Is My Garage Door HOA Compliant?

Is My Garage Door HOA Compliant?

A homeowners association (HOA) is an organization that oversees a community of houses, high-rises, condos or townhouses. Members pay membership fees for the upkeep of the community and follow HOA guidelines.

The homeowners association typically consists of elected resident volunteers who enforce HOA rules and regulations. These regulations cover the use and maintenance of your home and common areas, which can include your garage door.

HOA Garage Door Rules

Your HOA can have regulations about the style, functionality and maintenance of your garage door. If you fail to comply with these rules, you might be subject to fines or a lien. You should consult your HOA about their specific guidelines, but here are some of the standard HOA regulations for overhead doors.

Style

One of the main functions of an HOA is to maintain the community’s appearance. With that in mind, it makes sense for an HOA to have style guidelines for your garage door. Most HOAs want residents to keep their overhead doors clean, well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing. They would not allow cosmetic damages such as: 

• Dents
• Scratches
• Paint chips
• Fading paint
• Cracked windows
• Peeling paint
• Damaged panels
• Broken windows
• Rotten panels
• Rust

Additionally, if you need to replace your garage door, you probably have to choose a similar style and design. If the style is no longer available, your HOA can approve a new door. In general, you should obtain your HOA’s approval before replacing your door so you don’t choose one against regulations and have to replace it again.

Functionality

HOAs can create regulations regarding your overhead door’s functionality. The associations that do often require your door to open and close smoothly and quietly. It’s inevitable for your overhead door to make some noises, but these noises shouldn’t be loud or unusual. 

Your HOA can also require your garage to have internal ventilation. Internal ventilation can prevent the buildup of toxic gases from running vehicles. Additionally, the association may want your door to remain closed when not in use. One HOA proposed homeowners should keep their garage doors open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The regulation was supposed to prevent homeowners from allowing others to live in their garages. This idea shows HOAs can create regulations for almost everything.

Maintenance

HOA garage door maintenance guidelines might require homeowners to schedule routine maintenance to keep their garage doors in excellent condition. Regular maintenance can address various damages and problems to maintain the functionality and appearance of your door. 

Aside from complying with the HOA rules, garage door maintenance can extend your door’s life and prevent costly repairs. When a professional comes to maintain your overhead door, they perform essential upkeeping services, like lubricating moving parts, tightening nuts and bolts, and inspecting your door for problem areas. If they notice any problems, they’ll inform you and suggest a plan. Early awareness allows you to address issues before they become more significant and costly. For these reasons, regular maintenance can prevent your door from breaking down suddenly.

How to Meet HOA Requirements

To meet HOA garage door requirements, speak with leaders in the association to learn what rules you need to comply with. From there, the best way to meet your HOA’s garage door requirements is to hire a professional to maintain your garage periodically. As a bonus, garage door maintenance offers other benefits, including: 

• Maintaining functionality: A professional will check and repair your cables, springs, openers and rollers so they remain in good condition.
• Increasing longevity: Since technicians alert you to problems as they arise, you can fix them before they get out of hand and cause your door to malfunction. By addressing problems as your door ages, you ensure it lasts longer. 
• Saving money: Maintaining your garage door typically costs less than repairing or replacing it.
• Increasing security: Many homeowners can enter their homes through their garages. If your garage door system is in poor condition, an intruder could also enter your garage and home.
• Preventing damage: Your garage door can malfunction while entering or exiting your garage in your vehicle. If your door closes on your car, it can cause severe damage.
• Maintaining appearance: When your garage door has a problem, it can be noticeable enough to lessen the aesthetic appeal of your home. For instance, a misaligned door can appear to sag when open halfway. 
• Maintaining your warranty: Most manufacturers offer a warranty on their products. However, the warranty can stipulate that you employ routine maintenance services, or it’ll be void. 

How Often Should You Schedule Maintenance?

The frequency of your maintenance checks should depend on your preferences and HOA requirements. Some HOAs require annual maintenance, but you might prefer seasonal checks. Seasonal maintenance can ensure your garage functions appropriately in preparation for the next thunderstorm, heat wave or snowstorm.

EXL Garage Doors Can Maintain, Repair or Replace Your Garage Door

EXL Garage Doors is your local, trustworthy garage door services company in Tennessee. When you schedule maintenance with us, we’ll work with you to ensure your door functions properly for many years and complies with your HOA’s rules.

If our expert technicians notice anything amiss during your maintenance inspection, they can repair or replace your garage door. We can fix countless problems, but in some cases, a new garage door will benefit you more. Here are some signs that you need to replace your garage door:

• Frequent maintenance: If your garage door requires frequent maintenance or repairs, you could benefit from a new garage door system.
• Loud operation: As your door ages, it may shake or make loud and unusual noises. While this can indicate that your door needs maintenance, it can also mean you need a new one.
• Slow operation: After sending a command to your door, it should respond within a few seconds. If your door is slow to open or close, you might need to replace it.

Request Garage Door Services From EXL

Whatever you need — be it maintenance, repairs or replacements — EXL Garage Doors can do it all. With our years of experience, no project is too big. In fact, we love to transform our clients’ garages into tricked-out ones. HOAs often govern luxury communities, so it makes sense for residents to have luxury garages with unique features to increase comfort and convenience.

Contact us today to receive a free estimate or request our services. We’ll help you get the most money out of your investment while meeting your HOA’s regulations.

How to Reset a Garage Door After a Power Outage 

When the power goes out, you’ll likely be concerned about resetting clocks and other appliances in your home. Once you try to pull out of your garage, however, you could realize that you’ve forgotten to reset your door. Your garage door opener won’t work after a power outage because it runs on the same electricity as many of the other appliances in your own home. And when it shuts off due to an outage, it needs a quick restart to start functioning again. 

There are a few steps involved with restarting your garage door. 

1. Disconnect the Opener From the Door 

You’ll first want to break the connection between the opener and the garage door. It’s a good idea to remove the garage opener from power before you begin. 

2. Pull the Emergency Release Cord 

Next, you can pull the emergency release cord on the opener, which will allow you to lift the garage door when there’s an outage. 

3. Manually Close the Garage Door

Then, you’ll need to close the door manually. Be careful with this step and get help if you need it — make sure you’re closing it slowly. Be sure to close the garage door completely, too. The garage door opener won’t be able to connect until the garage door is fully shut. 

4. Press the Close Button 

After power is restored, you can get to work re-connecting the garage door and opener. This shouldn’t be too challenging — just press the button to close your garage. The opener’s chain should automatically move the trolley to the correct position and connect your garage door’s arm. 

5. Manually Attach the Trolley (If Needed) 

In some cases, your garage door trolley may not be automatic. If this is true for your situation, then you’ll have to connect the arms of the garage door to the trolley on your own. 

6. Enjoy Your Functioning Garage Door

Once you follow those steps, the garage should start functioning properly again. Make sure you’re going through each step slowly and cautiously.  

If it still isn’t working after going through those steps or if you’re having trouble figuring out what you have to do, then make sure you get in contact with a professional service that can help you restore your garage door system to an operational state. 

Contact EXL Garage Doors 

Your garage door is an essential part of your home. When there’s an outage, you could find yourself stuck without being able to get your car out of the garage. While these steps can help guide you toward a successful reset, there may be times when your door still isn’t working. In those times, you should find reliable repair services like EXL Garage Doors to help. 

With decades of experience in the industry and a focus on quality customer service, EXL Garage Doors is your go-to choice for garage door services. Whether you need emergency service, garage door service, installation, repairs, maintenance or inspections, our garage door technicians have you covered. Contact us today! 

How to Weather Seal a Garage Door

Weather sealing a garage door comes with many benefits to take advantage of. Though it might seem simple, weather sealing a garage door actually takes a few different intricate steps. It will help to learn how to seal the bottom of your garage door before you dive into the project. 

1. Find the Right Product

The first thing you’ll want to do is find the right weather stripping for your garage door. You’ll need to measure the dimensions of your door so that you can match the thickness and width of your weather seal. You should also consider the climate you live in, so you can find a product that will give you the best defense against the elements. 

If you’re unsure about what weather sealing to get, make sure you’re getting in touch with a reliable service like EXL Garage Doors that can help you find what you need. 

2. Remove the Old Seal

Once you have the right weather seal, it’s time to figure out how to remove the old garage door seal. For this, you may have to remove two screws at either end of the garage door. Depending on what type of garage door you have, you may be able to just pull the old seal free or have to slide it through one end. In some cases, you may need to use a hammer to pull nails free so that you can remove the seal. 

3. Clean Out the Door 

After your old seal is removed, remove any dirt, debris and remaining pieces of sealing from the door. If there are nail holes, use filler to cover these. If your door doesn’t have a track in place, you may want to consider installing one for the new seal. 

4. Install the New Seal and Trim Off Excess

Raise the garage door to eye level and then start securing your weather seal. Again, this will depend on the type of setup you have — for doors with tracks, you’ll be able to weave the seal through grooves and feed it through the rest of the way. For doors without tracks, you’ll be able to hammer the seal into place. 

Benefits of Weather Sealing 

Though now you may know how to replace a garage door bottom seal, what’s the point in doing it? Weather sealing your garage door does offer many benefits, such as: 

• Insulation: Weather seals can help keep out extreme temperatures, which can help your garage stay cooler and keep your home more comfortable. You’ll also be able to save on energy bills. 
• Protection from water and debris: While weather sealing may not be completely waterproof, it can help resist moisture and keep dirt and debris from entering your garage. 
• Defense from pests: Insects and small rodents may try to find their way into your garage through the bottom of the door. Weather sealing helps defend against unwanted pests. 

Contact EXL Garage Doors 

Whether you need help finding the right weather sealing, need a replacement or need another type of garage door service, EXL Garage Doors has you covered. We offer the expertise, reliability and quality workmanship you’re looking for. Contact us today! 

How to Test Garage Door Sensors

An automatic garage door system has two infrared sensors mounted approximately 2 to 6 inches above the ground on either side of the opening. These devices perform two crucial functions. First, they signal the door to open and close when you press the appropriate button on the opener’s remote control. The sensors also ensure safety by preventing the door from closing if an object enters the path of the electronic beam connecting the two photo eyes. 

How to Tell If a Garage Door Sensor Is Bad

Faulty sensors will likely impact your garage door’s functionality and pose a safety hazard. You can determine whether you have a potential sensor issue by checking for these signs:

• Dirty lenses: The sensors won’t operate properly if dirt or debris obscures their sight. Fix the problem by wiping the lenses with a soft, clean cloth and a gentle detergent.
• Wire damage: Garage door sensors rely on wiring that connects them to the door opener’s motor. Damage to these cables can prevent the sensors from working correctly. Look for signs of insect or rodent gnawing, water damage, tampering or fraying, and make a replacement if needed.
• Misalignment: Your sensors include LED lights that indicate whether they are out of alignment. A blinking light means that the photo eyes aren’t facing each other at the appropriate angle, but you can correct this issue by repositioning the sensors.
• No power supply: If the LED lights aren’t displaying at all, they may not have power. Check the wiring or the opener to see if you can find the problem.
• Wetness: Rain or dew that collects on the sensors may cause them to malfunction temporarily. The problem often goes away when they dry.

How Do You Test Garage Door Sensors?

You can perform a simple test to determine if your garage door’s sensors are working properly. With the door in the raised position, place a cardboard box or another similar-sized object in the door opening in front of one of the photo eyes. Press the button on the opener’s remote control unit to initiate the closing process. 

If the sensors are functioning correctly, they’ll transmit a signal to the opener to indicate that an object is in the doorway, which activates the auto-reverse mechanism. This safety feature causes the door to change direction and move upward. If the door closes on the box, perform the troubleshooting steps listed above to pinpoint the issue.

How to Reset Garage Door Sensors

If the issue persists, you can attempt to reset the sensors by reprogramming the garage door opener. The resetting process on a newer model typically involves pressing a button labeled “Learn” or “Home,” but you can also consult the owner’s manual for step-by-step instructions. 

Garage Door Sensor Not Working? Contact EXL Garage Doors

If you live in or near Gallatin, TN, the professionals at EXL Garage Doors can help you determine the cause of malfunctioning sensors. Contact our expert team online to request a convenient service appointment.

What to Do If Your Garage Door Spring Is Broken

If you’ve recently encountered problems operating your garage door, it may have a problem with its springs. The garage door springs are essential for lifting and closing the door effectively. When one or both of them are damaged, then your door won’t be able to operate as it should.

If you think something has happened to your garage door springs, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms that can confirm your hunch. A garage door with broken springs can also be dangerous, which makes it all the more essential for you to understand the ins and outs of broken springs. 

How to Identify a Broken Spring 

There are a variety of ways to identify a broken spring. The key is to proceed cautiously so that you can protect yourself and others in your home from harm. Be on the lookout for these warning signs of a garage door spring break. 

1. Your Garage Is Struggling to Open

A broken spring means your garage door has lost a central part of its operations — when you try to open it, the door will likely struggle to work. If the door is opening crookedly or not opening at all, it’s likely that there’s something wrong with the springs. 

2. Your Door Closes Too Fast

When working properly, garage door springs release tension slowly as the door closes to prevent it from banging into the ground. When the springs are broken, there is nothing to keep the door from shutting rapidly. When you close your garage door and see it close very fast and with a bang, then you probably have a broken spring. 

3. Loud Snapping or Cracking Noises 

Sometimes you may actually be able to hear a garage door spring break — these are characterized by loud cracking or snapping noises. When you hear one of these noises emanate from your garage, there is a good chance it was caused by a snapping spring. 

4. Noisy Operations

Along with struggling to open, a garage door with broken springs will also likely have very loud operations. Instead of the smooth, measured opening and closing of a properly-functioning door, it will produce crooked operations and banging, grinding or screeching noises. 

5. Weathered Springs 

You can also take a look at the springs to see if they’re damaged. Sometimes the springs may actually still be intact, but they’ve become so rusted and weathered that they can no longer do their job. 

How to Fix a Broken Garage Door Spring

While it may be tempting to try to fix a garage door spring yourself, it’s best to leave that job up to a garage door professional. Broken springs are under enormous amounts of pressure, and they can cause injury or damage to objects in your garage. Be sure to err on the side of caution and contact a service you can trust for help. 

Contact EXL Garage Doors

If you need garage door service for torsion springs or extension springs in the Gallatin or Nashville, Tennessee, area, then EXL Garage Doors has you covered. With over 20 years of experience and a commitment to our customers, we’re the professional garage door company you can trust. Contact us today! 

How to Keep Your Garage Cool in the Summer and Warm in the Winter

Many people today use their garage door as the main entryway to their home as opposed to the traditional front door, resulting in garage doors opening and closing numerous times throughout the day.

In the colder months, this means letting more frigid air enter, and in the hot months, more heat is coming in. The best way to combat extreme weather in the winter and the summer is to insulate your garage and make it climate-controlled, keeping it nice and warm in winter and cool in the summer, adding extra protection and saving you energy.

Garage Door Insulation Kits – The Best Way to Keep Your Garage Warm in the Winter and Cool in the Summer

While adding space heaters in the winter or portable fans in the summer can help regulate how warm or cool your garage is, insulation is ultimately the best way to keep your garage cool in summer and warm in winter. Insulation helps control your garage temperature since it reduces air loss and prevents air from getting in. Since garages are one of the worst parts of a home when it comes to energy efficiency, insulation is crucial. 

When you control your garage’s climate and temperature using insulation, you’re also keeping energy costs down as you reduce the amount of energy necessary to heat up or cool down the rest of your home. Insulating your garage doors with insulation kits also makes your garage door more sturdy, since insulation helps strengthen the door and makes it less susceptible to dents from accidentally hitting it or other damage by natural elements.

Insulation kits also reduce noise from opening and closing your garage door and decrease any noise from outside your door. Insulation allows you to use your garage for your favorite hobbies or recreationally, making it a comfortable and controlled atmosphere no matter the weather.

When you search for an insulation kit, look for one with a high R-value. R-value measures how effective a material is at insulating based on its chemical properties and thickness. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. However, when it comes to R-values for garage doors, they can sometimes be measured using different methods. This makes it challenging to figure out what R-value you specifically need to insulate your garage door, so it’s always best to seek professional assistance to find the right insulation kit for you.

Additionally, insulation kits require careful precision to cut the insulation to fit your garage door panels perfectly before securing them on. To ensure that your insulation kit works the way it should and your garage can stay warm in the freezing cold and cool in the scorching temps, trust a professional to install your garage door insulation.

At EXL Garage Doors, we offer insulation kits and professional installation services, as well as a variety of Clopay insulated garage doors for your home if you’re looking for a complete door update.

How to Keep Your Garage Warm in the Winter

Even if you only use your garage for storage, freezing winter temperatures can infiltrate your garage and affect your belongings, such as your car. Colder temperatures can ruin your car’s battery, thicken its fluids, cause low tire air pressure and lead to unreliable wiring and spark plugs.

Plus, if you often work or do any recreational activity in your garage, it needs to be habitable, and freezing temps can quickly make it unbearable. Garages act as a nice buffer as far as temperature goes from the outdoors to inside your home. Garages should be warmer than outside, and, though they may not always be as warm as your home indoors, you should be able to go from your home to your garage to grab something without having to put on all your winter layers.

In addition to adding insulation, you can use other tips to help keep your garage warmer when it’s cold outside. Try the following to control your garage’s temperature year-round.

1. Clean Your Garage

To find the best way to control the climate of your garage during the winter, start by giving your garage an excellent, thorough cleaning. After all, what good is adding improvements to your garage if it’s still a mess? 

2. Check Your Weather Stripping

After you organize and clean it up, inspect your door and look at your weather stripping. Over time, your weather stripping could crack and break, and if water finds its way in, it can freeze and make your garage door stuck, unable to open. Broken weather stripping also leads to some severe air leaks which allow the cold winter air to come in.

To replace your weather stripping, remove the existing weather stripping and scrape off any leftover sealant (not all doors will have sealant that needs to be removed, especially doors that were installed within the last 20 years). To put on your new weather stripping, you must accurately measure it and line it up to the door to ensure your seal is tight. Close the garage door and put the stripping down so the rubber flap is pressed against the door.

3. Seal Other Air Gaps

Your weather stripping isn’t the only place cold air can enter your garage — other doors and window units are also prime spots for air infiltration. Inspect the area carefully to see if the caulk has broken. If the sealant is in bad shape, it can also promote mold growth or wood rot in addition to letting in cold air.

It’s generally best to remove the old caulk before applying new. Start at the top and use consistent pressure with a putty knife or other sharp tool to remove it, then clean the surface thoroughly before applying the new sealant. For extra protection, add affordable plastic window film to help keep cold air out.

4. Add Insulation to Uninsulated Walls and Ceilings

If the exterior walls and your garage’s ceiling aren’t currently insulated, now’s the time to change that. You have multiple options for doing so, including:

• Spray foam insulation.
• Rigid foam insulation.
• Batt foam insulation.

This small addition can also help reduce noise, which is useful for those who use the garage to pursue hobbies.

5. Consider Adding a Heater

You can also explore various heater options to keep your garage warm during the winter months. Think about the amount of space you have in your garage and shop around accordingly. 

If you’re scarce on space, you may even want to consider a wall-mounted heater. Mounted electric heaters are easier to install than a forced-air heating system, so you may be able to install them on your own. However, you could also go with a forced air heater or convection heater. 

For convenience, a portable space heater or propane heater could work best since they come in various sizes, making it easy to find one that works for your space and meets your heating needs. Unit heaters are also compact and relatively simple to install, and you can choose to run it on electricity or gas. You may opt to put in a mini-split heat pump to save even more energy.

How to Keep Your Garage Cool in the Summer

Similar to how you want to protect your garage from frigid winter air, you also need to keep it cool when summer brings extreme heat. Our tips for helping do that include the following.

1. Take Advantage of Natural Ventilation

In addition to insulation kits or insulated garage doors, you can find ways to use natural ventilation to keep your garage cool, especially if it has no windows. By opening any outside-facing doors, windows or other doors besides the one that leads to your home, you increase the air circulation inside your garage, keeping things moving and preventing your garage from feeling too hot.

2. Plant a Tree

This solution is good for the environment, wildlife and your wallet. Adding a tree can help shield your garage from the sun during the hottest parts of the day and maintain a lower temperature inside. 

Some shady trees include walnut, maple, ash, oak and magnolias. Since they lose their leaves each fall, you’ll benefit from the winter sun to keep your garage warmer during the cold months.

3. Let Your Vehicle Cool First

Pulling a hot car into a garage and closing the doors traps the warmth in your garage space as your vehicle cools down. A better solution is to park your car in a shady spot to let it cool first and keep the extra heat out.

4. Try a Fan

Portable fans are an affordable option that you can set up near your open doors, pointed inside your garage to draw the cool air from outdoors and pump it into your garage. You can choose from several styles of fans, such as pedestal fans, box fans or high-powered shop fans. Still, you should note that fans don’t really improve the overall garage temperature and climate as much as they boost airflow, making it feel significantly cooler inside your garage.

You could also install a ceiling fan if your garage permits. Typically, garages need to be at least 8 feet tall to install a ceiling fan. You must also make sure the blades of the ceiling fans are between 7 and 9 feet above your garage floor and between 10 and 12 inches under the ceiling. 

5. Consider the Benefits of Air Conditioning

Before you decide to incorporate air conditioning into your garage, you should think about how often you’re using it and how cold you need it to get. If you spend a lot of your time in your garage and determine air conditioning is a necessity for your garage, consider installing a window air conditioner unit or a portable floor unit as a more affordable airflow option.

6. Keep Your Garage Clean and Organized

Keeping a clean, organized garage will also benefit you in the hot summer months as airflow can circulate better when there’s no clutter around your garage. As some other added methods you could incorporate to beat the heat, consider installing some attic vents for heat to escape through or put in a dehumidifier for humidity control to prevent your garage from feeling like a summer swamp. Protect your belongings and work in comfort by discovering the best approaches for how to keep a garage cool in summer.

Trust EXL Garage Doors to Install Your Insulation and Keep Your Garage Temperature Under Control

Whether you spend hours a week in your garage or want to protect your valuables inside, it’s time to upgrade your garage for energy efficiency with insulation to ensure temperature regulation and climate control no matter the weather outside.

Whether you’re looking for an insulation kit or a complete door replacement, EXL Garage Doors can provide you with quality materials at great value and professional installation and maintenance services for any of your garage door needs. With more than 20 years of experience serving the Gallatin, Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, don’t wait to see what we can do for you. Request a free estimate or contact us to start your garage remodel today.

Why You Should Never Tighten Your Garage Door Cables Yourself

Cables play a vital role in any properly functioning garage door system. You’ll find them attached via brackets to either side of the bottom of the door. They work in tandem with the torsion springs to raise and lower the door. 

These cables also perform a crucial safety function. When a spring fails, the cable prevents it from recoiling and causing a potentially serious injury. Instead, the snapped spring will fall harmlessly to the ground. 

What Happens When a Cable Snaps?

Garage door cables consist of galvanized wiring that may fray due to wear and tear. Eventually, a frayed cable will snap, transferring additional tension to the other side and making it more likely that the other will break as well. Your door will appear crooked or unbalanced and won’t open and close as easily. While you can usually spot a broken cable by performing a visual inspection, a squeaking noise or unusual shaking during operation can also indicate an issue requiring immediate attention.

Why Do Garage Door Cables Loosen?

Besides fraying or snapping, garage door cables can become loose and fall off the drum, which causes them to wind and unwind when raising or lowering the door. Loose cables can result from:

• Mismatched cables and drums
• Failure of the auto-reverse mechanism that causes the door to strike an object and loosen a cable
• Improper installation
• Broken torsion springs
• Frequent door opening and closing

How to Adjust Garage Door Cable Tension

Regular maintenance is crucial for ensuring that your garage door cables are functioning with the proper tension. The process can be complicated, dangerous and requires mastering the following steps:

1. Lower the door to the ground and ensure there is no gap at the bottom.
2. Release the opener from the drive chain by pulling on the rope attached to the garage door mechanism.
3. Raise the door to the open position to release the built-up tension in the torsion springs.
4. Attach two c-clamps to the track underneath the roller closet nearest to the bottom of the door to prevent it from lowering or moving.
5. Disconnect the end of the cable from the garage door frame and reinsert it into one of the holes further down the frame to cause it to tighten.
6. Eliminate any remaining slack by adjusting the cable bracket. 

Can You Tighten Garage Door Cables Yourself?

Even if you’re confident in your mechanical abilities, it’s easy for an inexperienced homeowner to overlook a step or face an unexpected issue during the adjustment. A garage door professional knows what to look for and how to avoid potentially costly mistakes. 

Still, safety is the most important reason to hire an expert. You’ll avoid the dangers of working around high-tension springs and heavy overhead doors.

Contact EXL Garage Doors to Learn More

If you need to make a garage door cable tension adjustment near Gallatin, TN, the experienced pros at EXL Garage Doors are ready to help. Contact our team today to learn more or request services. 

How to Use a Garage Door Inside Your Home

Have you ever considered putting a garage door inside your home? No, not the place where you park your cars or store your camping gear. We’re talking about a living room garage door or a garage door to separate rooms. 

It’s understandable if your first reaction was confusion or resistance. But the latest trend for architects is to install indoor garage doors in residential homes. It’s not a bad idea, as it opens up so many possibilities for homeowners to enjoy their houses in a whole new way. Discover how to use a garage door inside your home, the benefits of using interior garage doors and other tips on making the most of this new trend in the housing industry.

Where Can You Incorporate an Interior Garage Door?

The primary use for these garage doors is to use them as wall dividers. This can be accomplished in several different ways throughout your home. Whether you’re using them to separate exterior and interior areas or simply to divide two rooms, garage doors will make a house look chic and modern. 

The possibilities of how you use garage doors inside your home are endless, so here are a few of the most popular ideas for incorporating interior garage doors. 

Kitchens and Common Areas

The most popular place to install an indoor garage door is in your kitchen. You can use half garage doors as an upgraded skylight. Simply choose a glass garage door design that matches your style, and you can have skylights that actually open up to the outdoors. 

Another great way to incorporate interior garage doors into your kitchen is to use them to separate the kitchen and living room, especially in open floor plans. This allows for increased flexibility in how you use your home, providing privacy or sound reduction when needed, but also allowing for large gatherings for a party.

Kitchens have actually featured this trend before, just on a smaller scale. Countertop garage doors provide a convenient way to hide away appliances and other kitchen supplies in cabinets.

Patios, Pools and Sunrooms

One great purpose of a garage door is to open up a home to outdoor spaces. If your home has a patio or a pool, consider installing a garage door to give your home a modern feel. It’ll make taking food, tables and other household items from the kitchen to your outdoor living space so much easier. You don’t have to fuss with opening and shutting a sliding glass door when you have an interior garage door. 

Having pool parties will just get better as a garage door will allow you, your loved ones and your guests to move freely from the comfortable couch in your living room to swimming in the pool. Sunrooms will become new and improved, enveloping you in nature like never before. Instead of having traditional windows that you can only open a little bit, interior garage doors will allow you to feel the breeze and the warmth of the sun as you relax in your sunroom.

Other Interior Garage Door Ideas

Aside from using garage doors in the main gathering places of your home, you can also have them in all the rooms in your house. Now that people work remotely more than ever, many are converting the exterior wall of their home office into an interior garage door. 

When you feel “strapped” to your desk all day, it’s nice to hear the birds outside, listen to the rain or enjoy the fresh air while you work without having to leave your desk. Other areas where you can use interior garage doors include a home gym, bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. 

What Are the Benefits of Indoor Garage Doors?

Are you still curious as to why using garage doors inside your home is such a trend among architects and homeowners? There are actually several benefits to installing interior garage doors in your home. Some of the main reasons why homeowners are using indoor garage doors are that they:

Open up the Home to the Outdoors

Enjoying nature while in the comfort of your own home is a huge reason why homeowners install indoor garage doors. A garage door becomes a unique feature of your home, and it lets more light into the room when the door is open. The amount of natural light in a room gets even better when the garage door is made of glass and has an aluminum grid design. If you choose to go with a glass garage door, you can have tinted or frosted glass to maintain privacy.

Are Cost-Effective 

Interior garage doors do open up your home to the beauties of nature, but they’re also very cost-effective. This is possible because if you want to turn one room into two, you don’t have to hire a builder or attempt to do it yourself, waiting months for the job to get done. Instead, simply install a garage door in only a few days, and you can have your home just the way you want it.

Being able to make changes to your home in a way that’s easy on your budget is great, but that’s not the only benefit. Having an interior garage door can also make you money by increasing the property value of your home. 

What Are Some Interior Garage Door Do’s and Don’ts?

Now that you know how to incorporate interior garage doors into your home and the benefits of using them, there are some do’s and don’ts to consider before installing your first indoor garage door.

Purchase a Quality Indoor Garage Door

The most important aspect to consider when buying an interior garage door is to make sure you get a high-quality design. Especially if the garage door is going to replace an interior wall, you’ll want to make sure the door offers some sound reduction. The last thing you want after installing a garage door is being able to hear every sound that happens on the other side of the door. Having a garage door in your home doesn’t mean you have to give up the sound reducing benefits of a normal wall. 

In addition to making sure your garage door offers sound reduction, it’s good to research motors before you install one. You don’t want to have the motor of your kitchen garage door be loud and echo throughout the house.

Ensure Your Interior Garage Door Fits With Your Home

Even if you want to install a garage door in your home, it should complement your home’s overall look. Take a look at your floor plan to see if it can reasonably accommodate an indoor garage door. If your floor plan is too cramped, you may need to make adjustments to your initial plans. 

You should also look at the style of your home. Is it Victorian, colonial, French or something else? Ask yourself if an interior garage door would distract or complement your home. Experts say that homes with a contemporary or industrial design work the best for adding interior garage doors.

Evaluate if Your Home’s Location Is Conducive to an Indoor Garage Door

After you’ve determined the quality of garage door you’d like and that your home is a great fit, there’s one last thing you need to think about — your home’s location. Having indoor garage doors in your kitchen, living room or other living spaces is a great advantage for homes and rental properties in warm or scenic locations, like the beautiful Appalachian mountain range in Tennessee. 

Regardless of what kind of temperatures you have year-round, it’s important that the garage door has good insulation. This is especially crucial if the garage door is the only barrier between the exterior and interior of your home. Have good insulation and weatherstripping to prevent your utility bills from increasing dramatically and to deter insects from entering your home.

Take the Next Step to Installing a Garage Door in your Home

With so many great reasons to add an interior garage door to your home, this raving trend among homeowners and architects probably makes more sense now. It likely won’t be going away anytime soon as interior garage doors provide access to the outdoors, are cost-effective, increase property value and enable homeowners to host gatherings with loved ones as never before. 

Contact EXL Garage Doors to learn more about how to install your home’s indoor garage door. With years of experience and a showroom to display our products, we’ve made it easier than ever to transform your home using our high-quality products and commitment to exceptional customer service. Request an estimate today!

Garage Door Systems: How Do They Work?

Garage door specialists know how their doors work, but most people rarely think about it. You might have approached the inner workings of your door system with idle curiosity, but how do garage doors actually work? The short answer is that a motorized system of hardware lifts your door at the press of a button.

Understanding how a garage door opener works in-depth can help you recognize problems. If you know which parts malfunction, you can tell the professional who repairs them. This guide will teach you how garage doors work, and how the parts make them function.

How a Garage Door System Works: The Mechanics

When you press the button on your transmitter, it signals the door opener mounted on your ceiling. Contrary to what the name suggests, the door opener’s motor simply guides the door’s movement, while the springs hold the door by counterbalancing its weight.

As the door moves up or down the track, rollers keep the movement smooth. The close time dictates how long your motor runs before the door reaches its closed position.

When these mechanics malfunction, the ability to identify the problem comes in handy. You can discuss the issue with a garage door specialist, making it easier for them to trace and diagnose the cause of the problem. Communicating what’s wrong with your garage door helps you get it fixed faster.

How Garage Doors Work: Parts

That simple explanation of how a garage door system works ignores the crucial parts that make your door function. These parts are some of the most important components that make up your garage door system:

• Door opener: The door opener contains the motor and receives the transmitter’s signal.
• Springs: Springs balance your door’s weight. Most modern garage doors have torsion springs because they’re safer and last longer, but older doors may have extension springs.
• Cables: Cables assist the springs as your door moves. If your door has extension springs that have broken, your cables can snap from the door’s weight.
• Tracks: Tracks keep your door on the right path. You should see vertical and horizontal tracks.
• Rollers: Rollers assist the door’s movement along the tracks for steadiness.
• Hinges: If you watch your garage door as it opens and closes, you’ll see it articulate in a few places. Hinges allow your door to fold over on itself so it fits into your garage.
• Insulated weatherstripping: Installed on the edges, frame and each section of your door, weatherstripping seals the door to insulate your garage from the heat or cold.

Request Maintenance or Repair for Your Garage Door

When your garage door needs routine inspections, maintenance or repairs, call a professional to fix it. EXL Garage Doors offers expert installation, repair and maintenance services in Middle Tennessee.

When you contact us about our services, we’ll send a member of our highly trained team to address and resolve any issues. We’ll also give you a quote before doing the work to find the best plan for you. For expert maintenance and repairs, call EXL Garage Doors today at (615) 863-5106.

How to Fix a Garage Door That Won’t Close All the Way

If your garage door opens just fine but gets stuck at any point on the way down, you need to get the problem taken care of. A stuck door is more than an eyesore — it’s a weak point in the structure of your home that leaves your property exposed to everything the world has to offer. In many cases, a garage door that won’t close all the way is caused by something simple that you can resolve yourself without calling a professional repair service.

Why Won’t My Garage Door Close?

Garage doors consist of several components that all contribute to smooth, quiet and reliable operation. If any part of the system is blocked, becomes loose, falls out of alignment or is otherwise prevented from doing its job, it can cause your door to get stuck while closing. Here are some of the most common reasons a garage door won’t close all the way, along with some simple DIY solutions you can use to get your door working again:

• Check the sensors: Garage doors made after 1993 are equipped with safety sensors to prevent damage and injury while the door is closing. These sensors are valuable safety features, but they’re notorious for causing issues with door operation. Make sure they have power and that their wires look intact.
• Clean your sensors: The sensors send an invisible beam across the opening of the garage door. If they’re blocked or a lens becomes dirty, it can send false signals to your door. To help these components work as designed, clean the lenses of your sensors and sweep any debris from the path of the beam.
• Align your sensors: The sensors mount to either side of the garage door just above the floor. It’s easy to accidentally kick them or knock them out of place with a minimal amount of force, disrupting door operation. To put the sensors back in place, crouch down and gently move them back into the right position by hand.
• Check the tracks: The tracks running up the sides of your garage door guide the rollers as the door moves. If they get warped, bent or damaged, it can stop the door from closing partway down. Check your tracks for apparent signs of damage. If possible, use a rubber or wooden mallet to get them back into shape if you notice minor issues. Make sure you search for and tighten any loose hardware, clear dirt or grime from the tracks and lubricate using a silicone spray.
• Check your travel limits: Most garage door operators have travel limits programmed into them at the time of installation. In some cases, these limits may be incorrect or can slowly shift from their desired setting over time. If the travel limits are set too high, the door will stop before reaching the ground. Climb up on a ladder and look at the back of your motor for adjustment knobs or switch screws. Take your time and make small adjustments to prevent overcorrection.

Get Expert Help

If you see a broken spring or any damaged cables hanging down, call a professional. Making these repairs can be dangerous without the right equipment and training. For expert garage door repair in the Nashville or Gallatin areas, contact the pros at EXL Garage Doors today.