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Keeping Your Garage Door Protected: A Must

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There are various types of garage doors to choose from. The type you choose will all depend on a variety of factors: ease of use, security, cost, durability and aesthetics. An overhead door is one of the more popular choices for both home and commercial garages. It consists of a door that is opened by pulling up from the bottom, and remains over the top of the vehicle when open. Overhead garage doors are space-efficient, making them a good choice for garages with limited space. They come in an assortment of designs and materials. Steel overhead doors are a maintenance free option and heavy duty.

Overhead garage door is a popular style because of its advantages. It takes up very little room, which makes it appropriate for smaller spaces. The roller type door runs on a streamline track, which does not take up much room. However, an overhead garage door requires enough headspace to accommodate the rolled up door. So be sure you have adequate space over the doorway of your garage if you are considering this particular type of garage door. Also, your overhead garage door should be high enough to clear your vehicle when parking in the garage. If you are planning to install an automatic garage door opener, you will also need to factor in the space that it will take up. Measure your garage space first before investing in an overhead garage door.

With overhead garage doors, you also have the option of insulation or non-insulation. If you live in a place with mild climate, a non-insulated overhead garage door can help you save up. Meanwhile, in hotter or colder climates, protecting your overhead garage door is recommended especially if your garage connects to your living space. Insulating your garage door is a good investment because it will not only make your garage more convenient; it will also make your vehicle guarded from extreme changes in temperature. More importantly, it will keep cold air from entering your room. An insulated overhead garage door may cost more but the benefits will certainly be worth the price.

When it comes to security, you should treat an overhead garage door as an access door that may be most accessible to burglars. Make sure that your overhead garage door is of solid construction with a strong frame that is in good condition. More importantly, make sure that you invest in a good lock for the door. Your garage door should be as safe as all the other external doors in your home for obvious reasons.

To assure full protection for your overhead garage door, you can opt to invest in the latest generation of garage door openers that use rolling code technology burglars will find very difficult to hack. Maintain your garage door’s protection by regularly checking the condition of the door and frame for signs of root and corrosion. Remember that your garage door is only as secure and strong as its weakest point.

Front Door Security Home Invasions Dramatically On The Rise!

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The FBI Says: “Every 12 Seconds a Home is Invaded
By Someone Simply Going Right Through the Door”

You hear about them on the news all of the time. The reason is simple. It’s the most lucrative, least risky activity of all for criminals. According to the lastest FBI statistics, only 12.4% of burglars are ever caught, charged and convicted. The lastest crime statistics on home invasions, burglaries and robberies in the United States are staggering…

* 6,088 Home Burglaries Per Day in the USA
* 70.3% of Burglaries Involve Residential Properties
* 67.6% of Burglaries Involved Forcible Entry or Attempts
* 38% of All Assaults Occur During a Home Invasion
* 60% of All Rapes Occur During a Home Invasion
* $4.6 Billion Worth of Property is Stolen Annually

Most home burglaries happen between 9 a.m. And 5 p.m. While most home invasions happen between 6 p.m. And 6 a.m. The reasons for this are quite easy. A burglar doesn’t want anybody home while they rob a house, but the premise of a home invasion is for the occupants to be at home so the intruder can extract valuable information from the occupants such as ; where the’real’ property are, account info, credit cards and pin numbers, car keys, and so on. And many home attackers have much more baleful thoughts in mind , such as physically or sexually attacking you or your loved ones ( 60% of all rapes happen during a home invasion ).

burglars gain entry most often By Kicking In Doors! .And that sure is a Fact.

Front Door Security The FBI claims [*CO]‘Every 12 seconds a home invasion occurs by somebody going right through the front or back door’. This happens in 73% of all break-ins and’door frame failure’ is virtually always the cause.

How frequently have you seen the police on those real crime television shows kick in doors? A lot, right? Well if a person in a police uniform can do it that easily, then why can’t a person in a thief outfit also do it that easily? The fact of the affair is, you do not need anybody to be in a position to gain access into your home that simply, if in any way.
Watch a number of these Door Kick-in Videos and see just how easy the average door can be kicked in.

Why Are Doors So easily Kicked-in or Forced Open?
Front Door Security door frame repair

It all boils down to one vital design issue and it’s found on virtually each exterior home door entryway. Most exterior doors, hinges, deadbolts and door locks are reasonably powerful. It’s the WOODEN DOOR FRAME also known as the door jamb that’s the weakest area. Front Door SecurityThese soft woods can’t resist the force of a 1/2′ to 3/4′ solid steel deadbolt stem being tremendously forced against them as happens when a door is kicked or’shoulder slammed’. The most efficient, most cost effective solution is to install a metal door frame reinforcement device that extends well above and below the strike plates on the door celebrity. This way you have steel holding steel rather than wood holding steel.

In the picture below, notice the typical short, small diameter brass screws that are on most door strike plates. They supply little support aside from simply holding the metal strike plate on the door frame.

two. Notice the thin, weak, decorative softwood trim that the strike plate is mounted on. 3. 4. It’s LESS THICK THAN the person’s fingernail is long! That’s ALL that’s protecting your home AND it’s just soft wood!
Front Door Security
Now go look at your exterior doors and probably you will have this precise same situation. Therein lies the 1 problem that you must correct or you, your folks and your home remain fully vulnerable to trespassers.

Tips for Buying a New Garage Door Opener

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Buying a garage door opener should not be difficult, but in today’s world of multiple options and vast variety of products, finding the right garage door opener can sometimes be, shall we say, a bit confusing?  Don’t turn this simple shopping trip into a hassle. Know what you need and what you want before heading to the local home renovation center to order your new garage door opener, and avoid buying the wrong type of opener, and spending too much in the process.

The first step to choosing the right garage door opener to met your needs, begin by asking (and answering) these basic questions:

1.  What Type of Features Am I Looking For in a Garage Door Opener?  If it has been awhile since you went garage door opener shopping, you might be surprised at the features available on today’s models.  Garage door openers don’t just open up access to your home any longer.  Modern openers can also turn on your house lights when activated; warn you if someone slips in the garage from behind your car in the dark; offer remote access; be mounted on the wall instead of the ceiling to free up much needed ceiling space for boats, bikes; open up with virtually no sound to bother anyone in the house and more.   All of these things must be considered when choosing a new garage door opener to make sure you get exactly the model that you want and need.

2.  What Kind of Performance Record Do Specific Models Offer?  There are a lot of different companies making garage door openers these days, so be sure to check the durability record of any models you consider.  Some work well in different types of climates or for different types of garages and doors.  What works well in a warm weather region may give the user problems in a cold temperature zone, so make sure that you check to see that all product reviews discuss the individual concerns you may have to deal with.

3.  Which Garage Door Openers Are Durable Enough to Handle the Job?  Not every garage door opener is equal.  Some are designed to work under heavy duress; while others are made for less hectic use. Consider carefully how you plan to use your garage door opener before choosing one.  For instance, commercial garages featuring heavy steel doors will likely need to use a high horsepower model designed to take a lot of abuse, while residential properties may not need to spend the money on such a high-end model but can easily rely on a smaller garage door opener to take care of their needs.

4.  What Models Are Available?  One look at a garage door opener catalogue and you may be surprised at the number of different manufacturers and models available to consumers these days.  In order to figure out which model will best suit your needs, you will first need to familiarize yourself with a variety of the different types of garage door openers you can choose from.  Here are a few of the most basic styles and models on the market today:

* The Belt Drive Opener: Forget the loud screeches and groans some garage door openers cause when in use, the belt drive opener is one of the quietest models on the market.  Recommended for residential use, , the belt drive garage door opener is recommended for home’s where the garage door is located beneath bedrooms and other living spaces.

* The Chain Drive Opener: Maybe the most popular garage door opener model offered to consumers, the chain drive opener is known best for its superior durability, reliability and performance, not to mention is less expensive price.

* The Screw Drive Opener: Designed to work in even the most frigid temperatures, it is recommended for those living in colder climates who want to ensure hassle-free use during the winter months.

* The Jackshaft Opener:  One of the newest models of garage door openers available in stores, the Jackshaft opener is being embraced by consumers because of its two main features: a standby system that allows the opener to work during a power outage and wall mounting to free up much needed ceiling space for storage.

One you have the chance to really think about what you want and need your new garage door opener to do, you can more easily answer the questions listed above and review the basic models available to make a better informed decision when shopping for that new opener.

How to Automate Your Garage Doors

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There are hundreds of garage door openers to choose from but before you can do that there are two key considerations concerning your garage door itself.

Before deciding on an electric garage door opener check that an able bodied person can effortlessly open the garage door manually as a motor will not do what they can’t.  If the door works smoothly and effortlessly, then adding an electric operator should be straight forward.

You will also need to check that your door balances at around chest height to ensure you have the correct spring tension for the operator to lift the door.  If the springs are broken or the door is not balanced properly the electric operator will not work effectively.  You may need to service the door by lubricating the moving parts or replace the door springs and other moving parts.

The other consideration is to know what type of garage door you have.  This is because it is essential for you to choose the correct device to suit your door mechanism to ensure the safe and smooth operation of your garage door.

There are four main types of garage door mechanism: retractable door, canopy door, side hinged door, and sectional door.

Up & Over – Retractable Garage Doors (Tracked)

These are identified by a single door panel with springs either side or horizontal ceiling tracks which support the door in the open position.  When the garage door is fully open, the bottom edge of the door is flush with the garage door frame

If you have a retractable up and over garage door then you are in luck, as these are ideal for automation and you can safely use any type of operator.  Your main considerations must be the noise (AC or DC motor) and the material, width and weight of the door to ensure you choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

Up & Over – Canopy Doors (Trackless)

This door type is not recommended for safe automation although there are options available; I would never recommend or safety and reliability.  If you don’t want to replace the entire door and mechanism you can purchase a retractable door mechanism and replace the canopy door gear.

An up & over canopy door is identified by the large spring which runs over the head of the door and when the door is open the garage door panel protrudes by approximately 600mm from the opening.

Side Hinged Doors

These garage doors can be automated using a conversion kit with most operators.  You will need to check the operator can be use for side hinged doors so that the auto-reverse safety feature functions normally.

Sectional doors

Sectional Garage Doors are identified by hinged panels that allow the door to rise vertically without swinging out as the door opens.

They are perfect garage doors for automation as no additional parts are required and you can use any type of AC or DC operator.  To ensure the operator will fit it’s a good idea to check the clearance above the door during its opening cycle then check the minimum clearance requirement for the operator as they vary.

Again your choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

Automation of Your Garage Doors

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There are hundreds of garage door openers to choose from but before you can do that there are two key considerations concerning your garage door itself.

Before deciding on an electric garage door opener check that an able bodied person can effortlessly open the garage door manually as a motor will not do what they can’t.  If the door works smoothly and effortlessly, then adding an electric operator should be straight forward.

You will also need to check that your door balances at around chest height to ensure you have the correct spring tension for the operator to lift the door.  If the springs are broken or the door is not balanced properly the electric operator will not work effectively.  You may need to service the door by lubricating the moving parts or replace the door springs and other moving parts.

The other consideration is to know what type of garage door you have.  This is because it is essential for you to choose the correct device to suit your door mechanism to ensure the safe and smooth operation of your garage door.

There are four main types of garage door mechanism: retractable door, canopy door, side hinged door, and sectional door.

Up & Over – Retractable Garage Doors (Tracked)

These are identified by a single door panel with springs either side and horizontal ceiling tracks which support the door in the open position.  When the garage door is fully open, the bottom edge of the door is flush with the garage door frame

If you have a retractable up and over garage door then you are in luck, as these are ideal for automation and you can safely use any type of operator.  Your main considerations must be the noise (AC or DC motor) and the material, width and weight of the door to ensure you choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

Up & Over – Canopy Doors (Trackless)

This door type is not recommended for safe automation although there are options available, I would never recommend or safety and reliability.  If you don’t want to replace the entire door and mechanism you can purchase a retractable door mechanism and replace the canopy door gear.

An up & over canopy door is identified by the large spring which runs over the head of the door and when the door is open the garage door panel protrudes by approximately 600mm from the opening.

Side Hinged Doors

These garage doors can be automated using a conversion kit with most operators.  You will need to check the operator can be use for side hinged doors so that the auto-reverse safety feature functions normally.

Sectional doors

Sectional Garage Doors are identified by hinged panels that allow the door to rise vertically without swinging out as the door opens.

They are perfect garage doors for automation as no additional parts are required and you can use any type of AC or DC operator.  To ensure the operator will fit it’s a good idea to check the clearance above the door during its opening cycle then check the minimum clearance requirement for the operator as they vary.

Again your choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.