Garage Door Safety may not be something you or your family think about on a daily basis but it is certainly an important topic that should be shared!  In these hard economic times we live in, we are always looking for ways to save money, especially by doing repairs around the house ourselves.  All you have to do is turn on DIY network, Home & Garden TV or simply Google “How do I fix…” and you’re hit with “Do It Yourself” programs, YouTube videos and blogs everywhere!  We all love these shows,  I myself have gotten a lot of useful tips from them, however there are some repairs I would leave to the professionals. The ones that come to mind right away are electrical and garage door repair. Both of these can cause serious bodily harm and in some cases death.

Now, when it comes to things like maintaining your garage door, I can definitely recommend do it yourself preventative measures, like keeping all of the moving parts of your garage clean and free of debris. I can even refer you to this video on keeping all the moving parts on your garage door well lubricated:

BUT when it comes to the repairing and replacing of certain garage door hinges, bottom and top fixtures, cables and the entire line of springs on your door, these types of projects should be left to the garage door repair professionals.

I’ve heard over the years customers talking about trying to repair and/or rewind the torsion springs by using screwdrivers, ratchet handles, or a rebar etc… All of which are extremely dangerous. I’ve even seen customers trying to repair torsion springs using ZIP TIES & DUCT TAPE!! No! that wasn’t a typo, ZIP TIES & DUCT TAPE!! This is so wrong and DANGEROUS! Most people don’t realize the amount of tension that is on the springs of a garage door. Most doors in today’s market, especially Southwest Florida, are being wind loaded in the average ranges of 160 mph – 180 mph and up, which weigh anywhere from 300-500 lbs, and in many cases the larger doors, in the 1,000 lb range. The springs are what lift your door and when repairing the springs you have to handle all of that force, so duct tape and zip ties are not the answer, a phone call to a professional is! Trust me when I say, “The money you save isn’t even close to being worth the risk of injury” not to mention , in many cases you will spend the better part of a day trying to do the repair yourself.

Here are a few examples of what we have found onsite while repairing garage door springs:

We hope this Garage Door Safety blog was informative. If this blog makes only one person stop and call D & D Garage Doors for a repair and keeps them safe, then we are happy with that. Remember, “Safety First”

 This blog was written by Mark Hankins from our Fort Myers Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

Here at D and D Garage Doors Ft. Myers, we frequently have customers ask us questions about paint and color options for  their garage doors. The question, “Can I paint my garage door?”- is no stranger to this garage door company… We know that the right garage door in the right color can transform a home and add that instant curb appeal most homeowners desire.

The most common garage door service question we receive regarding color options is “What colors are available on your steel doors?” –  We have a variety of stunning colors available for most steel door models such as, White Almond, Desert Tan, Chocolate and Santone. A select few of our premium doors are also available in Hunter Green and Gray along with Ultra-Grain finished in Medium, Cherry and Walnut.

Another common question we are often asked is, “Can I paint my garage door?” and “What type of paint should I use on my garage door?” – First of all, Yes! You can definitely paint your garage door! All of our steel doors can be painted BUT we strongly recommend using a quality, ACRYLIC latex paint only!  Do not use an oil based paint!  Using an oil based paint will create a chemical reaction causing the original finish to bubble up and peel off! And you do not want that!  Also, if you are painting a dark color consider a thermal reflective paint to keep your door from getting too hot.  Dark colors absorb heat and a thermal reflective paint can help keep the temperature down.  (*Source: Clopay Garage Doors)

With Acrylic, latex paint, there is no prep work needed other than to make sure the door is clean and dry before painting. And, there is no change in the section warranty, as long as the above guidelines are followed.  HOWEVER, we strongly recommend choosing the right garage door in the right finish when making your purchase decision.  We carry a large variety of garage doors in many finishes and colors that will compliment any home so there is no need for any extra work on your end.

One final frequently asked question we get, “I scratched my door. Is touch-up paint available?” Yes!  Touch up paint is available from your local D and D Garage Doors Design Center. Give us a call, if you know the color of your garage door have that handy and our team will be happy to help you!

So whether you are looking for the right color, have a need to paint your garage door, or do a simple touch up D and D Garage Doors Fort Myers has the answer to any of your garage door service questions!

 This blog was written by Shirley Porto from our Fort Myers Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

Do you need Garage Door Service Daytona?

This blog will help us serve you better by giving you direction on what you’ll need when calling.

Whether you are calling for a new garage door remote (garage door clicker, garage door opener, or garage door transmitter) , a garage service call,  or if you are looking for one our many replacement parts for your door or  motor, it is important for us to have some key information from you.

For example, DID YOU KNOW that not all garage doors, remotes and motors are the same? There are many different brands, styles, sizes and colors.

Here are a few key points to remember…

 IF YOU ARE CALLING US TO REPLACE YOUR GARAGE DOOR REMOTE:

• Have the make and model number of your garage door opener  handy.  This is important information for us to know. You can find this information underneath the light cover of your motor, or on the back of the motor.  Another piece of important information we can use is the part number which is located on the logic board.  You can simply bring one of them into our office so that we may be able to match it up to something we have in stock. Keep in mind, some older models do not have parts available anymore, which also rings true if you are trying to get replacement parts for the motor.  In this case a universal remote can be used or it may be time to consider an upgrade

IF YOU ARE CALLING US FOR A REPLACEMENT PART TO YOUR GARAGE DOOR:

• Look for helpful information on the side of the garage door such as make, model, size etc… This is key, especially when replacing a section of the door. You can even find this information on a sticker located on the inside of the door, but not all doors have this information, which is OK. If your search for this information comes up empty, then one of our highly trained and educated service technicians can come out and determine what type of door you have and we will give you a free estimate.

And last but not least, lets talk about those dreaded times when you need garage door  service!  When you call in need of service it is very helpful to provide us with as much detail as possible.   We know you need to get your door working fast and we want to help you as quickly as possible!  This information will help us determine what our D & D technician might be coming out for, and that he is properly stocked & fully prepared.  At D & D Garage Doors, our ultimate goal is to make sure we are providing you with the correct parts and service that will work for your specific situation.  We strive to  deliver prompt & efficient customer service as well as efficiency in product knowledge – this is how we handle all your Ups & Downs!

We hope these hints and tips have been helpful and look forward to hearing from you if and when you need Garage Door Service Daytona!

This blog was written by Donna Coleman from our Daytona Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

This is why you need an impact rated garage door!

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Use your Tax Refunds to increase the value of your home.

For many of us, income tax time means extra money in our pockets and an opportunity to upgrade items on our home that we’ve put off for far too long.

Your garage door is the largest opening into your home and most likely the least thought about, unless of course one day you try to open the door and it won’t go up or down.  Homeowners looking to increase curb appeal and home value often turn to the experts at D & D Garage Doors to guide them in the right direction when choosing this type of upgrade.  Decisions on a new garage door include making sure it is hurricane safe while being attractive to both the homeowner’s curb appeal and budget.  The most recent Cost vs. Value 2013 report states that homeowners who upgrade their doors will recoup 75% of their investment back.

Our CUSTOMER’s rated these amongst their FAVORITE Garage Doors.  

For those homeowner’s looking to keep their current door in tip-top shape, we suggest a yearly maintenance.  We offer a yearly service that includes lubrication of all the moving parts, adjusting the necessary hinges, checking the rollers, springs, etc. Your door will last you so much longer and more than likely, you will not encounter major garage door problems that a homeowner who never services their door may have.

We know you’ve heard it before, but just as you perform maintenance to your automobile your garage door should receive some TLC from time to time.  We always suggest a licensed professional perform service work to your home– but feel free to browse our database of tips and advice or some of our educational YouTube Videos if you are more of a DIYer.  If you run into any issues let us know and we’ll handle your ups & downs!

As always, if you are unsure of something please call us and we would be glad to help in any way!

This blog was written by Debbie Quinter from our Orlando Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

We definitely have a few different choices when it comes to buying a new garage door opener. The one our customer’s choose may depend on what kind of garage door they have, and/or where on their house the garage is located.

First choice you may consider is a screw drive operator. This one is great for heavier garage doors. It is powerful, fast and quiet! It has the max power to open those larger or heavier doors with ease. This one is also specially designed for extremely hot (like our Florida summers) or cold climates.

Second choice is a belt drive opener. No one wants to be awakened or disrupted by the sound of their garage door opener, right? This is a great choice if your garage is close to your living area or if you have bedrooms above the garage. It is super quiet and smooth but just as strong as a chain drive.

Which leads us to our next choice, the chain drive operator. The chain drive is rugged and reliable. It’s suitable for all doors and the best choice if you are looking for a new operator on a smaller budget.

Last option is a jackshaft operator. This is the perfect choice if you have a smaller garage and don’t have enough headroom for a rail type operator. This operator is mounted directly to the wall so it leaves plenty of space. Many homeowners also choose this garage door operator if they have a cathedral style ceilings in their garages.

The best part about D & D Garage Doors is the fact that we have design centers all across the State of Florida.  You can simply come into any of our showrooms and test out the right garage door opener for you and your home!  Just pop in and we’ll gladly show you the different types and you can hear and see them for yourself.  No high pressure sales, just knowledgeable garage door experts.

This blog was written by Renee Delhomme from our Sarasota Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

TAMPA, FL (March 4th, 2013)  Starting the new year off right, D & D Garage Doors is unveiling their newest design center located in Tampa, Florida.   Conveniently located just two miles west of I-75 off exit 260B at 7208 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.  You can’t miss D & D’s signature yellow building with full size doors hung on the outside that showcase just a pinch of what the design center has to offer on the inside.  This 3,000 square foot showroom boasts a variety of garage doors and openers from manufacturers such as Clopay, Wayne Dalton, Liftmaster and Genie.  The move has brightened up the Tampa neighborhood and is due to add several jobs as D & D Garage Doors focuses on service, maintenance and new installations of garage doors and openers for homeowners in the Tampa area.

D & D Garage Doors is no stranger to the Tampa area or providing Tampa Garage Doors.  They’ve been serving Tampa customers for over 20 years.  The recent move from their previous Tampa location to the new 12,500 square foot building allows them to assist more customers who will be able to visually decide what door is best for their home.  Denver Miller co-owner of D & D states, “Our goal is to service Florida Coast to Coast, and we are doing just that.  We want our customers to be able to shop for a garage door as they would a household appliance; come into our design center, see the actual door, test out the right garage door opener and speak to a garage door expert face to face.”

This blog was written by Dawn Dover from our Sarasota Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

I want to buy a new Garage Door, now what?  Is this what you were just asking yourself?  Well not to worry, most homeowners we meet with are at this very point in the buying process.

Where do I start?  Do we just get the same plain white door we’ve had for the past 10 years?  Should we look at insulated doors?  Is our door hurricane rated, do we need an impact rated door?  How much are these new fancy doors?  This pretty much covers it right?

One of the first things we ask a homeowner is if they are able to come into our Design Center.  Usually most folks have purchased a garage door only once in their life, if ever at all, and that was 10 plus years ago.  So much has changed.  Our design centers keep a wide range of full sized garage doors on display as well as garage door samples to help you decide on color, insulation, decorative hardware, etc.  If the customer is able, we invite them in and take it from there.  If on the other hand they are unable to come into one of our design centers, have no fear — we can come to you!

A few things you may want to think about before beginning your new garage door search:

• What size garage door do you have?
• Do you have a colored door that’s outdated and maybe a clean neutral color is the best option to give your home some classy curb appeal?
• Have you seen a custom or carriage style garage door and perhaps you’d like to explore these Designer Choice Garage Door options?
• Does your area require an impact rated door or will you receive insurance credit for upgrading to a more stable, secure door?

Of course the above is not necessary as any garage door professional should be able to assist you with all of these and help you make the best decision for your home, your family and your budget.

If you’re just starting your new garage door search, we encourage you to browse our garage door catalog or stop in to any of our design centers throughout the State of Florida.  If you’ve seen a garage door on a neighboring home that tickles your fancy, snap a photo on your smartphone and bring it in—chances are we can match it!

Last but not least, have fun and explore all the wonderful options that are now available.  Your garage is the largest opening into your home; it’s a purchase that will last for years and years to come.  Take it seriously and choose what makes you feel safe and proud of your home’s curb appeal!

This blog was written Tarree House from our Sarasota Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.

We often have customers call in and ask us if it is okay to replace their garage door opener bulb with an energy efficient light bulb.  The answer is Yes and No…it depends on your opener.

Although this may be good practice for your house lamps it’s not a good idea for all garage door openers. According to recent articles CFL light bulbs can cause interference with the radio receiver and remotes on the garage door operator.  General Electric issued the following statement:

Many electronic devices, such as radios, televisions, wireless telephones, and remote controls, use infrared light to transmit signals. Infrequently, these types of electronic devices accidentally interpret the infrared light coming from a compact fluorescent bulb as a signal, causing the electronic device to temporarily malfunction or stop working. (For example, your television might suddenly change channels.) Fortunately, this only happens when light is produced at the same wavelength as the electronic device signals, which is rare. To reduce the chance of interference, avoid placing compact fluorescent bulbs near these kinds of electronic devices. If interference occurs, move the bulb away from the electronic device, or plug either the light fixture or the electronic device into a different outlet.

Liftmaster, however has been paying attention to this issue and addressed CFL bulb interference on their latest garage door openers: model 8550 and model 8360 DC-motor openers. They claim to have enhanced CFL compatible lighting available on these two models using a max 27 watts C

FL bulbs.  Liftmaster garage door openers offer whole-garage lighting with adjustable light time delay compatible with CFL bulbs.  The energy-efficient operation also consumes up to 75% less power in standby mode.

It’s also important to mention, LED lights.  LED lighting is actually known to create more RF noise than CFL bulbs.  It’s also important to note that RF (radio frequency) noise generated by a bulb can vary by manufacturer and even by bulb. The light bulb industry is not required to do RF testing, which is why the results will vary.

We do encourage the use of energy efficient light bulbs where appropriate.  DID YOU KNOW, that if every home in America replaced just one light bulb within their home, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for an entire year!  That’s about $600 million in annual energy costs.  This would prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars*.  In addition, these light bulbs last about 6 times longer than regular light bulbs.

*Sources: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB

http://garagedoorzone.blogspot.com/2012/06/cfl-bulbs-may-interfere-with-your.html

In today’s economy, we know and understand that it is more important than ever for our customers to be confident that they are getting the best value for their hard earned dollars when they choose D and D Garage Doors.  Whether they choose us to furnish and install their new garage door and operator or provide service to their existing garage door or opener we want them to know they made the right decision.

Along with taking pride in providing a wide variety of quality products and timely service (we do our very best to schedule our service calls within 24 hours of the time we receive the call), we are also proud to say that we are both State Licensed through the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CBC1258205) and fully insured. Both of these items are important to you the homeowner when you are choosing who you hire to do your work. A part of state licensing means that we will be able to pull the necessary permits for the projects we are involved in and that you can rest assured that we are required to stay current with the ever changing laws in the construction field.  Another big part of our being insured means that you, the homeowner are protected from liability should one of our employees get injured while working on your property.

We know you have lots of choices when it comes to who you will use for your garage door repair and garage door installation but our hope is that as you make your choice, you remember to consider some of the things that may not appear to be as important at first glance. Upon request, we would be more than happy to provide you with copies of our license and/or insurance certificates.  We also encourage you to join our Facebook page where our customers share their recommendations and testimonials to our service!

This blog was written by Kathy Mills from our Sarasota Design Center.  Plagiarism disclaimer to follow.  *This blog is owned by D & D Garage Doors. We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you fully source, D & D Garage Doors within the content of your blog complete with link back to D & D Garage Doors website at  www.DandDGarageDoors.com/blog – Failure to do so will cause D & D to file a notice of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement with search engines such as Google and others to have the offending site removed from their search results.