Last night, I came home and my garage door did not want to close. I tried using a spare remote, wondering that the problem might be with the remote button, but faced the same issue. Thankfully, my house is not connected to my garage, so I left the door open and, instead, parked my car at my neighbor’s house. Disclaimer: My neighbor is currently away on vacation and has left his house keys with me; we’re good friends. Anyways, it has been more than 12 hours now, and I’ve tried fixing the door myself, but I can’t seem to identify the underlying problem. Please help.

Regards,

Uh-Oh!

Hi, Uh-Oh!

Based on what you’ve told us, we’re assuming that your garage door was working fine when you left the house yesterday morning.

If so, we think the problem could well be with the rollers of your garage door.

The rollers on your garage door should be able to move smoothly for the door to function properly. If the rollers encounter any type of resistance, your garage door won’t open or close.

Check your garage door assembly, especially the metal tracks on the sides of your garage door, to see if there is any obstruction that’s stopping the rollers from moving smoothly.

Can’t find anything?

Okay, in that case, check if your garage door sensors are working fine.

Garage door sensors are a part of your garage door’s safety system. They prevent your garage door from closing on objects, pets or people in the doorway.

You have two of them, installed at opposite ends of your garage door. One sends emits an infrared beam, while the other receives it. If anything interrupts this beam of light, your garage door won’t close.

Garage doors sensors may malfunction if they have a dirty lens or a severed or unplugged cable.

If you can’t find any issues with either the rollers or sensors, it’s likely that the springs on your garage door are giving up.

Contrary to what many people believe, it’s not the motor that raises and lowers a garage door. Rather, it’s the springs which do the heavy lifting.

Unfortunately, these springs worn out with time and break.

If the springs on your garage door are broken, your garage door won’t close or open properly.

As always, we’d strongly recommend that you call in a professional and get your garage door fixed by them. DIY garage door repair jobs can be dangerous and risky, so please try to avoid them.

Stay safe. Stay happy. Stay blessed.

For Further Reading: Why You Shouldn’t Attempt a DIY Garage Door Repair Project

Why Does Your Home Require Energy Efficient Garage Door?

Garages in most homes are not insulated, which means the change in temperatures here can impact the temperature in your home as well. Frequently using the door that connects your home to the garage on the inside will also lead to temperature fluctuations in your home. This excessive heat will make you air cooling system work harder and consume more energy, which will ultimately lead to increased utility bills.

How Summer Heat Damages an Uninsulated Garage Door?

The temperatures inside uninsulated garages can quickly rise during summer season. The heat begins to damage your car, electrical appliances inside your garage and electrical components on your garage door. Not only this, extremely high temperatures can even shorten your car’s battery life.

If you don’t have energy-efficient garage door, the heat may damage it beyond repair. To keep you from all the additional costs, energy-efficient garage door is a smart choice.

How Winter Damages Energy-Inefficient Garage Doors?

The temperature inside your garage can dip down to below freezing point during winters. Extremely low temperatures can damage the springs and lubrication in a typical garage door.

Upon opening the garage door, ice from the outside may get into your garage and cause water damage. Ice build-ups may result in frozen shut garage doors and you may face problems with commute.

On the other hand, an energy efficient garage door will continue to function normally during extreme temperatures.

What Makes Garage Door Energy Efficient?

There are a multitude of factors that determine the efficiency of a garage door, such as the manufacturing material, the R-value and U-factor of the garage door and the number of layers.

Layers

For better insulation and increased energy efficiency, choose a garage door with at least 3 layers.

U-Factor

To keep the temperatures inside your garage balanced during extreme winter and summer season, choose a garage door with a U-factor equivalent to 0.35 or lower.

R-Value

To keep the heat from transferring into your home, choose a garage door with an R-value equivalent to 12 or higher.

If you are looking for an energy-efficient garage door that meets all safety standards, get in touch with R & Q Over Head Doors. We offer top-quality garage door services in Clayton, including garage door installations, replacements, repair, tune-ups and much more.

If you live in Clayton, Danville, Piedmont, Moraga or surrounding areas, contact us at 9258132413 or book ours services online.

If your garage door isn’t working, here are four possible reasons:

Malfunctioning photo-eye

Most garage doors have a photo eye installed that transmits an invisible beam to detect if there’s a person or object in the path of the garage door. If it gets damaged, it can render the garage door useless.

However, sometimes it simply accumulates dust which can be easily cleaned using a paper towel. So you can try to clean the dust or adjust the photo-eye of your garage door to solve the problem.

Off-Track Garage Door

It’s relatively common for a garage door to get misaligned and off-tracked. Make sure to inspect your garage door to check if there are any bumps or bend along the rollers. In order to get the door working again, the door must be realigned to the track and set to the correct position.

Adjusting the garage door isn’t rocket science, but it’s also not a piece of cake, so hiring a professional is recommended.

Your Garage Door Torsion Springs Are Broken

If you hear a loud snapping noise—like a firecracker—it’s likely that your garage door torsion spring is the culprit. In such cases, refrain from opening your garage door as it can be extremely dangerous.

Moreover, you should never attempt to fix the torsion springs by yourself and call a professional garage door repair company to ensure efficient installation as well as your safety, which should be your number one priority.

Remote Issues

Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as a malfunctioning garage door remote. You should consider replacing the batteries of the remote. If it doesn’t work, the problem could be the antenna of the remote. In that case, you may need to get your remote reprogrammed. Finally, the problem could be with your transmitter. Hire a professional to get the remote checked and simply buy a new one if it’s faulty.

If you’re looking for garage door installation or repair service provider, contact R & Q Over Head Doors. We offer reliable and top-notch garage door services to our clients in Walnut Creek and surrounding cities, including Peasant Hill, Moraga, and Piedmont. To find out more, call us at 925-813-2413 or visit our website.

Let’s check out some common frequently asked questions about garage doors that arise in most people’s mind, particularly when it comes to installation and repairs:

FAQ#1: How much does it cost to replace a garage door?

Firstly, your garage door technician will try to salvage your existing door, but if its condition is beyond repair, then you’ll have to replace it. The price of a new garage door can range anywhere between $700 to $2,000, depending on the size, type, and quality. If you want to get two doors, you can expect to pay up to four grand.

FAQ#2: How much do garage door repairs cost?

Garage doors come in different types, qualities, and sizes, so the cost of repairs can greatly vary. Moreover, the competence of the service provider and the complexity of the repair work also influence total repair costs. If you’re looking for a ballpark figure, though, you can expect to pay anywhere between $150 and $600.

FAQ#3: Why is my garage door not opening?

There can be numerous reasons for your garage door malfunctioning and not opening. Some common causes include broken springs, loose cables, or maybe the door being separated from its metal track. Also, the door might also work due to an interruption in the power source. It’s better to call a professional rather than attempting to fix it yourself.

FAQ#4: Why is my door not closing?

If your garage door isn’t closing properly, faulty sensors might be to blame. Check your opening mechanism to ensure that the beam isn’t getting blocked due to some obstacle. It’s designed to provide safety from accidents, hence make sure you don’t end up damaging it. Again, calling a professional garage door technician is your best bet.

FAQ#5: How much do small garage door repairs cost?

The small repairs related to the garage door are not necessarily expensive. For instance, the repair work of door springs may cost under $200. Similarly, replacing the door cable will cost around $150. Replacing the wheels is even cheaper as you can get 10-packs below $20. The cost of other small repairs also costs under $200 to $300 at max.

Looking for garage door installation or repair service provider? Get in touch with R & Q Over Head Doors. We provide high-quality and reliable garage door services to our clients in Walnut Creek and surrounding cities such as Moraga, Piedmont, and Peasant Hill. To learn more, call us at 925-813-2413 or visit our website.

Reasons for Breakage

Torsion springs have a shelf life and even with proper care and maintenance, they eventually lose the ability to perform primal functions. A few other reasons that may render your garage door springs useless are:

Wear and Tear

Depending on how many times the door is opened and closed in a day, springs last between a few years or for as long as two decades. On average, a spring has 10,000 cycles. Every time the door is opened and closed, it completes one cycle.

Rust

Humidity and regular contact with water will cause corrosion to a spring, weakening its structural ability, ultimately leading to breakage. Maintenance, cleaning, and lubrication can get rid of the rust if the door is properly inspected and cared for every couple of months.

Faulty Springs

While this may not be your fault, keep an eye on the quality of materials and components when installing a new garage door. If you hire a contractor over the internet or without doing your research, you may end up getting scammed and paying for damaged installation. This will lead to spring breakages very fast.

Cutting Corners

Most people are either unaware of the fact that one torsion spring can perform the same function that two springs do. This, however, means that the one spring has to perform the double duty which can result in breakage way before it has completed its shelf life. Pay attention to the installation process and make sure that no components are missing—no matter how trivial the function they perform.

Finding a Solution

While you can keep an eye on the telltale signs may indicate a spring problem—and fix them yourself, with caution—a broken spring shouldn’t be handled at home. You need to immediately call a professional repair service that can properly install new springs efficiently.

The process is often dangerous as the springs are tightly wound. If you try to open them with excessive strength or release their pressure without the right tools, you can injure yourself. Call the local installation and repair service in your area, which would be R & Q Over Head Doors for residents of Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Concord and Clayton.

You can also call us at 925-813-2413 or send an email at info@sqgaragedoors.com for detailed information.

Choosing a garage door that doesn’t set you back financially and still offers maximum aesthetic and functional benefits can be tiring, especially if you don’t know what every material has to offer.

This blog will allow you to consider your options while discussing the pros and cons of every material used for garage doors.

Steel

Synonymous with strength, everyone is aware of the sturdy and durable structure that steel materials have. Steel doors made with double layers of galvanized steel can withstand dents, harsh winds, and heavy storms. However, if you’re living in an area that sees a lot of rain, the cons of steel will outweigh the pros, as steel can rust and corrode.

Corrosion will cost you repaints and repairs, so if you want to keep your garage door low maintenance, move on to the next options.

Aluminum

A bigger, wider door needs to be lightweight so it can operate smoothly, and aluminum doors offer exactly that. Of course, the problem with lightweight materials is that they can dent, but if you don’t have any heavy tools flying around the garage, aluminum might be the best option for you.

Aluminum doors come in different price tags depending on lamination or heavy duty panels, so you can choose the cheaper option if durability isn’t your main concern. Aluminum is also rust-proof, so that’s an added bonus.

Wood

Beauty, aesthetics, and authenticity are just a few things that wood doors offer. Steeper in price than other options, wooden doors can last for years, if properly cared for. Wooden doors are also resistant to indentations and can be customized in design, texture, and shapes easily.

Wood Composite

Lacking authenticity, wood composite doors offer the same level of resilience as wood but can lack in sophistication. If you’re looking for a high-end, luxury look for your garage door, we’d suggest wood over wood composite. Wood composite doors are cheaper than original wooden doors, though. So if budget is your primary concern, they may be a good choice.

Fiberglass

Resistant to rust and dents, fiberglass shares a few qualities with aluminum; since it’s easy to craft and customize, it can be a great alternative to wooden doors. You must be thinking, “well this is it… this is the best choice.” Hold your horses, though, because for someone living in a rather unsecured area, fiberglass won’t be the preferred option as it’s easily breakable and doesn’t offer long-term durability.

Vinyl

Lacking in design and color options, vinyl doors are cheaper and sturdier. No dents, no risks of getting broken and easier to maintain, vinyl doors can offer a lot for someone looking for quality over beauty.

Now that you have more clarity about the garage door you want for your house, get in touch with us at R & Q Over Head Door. Providing regular and emergency services for garage door installation, repair, opener and tune-up, you can call us at 925-813-2413 during office hours. We serve in Clayton, Walnut Creek and Surrounding areas.

Looking for a free estimate before making a trip to our office? Fill out the form on our website or take a look at range of garage repair services we offer.

The maintenance and furnishing of a garage are as important as the décor of the rest of the house.

If you’re confused about the right color for your garage door, we’ve put together a list of different options to help you choose the best one.

Matching the Home’s Exterior

Having the garage in the same paint color as the rest of the house will make the house look bigger, as the garage will be serving as an additional component. It may not be a head turner, but it will definitely give your house a wholesome feel.

Matching the Neighborhood

Suburban residences are often symmetric and color coordinated, in which case, picking a color that is in line with other garage doors is your best option. We feel that synchronization can also make a better impact rather than standing out in such scenarios.

Accented Colors

The roofs, borders, and outlines of the house are often colored differently from the primary paint color. You can pick the accent color, whatever it may be, and color the garage doors to match the accents to add vibrancy to the exterior.

Going Bold

A knockout choice for your garage door is going bold. A house painted in a neutral color could use a vibrant color that adds contrast, making it vivacious and cheerful. Colors have the ability to bring life to inert objects, so don’t be afraid to use richer tones or drawing away from popular choices.

With either of these options, you can also look at the texture, patterns and richness of the paint. If a plain garage door seems too boring for you, you can add lines or geometrical shapes. Pick a shiny finish to add a statement or matte if you prefer otherwise.

If you want to involve a garage door service to tune it up before redesigning and painting, call R & Q Over Head Doors, for professional and reliable assessment. We can take care of any broken springs, door openers and offer complete garage door installations. You can also buy fully designed garage doors from us if you’re in Clayton, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and surrounding cities.

If you’re in need of emergency services for garage door repair, we provide same day checks and installations to bay area residents and can be contacted at 925-813-2413 via call.

Here are some common installation problems that you should keep an eye out for to make sure that your garage door is installed perfectly.

Installing Springs Alone

Installing springs is one of the most complicated parts of garage door installation. The process poses security risks and improper installation can lead to serious operational problems. At least two people should assist in installing the springs and all the installation steps should be undertaken while taking safety precautions into account.

Loose Panels

Installing panels correctly, with adequate tightening, is necessary for the rails and hangers to function properly. Loose panels will lead to malfunctions and even complete breakdowns, causing damage to property. Rails and hangars are an integral part of the garage door mechanism that helps lift and close the door. Make sure these are thoroughly inspected throughout the installation process.

Using Nails Instead of Lag Screws

Nails may get the job done initially—by pulling the door together—but will fail after some time. Nails are simply not strong enough to withstand the pressure from the door. Constant pressure will cause nails to loosen and break over time, and the whole door may fall because of it. We advise that you use lag screws while installing the door and other pieces.

Misplacing the Garage Door Opener

The garage door opener needs to be installed in a spot that balances the whole door. This is only made possible when the opener is installed in the center. This way, the door won’t tilt when lifting up. Installing the opener at any position other than the center will put undue pressure on it and will cause it to break after some time.

Track System Imbalance

Track systems in the garage door help the door open and close smoothly without slamming. This system needs to be counter-balanced perfectly, or else, the extra impact will cause the whole structure of the door to weaken and crack.

Professional garage Door Installation Service

If you don’t have any experience, you should probably leave garage door installations to an experienced professional.

R & Q Over Head Door has years of experience in successfully installing all kinds of garage doors. Other garage door services like repair and installation are also provided. We cover the Walnut Creek, CA area. Call us now at 925-813-2413 to hire our top of the line services.