How To Measure

Please use the drawing and instructions below to measure your garage door.
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Step #1
Measure door opening width and height in feet and inches. This determines the size of door needed. The rough opening should be the same size as the door.

Step #2
Measure for sideroom: 3 3/4″ is required on each side for installation of the vertical track for standard torsion spring assembly.

Step #3
Measure area labeled “headroom” – distance between the top of the door opening (“jamb header”) and the ceiling (or floor joist). 12″ is required for standard torsion spring systems. If you have restricted head room, special hardware is available. Additional head room is required for installation of an automatic garage door opener.

NOTE: If door height extends above the opening, the head room measurement should be adjusted proportionately.

Step #4
Measure area labeled “backroom” – distance is measured from the garage door opening toward the back wall of the garage. Door height plus 18″ is required. Additional back room may be required for installation of an automatic garage door opener.

The Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors

You may not think of it when you have a garage, but you need to make sure that your garage door is insulated. There are numerous benefits to this, and most people take it for granted. One of the benefits of having an insulated garage door is that if you have a garage that has a room above it, or a door to the interior of the house, it can prevent cold drafts from coming into the garage. Even if your door is sealed well against the elements, not having insulation in between the door panels can make the inside of the door quite cold, contributing to greater heat loss in the garage itself.
If you are a hobbyist, and have a shop of some kind inside your garage, or need to work on your vehicle, an insulated garage door can lower the need to have an extra heater inside the garage on cold Winter days. Sometimes the garage, even with the doors closed can be almost as chilly as the temperature outside, and if you are always wondering why your garage feels like a Popsicle, the answer could be that your garage door isn’t insulated, or insulated with the right materials.
Even if you check and see that there is some Styrofoam granules inside the door, this isn’t good insulation. While Styrofoam is all right at dampening sound, granules don’t make a good insulator for your garage door. If this is the case, or there is nothing inside at all, then you need to get some Polyurethane foam instead. This attaches directly to the inside of the door panels, and has no gaps. In addition to being a better insulator, it fills up the space, making the doors stronger and more secure.
When you are checking to make sure you have an insulated garage door, you should also check the seals at the top and bottom of the door, as well as between the door panels. They shouldn’t be hard and brittle, but nice and flexible, if you find they are hard and starting to crumble, then it is time to replace them as well. Now there are a few options when it comes to insulating your garage doors. You can buy DIY kits, and while this may be a cheaper option, unless you know what you are doing, and have the tools to do the job right, you should let a professional come in and do it for you. A professional is also a good idea, because after your door is insulated, this is going to add extra weight to the door itself, and the opener may need to be readjusted. Readjusting the springs is just too dangerous for an amateur.
While you may think it isn’t worth the money, if you have an attached garage, or a room above it, and always wonder why your heating bill is always so high in the Winter time, now you know. Not having an insulated garage door is like leaving a window open all through the cold part of the year. If you want to keep your heating bill down, and be able to enjoy your garage space better, then you need to make sure that your garage doors are insulated.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4647629

Wooden Garage Doors – 3 Innovations For Modern Day Homes

It is quite impossible to deny the elegance and beauty that wooden garage doors exude and efficiently adding value to your home. This is after all, one of the conventional choices in home improvement and continues to be a great option in modern day home concepts and ideas. Although there have been innumerable materials introduced in the manufacture of doors for your car garage, wood materials remain the item for quality, best value and aesthetic beauty.
If you are searching for the best ways to improve the quality and worth of your property, given the overflowing real estate industry in a global scale, then finding the best garage doors is definitely leading you to the right track. It is quite a trend that modern home designers and experts promote the importance of becoming practical in your property investment.
This involves maximizing the different spaces and venues in your house in order to get the most out of your property venture. Hence, gone are the days when basements and garage are considered dull and underrated areas in the house. The time has evolved and witnessed how these once unfrequented places have been converted into quality and livable havens other than just a sleeping corner for your precious cars. This is exactly why you need innovative wooden doors to give your home improvement project an explicit finish.
Contemporary home owners and designers are given the luxury to choose between three extraordinary types of doors for your garage which would definitely cater to different preferences, taste and function. Each type is made of different wooden materials, softwood and hardwood, to match the current features of your property.
1. Sectional Type. Modern industry for this type has created a roll away design in its mechanism system in order to maximize the space which is not quite guaranteed with swing out counterparts. These wooden garage doors are equipped with sealing properties for all weather to ensure long-term quality use and investment.
2. Up and Over Type. This type is perfect if you are in the lookout for optimum security for your car and your entire property with its optional multiple locking systems. It has traditional style either in retractable or canopy designs to match the architectural buildup of your house. Those who want highly stylish and modern doors for your garage will definitely love the many color variations with this type especially matched with the typical garage lights and points of contrast.
3. Side Hinged Type. This type is perfectly suitable for garage styles which have no or little headroom or those with optional side room which is intended for gear fixing. It is also a great choice for maximum security with its highly engineered locking system. Wooden garage doors in this category are likewise available in wide array of color, sizes and style.
Garage doors made with wood materials are indeed sure-fire ways of enhancing the aesthetic value and worth of your home with its versatile and unique properties. This home improvement project is truly a long-term investment you ought not to forego.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3953805

Smart Home Gadgets for Your Garage – LiftMaster MyQ

A LiftMaster MyQ-enabled garage door opener was recently highlighted on a segment of the CBS New York – WLNY morning program, The Couch, called “Smarter Products for an Easier Life.”

Garage Door Summer Maintenance

May has just arrived which means summer is about to sneak up on us. And with the summer months comes summer maintenance on your home. There are important summer maintenance tasks to be done on garage doors that can be done without the aid of a professional. Heat and humidity can make a garage extremely uncomfortable and could be dangerous if combustible supplies are stored in a garage. Ventilation is a must to relieve the garage from summer heat.
The best way to increase the ventilation of a garage is to put an exhaust fan in the garage. One fan option is a freestanding exhaust fan. These fans must be positioned to send airflow out a door or window. Shutter fans are a good option for removing condensation from a garage and they run constantly to pull out moisture. The last option for exhaust fans are wall or ceiling mounted fans. These fans may require professional installation because the wall or ceiling where the fan will be mounted must be removed, insulation and all. Garage exhaust fans are the most effective if positioned opposite the door.
Another way to control the temperature inside a garage is with door insulation. Garage door insulation can help regulate temperatures of the garage in the summer and also during the winter. This will keep the environment of the garage comfortable and safe for combustible supplies like spray paint. Garage door insulation is available as injected foam insulation’s or polystyrene panels. Weather stripping the gap at the bottom of the garage door also helps further insulate the garage. Not only will insulation make a garage feel more comfortable, but it could also help reduce energy costs.
In addition to providing proper ventilation, washing and painting the garage door is ideal maintenance for the summer months. During the fall and winter, dirt, grime, snow, and salt build up on the door and could lead to rusting if ignored. Steel and aluminum doors can be washed rather easily with mild household detergents. Any garage windows should also be cleaned with a mild dishwashing solution. If rusting has already occurred, sand the rust off and repaint the area with a zinc-rich primer and exterior latex paint. Summer time is also a good opportunity to add a coat of paint to the garage door. Steel doors should be painted with 100% acrylic latex exterior paint, no oil based paint. Be sure to clean the door first so that it is free of dirt, oil, or mildew.
With these simple tips, the environment in the garage can become much improved and more comfortable for summer projects. Proper summer maintenance can also keep stored items protected from extreme temperature changes and lower energy costs. Taking these maintenance steps will help extend the life of your garage door and provide a comfortable area to work on other important household projects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7041257