Blog Archives

All About Garage Flooring

Posted by Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors On November 14, 2023 at 6:00 am | Comments Closed

All About Garage Door Flooring

All it takes is one look at your garage’s floor to know it’s one of the most important, hardest working places in your home. Your garage door floor has to withstand water, salt, and dirt, and most are covered in oil, grease, and rust stains.

But times are changing. Now, homeowners use their garages for many purposes, from man cave to workout room. And that requires a good-looking floor that can keep stains and puddles away.

One of the easiest ways to transform your garage's look and keep your garage floor looking its best is to apply a coat of sealer or epoxy, vinyl rolls, or tile. All these options are excellent, but which floor option you choose depends on your budget, style, and how you use your garage space.

Below are our tips for choosing the best garage floor covering for your garage.

Concrete sealers and stains

Concrete sealers are a very inexpensive option, and they can be applied quickly. This is a clear coating that covers the garage floor, making it easy to clean up gasoline and oil spills. It also protects the floor against water damage. Sealers are matte or gloss and can’t be used over painted floors.

Another similar option is concrete stains. Like sealers, they protect your garage floor. However, they contain pigment to add a touch of dimension to your floor.

Epoxy

Unlike paint, epoxy contains chemicals that bond tightly with the prepared surface. The result isn’t just a clean, great-looking floor but also one protected against spills, stains, and abrasions. Epoxy, if appropriately applied, won’t chip and is an excellent, long-lasting solution for your garage.

Look for epoxy coating designed for garage floors at your local home improvement store. Or contact us, and we can help you pick out the perfect epoxy coating for your garage.

Vinyl garage rolls

Vinyl garage rolls range in price, so they can work well with any budget. Made with very flexible PVC, it can withstand car traffic tire traction and is easy to clean. It’s also often slip-resistant when wet and is easy to install.

Vinyl garage rolls can be cut to the size of your garage and installed quickly and easily. You could use the vinyl flooring on your entire garage floor or just a portion. The possibilities are pretty endless.

Garage floor tiles

Garage door tiles come in various materials, from vinyl to plastic to ceramic. The most popular and cost-effective option is vinyl garage floor tiles. These come in several different thickness sizes colors and are interlocking to offer the perfect fit.

Another popular garage flooring choice is plastic garage floor tiles. Hard plastic flooring is great for garages that need top-notch durability, like commercial garages or residential garages that get a lot of vehicular traffic. Soft plastic flooring is also very durable but is quieter than harder flooring.

Of course, you could also choose ceramic porcelain tiles for your garage. These aren’t just great-looking and highly durable, long-lasting, and stain and scratch-resistant.  Ceramic porcelain flooring can often be seen in car showrooms, but it’s growing in popularity for homes and businesses.

Before choosing ceramic tiles for your garage, consider how they will be installed. It's a more expensive flooring option because they require additional materials and tools, especially if you hire a professional team to lay the tile.

What about carpet?

Good question. Carpet, whether in roll form or carpet tiles, isn’t a good choice for your garage unless you don’t house your car there. That’s because most carpet does not repel water, oil, gasoline, and other substances usually found in the garage.

 

Does my garage door opener need to be replaced?

Posted by Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors On November 10, 2023 at 6:00 am | Comments Closed

Garage door openers are crucial to the function of your entire garage door system, and they tend to last a long time. But eventually, they’ll require repair or replacement. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to repair or replace yours, take a look at the most common garage door opener issues below to help you determine the best next steps. 

Your Garage Door Won’t Open or Close

One of the most obvious signs that your garage door opener needs to be replaced or repaired is if you press the button to open or close the door and it doesn’t budge.

Your Garage Door Works Intermittently

If your garage door operates with a mind of its own, not consistently opening or closing when you press the button (and you’ve already ruled out faulty batteries), there’s likely a wiring issue at fault. This is also a safety and security concern and should be addressed immediately.

Your Garage Door Opens Then Reverses

Another common red flag from your door pointing to an opener issue is when it opens partway or all the way and reverses directions.

Your Garage Door Opener Makes Unusual Noises

A telltale sign of a damaged garage door opener is a strange sounds.

Garage Door Opener is an Older Model

If you’ve been having frequent problems with your garage door opener and it’s an older model (15+ years), it’s a good idea to consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.

Ready to replace your garage door opener? Ramirez Overhead Custom Overhead Doors carries top-of-the-line openers from leading manufacturers including LiftMaster. Let our experienced team help you choose the best garage door open for your home.

 

What material should I choose for my garage door?

Posted by Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors On November 8, 2023 at 6:31 am | Comments Closed

Fiberglass. Wood. Steel. It can be difficult to know which material to choose for your new garage door, but it’s an important decision because it can impact the look of your home and its safety – and can even help determine how long your garage door will stay working at its best.

Before you decide, learn about your options, and there are several to consider. Garage doors are typically crafted of wood, wood composite, steel, aluminum, glass, vinyl or fiberglass. Whew!

The most popular choice for Vacaville homes are wood or wood composite garage doors. However, many homeowners choose steel garage doors, too. These are especially ideal if you’re on a budget but want a garage door that looks great and is highly durable.

Pros and Cons: Here are some important things to know about garage door materials.   

Steel garage doors. As we mentioned, steel doors are a great choice if you want to keep costs down. Most are made of two layers of galvanized steel so they are very durable. They can also be painted and come insulated or without insulation. Cons: They can be dented easily during a storm or in high winds and are prone to corrosion.

Aluminum frame garage doors. Worried about rust? Choose an aluminum frame garage door. Like steel doors, however, they can be easy to dent.

Wood garage doors. Stunning to look at and available in a variety of woods including cedar and fir, wood garage doors are a great choice for homeowners looking to add curb appeal. They can also be stained and customized in other ways to fit the look of your home perfectly. Cons: They can be higher in price and can require more maintenance.

Wood composite garage doors. Like the look of wood but want a garage door that’s easy to clean? Consider wood composite garage doors that look like wood but are made from a wood frame covered with sheets of fiberboard.

Fiberglass & vinyl garage doors. Both fiberglass and vinyl garage doors are a great choice for anyone looking for a durable garage door that can be customized in a variety of ways.

Ready to learn more? The team at Ramirez can help you choose the best material for your next garage door. Take a look at our residential garage doors and give us a call.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Door Repairs?

Posted by Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors On November 2, 2023 at 6:00 am | Comments Closed

“Is my garage door covered by my homeowners insurance?” It’s a question the team at Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors gets asked all the time.

The answer is complicated, especially if you have a detached garage door. And while we always refer our customers to their insurance policy when the question comes up, here are some general guidelines to consider.

It may or may not be worth filing an insurance claim for your damaged garage door. If your policy covers garage door damage and subsequent repair (or even if you think it does) and you decide to file a claim, you may have to pay a deductible, Sometimes, the cost of the deductible is high enough that it’s better to pay for the repair out of pocket.

Only some repairs will be covered. Usually, only some types of damage are covered by homeowners insurance. You’ll need to look through your policy or work with your agent to determine if the damage to your garage door is covered by yours.

Does it matter if my garage door is attached or detached for homeowners insurance coverage? Yes. If your garage is separate from your home, it’s generally included in an “other structures” policy. If you don’t have this type of policy (and especially if you want to protect other structures like your pool or fence), it may be worth investing in one.

Our garage doors are guaranteed. Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors carries high-quality garage doors made by top manufacturers that come with excellent warranties.

If you have any questions or do need repairs on your garage door, give us a call.  We would love to assist you in any way we can.

 

How to Properly Clean Your Garage Door & Preserve Its Finish

Posted by Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors On October 30, 2023 at 6:00 am | Comments Closed

How To Wash Your Garage Door

If you’re noticing dirt and dust on your garage door, or if it’s been a while since you’ve washed it, it’s probably time you gave it a good cleaning. The good news is that this is an effortless and quick task to complete. Simply brush all the debris and dirt off the door with a cloth (a broom works great, too). Then, wash it with a gentle soap before rinsing it off. The last step is to apply a wax finish to keep your garage door looking as good as new.

Here are some points to consider:

  • If you live near the coast, wash your garage door three times a year. Twice a year if you’re inland.
  • A spray wax works great to get to hard-to-reach areas.
  • Use a light detergent to wash the garage door. Avoid cleaners with bleach to other harsh abrasives.
  • Here’s a great video by Clopay to show you how it’s done.