadically to make sure it’s working properly and sensing items through the photo eyes like it should.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors serves a 50-mile radius around Pittsburgh. We handle all your needs when it comes to garage doors! We serve residential and commercial , and our maintenance programs help make sure your garage doors work over long periods of time. Contact us today.