Summer Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Written on July 17, 2021.

Summer Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Hot weather is here. Don’t let this year’s extreme heat waves take a toll on your garage door system, impacting its function and lifespan. Keep things cool in your garage and home with these summer garage door maintenance tips for Bay Area homeowners.

Inspect

Extreme heat can cause metal components to expand, shifting components like hinges, rollers, and garage door springs, impacting garage door function. Pay special attention to these components in the summer. They manage heavy weight and pressure. If you have any safety concerns, contact your local garage door service technician immediately.

Does your garage door seem to malfunction on sunny days? Sunlight takes a different path in summer and may shine on your safety sensors. Installing safety sensors sunshades is an easy way to manage this issue.

Lubricate

Lubricate garage door hardware each spring, including garage door rollers, tracks, pulleys/chains, hinges, and other moving parts with silicone or lithium-based garage door lubricant, to ensure more reliable, smooth operation through the season. Lubrication prevents hot, expanding metal from causing essential garage door components to stick. Because heat may also impact your garage door weather seal, we likewise recommend cleaning and applying a layer of lubricant to prevent it from sticking in extreme heat.

Insulate

Insulated garage doors prevent summer heat and humidity from transferring into your garage and home. Keep things cool by applying polystyrene insulation or replacing worn, ineffective insulation on your garage doors. Your insulation investment will pay off in the winter months as well, keeping you warm and comfortable.

Clean

Maintaining your garage doors prevents rusting and molding that reduces indoor comfort levels and shortens garage door lifespan.

Test

Rolling blackouts are common in the Bay Area in the summer. Be ready, testing your manual release handle to ensure proper operation in power outages. Make sure the red release handle is no more than 6-feet from the floor and allows you to open the garage door smoothly without your garage door opener.

Replace

Temperature extremes take a toll on batteries and lights. Check your bulbs for outages, and be sure to swap out the batteries in your garage door remotes seasonally.

Don’t sweat summer garage door repair needs. If these summer garage door maintenance tips aren’t enough to get you through the season, Madden Door & Sons has you covered. Contact us at 925-208-4907 to schedule service for your Fairfield, Vallejo, Brentwood, Lafayette, Hercules, El Cerrito, Richmond, Antioch, or American Canyon home today.

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garage door installation and maintenance

Garage Door Installation Challenges

Written on June 24, 2021.

Many seasoned do-it-yourselfers embark on garage door installations, only to find themselves struggling through the process. This home project isn’t as straightforward as others. Installing a garage door can be quite a task, even for seasoned professionals. What garage door installation challenges might you encounter along the way?

Garage Door Installations Require Special Tools and Equipment

Garage door kits often lack installation hardware. Most Pleasanton homeowners don’t know where to get the missing parts – or exactly what they need. In addition, even the most experienced do-it-yourselfers typically find themselves lacking the specialty tools necessary for a safe installation, such as a counterbalance spring system, which professional installers know is essential for lifting heavy garage doors into position.

Garage Doors are Large and Heavy

Garage doors are big, awkward, and heavy, ranging from 100 lbs. at a minimum to 300 lbs. or more for larger doors. Errors during removal or simply managing the door’s weight can result in serious injury. A husband-and-wife duo is not enough. Multiple people are necessary to remove and install a garage door.

Ordering the Right Track System is Tricky

To order the right track system for your San Ramon garage, you must determine the track’s length and radius. If you order and install the wrong track radius, you can seriously damage your garage door. Many homeowners also forget to order the track nuts and bolts, which are sold separately.

Some Garage Door System Components are Surprisingly Dangerous

Those who are new to garage door installation are often ignorant of door spring and cable dangers. These system components can quickly unwind and launch during installation or when improperly secured, potentially causing severe injury. Stay safe – learn more about garage door spring dangers. Garage door springs and cables are best installed by a professional.

Houses are Rarely Square

Each garage door component must be perfectly aligned to ensure proper support and smooth operation. The door opening on your Livermore home is likely out of square, making installation extremely challenging. Tracks must be perfectly level. Hinges, brackets, axle supports, and other hardware must be precisely measured and installed. Garage doors in systems that are just slightly out of alignment can bind, getting stuck in the track, or failing to fully open or close.

Improper Garage Door Opener Placement Can Cause Big Problems

When installing the garage door opener in your Alamo home, we always install the motor and lift assembly at the door’s exact center. Many homeowners install them off-center to avoid obstructions, but this could cause the door to buckle and bind in operation. The garage door opener you choose must also be able to manage the door’s weight and include necessary safety equipment.

You Have to Dispose of Old Doors

No one ever thinks of getting rid of their old garage door until it’s out. Huge, heavy doors are tough to toss or slide out of the way. Unless you have a large pickup and your Brentwood home is near a waste/recycling facility, the easiest way to dispose of your old garage door is to hire a reliable garage door company.

Keep it together and avoid garage door installation challenges with help from your friendly neighborhood pros. Contact Madden Door & Sons at 925-208-4907 and learn about our affordable garage door and installation services in Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Alamo, and Brentwood today.

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Quick Fixes for Garage Doors

Written on April 25, 2021.

Are garage door repair headaches taking a toll on your schedule? Even the most reliable garage doors will need a bit of TLC eventually. Get your door back in action with these quick fixes for garage doors.

Garage Door Won’t Open/Close? Replace Remote Batteries

If your garage door won’t open or close, start by checking the garage door opener is plugged in and the circuit breaker is operational. If you’ve confirmed power to the unit and the door still won’t operate, replace the garage door remote control batteries before performing further labor-intensive DIY fixes or calling for garage door service.

Operational Issues? Check Garage Door Sensors

A garage door stuck open is extremely frustrating. This problem is often a garage door sensor issue. Sensors that are dirty or out of alignment can prevent your garage door from closing properly. Cleaning and realigning garage door sensors might do the trick.

Loud, Jarring Garage Door Operation? Tighten Garage Door Hardware

Temperature changes and movement can loosen nuts, bolts, and hinges. If your garage door rattles or clangs around noisily when in use, try checking and tightening your garage door hardware.

Squealing Garage Door? Lubricate Moving Parts

If you hear an annoying metallic scraping sound when your garage door goes up and down, it may need lubrication. A touch of garage door lubricant on springs, roller bearings, hinges, and lift cables can quiet the squeal, preventing friction damage.

NOTE: To avoid roller damage, do NOT lubricate nylon rollers without bearings. If rollers do not operate smoothly, upgrade them.

Watch Out – These Fixes are Not for Amateurs!

Messing around with parts best serviced by trained professionals can cause serious trouble. Due to a garage doors’ massive size and weight, never disconnect garage door components on jammed, bent, corroded, or off-track doors. The same goes for garage door springs, cables, rollers, drums, and any other parts under tension. These components pack a serious punch and can cause severe injury if improperly handled.

When in doubt, call Madden Door & Sons at 925-208-4907. We’ve got the quickest fixes for garage doors. Contact us for fast, affordable garage door repair service at your Fairfield, Vallejo, Brentwood, Lafayette, Hercules, El Cerrito, Brentwood, Antioch, or American Canyon home today.

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Garage Door Installation – Why You Should Not Do It Yourself

Written on April 16, 2020.

For DIY enthusiasts, replacing your garage door may seem like any other task at first glance. Though you may assume you are simply assembling the right hardware, there is more to a safe garage door installation than fastening a couple of nuts and bolts. There are many reasons garage door installation is not a do it yourself job. Why is this task best done by a professional?

Garage Door Installation is Not a Solo Gig

New garage door system components are quite heavy, with some parts weighing 100 to 300 pounds or more. They are too large to handle alone and too much for a typical husband and wife team. Multiple people are necessary to achieve the precision required for a safe and lasting garage door installation.

You Need More than a Hammer and Nails

Garage door kits frequently arrive without system hardware, leaving homeowners scrambling to source the right equipment for a safe installation. Also, even the most seasoned DIY pros fail to possess necessary specialty tools, such as a counterbalance spring system, which professional garage door installers know is essential for lifting heavy garage doors into position.

Components Must be Precisely Positioned for Proper Function

Proper installation requires the perfect alignment of each garage door component. The tracks that the garage door rollers move in must be perfectly level, with the placement of the garage door opener, hinges, brackets, axle supports, and other integral hardware precisely measured and installed. If any part of the system is even slightly out of alignment, the garage door can bind, getting stuck in the track or failing to fully open or close.

Spring and Cable Assembly Can Be Dangerous

Improperly fastened, heavy moving garage door parts can cause severe damage or injury if the door malfunctions due to installation issues. Garage door springs are particularly dangerous and can quickly unwind and launch, causing serious harm. Your springs are best installed by a professional. Our garage door technicians can install your springs precisely as dictated in manufacturer instructions, properly securing them with a locking cone to prevent them from coming loose.

It’s Easy to Overlook Key Details

Our highly trained team understands that finishing details ensure a safe, lasting garage door installation. We follow manufacturer guidelines closely, installing essential safety equipment, tightening springs to spec, and carefully affixing climate seal and trim for weather tightness. We will also remove and dispose of your old door, helping you avoid unwelcome operational or cost-related surprises commonly associated with DIY garage door installations.

Avoid do it yourself garage door installation disasters at your Richmond, Oakland, Lafayette, Vallejo, Hercules, Orinda, or Pittsburg property. Save time and money, preserving your warranty and ensuring safety with help from local garage door installation professionals at Madden Door & Sons. Contact us at 925-208-4907 or fill out our online contact form to schedule service today.

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Horizontal Red Wood Installation Garage Door at Madden in Walnut Creek, Berkeley, Richmond, CA

Could Your Garage Door Need Structural Reinforcement?

Written on May 22, 2019.

Does Your Door Need Reinforcement Struts?

Structural reinforcement is essential to ensuring your garage door system is safe. U-shaped struts, when added to your door via hinges or clips, stiffen your garage door, safeguarding it against bending and breaking, preventing binding when the door is in motion, and ensuring the long-term structural integrity of your door. However, every garage door installation is unique, and garage door reinforcements are not necessary in all situations. Does your garage door need structural reinforcement?

Your Garage Door Needs Structural Reinforcement in Specific Circumstances

Structural reinforcements support your door when it’s in the open position.
Single doors for residential use typically don’t require struts unless they’re motor-driven. However, because larger, heavier doors over 10 feet wide and doors made of steel without added polystyrene or polyurethane insulation could bow without the proper structural reinforcements, our garage door installation professionals add struts to these larger, heavier systems for stability.
Doors in areas prone to high winds and hurricanes benefit from door reinforcement.
Our experienced team understands that garage doors are the largest opening into your home and are most vulnerable to the high winds of intense storms, so we reinforce them to meet the challenges of area weather extremes.

Custom Design and Expert Installation Ensures Stability

Custom door design and expert installation by Madden Door professionals ensure a door that is safe, stable, and built to last. Our custom designed doors allow you to personally choose high-quality, sturdy materials that offer added structural stability for withstanding extreme weather, safeguarding your home and extending the lifespan of your garage door investment. We manufacture custom designs to any size or shape to offer solutions for challenging spaces, helping you maximize storage space and functionality of even the smallest garage.

Learn more about Madden Door & Sons customized garage door options.

Could your garage door need structural reinforcement? Ensure the door on your Livermore, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, Vallejo, Richmond, Moraga, Lafayette, or Berkeley home is safe. Contact the experienced professionals at Madden Door & Sons at 925-208-4907 today.

garage door styles, installation, maintenance, safety

Avoid DIY Garage Door Installation

Written on April 27, 2019.

Considering DIY Garage Door Installation? Read this First!

It can be tempting to consider DIY garage door installation to save a buck. However, your sweat equity can quickly turn into injuries and repair costs. What makes do-it-yourself garage door installation so tough?

The Pitfalls of DIY Garage Door Installation

At best, installing a garage door without the help of a pro could result in costly repairs; at worst, you could sustain severe injury. What leads to these situations?

Inadequate knowledge of garage door components and functionality.
Garage door service professionals frequently get called to bail homeowners out of DIY door installation snafus. These issues often occur due to a lack of knowledge about door parts and their functions. Choosing the wrong track system, low-quality lumber, or even a simple misplaced hinge can cause your entire garage door to malfunction, resulting in additional repair expenses and potentially dangerous situations. Remember, contemporary garage doors with windows weigh 100 lbs. at a minimum, with larger models topping 300 lbs. and more. In motion and malfunctioning, they can cause serious injury.
Lack of tools and equipment.
Garage door kits commonly lack installation hardware. In this situation, many homeowners fail to understand the exact equipment they need to accomplish a safe installation or where to purchase it. They also seldom have the tools to achieve a secure install, such as a counterbalance spring system, an essential device for lifting heavy garage doors. Worse, they are ignorant of the dangers of door springs, which can quickly unwind and launch, potentially causing severe injury. (Click here to learn more about door spring dangers.) Having your garage door installed by a pro will circumvent these issues and preserve your warranty, which may be void with homeowner installation.

Avoid DIY garage door installation drama in your Livermore, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, Vallejo, Richmond, Moraga, Lafayette, or Berkeley home. Contact Madden Door & Sons at 925-208-4907 and ensure the safe, secure installation of your new garage door today.

garage door styles, maintenance, safety

How to Ensure a Quiet Garage Door

Written on March 12, 2019.

Nix Garage Door Noise With these Tips from Madden Door

Is your noisy garage door interrupting your life? Needing to yell to be heard over the sound of your garage door or being woken up at inopportune times due to garage door volume can be frustrating. Luckily, there are a few ways you can reduce garage door noise with the help of the experts at Madden Door & Sons.

5 Ways to Dampen Garage Door Noise

Door construction, component selection, and worn or broken parts all play a role in the amount of noise your garage door makes. What can you do about it?

Design your door with the right components.
Each of your door decisions affects decibel levels. To construct the quietest door possible, when changing or installing a new garage door opt for a rubber belt drive reinforced with steel rather than a noisy, chain-driven door, and an insulated sandwich-style door over a non-insulated door.
Replace rollers.
Worn rollers are usually the main culprit for door noise when they slide as opposed to rolling, which they were designed to do. Quieter black nylon rollers without ball bearings or white steel rollers encased in rigid nylon with 11 ball bearings can reduce noise.
Add a vibration isolator.
To prevent noise from being transferred through the structure of your garage, avoid attaching door tracks to roof trusses, muffling door sounds with an added vibration isolator between the door opener housing and metal hanger brackets on the ceiling.
Address loose or worn parts.
Examine your garage door closely, checking for loose, worn, and broken parts, tightening and replacing components as needed.
Grease the wheels.
Lubricate wheels and other components, addressing metal parts like hinges and the spring system with a petroleum-based lubricant, and perimeter weather-stripping with a silicone-based lubricant to prevent sticking.

Time to tone it down? Ensure a quiet garage door in your El Cerrito, Fairfield, Lafayette, Oakland, Berkeley, Vallejo, Hercules, Walnut Creek, or Pleasanton home. Call Madden Door & Sons at 925-208-4907 and request a service appointment today.

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