Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Door Repairs?

“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

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.

 

 

 

Brief History of the Modern Garage

The garage is an integral part of the modern home, but it was not always so. The modern garage is only a little over one hundred years old, and like all forms of architecture, it has its own history.

Before cars were invented, most homes had an outbuilding for housing the horse drawn carriage. These carriage houses were often simple structures with dirt floors, four walls, and a swinging set of doors that were prone to falling off their hinges.

Sometimes the carriage was simply stored in a barn along with the horses. Sometimes the horse shared the carriage house with the carriage. Either way, things were kind of messy.

When cars came along, it did not take long for people to start looking around for someplace to store the vehicle out of the weather. Many older cars did not even have a roof, so finding a shelter was an important consideration for a proud, new automobile owner.

At first, cars often went into the carriage house along with the horse because it took a few decades before horses were completely obsolete as a major means of transportation, and many people still had horses, even after they bought a car.

Needless to say, this arrangement was not very satisfactory for anyone – the horse, the car or the owner. It was not long before people realized they needed a new kind of outbuilding dedicated to the storage of cars alone.

By about 1912, architects were hailing the invention of this ‘new kind of outbuilding’ and calling it a garage; a word derived from the French word garer, which means to shelter or protect.

In some towns, large, privately owned garages were constructed, and automobile owners rented space for their car. Sometimes these garages were even heated in winter, and the manager cleaned and maintained the space, and maybe even the cars as well.

But these kinds of public garages, even with heating and maintenance included, were still not very convenient for the car owners, because they were not right at the person’s home. It was not long until private residence garages began replacing the old carriage houses.

Older garages are often surprisingly small by modern standards. It was common to build them just big enough to accommodate the car, leaving a little space for the owner to squeeze in through the door.

Floors were often still dirt, and lighting and windows were not common in early garages. The old carriage house doors were still used in the beginning years, and the hinges continued working loose, making opening and closing the doors a real chore.

In 1921, someone solved this problem. C.G. Johnson invented the first overhead garage door. The door was made with hinged panels that could bend as the door lifted, and this was a great improvement over the old carriage house doors.

Nonetheless, the overhead garage door was still heavy and hard to lift. So five years later, the same Mr. Johnson invented the first electric garage door opener. This brought power into the garage, along with lights and a brand new idea of how the garage could also double up as a home workspace. Garages started getting bigger.

The Wayne-Dalton company was an early and successful manufacturer of garage doors, based in Ohio. When the company first moved there, they were lucky to find workers from the local Amish community who were excellent tradesmen. They began producing well-crafted, wooden garage doors in large quantities.

By the 1970s, materials other than wood were being used for building garage doors. Wooden doors were especially heavy and thick, and soon materials like galvanized steel, fiberglass and vinyl covered aluminum were replacing wood.

A sad point in the history of garages was that early electric doors did not retract if they closed onto something. Sometimes that something was a pet or a child, and between 1974 and 1995, 85 children had died in garage door accidents.

A nation-wide law was then passed, requiring that all overhead garage doors have photoelectric and pressure sensors that make the door reopen if it encounters anything while closing. As a result, accidental deaths involving garage doors have become rare.

While the modern garage is a lot different than the earlier versions, the old carriage house doors are actually coming back into style. This time, they have stronger hinges, electric openers, and safety features that combine history and modern technology for a safer and more functional garage door.

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How to Get Oil Stains Off Your Garage Floor

Whether you've got a tricked-out workbench or a crafting corner your grandma could only dream of, you want your garage looking fresh,meaning those old oil stains covering the ground have got to go. Oil stains obviously don't look great. And if you step in those oil stains, you might just track oil onto your flooring in the house. Then there's more bad news for the accident-prone among us: just like an old banana peel, oil stains are a safety hazard, too. So how do you get old oil stains off your garage floor? Here's the skinny.

How Do I Get Old Oil Stains off My Garage Floor?
Believe it or not, the answer to how to remove old oil stains from the garage floor could be lying in your kitty litter. Yep, weird, but true. And if you don't have a cat? You can easily pick some up at the pet store on your way home from work and give it a go. First, cover the oil stain in clay cat litter, letting it sit for several hours (or overnight if it's a heavy stain.) Then sweep up the cat litter and pour liquid dish soap over the stain to break up the grease. Let it soak up for at least an hour, then use a wire scrub brush and clean the stain in a circular motion. Rinse it with water, let dry, and voila!

Does WD-40 Remove Oil Stains From Concrete?
Yes! You can definitely use WD-40 to remove oil stains from concrete, too. Here's how to apply it: First try to soak up the oil with a paper towel, then saturate the stain with WD-40 and let it soak for 5-10 minutes. Wipe with a rag, and get at the last remaining bits of grease with some dish soap, water, and a scrubbing brush.

Does Vinegar Remove Oil Stains From Concrete?
Ah, vinegar. The wonder cleaner that's all-natural and dirt-cheap. What's not to love? Vinegar is a natural degreaser, so while it may not be as aggressive as some of the other solutions we've mentioned, it's totally worth a try. Start by pouring sawdust or that reliable kitty litter on the stain and let it soak overnight. Then sweep it up and sprinkle a mixture of ½ teaspoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, ¼ teaspoon dish soap, and 2 cups of water. Pour the solution over the grease, let it soak for a bit, then clean with a scrubbing brush. You know the drill!

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6 Things To Do This Fall To Prepare Your Garage For The Winter

Summer 2023 is officially a thing of the past. Say goodbye to hot days by the pool and hello to brisk air, bonfires, and everything pumpkin spice. Fall is a pleasant season: Not too hot, not too cold. This moderate time of year is the perfect time to start getting your garage in order so that once those cold, snowy days arrive, you’ll be ready! Being proactive about organizing your garage space within the next few weeks is a good idea so you don’t have to deal with your fall garage storage concerns later when temperatures in your garage are less comfortable.

1. Rotate and Clean Seasonal Items
Start by pushing summer items such as the lawn mower, garden tools, and hoses to the back of the garage, and pulling winter items such as shovels and salt to a spot that’s easier to get to. Move sports gear such as bats, basketballs, and roller skates to the back and sleds, ice skates, and snowboards forward.

According to Garage Living, you should be sure to clean all of your summer tools off before stowing them away for the winter:

Lawn and garden tools like wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, tillers, and edgers can be hosed down, which should remove most dirt. To remove stubborn caked-on soil and dirt, hose the tools down and use a light wire brush for cleaning (this can also be used to remove light rust). Make sure to dry all washed items before storing them.
Your pruners, loppers, shears, saws, and hedge trimmer blade will likely have sap on them. Use a cutting tool cleaner (or turpentine, which is also effective) to remove any sticky residue.

2. Clean your garage floor
During the Spring and Summer months, your garage gets a lot of foot traffic. People track dirt in from their yards on shoes, boots, and tools. Because of this, it’s recommended that you clean your garage floor before the weather gets too chilly. Once you’ve pulled all of your items out of the garage, sweep or use a shop vacuum to remove all of the extra dirt and debris. If your garage has seen a lot of action this summer, take a hose and spray down areas that need a little extra TLC. Be careful not to spray any electrical outlets when you’re doing this! Then take a squeegee and remove the extra water from the garage. Presto! You have a floor that is prepped and ready to face the elements. Also, inspect the sharpness of the tools’ blades.
Powered yard equipment needs even more care before storing them for the winter to maximize their life. Clean any grass clippings and residue from lawn mowers and grass trimmers. For gas-powered equipment, drain all gas, oil, and other additives from the tools and dispose of the fluids properly. Consider an end-of-season tune-up for your lawn mower so you’ll have one less thing to deal with when spring comes.

3. Make sure certain items aren’t kept in the garage
Yes, garages are used to store items. However, if your garage isn’t temperature controlled, there are a few items that you should consider moving from the garage to a basement, out of the reach of children and pets:

  • Paint, weed killer, wood stain, cleaning products, and household chemicals – frigid temperatures affect their consistency, color, and effectiveness
  • Grass seed and birdseed – Rodents love feasting on different types of seed throughout the winter
  • Electronics you plan to donate – condensation can damage solder joints and cause circuit boards to rust or crack
  • Clothing or linens – make sure if these items will remain in the garage, they are in vacuum-sealed storage bags
  • Propane tanks – store them in a shed or covered outdoor area
  • Paper – attractive to rodents and other pests

4. Make better use of your garage’s storage space
Having a clear garage floor will be much appreciated when the cold weather arrives. You won’t need to brush snow off vehicles and they will also warm up quicker when started. A few ways to reclaim your valuable garage floor space during the winter are:

  • Garage walls can be used for hanging a variety of items during the winter months.
  • Adding a slatwall storage system or hooks to your garage walls will give you space to hang ladders, shovels, rakes, helmets, brooms, and bikes. Hanging these items on the wall will reduce clutter on the ground and make more room for your car
  • Along with a garage’s walls, its vertical space is rarely used to the best of its abilities for storage. Consider adding specialty overhead racking to store your bulkier and seasonal items. Or install a bike lift to get larger ride-ons out of your way until the weather gets warmer
  • Shelves and cabinets can help you maximize storage space and can be extremely valuable when it comes to finding extra fall garage storage space for all your belongings

5. Inspect Your Garage Door
Look and listen – Observe your door every time that you use it. Does it jerk a little when it opens and closes? Is it loud?
Wipe down the weather stripping and check for cracks – If you notice that it’s cracked, have it fixed right away to prevent cold air from entering and weather stripping from freezing to the pavement.
Clean dirt from the door, track, and rollers – Dirt will trap in moisture and this moisture will freeze, which could leave you with frozen areas in your garage door opener.
Lubricate all moving parts – During the winter months, they can get cold and stick. After lubrication, make sure to wipe off any excess oil.

Call Ramirez Custom Overhead Doors for help with inspecting and lubricating your garage doors effectively today!

6. Get Ready for Ice and Snow
Don’t wait until the snowy weather arrives to get all of your winter tools ready to go! Check all of those winter supplies to make sure that they still work and are conveniently located. You don’t want to get stuck with a broken shovel the day of that first big snowstorm

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