Garage Door Maintenance:  There are certain steps you can take to prepare your garage for the rainy season. 

Install New Weather Stripping:  Check weather stripping for any tears and replace it if it has any.  The primary purpose of weather stripping is to make sure your garage is not damaged by heavy rain.

Check for Warping or Damage:  Check for cracked or damaged panels on your garage door.  If you notice the garage door is bent and warped, consult a garage door specialist. 

Check for Water Puddling:  Adding guttering to your garage can solve the problem of water puddling at your garage door.  Make sure that the water flows away from your garage with proper sloping.

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services today at 972-877-5774.   We are experts in diagnosing the issue and fixing the problem. We repair garage doors in Mckinney, Plano, Melissa and surroudning areas. 

First, it happens more often than you think.  You’re racing out of the house, trying to get yourself to work and the kids to school.  All loaded up, the car is in reverse and next thing you know you hear a loud crash.  Once you’re had some time to catch your breath you realize you just backed into the garage door and are wondering what to do next.  Depending on how fast your car collided with the door will determine the extent of the damage.  Below are some typical problems that may have occurred during the crash. 

Is Everyone Safe – After hitting your garage door make sure not to panic, stay calm and make sure you and your passengers are safe.  Calmy put your car in park and turn off the engine before you get out of your car. 

Assess the Damage – Do not move your car until you assess the damage.  Most likely your car has hit the bottom panel.  Check for any dents or broken panels.  Depending on the severity of the damage, one panel or more panels may need to be replaced.  Next look at the rails, hinges, rollers, springs, lifting cables, opener, and other components to see if any other hardware is damaged from the hit. 

Try To Open the Door Manually – Try to open the door manually on your own if the garage door components are operable.  Damage garage doors may be too dangerous to operate with the remote.  Opening the garage door using the remote may cause more damage to your garage door and your whole garage door system.  If unsure about the condition of your garage door, it’s best to keep the door down for now until it has been inspected and is safe to open.

Contact Your Local Garage Door Repair Company – Regardless of your garage door being operable, you’ll want to reach out to a garage door repair company to access any damage and make any repairs.  It’s best to leave any garage door repairs and maintenance to a professional garage door company. 

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services today at 972-877-5774.   We are experts in diagnosing the issue and fixing the problem. We repair garage doors in Mckinney, Plano, Melissa and surroudning areas.

The average garage door opens and closes around 1500 times a year and weights approximately 150 pounds or more.  With all that heavy lifting it should be no surprise that garage door issues will occur.  When encountering problems with your garage door, in many cases, there’s a simple solution.  This article provides some expert troubleshooting tips covering the most common garage door issues that may occur.

Trouble Opening or Closing:  Begin with these garage door troubleshooting tips if your garage door is not opening or closing correctly.

Check Plug –Make sure the opener is plugged in and the circuit breaker has not been tripped.

Manually Locked –Make sure the garage door has not been manually locked by accident. 

Check Door Balance –Perform a balance test by closing the door from the inside.  Using the red manual release rope detach the garage door from the opener.  Lift the door halfway and release.  It is properly balance if it stays in one place. 

If your garage door still isn’t opening or closing after these simple tests, contact a garage door specialist for a garage door repair.

Blocked Sensors:  Blocked sensors is a very common issue with garage doors that won’t close and most of them are simple fixes.

Check Photo Eye – Garage door sensors can sense things like dust, dirt, debris and even smalls bugs like spiders.  Wipe the two lenses attached to your garage door sensor by using a soft cloth and a mild cleanser to gently wipe off sensors. 

Check for Obstructions – Make sure no objects such as flower pots, toys or items are blocking the sensors.  Each sensor has a thin beam of light that shoots across the space where the garage door closes.  If something blocks that light, it prevents your garage door from closing.

Roller Problems – Examine the rollers to determine if they are causing problems with opening your garage door.  Try lubricating them first and see if this fixes the problem.  If they are still causing issues, they may be at their max cycle limit and need to be replaced.

Broken Springs – Garage door springs cannot be repaired or reused.  Do not try to lift the door by hand or using the opener.  This can cause serious damage to you or someone else.  Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair specialist to replace the springs.

Strange Noises – Strange noises coming from your garage door is an indication of an underlying issue.  The noise could be loose rollers, chains, nut, bolts and out of alignment.  Call a A1 Affordable Garage Door Services if you’re unsure where the sound in coming from. 

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Services today at 972-877-5774.   We are experts in diagnosing the issue and fixing the problem. We repair garage doors in Mckinney, Plano, Melissa and surroudning areas.

Your garage door is one of the first things people notice when they see your home.  Not only does your garage door provide curb appeal, but it also increases the value of your home.  Overtime, wear and tear can lead to worn parts, panels that are cracked and chipped paint.  Garage doors don’t need to be replace very often.  They normally last a few decades with preventive maintenance.  Several factors can indicate it’s time to replace your garage door.

Signs to Look for:

Noise:  Persistent garage door noise may indicate you need a new garage door.  Increased noise sometimes means a certain component needs a replacement or repair.  Sudden sounds in the form of squeaking, crunching, grinding can be a warning sign that its time to replace your garage door.

Speed:  Troubleshooting garage door speed issues can be difficult.  If your garage door starts moving much slower when opening or closing or the reaction is delayed, it may mean you need to replace your garage door.   Best to call a professional to check it out. 

Panels:  When a garage door panel breaks, you have two options:  to replace it or repair it.  First consider how old the door is and if its 20 years or older the best option is a garage door replacement.  Deciding to replace or repair the garage door panels depends also on how badly the door is damaged.

Energy Efficient:  Older garage doors are not energy efficient letting the outside conditions inside.  A well-insulated garage door can help keep the temperature in your house stable.  Newer garage doors with a higher R-valve have greater insulation properties.  The higher the R-valve the greater the insulation properties.

A New Garage Door and Its Benefits:

One advantage of a new garage door replacement is that it adds value to your home.  Investing in a new garage door also makes it safter for you and your family by adding extra security.  Older garage doors can be an open invitation to unwanted guests, particularly if they know what’s inside.  Installing a new garage door can add that extra layer of protection.  Newer garage doors are better insulated from the cold and heat and can make your house more energy efficient.   

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair today at 972-877-5774.   We are experts in diagnosing the issue and fixing the problem. We repair garage doors in Mckinney, Plano, Melissa and surrounding areas.

It only takes the smallest gap in your garage door to invite unwanted elements, pests, and noise into your garage.  The seals at the top, side and bottom of your garage door can form cracks that might not be visible.  You may have to search for them.  

Finding Gaps in Your Garage Door:

Garage door gaps are sometimes visibly noticeable while other times you may need to search for them.  To do so, you can run your hand along the edges of your garage door to locate any drafts.  Another technique to locate cracks is to turn out the lights in your garage and check for cracks of sunlight.  You most likely have hidden gaps if you notice the following:

Water and Wind:  Water and wind leaking into your garage is a good indication that you have a broken seal.  Look at the bottom of the door where it meets the floor.  From one side to the other a flexible rubber gasket should extend.  If the gasket is torn, cracked, or worn, the seal is not tight when close.

Finding Pests Inside the Garage:  For pests, a garage offers shelter, warmth, and sometimes food.  These intruders can often gain access through cracks in the door.  Once inside they can damage any items you may have in storage and eventually find an entry point into the rest of your home. 

Street Noise:  Street noise from outside your home can leak in through gaps in your garage door.  This could be very annoying if you are using your garage as a work space. 

How to Fix Gaps on Your Garage Door: 

Side gaps on your garage door maybe an issue with the door stops weatherstripping.  From time to time this rubber trim needs to be replaced.  Caulk sealant fills in surface imperfections helping to keep out moisture and cold air.  As a quick fix you can apply caulk to the perimeter of your garage door but not, the door itself. 

How to Seal Gaps at Top of Garage Door:

Gaps at the top could also point to door stop weatherstripping.  Misalignment of the track can also cause a gap.  Get professional help if it is a misaligned track.

Contact A1 Affordable Garage Door Services today at 972-877-5774.   We are experts in diagnosing the issue and fixing the problem. We repair garage doors in Mckinney, Plano, Melissa and surroudning areas.

Although garage doors can handle a lot, protecting your home and garage requires a lot of durability and care.  Repairing or replacing a garage door can be costly and while each homeowner’s insurance policy is different, some garage door repairs may be covered by your homeowners policy under specific circumstances.  When unexpected damages occur to your home, its important to know if your homeowner’s insurance covers any damages to not only your home but your garage door is part of that coverage also.  Insurance policies can be densely written, so understanding the intricacies of your homeowners insurance is important. 

Should I file a Homeowner’s Insurance Claim for Garage Door Repair?

In most cases, standard homeowners’ insurance does cover repairs to your garage door.  If your garage door needs to be replaced and a brand-new door is needed and the cost of repairs exceeds the cost of replacing the door with a new one, insurance should cover the replacement.  It makes more sense to get your insurer involved by filing a claim if it’s an expensive repair or replacement. 

Damage That Are Typically Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance

Garage doors are covered typically if the damage falls under certain parameters.  Damage is a very broad term so it’s important to understand what damages you are covered by and which ones you may not be protected from. 

Damage To Your Vehicle:

Accidents involving vehicles and garage doors happens.  Harsh weather conditions such as ice, snow can impact your visibility leading to an accident involving your garage door.  Your homeowners should cover the damages to your garage door but if someone else hits it and does not live in you home, their auto insurance should cover all the damages done. 

Burglary:

Damage resulting from a break-in should be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.  It may also cover any items that was stolen from your garage. 

Natural Disasters:

When it comes to natural disasters it’s important to read your policy carefully because some things that you thought would be covered are not covered.  Damage from hail or wind-blown debris is likely covered for some of the repair costs but an earthquake or flood may not be covered. 

Call A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair today at 972-877-5774.  Our team have extensive experience and can help in repairs and replacements of your garage door.  We have many garage door style and options to choose from. Serving Plano, Frisco, Allen, Aubrey, Addison, Flower Mound and surrounding areas.

When it comes to choosing a new garage door, there’s a lot to consider. There are dozens of
designs and finishes on the market today to explore. Currently one of the most popular style
garage doors is the Carriage House Style Garage Door also known as barn garage doors. One
reason they are so popular is the many varieties that are available.

History of the Carriage Style Garage Door
Carriage Style Garage Doors has a unique story stemming from their original use as pat of a
carriage house in the 18 th in England. Carriage houses became more common beginning in the
mid 1800’s in the United States has roads developed making way for horse drawn buggies.
Carriage houses were often designed to be relatively large and detached from the primary
home.

Modern Carriage House Style Garage Doors
Carriage House Style Garage doors are timeless and have a unique look with a unique style that
offers a combination of vintage aesthetics with modern engineering. Carriage House Style
Garage doors are recognizable by their bold vintage hardware and barn-style door designs.
Wrought iron handles and hinges are generally made from wrought iron adding to the carriage
style door an historic charm.

How to choose the Perfect Carriage-Style Door?
Carriage Style Garage Doors come in a range of style, color, design, and feature options to
complement your home. Your garage door color is the first thing you see from the street and is
an essential aspect of your garage door. Modern homes deep rich tones of wood or wood grain
finishes will give your home a warm curb appeal. Farm house Style homes may want to
consider a white garage door that will provide a classic fresh clean look. Carriage Style Garage
Doors hardware provides the vintage design that they are known for. Lift handles, hinges or
step plates can add the vintage finishing touch to your garage door designs.
Our team at A1 Affordable Garage Door Services have extensive experience and are able to help
homeowners select the garage door style and options for your home. Call us today at 972-877-
5774. Serving Plano, Mckinney, Frisco, Allen, Prosper and Surrounding areas.

In case you are wondering whether new garage doors add value to your house, well the answer is yes!  Most garage door replacements return 90 percent of their cost especially if you are planning on putting your house on the market to sell soon.  According to the 2021 National Cost vs Value Report, a new garage door replacement ranks number one for the most important home improvement.  It is one of the most effective ways to increase the value of your home.  Upgrading your garage door adds curb appeal, extra security, and energy efficiency.  If you maximize these 3 factors when replacing your garage door you will see a return on investments with the sale of your home. 

Safety and Security

Over the years the security and safety standards on garage doors have improved dramatically.  Modern up and over garage doors are definitely an improvement compared to models many years old.  Modern garage doors are made with strong and durable materials to keep at bay any unwanted guests.  Newer models are much better prepared from a security standpoint with a high standard of security features from the onset.

Improve Curb Appeal

Wondering how to improve curb appeal, well let’s start with a beautifully designed garage door.  A new garage door can substantially increase the curb appeal of your home and can have a lot to do with how successful your sale is. 

Improve Annual Heating and Cooling Costs

Most modern garage doors are designed with energy efficiency in mind with various styles constructed with polyurethane insulation. Garage doors used R-value to measure its insulation capabilities.  The higher the R-value in the garage door the greater the insulation properties are. 

Increase Value of Home

If your garage door is old and worn-out, a new garage door is one of the best ways to get back what you have invested at the resale of your home.  A new garage door increases your home’s valve at least a little according to Remodeling Magazine. 

A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services provides industry-leading garage door services and installation.  Give us a call today.  

Serving Plano and Surrouding areas like Frisco, Allen, Addison and more.

Many homeowners use their garage door as the main entrance and exit point more than their front door.  The garage door has become the new front door and it can be a nuisance if the garage door spring breaks.  We recommend not trying to open your garage door with broken springs unless it’s an absolute emergency.  It’s best to contact a professional garage door repair company to open it and do the job of repairing the broken spring. 

How To Open a Garage Door with a Broken Spring?

It takes some manual effort to open a garage door with a broken spring.  Garage doors in this condition can be difficult to lift because without the spring the door essentially has nothing to support its weight.  Garage doors themselves can be extremely heavy, weighing hundreds of pounds and the springs are what lift them.  Since the garage door springs holds the entire weight of your garage door, we recommend leaving your garage door repairs to professionals. 

Safety Tips If You Must Open the Garage Door:

First pull the rope that’s attached to the opener’s J-Arm to disengage the garage door opener.  You will need someone else to help you lift the door.  It’s too heavy for one person to lift along. 

When lifting, keep yourself safe, protect your back, and keep your fingers away from any pinching points on the door and make sure your feet are clear of the door.

Once opened, the garage door will not stay up without some source of support.

Safety Tips on How to Close the Garage Door:

To close the garage door back down, start moving the door down with another person helping to guide the garage door down until it reaches the floor.  Re-engage the garage door opener to the garage door by pulling the emergency release cord toward the door to re-engage the spring level.

Garage door spring replacement should be handled by garage door professionals.  Call A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services today for all your garage door needs. Srving Plano, Carrollton, Frisco, Allen, Addison and Surrounding Areas.

There are three types of garage door drives to choose from, belt, chain, or screw.  The type of garage door opener you choose is largely based on the homeowner’s preference.  Although no specific garage door opener is better than the other, it comes down to customizing the opener to your variety of needs.  Each drive has its own set of advantages to consider. 

Belt Drive Garage Door Openers:

Garage doors openers that are belt driven use a belt instead of a chain to move the garage door.  Belt drivers are considered to be the luxury option of garage door openers due to being much quieter and sleekness.  Belt drive openers use the same mechanism as the chain drive but instead of chains it has a high tensile rubber belt which is much quieter than their chain counterparts. 

Chain Drive Garage Door Openers:

Chain driven garage doors use a metal chain to open the garage door instead of a belt.  They are built to handle heavy and frequently used doors with ease.  This style is widely used in residential garages because of its affordability and being readily available.  Chain drive units are among the oldest drive units that implement a chain to push the trolley connected the J-shaped arm and the J end is connected to the garage door.

Screw Drive Garage Door Openers:

A screw drive garage door opener uses a rod that is steel threaded upon which the trolley rides.  The threaded bar is similar to the threaded bar of a screw that provides the motion that opens and closes the garage door.  Advantages of having a screw driven garage door is it tends to be easier to maintain because of less moving pieces and they tend to be quieter than chain driven garage door openers.

Call A1 Affordable Garage Door Repair Services today for all your garage door opener needs.  We have served our customers for years and are ready to assist you in outfitting your home with the correct garage door opener. We service Plano, Frisco, Allen, Mckinney and surrounding areas with thier garage door needs.