Everyone who owns a house with a garage knows how frequently you need to use it. Your garage door proves to be extremely useful when it comes to securing your garage, but it also secures your home too. 

Many times, we use it as our front door rather than the actual front door. When we use something regularly, it naturally starts to face some decay. The open/shut mechanisms can easily get damaged with extended use or by an impact. Of course, you also have the chance to repair or replace your garage door when necessary. 

The tricky part here is to know is “when” to do repairs or buy a new one, and this is where we come in. We’ll help you see the difference between repairing and replacing and why it matters. 

As you make your decision between repairing or replacing, here are a few things you should consider - let’s get to it:

Wear and tear: Your garage door has the power to transform the exterior of your home, enhance its curb appeal, and complement the rest of your home’s architecture. When wear and tear start to show up on your garage door, it will take away from the beauty of your home. If you need a single replacement panel, it’s an example of when you should choose home garage door repair over full replacement. But if multiple panels begin to rust or fade, or if numerous panels need replacing, that might be a good sign you should consider replacing your garage door completely.

Look for warping and cracking if you have a wood model. These are tell-tale signs that may make you consider a garage door replacement. The age of your garage door should also play a role in your decision to replace it. If it’s only 5-6 years old, you can go with a residential garage door repair by calling us at Door Doctor. And if your garage door is about 15-16 years old, it’s time to shop for a replacement.

Damage: Damage differs a lot from wear and tear as it occurs due to specific incidents, such as a collision with a vehicle or high winds. Garage doors include many other parts that allow them to operate seamlessly. Keep in mind that significant damage to these parts can make your door unsafe — with the cost to repair exceeds the cost to replace.

Operation:  There can be several issues behind your garage door that have stopped working altogether. If it worked fine yesterday but has stopped operating today, it can be easily fixed. However, if you have seen your garage door struggling for some time and its non-operation feels like a culmination of some long-term problems, the issues may be more significant and perhaps necessitate a full replacement.

If you think you’re in dire need of Repairing or replacing your Garage Door, Contact Door Doctor Now!

At Door Doctor, residential garage door repair is only a phone call away. We at Door Doctor offer a range of overhead door services along with a team of experienced technicians who can make recommendations on home garage door repair or replacement. We pride ourselves on being open, honest, and realistic when making recommendations about what’s best for your home. When you need a residential garage door repair or replacement in the Kingston, Montreal, Ottawa, or Toronto area, get in touch with the team at Door Doctor now.

Many times your garage door is the first thing people notice when they pull up to your house. Getting a new garage door will elevate the look of your home, as well as boost your home’s value. Here, we have outlined 5 of our top FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about new garage doors to simplify your selection process. If your question didn’t make our list, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Door Doctor.

• Which is Better - One Double Door or Two Single Doors?

For practical reasons, two single garage doors are perhaps the better option, simply because, let’s say, if one opener malfunctions, you’ll still have no problem in entering and exiting the garage. When it comes to aesthetics, the choice is entirely up to you. You have to decide if your home features a particular architectural style that’s better suited to a double door, or can two single doors offer a more balanced aesthetic?

If you can’t decide, don’t hesitate to consult our technicians at Door Doctor. Our experienced door specialists offer design tips along with an outside opinion, which can quickly help steer you in the right direction for your needs.

• Do I Need Windows in My Garage Door?

The decision to include windows in your garage door will ultimately be up to your aesthetic preferences. That said, they do offer some added benefits, such as security and additional natural light. If your garage doesn’t feature any windows, including windows in the garage door will help bring some much-needed daylight into space. Also, some strategically placed windows can better identify visitors or passersby should you need to do so.

• Should I Choose an Insulated Garage Door?

Adding insulation to your garage door is a practical choice, but whether or not it’s necessary depends on how you use your garage and where it’s located. An insulated door is a smart choice if you have an attached garage. It’ll help maintain a consistent temperature within the space.

Insulation is also a great way to keep your energy costs manageable since the ambient temperature inside your garage can affect the temperature of any adjoining indoor space.

• What Type of Spring System Is Best?

As far as garage door hardware installation is concerned, you have two spring options - torsion and extension. If your garage has at least 12 inches of headroom, a torsion spring is usually the better option. And since the torsion springs always put the weight of the door in the center of the frame, they usually tend to deliver smoother operation. You’ll have to opt for extension springs if you don’t have enough space above the door for torsion hardware.

• What is the Typical Life Expectancy of a Garage Door?

On average, your garage door can last approximately 20 years, though it depends heavily on the parts’ quality and ongoing maintenance. If you indulge in routine cleaning, lubrication, and component replacement, your garage door will last as long as possible. As for the garage door springs, generally, the torsion springs are rated for about 20,000 cycles, while extension springs are rated for half that amount. Depending on how often you plan on using your garage door, you should replace the springs before the door.

Door Doctor: Your Source for Comprehensive Garage Door Service & Sales

After asking the above questions, you are now armed with enough information to choose a new garage door for your home. For you, selecting the right one will be a straightforward decision now. So, don’t forget to ask these before buying a new one and increase the home’s appearance, value, and safety.

At Door Doctor, we’ve been providing garage door repair, sales, and service for many years. Whether you’re looking for garage door installation or garage door repair, feel free to connect with us anytime you want.

Is your garage door opener no longer working properly? If you’re unsure about what might be causing the problem, fortunately, our team at Door Doctor is here with some answers. We know how irritating a non-functional garage door is, especially when your car is still parked inside. Below, we have explained some common culprits behind garage door opener failure and what you can do about them. As always, if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!

Garage Door Reverses Before Closing Fully

If your garage door is automatically reversing before touching the floor, here’s what might be going on:

Improper close-force setting - The close-force setting determined how much pressure is needed to close the door completely. Like when the roller gets damaged, a highly sensitive close-force setting can also fool the door into reversing prematurely.

Faulty Rollers - If a residential garage door’s rollers are damaged, rusted, or compromised in some other way, they can create excess friction within the door track. If too much friction is generated, the opener “thinks” that it should stop the door prematurely because friction means the door has reached its usual stopping point. Try examining the rollers for signs of wear and tear, and while you’re at it, remember to clean the interior of the garage door tracks, too.

Remote Control Or Keypad Isn’t Working

When your wireless remote control or wall-mounted keypad doesn’t activate your garage door opener, there are several possible causes. Here are some of the most-common ones:

• Antenna placement or damage - The garage opener’s antenna should be fully intact and point downward. Adjust the antenna to its appropriate position and inspect the component for signs of wear and tear.

• Dead battery - If the wall-mounted keypad is still functioning, but the wireless remote isn’t, you’ve probably got a dead battery on your hands. Test the remote opener again after replacing the battery.

• Improper programming - Both your remote control and wall-mounted keypad require specific programming to function properly. But sometimes, that programming simply fails. If you’ve tried everything else and your opener still isn’t working, contact our professionals to reprogram the system.

• You are out of range - When using a wireless remote control, try moving closer to the garage door and depress the switch again. If there are a few extra feet between you and the opener antenna, it will interrupt the radio signal that activates the opener.

Garage Door Will Not Open Completely

If your garage door rises as it should but won’t open all the way, you’re likely dealing with one of the following issues:

• Damaged rollers - If your garage door’s rollers are damaged, rusted, or slow-moving, they might stick, which may prevent the door from opening fully. Inspect the rollers for signs of damage or wear and call us to replace them, if necessary.

• Up-limit switch placement - If the position of your opener’s up-limit switch is too far away from the motor unit, the door won’t open all the way. Usually, this issue presents itself immediately after garage door installation, so if your door is getting old, the switch probably isn’t the problem.

The Wall Switch Isn’t Activating The Garage Door Opener

If you have tried depressing the garage door opener’s wall switch, but nothing is happening, the problem always stems from a power source disruption. If you cannot locate a power disruption at your receptacles or breaker box, there’s a good chance the garage door opener motor recently burned out. Diagnosing a non-functional opener motor is a job best left to our professionals at Door Doctor, as is the garage door opener replacement you’ll inevitably require.

Need Garage Door Opener Repair? Contact Door Doctor Today

At Door Doctor, we’ve been serving homeowners throughout Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, and the surrounding areas for many years. When you entrust our team with your garage door repair or new installation, you are getting a team that genuinely values the investment you’ve made in your home.

All of our technicians are highly experienced in the field, so when we diagnose and repair your garage door, you can rest assured we’ll do the job right. To learn more about our services or to schedule your appointment, give our team a call or send us a message online, and we’ll be in touch!

If your garage door isn’t closing all the way, then it may be stuck. Common garage door issues like these can be inconvenient and frustrating. With Door Doctor’s help and guidance, you can identify the problems quickly and contact our professionals accordingly.

Further, to help you determine the best plan of action going forward, here are the five most-common garage door problems.

• Broken Garage Door Springs

Garage door springs are designed to lift the garage door, and if they are broken or damaged, the garage door may open halfway or not at all. Our professionals can diagnose the problem and determine if the springs need to be replaced. When considering replacing garage door springs, it is better to work with professionals, as adjusting springs on your garage door can be dangerous if performed without supervision.

• Garage Door Closes And Immediately Opens Again

This issue is probably due to the alignment of your garage door’s photo-eye, a safety sensor located on either side of the garage door. This photo-eye sends a beam to the opposite side of the door. If something obstructs the path of the beam, the garage door may retract.

These sensors are sensitive and can misalign easily. If you have issues with your garage door’s movement, it may mean a problem with the photo-eye. Generally, the photo-eye just needs to be adjusted and realigned, but you can still call our professionals if you’re unsure about anything.

• Garage Door Is Reversing Immediately After Touching The Floor

This problem is most commonly caused by broken or damaged springs. Often, the most budget-friendly option is to replace all the springs at the same time. Over time, garage door springs tend to wear, so replacing them at least every two to three years is ideal.

• Dead Garage Door Remote

If the garage door remote won’t open your garage door, try replacing the batteries. Garage door remotes do last a long time, but it’s necessary to replace the batteries every so often to avoid opening your garage door manually. It may be time to replace the remote if changing the batteries doesn’t enable garage door access.

• Loud Grinding Noises When Your Garage Door Moves

If loud grinding noises appear out of nowhere, it can be a cause for concern in many situations. However, grinding noises when your garage door moves may not be as serious as you think.

Loose or squeaky parts are some of the most common reasons you may hear grinding noises when your garage door opens or closes. Try to locate and lubricate the noise source. Also, determine if the parts need to be tightened, as this is often a quick and easy fix for any grinding or squeaking noises from your garage door. If the noise persists, get in touch with our professionals at Door Doctor.

If You Need Help For Your Garage Door Repair, Contact Door Doctor Now

Now that you know the five most-common garage door problems, you can make an informed decision about whether you need to contact a professional for garage door service.

If you are dealing with a garage door issue, or you require a top-quality second opinion, it is always a good idea to work with Door Doctor, a highly recommended garage door repair company. 

Let’s consider Remodeling Magazine’s National “Cost versus Value” rankings for 2020 for a second. As expected, garage door replacement ranks as one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) among remodeling projects for the fifth year in a row. In 2019, garage door replacement came in at 92% ROI.

So, if you plan on putting your home on the market or are looking to improve your curb appeal, upgrading the outside can go a long way toward adding value to your property. But here’s the catch: not every available upgrade will yield a considerable return, and if you choose the wrong improvements, you could stand to lose your hard-earned money.

Don’t fret; a new garage door installation offers the highest potential yield of all exterior home improvements. As a bonus, depending on the type of material you choose, purchasing a new garage door generally requires a small initial investment compared to many other exterior home improvement projects.

At Door Doctor, we’re committed to helping Montreal, Ottawa, and Kingston homeowners improve the overall look, performance, and value of their property. Below, we’re discussing how new garage door installation delivers one of the highest ROIs in the home improvement industry; read on to know more.

Why a Garage Door Replacement?

Garage door replacement is high in these rankings for two reasons. The first is curb appeal. Visibility is key for curb appeal. Your garage door is one of the most-visible parts of your home from the curb. It can make a massive difference in the home’s look if the garage door is replaced, especially if it is upgraded even a little.

The second is resale value. As a wise home seller, you’ll do well to repair the garage door. It will not only improve the curb appeal, but it’ll also increase the resale value of your home by an amount equal to the cost of the new garage door.

Choosing the Best Garage Door for Your Needs

If you’re planning to invest in a new garage door installation, how do you determine the type of door that best meets your needs? The first and perhaps the most important thing for you to consider is curb appeal. A new garage door is an excellent way to make a strong first impression, either for prospective buyers or just for passersby. To create a genuinely appealing exterior aesthetic, consider the following: 

Balance – Think about what type of architectural style your home possesses and your exterior colour scheme. Select a garage door that complements the overall design of your home and the colour palette of your siding, trim, soffit, and fascia.

Insulation – Determine whether your garage shares adjacent walls with any frequently used living areas. If so, opting for an insulated and energy-efficient garage door will help reduce your annual cooling and heating costs while limiting operation-related noise levels. Insulated garage doors usually command a higher ROI than their non-insulated counterparts. 

Contrast - If you want your garage door to make a statement, opt for a contrasting colour scheme that can make your new door stand out as one of the exterior design features of your home.

If you’re ready to experience the benefits of a new garage door installation, contact Door Doctor today

If you’re ready for a new residential garage door to add value to your home, our team at Door Doctor is ready to help you. For many years we’ve been on a mission to deliver the finest residential garage door selection, installation, and repair to Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, and the surrounding areas. We stand by our commitment to that goal every day. 

Our garage door specialists will install to ensure smooth operation, excellent appearance and a beautiful door. This garage door will boost the curb appeal of your home, offer the qualities you want, and stay within your budgetary limitations. To learn more about our garage door openers, other services, and product selection, give us a call. When you contact us, a member of our team will reach out to you promptly. 

Whether you realize it or not, chances are your garage door is likely one of the most neglected parts of your home and is in dire need of maintenance or repair. Think about it, when something goes wrong with your air conditioner, you call a professional. And when you need a new alarm system configured, again, you call someone to install it.

Your garage deserves the same kind of upkeep. For this reason, we recommend that you schedule regular garage door maintenance. That way, your garage door remains in top working condition, and it will keep out the elements, intruders, and other unwanted animals away from your vehicle and storage space.

Here, we’ve got 5 reasons why you should be maintaining your garage by checking it for issues regularly.

Safety

If your garage door is not operating correctly, it can be a hazard to you and your family. Each year, thousands of people get injured in garage door related incidents, but you can avoid many of these accidents if the appropriate preventative maintenance and repairs are carried out.

If your garage door starts malfunctioning, it can close on a person or your car, which is extremely dangerous and can cause damage & injuries. Your door is both heavy and powerful, and it can put you at great risk if it’s not operating effectively. If you begin to notice any issues, you should call us to have your garage door professionally inspected, maintained, or repaired as soon as possible.

Convenience

Perhaps your garage door is the most used entrance and exit to your home. But if it malfunctions or doesn’t work properly, it can cause you a lot of inconveniences. One fine day, you may even find yourself stuck on either side of the door. Moreover, if you lead a busy lifestyle, the last thing you need is a faulty garage door that keeps you waiting every time, especially if you use it a lot.

Avoid unexpected repairs

If your garage door suddenly breaks down, especially when you’re not expecting it, it can be costly to repair or replace. While general repairs are not particularly expensive, suddenly being hit with a faulty door can be costly.

Our experience tells us that many garage door replacements are a result of a lack of maintenance. Remember that many unexpected faults and repairs can be avoided by simply carrying out regular maintenance throughout the year. Neglecting your garage door can lead to a heck of a lot of issues that can quickly burn a hole in your pocket. Keep in mind that the worse your garage door problems get, the more expensive they’ll be to repair.

Increase lifespan

Considering that your garage door is an investment, therefore you must look after it properly. Neglecting proper maintenance can shorten the lifespan of your garage door. For instance, unaligned tracks, faulty safety sensors, loose volts, and lack of lubrication, can prevent your door from working correctly and damage it in the long run. It’ll shorten its lifespan and will need replacement sooner than a door that is correctly maintained.

As we mentioned previously, replacing your garage door can sometimes be expensive. Therefore you must call us to carry out the correct maintenance and to make sure that you don’t end up spending unnecessary money on issues that could have been avoided easily.

Increase the value of your property

A brand new garage door has the potential to increase the value of your property. Potential homebuyers will always favour properties that require little work and maintenance. If your residential garage door is not working properly or requires repairs, this could put homebuyers off your property.

By taking the time to maintain your garage door properly, you ensure that it operates smoothly and efficiently and is more appealing to potential buyers. An efficient door is also convenient and can save you time when it comes to entering and exiting your home or office - something that’ll appeal to buyers.

Need some maintenance or repair done on your garage door? Our team of experts at Door Doctor will come to you to take care of it in a flash. Book a garage door repair anytime for skilled technicians that can come to you in no time.