Why would I need a garage door specialist?
It is fair to say that the majority of residential houses have garages, whether they are stand-alone structures or part of the main house. Garages form an additional frontage to the house, and their main entrance doors play a large role in the general appeal of the house itself. There are many different styles and colours of garage doors, and these are designed to fit in with the general aesthetics of the property, so that they become a seamless extension which is both highly functional and efficient in its prime purpose. Alternatively, residential homes within a high walled perimeter may have roll-up shutters or grilles at their driveway entrances for additional protection against intrusion. A garage door specialist company is employed to design, manufacture and fit these doors in accordance with the concepts provided by the architect or home owner.
Garage door specialists work across many sectors
The need for garage doors is not confined to residential properties. Both commerce and industry also have a need for these doors. Factories and warehouses which have large doors for trucks to enter into the loading/delivery area need roll-up doors - usually made of galvanized steel and many of extra height to accommodate large trucks - to protect and secure these entrances when not in use. Aeroplane hangars are closed off with steel or aluminium roller doors due to their extremely wide openings. Fire-stations house their fire trucks behind sectional garage doors. Even in shopping centres or on main shopping streets, some retail outlets such as jewellers which have high-value stock on site, protect their entrances or shop frontages after hours with solid roll-up shutters or grilles. Shop owners with wide entrances may choose a clear view roller shutter for after-hours protection, allowing for maximum visibility of the goods on offer to passers-by. Although these specific shutters are see-through, they are extremely strong, being made from polycarbonate slats alternating with strong aluminium connecting rods. The strength of polycarbonate is evidenced by the fact that this material is used in the manufacture of police riot shields.
Types of garage door
There are three main types of garage door - sectional, tip-up or roll-up, all of which may be manually or automatically operated. They may be made of wood, aluminium, alu-zinc, steel or PVC. Design on all but PVC may be horizontal slatted (arguably the most commonly used design), raised and fielded, gothic (which may include large studs as part of the design) or a pattern which is unique to the home itself.
Garage doors may include windows, if desired, as part of the overall design. All doors may be stained, varnished, painted or powder-coated to a specific colour if required, according to the material used.
Garage door repairs and maintenance
As with all things in life, garage doors do not have an infinite life, and the mechanisms which control them do break down occasionally and require a specialist to fix them. The doors themselves, particularly wooden doors, also show signs of weathering and natural wear and tear over the years. Whilst these can be sanded down, re-varnished or repainted by a handyman or painter, some garage door specialists may offer a service which includes regular maintenance of the door itself at intervals agreed with the business owner or homeowner. If you want trouble-free operation of your garage doors, especially if they are automated, call in the specialists in this field who have the knowledge, experience, skills, equipment and parts to cope with general maintenance or to ensure a long-lasting repair.
How to find the right garage door specialists
Check their online ratings and customer reviews
These specialists can easily be found through advertisements in home magazines, home catalogues, industrial catalogues, home expos, newspapers, flyers and the Yellow Pages. As with many other businesses, they are becoming more and more visible through the internet, and it is here that Uptasker will provide invaluable assistance in your search. This site provides the names, contact details, links to websites (if available), online rating and customer reviews of the garage door specialists in your geographical area. From this site, you can click directly to their websites or request quotes for comparison. Many garage door contractors will have their own online catalogues, from which you can see their previous installations and design options as well as checking customer testimonials. If you have seen a style of garage door which appeals to you, by all means ask for the name of the company which installed it, as well as taking note of the customer’s feedback for information on reliability, adherence to time and budget constraints, range of material and design options available, personal service and advice.
