Why Spring Is the Best Time to Buy a New Garage Door

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  Springtime is always a welcomed sight. With it brings warmer weather, longer days, and drier air. This is a great time to get some home maintenance done that was left to linger over the winter months. When the snow and ice begin to thaw, it may uncover some parts of your home that have rusted or fallen into disrepair while you were in hibernation mode.  Garage doors take quite a beating during the winter. As if their job wasn’t hard enough, the frigid temperatures put even more strain on your garage door springs and other garage door components. When the weather starts to warm up, it is the ideal time to get into your garage and inspect your garage door for any wear and tear.  If you noticed that your garage door is acting a little wonky and is having trouble going up and down, and is making a lot of noise, or simply not ascending all of the way, there could be something seriously wrong. Don’t wait until your garage door breaks altogether. It is better to get ahead of the problem before it worsens. Aside from repairs, if your garage door is on the older side, it may need to be replaced for a new garage door. And you’re in luck. Springtime is the ideal time of year to go shopping for a new garage door.  Why Spring Is the Best Time to Buy a New Garage Door? When springtime arrives, our internal clocks readjust and people typically get more motivated to clean out closets, fix their cars, wash out the gutters, and yes, inspect their garage doors. Some minor garage door malfunctions can be remedied on your own, but for larger problems, you may want to consider replacing your garage door. If that is the case, you’ll be happy to know that there are several benefits to inspecting your existing garage door or installing a new garage door in the spring.  Winter Wear & Tear – Garage door springs, in particular, take quite a beating in colder temperatures. They get rigid and even brittle, and can then expand when the weather warms up to create even more issues for your garage door. The trouble with garage door springs is that they aren’t really a DIY project. If you try to replace your garage door springs on your own, you could wind up doing more harm than good. Spring is a great time to contact a professional garage door technician to conduct a thorough garage door tune-up and look into your torsion spring counterbalance. They will be able to assess whether your garage door needs to be replaced, or if a simple garage door tune-up is sufficient to get yours through the next winter.  The Weather Is Just Right – It goes without saying that any home maintenance project is made more difficult in extreme weather. Frigid temperatures make emergency garage door service a nightmare, while the sweltering heat of the summer makes garage door maintenance even more of a challenge. Spring is the best weather for home maintenance projects, plain and simple.  Security & Safety – Make security a top priority going into the summer months. As stated before, garage doors take a beating during the winter which can compromise its functionality. If a garage door has fallen into disrepair it is more susceptible to being pried open when you are not at home. Installing a garage door that has updated locks, sensors, and MyQ enabled smart home accessories can make your home a safer place. A damaged garage door is much easier for a criminal to force open. Installing an entirely new garage door with updated safety components can reinforce your garage and make it an impenetrable location in your home.  Get a Great Deal! – To jumpstart their springtime business, most garage door companies push specials and promotions ahead of summer. You’ll be more likely to get a great deal on a new garage door, a garage door tune-up, or garage door repair services in the springtime. When you add to that tax return season, it is easy to see why homeowners and businesses alike favor springtime to tend to household maintenance projects.   Call The Professionals at Precision Garage Door Las Vegas Precision Garage Door Las Vegas is taking steps to follow CDC guidelines to the exact letter in regards to COVID-19. We are enacting added safety precautions to ensure our customers and their home environments are left undisturbed. This includes outfitting our garage door technicians in safety masks, gloves, and sterilization products. If you need garage door replacement or installation, you can rest easy knowing that Precision Door Las Vegas can get the job done efficiently, professionally, and safely.  For assistance fixing or installing new garage door safety sensors or if you’re looking to replace your old garage door opener, contact us directly at 702.637.2700. Our garage door installation experts can answer your questions or schedule a free virtual estimate.  

Enhance Resale Value with a Finished Garage & New Garage Door

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With a few tweaks, your garage could be an essential part of your home. By enhancing the garage walls, the flooring, and the door, you could greatly improve your house’s resale value. A finished garage can incorporate a number of features, from an updated garage door to improved walls, flooring, lighting, security, efficiency, and storage. There is much to do to make your garage more usable. When thinking about the value of your home, it’s easy to forget the garage. However, garages can greatly increase the resale value of your home when they’re well maintained. The modernization hacks we’ll discuss here can not only make your garage vehicle-friendly, but also a space that can be a fully functional extension of your home. What Is a “Finished Garage”? A garage is not just a place to store your car. In fact, it may be the first part of your home a potential buyer sees. And although a new paint job can boost curb appeal and catch the eye, it does not fully define a finished garage. Turning your garage into a fully workable space can provide convenience for you and increase property value, as it can be used in any way the occupant wants. A finished garage has solid walls and can become a fully functional work area, office, shop, den, or playroom. Here are a few tips to help you create the perfect finished garage. Enhance the Walls If you want to transform your garage into a viable living space, one of the first steps is to cover up unappealing garage walls. Your garage may have exposed insulation or visible wood beams. Use a combination of insulation and drywall to create new walls. Then paint them a cheerful color, or cover them with wallpaper. Adding finished walls is a creative way to enhance any garage. Add Flooring Most garages have concrete flooring. Concrete is a sensible choice for people who store cars in their garage, but over time it cracks and fades. If you intend to store cars in the garage but would like to upgrade your flooring, consider using a specially designed coating to cover the concrete. These coatings instantly make concrete look more attractive, and they are long-lasting and durable. Adding an epoxy coating is an upgrade that will significantly extend the life of your concrete flooring. Epoxy coatings can handle lots of foot traffic; plus, they are water-resistant and easy to clean. There are numerous colors and textures to choose from to customize the look and mood of your garage. The coating will also give your floor an attractive sheen that is dust proof and requires only an occasional simple cleaning. But if you prefer an alternative to exposed concrete, you can install tiles, laminates, wood floors, or a carpet in your garage. Add Storage A cluttered garage doesn’t do anyone any good. Most people have too much stuff in their garage to even think of putting a car there. Historically, the purpose of a garage is to protect a vehicle, but you can maintain/restore this function and others by: Throwing out what you don’t need Getting rid of items that shouldn’t be there Sorting what you have Storage Solutions While these space-saving tips, and others, can work, there are numerous storage solutions to consider. The most advantageous ones include: Open Shelving: Often associated with modern kitchens, freestanding shelves make items easy to access and can be customized to your needs. Overhead Storage: Garages have plenty of ceiling space you can put to good use; purchase a storage solution or build your own to organize equipment, gear, or holiday decorations. Compact Storage: Install storage racks and hooks wherever there’s room for them, while pegboards have made a comeback, as they’re great for hanging tools and handheld equipment. These versatile and durable storage options can help boost the function and value of your garage. For a more in-depth look, visit our garage storage guide. Add a New Garage Door A high-quality garage door is a good idea for anyone who plans to use their garage for leisure purposes. They can add an extra layer of insulation, which will keep the garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. High-end steel garage doors are an excellent choice, as they can be built with several layers of insulation and are available in a variety of styles. Wood garage doors are another good choice for people looking to add value to their home. They have a distinctive aesthetic that adds character to any home. If you’re not sure which type of garage doors are right for your home, you can consult with a professional offering garage doors in Las Vegas to learn more about the available options. There’s a monetary benefit to installing a new garage door. Homeowners can get an estimated 83.7% return on investment (ROI) by replacing it, according to U.S. News and World Report in 2014. Remodeling’s 2019 Cost vs. Value Report noted that homeowners could see an ROI as much as 95.5%, a nearly full return on the installation cost when selling a home. Aside from the cost benefits, a new garage door: Bolsters Security and Safety New garage doors must comply with the most recent federal regulations. These set rules for everything from the design of automatic garage door openers to electronic sensors that detect objects in the way. If your garage door doesn’t have an auto-reverse feature, then it is not up to code and is a safety hazard. Newer models also have a closed-spring design that contributes to safety and that can be adjusted more easily. All you need are a drill or ratchet to turn a bolt without ever touching the spring. Allows You to Save Energy Any new homeowner can benefit from energy efficiency. After all, who wants to spend more on the bills after purchasing a home? New garage doors can be fitted with insulation to prevent heat from escaping your home and cooler air from leaking in.

Checking Your Garage Door Safety Sensors

Insulated Garage Door with photo eyes sensors

Safety sensors are an important feature of all residential automatic garage doors. In fact, federal law requires them on all garage door openers that are manufactured after 1993. For added safety, any automatic garage door opener that doesn’t have a safety reverse mechanism properly connected and installed in it won’t even travel in the down position.  This simple safety feature was designed to protect people from getting trapped or injured by closing garage doors. Garage door safety sensors work by automatically reversing the course of the garage door when it comes in contact with an object or person while it is descending.  The safety of your loved ones is important, which is why it’s crucial to make sure that your garage door safety sensors are working properly. If they aren’t, here are a few things that you can check for a possible quick fix to your problem. What to Do If Garage Door Safety Sensors Aren’t Working Before we dive into the ‘why’, let’s briefly review ‘how’ garage safety sensors operate. The main component of the safety sensor is called the photo eye reversal system, or safety eyes. These two lenses are affixed to the garage door tracks on opposite sides, just about six inches above the ground, and connect to the garage door opener’s motor.  The concept is simple. A tiny laser beam is constantly shooting between the two sensors. If anything breaks that beam, the garage door will reverse course and start to ascend until the obstruction is removed and the door is promoted to close again. But however intuitive and clever these sensors are, the photo-eye reversal sensors have been known to malfunction rather often. The good news is, most homeowners can resolve the issue on their own or with the help of a licensed garage door technician.  Federal law requires that the safety sensors on your garage door are working at all times, and for good reason. Garage doors can be dangerous not only to small animals but also to children. If your garage door safety sensors aren’t working properly, you may think that you need to start looking for a new garage door in Las Vegas. However, there could be a quick fix for your problem. Here are some steps you can take before replacing your garage door or calling a contractor to fix your safety sensors. How to Align Your Garage Door Safety Eyes Don’t be intimidated. Aligning your garage door safety eyes is easier than you may think. Follow these simple steps to see if this helps remedy your malfunctioning garage door. If your garage door starts to close and then retracts, you may have to realign the photo eyes. Before you go as far as removing the photo eye, try simply adjusting the photo eyes a tiny bit and see if the two sensors link up. If not, then you’ll have to go through this process.  Most safety eye sensors have a green light. Start by removing the receiving sensor. This is accomplished by taking off the wing nut.  Then point the sensor in the opposite direction of the sending sensor until the laser light goes completely off. After the light goes off, count to 10.  Now you can realign the sensors. Slowly and carefully point the sending sensor to the receiving sensor until the light comes back on. Replace the safety eye back in the bracket and refasten.  Look for Debris Obstructions are the most common reason that safety sensors get tripped and your garage door won’t close all of the way. Since the sensors require an unobstructed view to read each other, even the tiniest smudge can trigger them. Over time, the lenses can become cloudy, making it difficult for the sensors to read each other. Make sure the path is clear of any obstructions and double-check to see that both lenses are clean and don’t have any grime, oil, or debris on them. If there’s debris in the way of your garage door safety sensors, then they won’t work properly. Check the Wiring The wiring for most garage door sensors is exposed. While these wires don’t pose a threat to your safety, they can get knocked loose. If they aren’t connected, your sensors will be unable to function as intended. Reconnecting the wires is easy and typically requires only basic tools. If the whole wire is damaged, you may need to call a professional. Alternatively, if you’re feeling handy and want to test the sensor wires themselves, here is a DIY solution. Remove the sensors from the brackets again.   Remove the wires from the casing.  Strip the ends of the wiring from each of the two sensors and twist the like-colored wires together.  Take the two sensors over to the garage door opener motor.  Find and remove the wiring that is in the white and gray terminals on the back of the motor  Using the corresponding wiring, insert the white wiring into the white terminal and the stripped wire into the gray terminal.  Finally, direct the sensor eyes at each other. If both of the green lights turn on, then the wiring needs to be replaced. If the green lights don’t come on, you’ll need to replace the safety eye sensors. If all else fails, and your garage door sensors still don’t work, you may need to call a professional to check them. They are likely completely dead and need to be replaced. Remember that not having working garage door sensors is illegal, so it’s important to have them replaced as soon as possible. Call The Professionals at Precision Garage Door Las Vegas Precision Garage Door Las Vegas is taking steps to follow CDC guidelines to the exact letter in regards to COVID-19. We are enacting added safety precautions to ensure our customers and their home environments are left undisturbed. This includes outfitting our garage door technicians in safety masks, gloves, and sterilization products. If you need garage door replacement or installation, you can rest easy knowing that

Beat the Heat: 6 Garage Cooling Solutions

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  Few people bother to cool their garages. But on 100°F+ days in Las Vegas, the air temperature inside can get so hot the space is practically useless. West facing garages, darker garage door colors, and the heat from a vehicle can exacerbate the problem. But there are ways to beat the heat, especially if you use your garage as a workshop or other functional space. Why Do I Need to Cool My Garage? Your garage can be 10°F to 18°F warmer than it is outside. In the summer, this can make it hard to work on a vehicle or exercise, and limits the amount of comfortable workspace in your home. When you park your car, heat radiating from it can add several more degrees to the temperature inside your garage. Your garage may be usable only during certain times of the day, like the early morning. How to Beat the Heat 1. Ventilation Fans If you just want something basic that will keep air moving, a ventilation fan in your garage may be sufficient. Moving air around can help reduce the temperature in your garage, and if you use chemicals, it can be a good idea to keep air circulating. Most of the time, however, fans will generate airflow to make it more comfortable rather than lower actual air temperature. A simple oscillating fan is suited for small rooms, while high-power shop fans may be needed for larger garages. If your garage has no windows, a ceiling fan can provide relief from the heat. You can also use more than one fan. Aiming one at a window or open garage door can blow hot air outside. Direct a second fan toward your work area for a refreshing breeze. 2. Add a Ventilation System Passive ventilation dissipates heat from your garage through the roof, via a type of spinning turbine. An active ventilation system removes hot air mechanically. It is more complex, and therefore pricier, but can be installed on the roof or within your garage’s walls. Active systems also use a lot of electricity so consider utility costs and the capacity of your electrical circuits. 3. Portable AC Units There are ductless air conditioning systems that can be installed in your garage and keep it just as cool as the inside of your home. The great thing about ductless units is that they’re standalone air conditioning systems. Despite being more costly than fans, these systems are more effective at lowering indoor temperatures. You don’t have to run air ducts to your garage, and the lines for coolant and power can easily be run with a minimum of installation work. Portable ACs are very energy efficient, and if you’re cooling your garage, it can cut down on the heat that seeps into your home from your there. Even a window-mounted air conditioner can be very effective. 4. Insulated Garage Doors If you use your garage as a workshop and you’re using a portable air conditioning system, you may want to consider insulated garage doors in Las Vegas. So long as you’re not working with chemicals or something that creates dangerous fumes, you may want to keep the cool air inside by shutting your garage door while you work. If you don’t have an insulated garage door, the cool air may escape easily while the heat goes through your garage door. That can drive up the cost of cooling your garage. With an insulated door, you can ensure heat from outside doesn’t increase the temperature in your garage. When selecting a garage door, consider the material. Wood provides more insulation but even steel or aluminum doors can be layered with core insulating materials. Installing insulation on the inside of metal garage doors and to the walls and ceiling is beneficial. You can also add weatherstripping and silicone caulk to the frames of windows and doors. 5. Add Some Shade A rollaway awning on the side of your garage facing the sun provides cooling shade. In the winter, it can allow more sunlight to warm things up. Also, pick a location to plant a tree, ideally between the garage and where the sun is during the mid- to late-afternoon. Leafy hardwood trees like Oak, Ash, and Walnut are well-suited for this purpose. 6. Clean Up the Clutter Throwing away unnecessary items and organizing your garage can improve airflow and air quality. If air can flow more freely, the temperature may feel cooler and your cooling systems will be more effective. A cabinet or overhead storage system can help with organization, which lets you get more use out of your garage. Call Precision Door Service of Las Vegas Our knowledgeable technicians can help determine how to cool down your garage, especially when it comes to efficient, insulated garage doors and materials. Serving Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, and other Nevada cities, we provide all types of garage door and garage door opener service. Our live operators are standing by 24/7. Call 702-637-2700 for information or to schedule a visit.