Blog | 10 Tips for choosing the right garage door material

4 Garage Door Security Tips

Garage doors are useful for giving you easy access to your garage; however, garage doors can become a security risk if you don’t take precautions. If you’re not careful, criminals can use your garage door or opening system to break into your garage and home. If you want to better protect your home, check out these four garage door security tips.

1. Use a Unique Passcode

If your garage door opener has a keypad, make sure you choose a unique code. Many systems come with a pre-set entry code, which you should change as soon as possible. When choosing your code, don’t choose obvious numbers, like your birthday, address, and simple codes such as 1234 or 0000. Always pick random numbers.

As with any password, you should change the passcode frequently to prevent people from guessing it. Someone may have seen you enter the code one day and decide to come back to break into your garage. Similarly, if you use the same numbers again and again, the numbers may begin to fade, revealing which digits are used in the passcode.

2. Keep the Photo Eye Clean

Garage doors are heavy and can cause serious injury if they close on someone or an animal. For this reason, modern systems have a photo eye. This eye shoots a beam to the other side of the garage door. If something or someone is in the way, the beam won’t reach the other side, and the door will pop back open.

If the photo eye becomes dirty or damaged, however, it may fail even when nothing is in the way of the door. If this happens, and you don’t realize the door has popped back open, anyone could walk inside your garage and take what they want or try to get inside your house. For this reason, you should monitor the eye, remove any debris as it appears, and keep the photo eye straight.

3. Keep the Remote Safe

Most automatic garage door openers also come with remotes, which many people keep in their car so they can open the door without having to get out of the car and enter the passcode. Of course, keeping these remotes in your car is not a great idea, especially if the car is not protected inside the garage. Anyone could break into the car, steal the remote, and get inside your home whenever they like.

Ideally, you should keep the remote with you. When at work, take it inside with you, and when you get home, bring it inside the house. The frustration of forgetting it a few times is nothing compared to someone using it to break into your home.

4. Consider Your Neighbors’ Systems

The downside to remotes is that they can work on more than one garage door. If your neighbor’s system uses the same frequency as yours, you can actually open each other’s garage doors with your own remotes. Not only does this mean your neighbor can easily get inside your home, but they may accidently open your garage door and not close it because they didn’t realize it opened.

You can fix this problem without getting a new system, but you’ll have to find the frequency setting on the system, so you can change it. Once you’ve adjusted the frequency, your neighbor’s remote should no longer open your garage door and vice versa.

As long as you care for and maintain your garage door and the opener, it should stay secure. If you want to know more about garage security, or if you need to request a quote for a new system or a few repairs, contact us at AA Garage Door today.

Garage Door Repair Cost

Things to look for in Garage Door Repair Cost.
Winter is here and the garage door repair season is the highest demand. The most common repairs are springs, cables, and garage door openers. When repairing springs on a two car door prices range from $179 – $139. Cable changes average $139 – $179. And opener replacement for Liftmaster chain drives averages $300 -400 depending on door height and number of remotes needed. Most good companies will give you a cost over the phone for these repairs, be careful if they are unwilling to provide you with a close price and if your repairs are more then $400 give a couple of companies a call, so your not paying the high price for repairs. And if you hit the $1000 mark for a door repair you can get a new Clopay garage door for that cost depending on size and if you want an insulated door. We wish everyone Happy Holidays with some friendly advice to help you make an informed discussion. Please share this with family and friends.

Garage Door Repair Parts

General Repair Parts Cost without labor

Rollers $5.00 to $10.00 each
Bearing PLates $20 to $50 for a set
Cables $40 to $60 for a pair
Bottom Fixtures $20 – $40 for set
Hinges $5 to $15 each
Drums $20 to $40 a set

Garage Door Brands Repaired

AA Garage Door repairs most brands of garage door and openers, (Liftmaster, sears craftsman, Stanley, Linear, Wayne Dalton, chi, Hass, Amarr, Ideal, Clopay, Chamberlain, Raynor, Midland, Martin, Safeway, North Central, Mid American and Taylor Core). Most repairs are completed in a single visit. We offer Same-Day Service in most cases unless it is an extremely cold day and repair volume in high. Need a Repair Call us we can help 651-702-1420

3 Garage Door Repairs best for the Professionals

3 Garage Door Repairs to Leave to the Professionals, ,

For many people, their garage is more than a convenient place to park their car—it’s a storage space, a work area, a home-gym, and even the most commonly used entrance to their home. The garage door itself keeps everything inside the garage safe, and when it breaks, it can be a real nuisance. Getting the door repaired quickly keeps your home safe and allows your family to keep up with their busy schedules. Even if you like to tackle home improvement projects yourself, there are some repairs best left to the professionals for your safety.

Garage Door Repair Problems Only a Pro Should Handle

1. The Door Won’t Open or Close

Garage door St. Paul MN Modern garage doors have sensors that detect objects in the door’s path. While obvious obstructions, like a child’s toy or a fallen bike, can easily be removed, the door still may not close. If the pathway is clear and the door won’t close, it could be due to a problem with the motor, which must be repaired by an experienced professional under the terms of your product warranty.

2. You Hear Grinding or Loud Noises

Garage doors are inherently noisy, but it you notice an increase in noise, it’s time to call a professional. It may be due to a broken spring, a roller that’s gone off the track, or even a dent in the track itself. A garage door repair expert will be able to identify and fix the problem quickly, so you can stop covering your years every time you open and close the door.

3. There’s a Broken Spring

Many garage doors move up and down with the help of torsion springs. These springs are always under high tension, and when they snap, they can keep the door from functioning correctly. Installing a replacement spring is dangerous and should always be left to a professional who has the proper safety gear and training to handle the job.

Whether you’ve noticed any of these problems or want to schedule routine garage door maintenance, the experts at AA Garage Door in St. Paul, MN, can help. Their team is dedicated to providing high-quality and affordable service quickly, so your life can get back to normal. Call (651) 702-1420 or visit their website to get your free repair estimate today.

5 ways to keep your garage warm

Image of wooden thermometer showing 30 degrees C — How do you keep your garage warm?

The summer may be a distant memory now as the days start getting shorter and colder, so if you’re going to be spending more time there, then you’ll want to know the best way to keep your garage warm.

If you’ve got plans for your garage this year, then you’re going to want to make sure that it’s warm enough for you to do what you want in it.

Here’s our guide to keeping your garage warm.

1. What will it be used for?

Knowing what you’ll be doing in your garage will help you to decide how warm your garage needs to be.

If you’re only going to use your garage for a few minutes whilst getting children or work samples in and out of the car, you won’t need it to be as warm compared to if you plan on spending hours playing music or making something out of wood in your garage during the evening or all weekend.

2. Insulation

Spending the time to insulate your garage will be worth it if you’re going to spend a lot of time in there.

If you’re trying to get your old car back on the road, you don’t want to be undoing seized bolts lying in a draft. If you’ve turned your garage into a play room for your children, you’ll want to make sure it’s not cold.

3. Better fitting doors and windows

Better fitting doors and windows can eliminate drafts, and provide more warmth without you needing to invest in a heater.

Perhaps you can already feel a draft or can see gaps that shouldn’t be there.

It’s worth getting your garage door and windows looked at to make sure that they are doing their jobs properly, or how they can be improved.

4. Efficiency

You’ll need to make sure that you stop cold air getting in and warm air escaping. You can do this by fitting weather strips around your garage doors and checking other areas for leaks.

This will ensure that you’re not paying for heating that doesn’t even stay in your garage.

Depending on the size of your garage, and what you’ll be doing in there and for how long, you might want to organize or divide your garage differently so that you don’t need to heat the whole garage if you’re only going to be working at a small workbench.

5. Heating

Once you’ve eliminated drafts and got your windows and doors sorted out, and repaired if necessary, you can then decide how you’re going to heat your garage.

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in there, then you’ll want a cost effective way of heating your garage, perhaps so that your band can practice for hours at a time, you can make things out of wood, or finally get your car back on the road.

This could be several portable heaters or it could be a dedicated heating system.

If you’re only going to be spending a few minutes at a time in there, then portable heaters might be just what you need.

Conclusion

The best way to keep your garage warm will ultimately depend on what you’re going to be doing in there, and for how long at a time.

Even if you’re going to be spending hours at a time there, it needn’t be expensive to keep your garage warm and cosy.

If you need help or advice on your garage door, whether it’s to do with energy efficiency, or it needs putting back on track, Contact Us today at 651-702-1420 and tell us how we can help you.

10 signs you need a replacement garage door

Image of Clopay Canyon Ridge Garage doors fitted to a house — It might not be obvious when you need a replacement garage door

If you’re not happy with your garage door, then perhaps you need a replacement garage door.

Here are 10 signs that you need a replacement garage door.

1. Obvious damage

Perhaps somebody has driven into your garage door, or it’s been damaged by bikes or balls or has seen better days and is just falling apart.

Now is a good time to replace it.

2. Doesn’t open or shut properly

If your garage door doesn’t open or close properly, then it might make more sense to get a replacement garage door than repair it.

It may be more cost effective to buy a replacement garage door than to get your garage door serviced.

3. Affected by weather

Perhaps your garage door has been badly affected by storms, or extreme heat or cold.

Perhaps it doesn’t fit as well as it used to, or it now leaks.

Why not see what a replacement garage door could do for your home?

4. Doesn’t meet your needs anymore

Your existing garage door might not meet your needs any more if your family has grown, or your children have left home, or you’ve got a classic car or a boat you want to keep in the garage.

If you now have a boat that you want to keep in the garage, perhaps you can’t get it in because your garage door opener is in the way. A new garage door and garage door opener could keep your pride and joy safe and protected from the elements.

If your children have left home, then perhaps you can keep all of your cars in the garage now there’s no bikes or sports equipment in the way.

A replacement garage door could make life much easier for you.

5. Used by the whole family

Maybe your garage is used by the whole family know, Perhaps you want several individual garage doors rather than a single huge one, so that the children can get their bikes out without lifting a big heavy door.

6. Different use for your garage

If you’re thinking about different uses for your garage, such as turning it into a home cinema, or games room, or you simply want to spend your retirement restoring a classic car, then you might benefit from a new garage door.

Your replacement garage door could provide more light, more security, or keep your garage warmer.

7. Different material

What was an appropriate garage door material previously may not be now.

Perhaps you’re fed up with a big heavy wooden door that needs regular painting, and want a lighter metal door.

8. Security

Perhaps you know that your garage door isn’t as secure as it should be.

Maybe you’re keeping valuable or expensive items in your garage and want to keep them away from prying eyes to make sure that they stay there.

9. Old and less effective or efficient than a new door

Maybe you’ve lived in your home for decades and have never replaced your garage door.

Perhaps you want to make your garage warmer, or add windows to your garage, so you can spend more time in there.

A new garage door could provide more insulation and save on heating costs, whether you’re fixing something, watching movies, adding an extra bedroom or giving the kids their own space.

10. Doesn’t fit with your home aesthetic

If you’ve recently moved house, then perhaps the garage door isn’t to your taste.

Whilst you’re making the rest of your new home perfect, why not think about a replacement garage door too?

You can have the exact style of garage door you want, and material you’ve always wanted, whether it’s wooden swing out garage doors, or ornate bifold doors.

After all, you’ll probably use your garage door a lot more than a guest bedroom.

Conclusion

A replacement garage door might make a lot of sense if you’re currently struggling to open it, or know that you can’t spend time in there because it’s too cold.

Why not Contact Us at 651-702-1420 today and tell us what you need from your replacement garage door?