Ahoy Sailor! My Garage Door Won't Open!

This week we received more than the usual amount of phone calls about openers not working. Now we have tried to explain that when the Navy pulls in ships or subs that all bets are off. The basic reason is that a lot of remotes use a 300 Megahertz frequency in San Diego. 

This is reserved for the government but is not used as much as other frequencies, however when it is used by certain ships we are flooded with calls. My first thought on the matter is if that's the price to keep us safe and have the Navy here in San Diego then..well ok. 

Some do not share my enthusiasm so for those who are at their witts end there is the possibility of adding an external receiver and changing remotes.To get in touch with our service department feel free to visit us here... www.gdugaragedoors.com and click on the top link to request service.

I thought I would also post a great article I found on Sign On San Diego. Its a good read and hope it helps everyone out. Clip on the link below to see the article. 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/04/garage-doors-glitching-once-again/

Cheers,

Shawn M. Black

Garage Doors Unlimited

If it's not broke, don't fix it?

Garage doors are one of those things in our homes that we just don't take that much time to understand. Most of us just think if it's not broke then don't fix it. Unfortunately easy adjustments are ignored and they can really cost a home owner. The good news is that most small repairs can be prevented by some monthly check list. Here is some do's from Amarr's do's and don't list.

This a great list but if you would like some free advice or just answers to questions give me a call at 858-751-2580. Here's the list!

	Do!
	Monthly Maintenance Checklist Garage Door Opener Reversal Test Force Setting Test Additional Safety Devices Garage Door Visual Inspection: Springs, Rollers, Pulleys, Cables and Track Lubrication, Door Balance.

	Do!
	There are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once a month. Review your owner's manual for the door opener. If you don't have the owner's manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.

Reversal Test

Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards. Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.Test the reversing feature every month.

First, test the balance of the door (see "Testing and Maintaining The Garage Door"). If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.

With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2" thick piece of wood (a 2"x 4" laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door.

Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of "one piece doors" must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.)

If the door does not reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified individual adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.

Force Setting Test

Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting. See your owner's manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the reversing feature after any adjustment.

Additional Safety Devices

Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices. Consider adding a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to protect against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices will not make an old opener meet the current U.L. standards.

Make sure the additional safety devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted (see owners' manual).

You can find more information by visiting our website www.gdugaragedoors.com or calling me at the office at 858-751-2580!

Cheers,

Shawn Black
Garage Doors Unlimited

What type of care and maintenance is necessary for a steel door and hardware?

Good Day! So I have had some calls this week and the most popular question was maintenance on their garage door so I have pulled one of our FAQ's to help with this.

What type of care and maintenance is necessary for  a  steel door and hardware?

Answer: We recommend that you wash your steel door a minimum of one (1) time per year with: (a) One cup of Tide® (or other common detergents which contain less than 0.5% phosphate), dissolved into five gallons of warm water. NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS WITH BLEACH.
      

The use of a well-soaked cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low pressure spray washer is recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue.

In addition, lubrication of rollers and hinges is recommended on a yearly basis. Visually inspect springs and cable for wear and binding once each year and contact a professional garage door dealer/installer if damage is suspected. Do not attempt to remove, repair or adjust springs. HIGH SPRING TENSION CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

We offer service to all of our existing customers at a special reduced rate and if you would like us to come out we will perform a full safety inspection, lube & tune the door and full balance of your door for only $89! Feel free to give us a call at 877.777.3344 or visit our site at www.gdugaragedoors.com

Cheers,

Shawn M. Black

Garage Doors Unlimited

I have a one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?

We get this question a lot from home owners so I wanted to take a moment to address it.

Yes. We can install a sectional door for you by installing track and springs to accommodate a sectional door. Depending on the construction of your garage, other modifications might be necessary. Simply discuss this with one of our estimators prior to installation, so that any required modifications can be performed.

 

Its almost an 90% chance we can get it done, however if you absolutely need a one-piece door (canopy door) we can either make a new wood one for you or convert a new roll up steel door to a canopy door! Either way we are ready to take on your project and guarantee your satisfaction!

 The answer to this question along with a bunch others can be found on our website www.gdugaragedoors.com in our FAQ section. Hope this helps!

3's A Crowd?

Scott, Cesar, & Brad finished up a project that Heather brought in for us earlier this month! These doors are commercial full view doors from Wayne-Dalton. Anodized aluminum frames, & clear glass.  We have done several of these types of doors and have a great gallery on our webpage to check out. This style of door is perfect for a contemporary home with its clean lines and contemporary color choices.

Cesar and Brad are some of our most experienced installers, they has been installing and servicing garage doors for almost a decade now. 

Both of these guys are factory trained and certified, and perform installation as well as service. Scott, well he have been installing doors forever and is always the anchor on our projects. Whenever we need some help he is there to take care of whatever we need!

Thanks a lot guys you did a great Job!

There's no place like home...

This week Scott & Kandee were off to Indiana for the International Garage Door Exposition 2011, Racing Forward. Its was a good opportunity for Scott & Kandee to get some R&R and visit some of their family and friends in Indiana. 

This year Racing Forward was filled with new products and opportunities to meet new and old friends. There were some great innovations from companies like Amarr, Liftmaster, & Janus that were really cool. We always love to find new ways to better serve our clients by providing cutting edge products and services!

At the show we were able to meet with some of our strategic partners including Amarr & Costco. It was great hear such positive plans from Costco for growth and exciting insight from Amarr! Kandee was so impressed with Costco's presentation I think she is ready to take off and start a career at Costco! = )

We were also happy to visit Liftmaster, Resource, and other manufacturers. All and all it was a great trip and we would like to thank the IDA and all the presenters for a job well done!

For more information about these exciting new garage door innovations check back with us for new post or visit our website at www.gdugaragedoors.com

What are the benefits of a steel door versus a wood door?

I wanted to cover this topic because I get the question quite often. I have the answer also posted in our FAQ on the site http://www.gdugaragedoors.com/#!__garage-doors/faq

Both wood and steel doors have advantages.  A solid wood door is 100% wood, through and through, and is preferred more for its natural look.  It is by far the heaviest, most secure and beautiful door you can purchase. From a high quality manufacturer, they will resist most major shifting and expanding, although they will require more maintenance.  

Typically these doors may be all cedar, redwood, or may have softwood frames with oak, mahogany, or other hardwood panels. They arrive unfinished and need to be primed and painted or stained on all six sides of the door upon installation.   We recommend a visual inspection of the paint or stain finish on wood doors one time per year to confirm if another finish application is necessary. 
 

Paint Grade Carriage House Door

Steel doors may require less maintenance than a wood door. Steel doors withstand the elements better, and, because most are made of hot-dipped, galvanized steel that is vinyl clad or given a baked-on polyester finish, they don't rust or require repainting as often as wood doors. Most warranties guarantee the door won't rust for as long as you own the house, but do not protect against fading. On the downside, steel does dent and can be difficult to repair.  

Amarr Classica

Annual cleaning of the exterior of the door with a common household detergent and warm water at least one time per year is recommended. These doors are a great addition to your home and are one of the most cost effective way to update your home. We have some great design galleries you can browse through by visiting our website at www.gdugaragedoors.com.  

I hope this helps answer some of those questions but if you have more feel free to email me at shawn@gdusandiego.com.

Best regards,

Shawn M. Black