How to Lubricate Your Garage Door
With the right care, your garage door is much more likely to stand the test of time. A well-lubricated door opens and closes smoothly and has a longer life span. To keep your garage door at its best and limit the noises it makes during operation, you’ll want to lubricate it about every six months.
What Is the Best Lubricant for Garage Doors?
The best lubricant for garage doors is a specially formulated spray containing silicone or white lithium grease. These sprays typically come with a long straw attachment that makes them easy to apply in tight spaces. You can also wipe white lithium grease onto metallic surfaces by hand. Avoid using substances like WD-40, engine oil or mechanic’s grease, as they tend to attract dirt and dust buildup.
How to Use Garage Door Lubricants
Lubricating your garage door is a relatively quick process. Follow these six simple steps:
- Shut your garage door and power off the opener.
- Clean the inside and outside of the tracks with a damp cloth. If you find excess grime that won’t come off easily, try automotive brake cleaner to break it down for removal. Avoid using lubrication on the tracks, as it will impede the function of the rollers.
- Open the door and spray or wipe the hinges with grease. You can then move on and lubricate the rollers — be sure to grease the small ball bearing inside each roller. Remember to remove any extra lubricant to ensure your door stays balanced.
- Using a step ladder, lubricate the bearings and springs. The bearings are located along the top of a garage door, and the bearing plates are on each side of the springs. After thoroughly lubricating these parts, open and close the door to ensure the grease gets evenly distributed.
- Spray grease on the top rail and arm bar. Distribute the lubricant evenly along the top rail with a cloth. You do not need to grease the chain, as it has its own lubricant.
- Lastly, apply lubricant to the lock on the garage door to safeguard it against rust, then open and close your door to confirm that it is working smoothly.
Trust the Pros to Service Your Garage Doors
Preventive maintenance is key to keeping your garage door at its best. If you’d rather leave this task to the professionals, the team at Oregon City Garage Door is here for you. We’ve been installing and servicing garage doors since 1992, so we know the best lubricants and the right techniques to keep your installation at its best.
Along with maintenance and repair services, we offer emergency appointments to address garage door problems quickly. Contact us for more information or use our booking tool to schedule a service online at your convenience.
Overhead vs. Wall Mounted Garage Door Openers
A garage door opener is a convenient device that opens and closes your garage door with the push of a button. This motorized feature comes in two main types — overhead garage door openers and wall mounted styles. If you’re looking to replace your opener, it’s important to understand the features, requirements and benefits of these two choices.
What Is a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener?
Also called a side mount, a wall mount garage door opener features a mechanism installed on the wall beside your garage door. This sleek and quiet space-saving solution does not require overhead space, making it a great option for garages with low ceilings, limited headroom or irregularly shaped ceilings.
What Is an Overhead Garage Door Opener?
Overhead or ceiling mount garage door openers are mounted on your garage’s ceiling. This more traditional system features a motor and track that lifts and lowers the garage door. Overhead openers are known for their durability and heavy-lifting capabilities, making them excellent for oversized or heavier doors.
Differences Between Wall Mount and Overhead Garage Door Openers
Each opener type has its advantages and disadvantages. Your final decision will likely depend on various factors, including your garage’s size and shape, your preferred features and your budget.
Wall Mount and Overhead Garage Door Opener Pros and Cons
Let’s examine some of the pros and cons of each garage door opener design. Below, learn about the side mount opener.
- Wall mount pros: This style is great for low or irregularly shaped ceilings and allows you to maintain your ceiling space for storage. Side mount models are easier to access if repairs or maintenance is needed.
- Wall mount cons: These models move the door from a lower point and often cannot lift heavier garage doors. They also require an electrical outlet next to the door.
Now, explore the benefits and drawbacks of ceiling mount garage door openers.
- Overhead pros: This time-tested design is reliable. It efficiently lifts heavier doors and allows homeowners to choose from a wider array of door styles and advanced features.
- Overhead cons: Ceiling mounted openers take up ceiling space, potentially denying overhead storage. Overhead mechanisms can also be louder.
Overhead vs. Wall Mounted Garage Door Opener Prices
Wall mounted openers are generally a more affordable option, great for homeowners on a tighter budget. However, durable overhead garage door openers are more powerful and often come with additional features, making them a premium choice for those willing to invest.
Get Expert Guidance From Oregon City Garage Door
If you need help choosing the right opener, turn to the team at Oregon City Garage Door. We provide expert installation of garage doors and openers so that you get years of smooth operations from your investment.
With competitive pricing, quick turnaround times and free estimates, we’d love to discuss your garage door needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
How Garage Doors Operate
Your garage door relies on regular maintenance to keep it operating smoothly and conveniently. Before scheduling service for your garage door system, you may want to know the different parts of a garage door and their functions.
What Are the Parts of a Garage Door?
No matter how intricate, each garage door component plays a role in opening and shutting your door. If you’ve ever wondered how these systems work, here are all the important parts of a garage door explained.
Panels
Manufacturers typically make panels from wood, steel or aluminum. Panels are parts of the garage door’s exterior, and you can usually modify them to enhance your house’s appearance and boost its curb appeal.
Door Opener
The parts of a garage door opener include the operator, drive mechanism, emergency release rope and sensors. The sensors and motors allow automatic garage doors to move without manual effort, so using the garage door opener control directs the sensors and motors to open or close the door. A garage door’s sensors have a limited range, so you can only open the door while close by — unless you invest in smart technology that lets you operate it remotely.
Springs
Garage doors only partially rely on a door opener to do the heavy lifting. The motor controls the movement’s direction, while torsion springs placed above the door facilitate the opening and closing. With the help of springs, you can save energy while smoothly opening your doors.
Tracks
Garage door tracks sit on the vertical sides of your door and curve upward toward your ceiling. These tracks guide your door’s movement while also working with the garage door springs to prevent the door from falling back down once opened.
Rollers
Inside the tracks, you’ll find rollers that move along the tracks as the door opens and closes. These rollers consist of a metal rod and a wheel made from either nylon, steel or plastic. Your technician will replace your rollers periodically to ensure your door opens and shuts smoothly.
Keep Your Doors Rolling
A garage door system’s complexity — and the extreme stress put on components from a door’s weight — make repairs dangerous to attempt on your own. You need a trusted professional to perform these services safely.
Oregon City Garage Door has been rolling up garage doors since 1992. As a veteran company, we offer our clients outstanding repair and maintenance services in Oregon. If you’re in the market for a new garage door, take a look at our impressive collection of residential and commercial garage doors and contact us online.
Decorating Your Garage for the Holidays
Oregon City Garage Door sells stunning garage doors, but you can still add some extra sparkle to your doors for Christmas. Garage doors are large fixtures, and decorating them can boost your property’s festive cheer. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to decorate garage doors for the holidays, we have some ideas.
How to Decorate Your Garage Door for Christmas
Here are five of our favorite ways to get your garage ready for the holidays.
1. Make a Garage Door Gift
You can make your garage door resemble a wrapped gift by adorning it with colorful ribbons. Attach them with nails, staples or hooks. We recommend looking for ribbons made from outdoor-friendly fabrics that can withstand harsh weather conditions to ensure your festive cheer and ribbons won’t fade. You can also add a beautiful bow. Make sure any decorations are fairly thin to prevent the material from causing garage door problems when you roll the door up.
2. Add Metal Magnets
If you have a metal garage door, you can beautify its surface with festive magnets. These whimsical decorations require minimal effort and won’t interfere with your garage door’s operating system.
3. Make a Snowman
Build a snowman on your white garage door. Use black and orange vinyl to cut out six black circles for the eyes and smile and an orange triangle for the nose. Stick the shapes on your door, and soon, your friendly snowman will greet passersby with a warm smile.
4. Grace Your Overhead Door with a Wreath
Wreaths are more than front door decorations — you can also hang an elegant evergreen wreath above your garage door or directly on the door itself, depending on the door type. If your door does not roll up, you can add a wreath without hindering the door’s functionality. Look for decorations made of durable materials that can endure moisture, cold weather and exposure to sunlight.
5. Stick Vinyl Decals or Clings
For low-maintenance decor, opt for vinyl clings that are easy to stick on your door. Effortlessly create a festive message with alphabet decals or bring a winter wonderland scene to life. These decals are studier than typical window stickers, and you can remove them easily.
Merry Christmas From Oregon City Garage Door
From our garage to yours, we wish you a happy holiday and a hassle-free season! With products from industry leaders such as Northwest Door, Amarr and Clopay®, Oregon City Garage Door stocks durable overhead doors that’ll keep the heat in this winter. If you’re in the market for a new garage door, contact us online.
Guide to Insulated Garage Doors
When choosing a new garage door for your home, you want a high-quality, durable option that will protect your vehicles and stored belongings. However, you also want to consider insulation. A well-insulated garage prevents energy loss by regulating temperatures, helping you avoid wasting money on excess energy use — but that’s not the only advantage.
Does an insulated garage door make a difference? Learn all about insulated garage doors, how they work and their benefits here.
What Is an Insulated Garage Door?
An insulated garage door is reinforced with material that prevents outside air from entering your garage, and vice versa. These types of doors help ensure cold air stays outside in the winter, so your garage is warm, and hot air doesn’t enter in the summer, so your garage is cool. In comparison, standard garage doors without insulation may have sections that allow air to enter or escape.
Insulation and R-Value
The resistance value (R-value) of garage door insulation relates to the thickness of the insulation and its ability to combat heat flow. The R-value measures the heat conductivity of the insulated material.
Different materials have varying R-values ranging from low to high. The higher the R-value, the better the garage is protected from heat transference. The thickness of the R-value in inches determines how well it insulates. For example, polyurethane spray foam has an R-value of six per inch, an R-value of 12 per two inches, an R-value of 24 per four inches and an R-value of 44 per eight inches.
Garage doors for detached and attached garages have different R-value applications:
- Detached garages: Since they’re not part of the home, detached garages don’t need heavy insulation. Lower R-values like four and six should be sufficient.
- Attached garages: An R-value between 12 and 16 works well with attached garages, although higher values will provide even more protection against heat.
Consulting with a garage door professional can help you better understand R-values and how to choose the right one for your garage door.
Benefits of an Insulated Garage Door
When choosing a new garage door, you should almost always opt for an insulated garage door, especially if you have an attached garage. Why? Here are the main pros of insulated garage doors:
1. Energy-Saving Potential
Installing an insulated garage door helps control the temperature so surrounding rooms don’t experience hot and cold spots due to temperature fluctuations. With fair and even temperature distribution in the garage and adjoining rooms, there is a reduced need to use your heating and cooling system in those spaces. As a result, you can save on your energy bill.
2. Noise Reduction
Do you use your garage as a work area? Installing an insulated door can help create a quieter environment in rooms near your garage, as the insulation creates a sound barrier. This ability also means outdoor noise will be muffled. As a result, the noise of power tools and other equipment you might use in your garage won’t be as loud to others nearby.
3. Increased Durability
Garage doors are sturdier and more durable with added insulation. Depending on the type of insulation, it provides an extra layer of cushioning that supports the door against wind and other forces. You can rely on your insulated garage door to stand up against many kinds of weather and last for years to come, providing you with a great return on investment.
4. Improved Storage Space
Any valuables you’re storing in your garage are better protected when your garage door is insulated. It helps keep cold air out, which can damage fragile items, and helps limit humidity, which can cause certain materials to rust. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can continue storing your belongings without worrying about damage due to temperature fluctuations.
5. More Comfortable for Alternative Uses
If you’ve converted your garage into a hobby room, you’ll enjoy the benefits an insulated door offers. By ensuring your garage stays warm and cool according to the seasons, you’ll maintain a comfortable atmosphere for your work area all year. Those who work on art in this area can enjoy a regulated environment to store their pieces.
Types of Insulated Garage Door Materials
There are two main types of garage door insulation — polystyrene and polyurethane.
Polyurethane Insulation
This insulation material is foam-based and offers more protection and energy efficiency. The polyurethane foam is inserted between the garage door’s panels behind the door on the inside. The injected foam fills the surface, covering all cracks and openings.
Polyurethane insulation provides improved durability due to the foam’s consistency, as it expands and contracts to accommodate the door’s mobility. It also provides better protection against dents and impact. Most garage door manufacturers prefer using this foam for insulation because of its numerous benefits for residential and commercial properties.
Polystyrene Insulation
Polystyrene is less expensive but offers less protection than polyurethane insulation. A garage insulated with polystyrene consists of polystyrene sheets precut to fit into the garage door panels. This material is lightweight and easy to install, but the drawback is that it doesn’t cover tiny holes and gaps like polyurethane foam, so air can still pass through.
Polystyrene insulation’s advantages include being waterproof and preventing leaks during heavy rainfall. It also prevents mildew from forming. The sheets come in various R-value thicknesses, though they’re ideal for homeowners in warmer climates because they can’t keep cold air out as well as polyurethane insulation.
Call Oregon City Garage Door for an Insulated Garage Door Quote
Oregon City Garage Door has an extensive range of garage doors and services for every requirement. Whether you need your current door repaired or serviced, or you want to upgrade to a new insulated door, our professional, efficient and friendly technicians are ready to help.
We’ve served Portland and the surrounding areas since 1992 and have established ourselves as reputable, reliable and trustworthy in the field. Our loyal clients have supported us for years — we’re eager to welcome you to the family!
Let’s discuss your garage door needs. Call us at (503) 662-7665 or request an estimate through our contact form.