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Why call a professional for garage door repairs?

: 10 August 2020

If your garage door was recently installed, it should be problem-free for a long while. However, sometimes a faulty part may slip through, leading to unexpected damage to your garage door. Or maybe it’s been a long time, and a part of your garage door has passed its average lifespan. In either case, you need residential garage door repair.

If you have an automatic garage door, repairing it may seem even more urgent. You may be tempted to try these repairs yourself using DIY techniques, but you should never attempt to repair your garage door yourself for the following reasons:

Garage Doors

For Safety

A garage door is a heavy piece of equipment with many moving parts. Fooling around with it when you’re not a professional can be pretty dangerous. Sure, you can find some instructional DIY garage door repair videos on YouTube that may make it look easy.

But keep in mind that they’re not going to bring you to the hospital when the door falls on you and breaks your leg, or your hand gets mangled in a garage door mechanism. Letting our professionals handle your residential garage door repair for you means that you are safe and not at risk of being injured.

To Prevent Additional Damage

You might be pretty handy around the house. But when it comes to automatic garage door repairs, handy just doesn’t cut it. You probably don’t have the experience the professionals do. Professionals at Door Doctor are trained to avoid mistakes that could make the problem worse.

Plus, you’re a rare breed if you’ve never set about fixing something and accidentally created a problem that is worse. Mistakes happen, but if you make a mistake fixing your garage door on your own, it could be an extremely costly one.

You Might Miss an Opportunity

If your garage door has broken down, then replacing it would be a wise choice. A brand-new garage door will be even more attractive and functional than the one you already own.

That old garage door of yours will need to be replaced sooner rather than later. Moreover, if you go about fixing your old door, you may miss an opportunity to upgrade. Maybe this is the perfect chance to move on to a new one.

Don’t Worry—Door Doctor is Here for You

For these reasons and more, garage door repair service is better left to the experts and professionals such as Door Doctor. We have been replacing, installing, and repairing garage doors for many years.

Our highly experienced team knows what is required to do the job right, so we’ll have your garage door functioning properly again in no time. Our garage door technicians can also tell you when it’s time for a new garage door and which one would be a perfect fit for your home.

If you’ve got a commercial garage door that needs repairing or replacing, put away your toolbox and make a service call to schedule a repair, find out more about a new garage door installation, or get a free estimate. And if your garage door fails unexpectedly and needs to be fixed immediately, our emergency service is here for you.

Security Tips for Garage Doors

: 10 August 2020

We know that having a garage door is incredibly convenient. But do you know that your door can be a target for thieves if it’s not properly secured? The last thing a homeowner wants is a burglar using a garage door to gain access to their house.

It’s time for you to learn about the best garage door security measures if you don’t already. To help keep your home safe, here are some great tips for securing your garage.

Garage Doors

Inspect Your Door

Carefully inspect your garage door from time to time. Check if there are any cracked windows and gaps in the weather-stripping. Thieves and burglars generally target these small vulnerabilities to break into your house through the garage. Also, inspecting your garage door when the season changes is always a good idea.

You should especially check for vulnerabilities when the cold winter months turn into spring. You may find that ice and snow, along with the winter weather, have worn down weather-stripping or other parts of the door.

Hide Your Opener

You must keep your garage door opener out of sight as thieves often break into cars to get garage door remote controls. They can snag the remote control, and one look at the insurance slip sitting in the glove box will tell them exactly where you live. So, when you are parked at work, or anywhere else, always keep your garage door opener hidden to discourage thieves from targeting your vehicle.

Install a Side Lock

Think about installing a manual garage door side lock to use when you’re away from home for longer periods. These locks cannot be unlocked with a remote and require you to manually unlock, making this an inconvenient task if you are opening and closing the garage door daily.

Add Lighting

Have a motion-activated flood-light installed just above your garage door. If someone plans to gain access to your home through your garage, these motion-activated lights can help deter unwarranted entry.

Keep it Closed

This one is quite obvious—always keep your garage door closed. If your garage doors are left open, it makes it incredibly easy for anybody to steal your stuff or gain access to your home. Wi-Fi-enabled garage door openers are a good option; they allow you to check whether your door is open from anywhere in the world. Make good use of them to keep your home safe and secure.

Choose a New Code

Always keep your garage door codes safe and secure by changing them frequently. Add a reminder on your calendar to change them every six months (or on a schedule that meets your needs). You’ll significantly enhance the overall security of your garage door and your home if you do so.

Need Garage Door Repair or Installation? Contact Door Doctor Now!

We at Door Doctor understand that a high-quality garage door is a significant investment. And we’re here to help you care for your door throughout its lifespan. Our expert team has over 40 years of experience, and they are ready to put their skills to work to keep your residential garage door in perfect working condition.

And if you need products to help keep your garage and your home safe, Door Doctor provides a range of garage door products and services for home and business owners in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today and solve all your garage door installation and repair problems.

Safely Using Your Garage Doors

: 30 June 2020

Most families use their garage about 3–4 times a day. This means that they open their garage door by moving it up and down around 1,000 to 1,500 times throughout a year. Within these 1,000–1,500 times, there are a lot of possibilities for an accident to happen. Garage doors can quickly become a significant safety concern if you do not take care of them properly.

The NEISS (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System) reports that ERs (emergency rooms) treat over 15,000 people suffering from garage door injuries every year. Avoid becoming another statistic at all costs by using these proven garage door tips to keep your entire family safe.

Garage Door

Check the Safety Sensors

Checking safety sensors is very important. First, find the safety sensors. They will be about six inches off the ground attached to the rails where the garage door goes up and down. These sensors should be in optimum condition. Their primary job is to prevent the garage door from closing if it senses a person or animal walking underneath it.

You can test your garage door safety sensors by first pushing the button to close the garage door, and then placing an object in front of one of the sensors before the door closes. If your safety sensors are working correctly, they should stop immediately and reverse once the beam is blocked. If this does not happen, call Door Doctor’s professionals in Montreal or Toronto to schedule an appointment for any needed repairs.

Watch Your Fingers

NEISS further reports that over 7,500 injuries happen yearly, from fingers getting stuck between the panels of garage doors. While some newer garage doors come with “pinch protection” that dramatically reduces the risk of these injuries, it is still important to teach kids not to stick their hands between the panels of a garage door when closing.

Inspect Your Garage Door Monthly

Garage door springs should always be strong enough to lift the door and hold it up so that it does not fall. Look them over about once a month to make sure the springs are not rusted. If they look like they are in poor condition, call us for a garage door spring replacement.

Moreover, you should check how the pulley system is holding up at least once a month. This will help prevent your garage door spring from accidentally snapping and causing a severe injury. Remember that the main garage door springs are under a ton of tension, and should only be adjusted by a trained and licensed garage door repair technician.

Hire a Garage Door Repair Professional

Of course, you want your garage door to be safe and reliable. Here at Door Doctor, we want the same thing. Our crew consists of highly skilled professionals with all the latest garage door safety training and are licensed in garage door services. Plus, they are up to date with all the new products when it comes to garage door repairs.

If you are still concerned about the safety of your garage door, our technicians will be more than happy to perform an inspection and make any necessary repairs. All you have to do is call us; we’ll sort out all your garage door problems.

Your Guide to Garage Door Opener Horsepower

: 05 June 2020

A new garage door for your home improves both the value of your house and your everyday comfort and convenience. It’s also an excellent investment, so choosing quality components is important.

While it may seem tempting to upgrade to a garage door opener that’s cost-effective or simply has the latest technology and performance improvements, there are various factors to consider when purchasing a new garage door opener machine.

Most homeowners use their garage doors as the primary entrance to their homes every day. It means that your door may cycle at least 1,500 times every year—and the functionality, convenience, and reliability of your door largely depends on the garage door opener and its operating capacity. If you choose a garage door opener with the right horsepower, you can rest assured that you’ll have smooth, long-term operations and dependable performance from the door and its components.

Factors to Consider When Buying a New Garage Door Opener

The garage door opener motor is responsible for lowering and lifting the door when prompted, and there is a range of different electrical garage openers and opener horsepower options available. But how can you determine which opener model is appropriate for your garage door and household’s needs? When exploring your garage door opener options, it’s important to consider:

Garage door size and weight: Before deciding which opener model to purchase, determine whether your door is covering a single or double opening, and evaluate the door’s construction material. These factors are crucial in establishing a garage door opener’s recommended horsepower.

Opener machine lifespan: While it’s tempting to install a less expensive opener machine, it’s important to remember that openers with limited operating horsepower will need to be replaced much earlier than a machine with the appropriate horsepower. Also, you can’t go wrong with a garage door opener with battery backup.
Additional garage door components: If your garage door opener’s horsepower does not match the size and weight of the door, it can place extra strain on other moving and lifting components of your garage door system like the cables, springs, and tracks. This stress eventually leads to excess wear and tear and requires repair or replacement of the door’s parts.

Your Guide to Garage Door Opener Horsepower

Various Garage Door Opener Capacities

There are many different motor sizes to provide the horsepower required by garage door openers. The most popular horsepower capacities for residential garage door systems are:

1/3 HP: This horsepower option is best suited for a single car garage and lightweight steel garage doors. While it can lift any type of door with evenly distributed weight, it may require regular and frequent replacement.
1/2 HP: A 1/2 horsepower garage door opener is the most popular capacity for single and double garage doors between 8 and 12 feet wide. The horsepower of this opener can handle many types of door materials, including composites, steel, and aluminum.
3/4 HP: For larger and heavier doors like those crafted from wood, a 3/4 HP opener is the best option for maintaining the long-term functionality of your garage door.

Enhance Your Garage Door’s Performance with a New Opener from Door Doctor

For help selecting and installing a new garage door opener for your home, reach out to the highly experienced and helpful garage door experts at Door Doctor. We proudly install electric garage door openers in a variety of horsepower options and types with the latest improvements for better convenience and long-term performance. Call us today to request our services—we happily provide recommendations for garage door opener horsepower throughout Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, and beyond.

The Return on Investment (ROI) on Your Garage Door

: 29 May 2020

Personalizing your home is a choice, but maintaining it is essential. Whether your home is ancestral, historical or newly built, you’ll probably have to do repairs and other fixes at some point.

Keeping your home in good condition makes it more pleasant to live in, which is better for the long run. At some point, for example, you may wish to sell your home. The upgrades and maintenance you do now will increase its worth, and you may end up selling it for significantly more than you paid for it.

How Do Upgrades and Maintenance Improve ROI?

ROI, or return on investment, refers to a ratio between net profit and the cost of investment. For instance, house flippers rely on ROI to make a profit. They buy inexpensive homes, invest money to fix them up, and then resell them quickly. Their gain would be the ROI because it reflects how much more the home was worth after they renovated it.

When you put money into your home, you’ll get even more money out when you sell it.

For homeowners who are ready to sell, renovations are an essential consideration. Some homes have features that may seem outdated to current homebuyers. Repairs are often key to making homes competitive for sale. If you have the means to repair or renovate, these projects almost always end up paying off.

Door 4

Your ROI from Installing a New Garage Door

Installing a new garage door is a relatively smooth and inexpensive way to upgrade your home. Installing an upscale garage door is the ultimate remodeling project for improving the return on investment of your home. This project has a better ROI than adding a stone veneer or deck to the home or remodeling the kitchen. What’s more, these other projects are much more expensive to complete.

This statistic shows just how important curb appeal is to homebuyers. When homebuyers pull up to your house, the first thing they see is the exterior. They’ll look at the design of the home, along with the landscaping, and form an initial impression. If that impression is negative, the inside would have to be world-class to wow homebuyers and alter their opinion.

Replacing your garage door can help you create the very best first impression. When prospective homebuyers visit your home, they will see a beautiful door that blends flawlessly with the rest of the house and is a unique and attractive feature.

Contact us to learn more about installing a new garage door. If you already have an idea in mind, you can request an estimate directly. Or if you’d just like to envision how a specific door would look on your home, Door Doctor carries a variety of residential garage doors perfect for any home. Our highly experienced and knowledgeable team will help you find the right one.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about purchasing a new garage door.

4 SIGNS THAT IT’S TIME FOR A NEW GARAGE DOOR

: 23 May 2020

Most of us start thinking about our garage doors only after something goes awry—but that’s a dangerous mistake to make. At Door Doctor, we know that every garage door has a finite life. With routine maintenance and repairs, you can keep the door safe and functional, but you can’t put off new garage door installation forever. If you think your garage door might be approaching the end of its operational life, keep an eye out for the following signs:

Deteriorating Appearance

While it’s always nice to have a visually appealing garage door, there’s more to your door’s appearance than meets the eye. Minor dents usually won’t compromise the door’s performance, but significant damage certainly will.

To maintain your curb appeal and to keep your vehicle protected from outside elements, replace your garage door as soon as you notice damage to it.

Unusually Noisy Operation

Every garage door makes some noise during operation, that’s normal. But when the noise level starts to climb a few decibels, it’s time for an inspection. Unusually loud operation is a clear sign of deterioration, and in some cases, a simple component replacement might solve the problem.

However, if you hear any excessive creaking, cracking, shaking, squealing, or grinding during operation, don’t ignore this issue! Contact us for your garage door inspection as soon as you notice strange noises. We at Door Doctor can advise you on the best course of action.

Missing Safety Features

Modern garage doors come equipped with a multitude of valuable safety features that keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way. But if you own an older garage door, it probably doesn’t have the safety mechanisms that you and your family desperately need. Here are the safety components every garage door should have:

Auto-reverse functionality
Motion detection
Manual override controls
Photo-eye sensors

Having remote access along with a security keypad is also desirable, and paramount for safety. If your garage door lacks any of these features, it’s time to start shopping for a replacement. You can also call our garage door repair technicians to retrofit your door with the appropriate features.

4 SIGNS THAT IT’S TIME FOR A NEW GARAGE DOOR

Irreparable Damage

Damaged garage doors are always dangerous, so if you’re dealing with more than one broken component, that’s a sure sign that your door is past the point of repair. With regular daily use, the average garage door has a lifespan of around 15–30 years. As it approaches the end of its life, you will likely notice signs of damage and deterioration, so keep an eye out for:

Broken springs
Damaged or rusting hinges
Damaged or dented garage door tracks
Deteriorating cables or wires
Damaged or broken door handles
Rusty screws and other hardware

Something as harmless as rust can cause your garage door to malfunction. And when you’re dealing with an extremely heavy door that can injure you in the event of a fault, don’t ever allow deterioration to persist unchecked. Instead of replacing all the aging components on an old garage door, it’s best to opt for a new one, as your safety is at stake.

LOOKING FOR RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION? CONTACT DOOR DOCTOR TODAY

When you need a new garage door and an installation team you can trust, Door Doctor is the place to call. For over 35 years, we’ve been serving residents throughout Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, and the surrounding areas with high-quality garage installation and repair, and we’re ready to help you, too. To learn more about your new garage door options and our installation services, give our team a call or reach out to us on our contact page. If you are trying to price out your options, go ahead and request a free residential or commercial estimate now!