Whether you are looking to replace your old, outdated garage door with custom garage doors , or are building a new home, there are a few things you need to consider before you make the purchase. Factors including where you live and the resale value should factor into your decision. Keep reading to learn more factors you should consider before purchasing a new, custom garage door for your home.

Location

Garage doors are extremely heavy objects, therefore, they require necessary hardware and tracking that is dependent upon your location. Based on weather and climate safety measures your new garage door may require additional bracing or other installation specifications.

Wind and water aren’t the only elements that can impact your garage door. The direction that your garage door faces can also affect your door. If your garage door faces the sun, your home and garage are more likely to heat up from air escaping from the garage. If this is the case for you, consider purchasing an insulated garage door to improve energy efficiency throughout your home.

Energy Efficiency Requirements

As with most custom items, a custom garage door will cost more than your typical garage door. But, a typical garage door won’t be able to save you nearly as much on your utilities as a custom, insulated door would. Choosing to purchase a door that has a higher energy efficiency rating will not only aid in keeping your home warmer or cooler around the garage, but it will also save you money on energy bills.

Market Value

Any investment you make in your home will increase your home’s resale value. Before you make a final decision on the garage door that you want to purchase for your home, you should first calculate the cost of your home. This will allow you to determine how much value will be added to your home when you purchase a new door.

The price of garage doors vary, so knowing how much return you’d get on your investment can help to justify your decision to purchase a new door.

Type of Door

There are different types of doors to choose from. The ultimate deciding points for estimating how much your custom door will cost is the type, build, and design. Some of the most common types of doors include:

• Aluminum: lightweight, yet comes with a higher price tag. This is a good option for wet climates, as aluminum doors hold up better to rust than steel doors.

• Steel: If you are looking for variety, you’ll want to invest in a steel door. Available in different colors, insulation and flexible price options make steel an attractive choice. These doors are strong and light and can be equipped with foam insulation to protect against heat and cold.

• Wood Composite: Wood doors have a classic look and feel to them, but they don’t tend to last as long as other materials. Although, wood composite doors are widely available and cost effective.

• Fiberglass: Fiberglass is great due to its durability. Fiberglass is known to hold up well against insects and most elements. Fiberglass is not a good option for cold climates where temperatures are known to drop below freezing.

• Vinyl: Vinyl doors are one of the more expensive options available. They are great for those who are looking for a particular look or a different visual appeal than they can get with other door types. An advantage of vinyl doors is that they require less maintenance than most other options and are rust resistant as well.

• Carriage House Doors: Generally, carriage house doors are more affordable than you might initially think and add a lot of curb appeal to your home. These doors are the most aesthetically pleasing style of custom doors available.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing custom garage doors. If you are looking to have a custom door installed, contact the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors today to learn more about your options and get the right door for your home!

There are many different components that make a garage door function properly. Each part is intended to help the door function with the assistance of the motor, so that it easily goes up and down without any hiccups every time you push your remote. Knowing what components are included on a garage door and what their functionality is can save you time and money when something goes wrong. Additionally, knowing the various components of a Pittsburgh garage can help to protect you and your family from any potential harm from a malfunctioning garage door.

Here is a list of the components that make up a garage door:

Sections : Steel panels that create the door part of your garage door. These panels are reinforced with stiles which are then interconnected with hinges and rollers. Sections can be replaced when damaged, without having to replace the entire door.

Bottom Brackets: These devices are located at the bottom of a garage door and provide structural support and attachments for lifting cables.

Cable Drums: Located on the torsion spring, these grooved drums provide a place for the lifting cables to wind up when the door is opened.

Torsion Springs: The means to open and close the garage door through the use of cable winding on the drums.

Extension Springs: These springs extend along both horizontal tracks and assist in the raising and lowering of the garage door.

Operator Hanger: Used to attach the horizontal tracks to the ceiling of the garage, providing additional support.

Track: Used as a guide for the garage door to run up and down on. Tracks are installed on both sides of the door and are often referred to as either horizontal or vertical tracks.

Hinges: Attached to the sections of a garage door and provide support. It is the hinges that allow for a garage door to roll up and down.

Emergency Pull Cord: This cord allows for the motor to be disengaged, allowing for the door to be opened or closed manually.

Motor: This is what powers a garage door, mechanically opening and closing the door.

Operator Rail: Most garage doors operate on either a chain, belt or screw drive.

Rear Track Hanger: This is what attaches the horizontal track to the ceiling, therefore providing additional support.

Bearing Plate: Attached to the header, the bearing plate is used to support the spring and shaft.

Photo Eye: The part of the sensor’s safety measure that transmits an infrared light from one sensor to another. If the beam of light is interrupted, the garage door will not be able to close. These must be properly aligned in order for the garage door to operate properly.

It is obvious that there are numerous components that are in place to not only assist a Pittsburgh garage to operate efficiently but to provide safety as well. When a garage door doesn’t open, the most common problem has to do with a damaged spring. As springs are the most dangerous component of a garage door, do not attempt to repair a spring yourself.

Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors has trained garage door technicians who know how to work on garage doors and return them to working order. When you find that your garage door needs repair work done, call on the experts at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors!

Having automatic garage doors is something that most often we take for granted amidst our busy lives. While they provide us with easy access to our homes, and protection for our vehicles, do you know how to operate your door in case the power goes out?

Some people might panic, trying to figure out how they will get their car in or out. Forget about your vehicle, others might be concerned with trying to figure out how they will gain access to their home. Are you going to have to pay a service charge to have a professional garage door service company come out and open your door? Thankfully, the answer is no! Once you know what to do, opening your automatic door when the power is out is easy!

Enable the Bypass

Most automatic doors are equipped with a bypass function, that allows you to disengage the automatic opener and operate the door manually. For most doors, the bypass function is a rope that is hanging down from your doors opener system.

When you pull down on this rope, the opener is then disengaged from the automatic system that is rendered useless due to the power outage. It is recommended that you only engage the bypass when your garage door is in the closed position, as the weight of the door could cause it to slam down; potentially injuring or damaging to objects, animals, or people that are standing nearby.

Once you have enabled your doors bypass, you are then able to operate your door manually. While this is not ideal, and requires more effort on your part, don’t let the power outage prevent you from using your garage as you normally would.

What to do when the power is restored?

When the power is restored to your home, you’ll need to reattach your garage door to the automatic opener. Just like when you enabled the bypass, you’ll need to pull down on the rope again. Once you have pulled on the rope, you’ll need to pull up on the door until you hear or feel it snap back into place. If you prefer, you can also push the button on your remote. This option will allow for you to see the spring attachment reconnect once the opener reaches a certain point.

When the power goes out, there is a possibility that your door may fail to engage with the operator again. If this happens it is important to call a professional garage door repair technician to hook your door back up.

Safety First

Even with the power out, your garage doors are still an extremely heavy object in your home. It is important to practice safety measures around your door, especially when manually operating the door. While it is possible to disengage and engage your door, never put your safety or the safety of others above a working garage door. A few hours of inconvenience are not worth the potential risk to your safety.

At Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors we have expert technicians who are able to help with any garage door problems that you might be experiences. Whether you are needing service, maintenance, repair or a complete replacement, we have the knowledge to get you what you need. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for all your garage door needs!

Having a garage door that opens and closes on command with the push of a button is something that most homeowners take for granted. In fact, relying on your garage door to always open when you need it to, can result in some serious problems when something breaks and doesn’t work the way that it should. When a mechanical garage door breaks, there is the possibility that you could get locked out of your home when you lose access to a working garage door. While garage door problems are not that unheard of, some problems are more common than others. We’ve outlined three of the most common Pittsburgh garage door repair that we encounter.

Garage Door Won’t Open at All

When you push the button on your garage door controller, you expect your door to respond to the coordinating command. While this is expected, this doesn’t mean that it always happens which could be the result of a number of different reasons. The first thing to check is the batteries in your remote to ensure that they are still good and working. If your batteries need to be replaced, and your door still isn’t working, you could have problems with your cables, tracks, the motor or sensor. To get your door repaired and back to fully working condition, contact Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors.

Loud Screeching and Grinding when Opening or Closing Your Door

When your garage door starts to make loud screeching, and grinding noises it is generally annoying. While it might be tempting to ignore the sounds, and try to get used to them, there is generally a simple solution to fix the problem. The cause of the noise is generally caused by dirt or debris that has collected in the tracks, or a lack of lubrication. To fix the problem, clean the tracks and lubricate the relevant parts with an oil or lubrication that is specifically designed for garage doors. If you would prefer not to perform your Pittsburgh garage door repair yourself, the professional technicians at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors are happy to assist!

Broken Torsion Spring

When your torsion spring breaks, you will know it! When torsion springs break, they sound like a loud firework that has been set off in your garage. It is natural for springs to break, due to the limited number of uses that each spring is designed to withstand. When your torsion spring breaks, do not attempt to repair it yourself. Always call a professional to come and do the repair work for you, as torsion springs are very dangerous to work with, due to the high amount of tension they contain when wound.

At Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors , we have years of experience in helping homeowners will all of their garage door repair needs. If you are in need of a new garage door, or repair for any type of garage door, call the professionals today!

As any homeowner will know, overhead doors are the largest, heaviest, moving object in your home. These doors are generally used multiple times a day, giving you enough reason to pay attention to the general care and maintenance of each door in your home. Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors, knows that large rolling doors can be extremely dangerous when not well maintained, and in proper working order. Therefore, we’ve provided a list of safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected.

Garage Door Safety Tips

• Mount garage door openers and control buttons out of reach of small children. It is recommended they be placed at least 5 feet from the floor, and in a location where you can have a clear view of the door at all times.
• Garage door remotes are not toys; therefore, it is imperative that young children do not play with the remotes.
• Set a good example for small children, show and explain to them how to operate a door safely.
• Know how to use your doors emergency release feature.
• Do not attempt to perform repairs to your door yourself. This could lead to serious injury and damage.
• Visually inspect your door on a regular basis. Check the springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for signs of wear. If you spot any areas of concern contact the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors for service and repairs.

While garage doors provide easy access to your home, they can also pose a security risk when not properly secured. We’ve provided a list of tips on how to secure your garage door, to protect your home and your possessions.

Garage Door Security Tips

• When leaving for an extended period of time on vacation, be sure to unplug the garage door opener unit, or use the vacation mode. This will prevent your garage door from being opened by remotes and unwanted visitors.
• For enhanced security, consider purchasing a garage door opener with rolling code technology. This technology changes the access code for the garage door opener each time the transmitter is used.
• Wireless keypads allow for users to open the overhead door with the use of a PIN. This feature allows for family and those with the PIN to open the door without the use of a key or remote. It is important to never share your PIN with anyone other than family. Don’t leave the PIN written down where it can be found and used by anyone.
• Do not leave your garage remote in your car, or with a parking attendant. It is important to treat your garage remote with the same level of security as your house key.
• Be sure that the door leading from your garage into your home is always locked. This will provide you with greater security and safety.
• Before going to bed for the night, check to make sure that your garage door is closed and your entry door is locked.

By following these simple safety and security tips, your garage door can serve a useful purpose in protecting your home. If you are ever looking to upgrade your garage door, or needs repairs or service, contact the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors !

While most garage door openers have similar designs and functions, there are different options available. All garage doors are equipped with a trolley that is attached to the door, pulling the door open, or pushing it closed. Each trolley is also connected to a motor that drives the trolley along a rail. The biggest difference between the different models of openers is how the motor moves the trolley up and down the rail. There are three main types of openers that are commonly found on residential garage doors.

Chain-Drive: this particular model uses a metal chain to drive the trolley, opening and closing the garage door. While this option tends to be the most economical choice available, they also create noise and vibrations that can become irritating over time if the garage is connected to the home, located next to or under living space. For a garage that is not attached to the home, this model is a great choice!

Belt-Drive: this model is very similar to that of a chain-driven model, except it uses a belt rather than a chain to move the trolley. This model is also quieter than the chain model, and consists of fewer moving parts. With fewer moving parts to worry about, the belt drive model requires less maintenance than other models.

Screw-Drive: Instead of relying on a chain or belt to move the trolley along the rail, the screw-drive model uses a threaded steel rod. The rod’s rotation is what moves the trolley along the rail, raising and lowering the door as it moves along. This model is generally quieter than the chain-drive model, and like that of the belt-drive, has fewer moving parts, thus less maintenance. But it is much louder than the belt/chain driven machines.

Depending on the model of garage door opener that you select, there are added features that can make one model more appealing than another. To learn what options are going to work best for your specific needs, visit with the professionals at Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors and get the opener that you’ll be satisfied with for years to come!

When it is time to purchase a new garage door, do you know what to look for to ensure that you are getting the right garage door for your home? When it comes to garage doors Pittsburgh , there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’, so it is important to think about what you need before you have a new one installed. A garage door is an essential part of your home. Therefore, it is imperative that you find one that not only looks good with your home, but also provides the security that you are looking for in a garage door. We’ve compiled a list of things to consider before you purchase the first garage door you find.

Security

For homeowners, security is the most important feature to consider. Finding a garage door that is equipped with the latest security features to protect your home could be the best decision you make for home security. Some garage doors are now equipped with a rolling-code technology security feature. This feature changes the security code for the garage door each time the remote is used.

Safety

For those homes that have high traffic, small children, or pets, a garage door that is equipped with a laser light sensor is essential. When a laser light sensor detects an object or person in the path of the door while closing, the door will either stop or reverse direction.

Materials

Garage doors are made out of either wood, steel, aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass. Depending on the look and style you are going for, this will be a determining factor for the material that will give you the look you want.

• Wood: Homeowners who want a visual statement piece usually opt for wood garage doors. However, wood is not as durable as other materials.
• Steel: Steel is the most common, least expensive material for garage doors. Not only is steel more durable, but it also provides an increased level of security.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass is durable, but when exposed to extreme cold temperatures, fiberglass doors are prone to cracks.
• Aluminum: Aluminum is the material of choice in areas that are prone to moisture-causing issues. Aluminum doors resist corrosion and rust caused by excessive amounts of moisture.
• Vinyl: Vinyl is a relatively new garage door material making its debut. Vinyl offers homeowners an affordable, durable, and low-maintenance option when selecting a garage door.

Styles

For some homeowners, the ability to select a style of garage door is news to them! Garage doors are available in tilt-up, sectionals, and roll -up styles. Each style comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For roll-up doors, they are more expensive than other styles of doors available and typically require more maintenance to ensure proper functionality. On the other hand, roll-up doors consist of several small parts that connect to one large unit that roll overhead when opened. Sectional garage doors are similar to roll-up doors. They consist of three or four panels that are connected with hinges. Sectional doors take up more ceiling space than other styles of doors, and require regular maintenance to prevent mechanical difficulties. Tilt-up garage doors are made of a single panel that opens and closes with a ceiling-mounted track.

Motors

When shopping for garage doors, pay attention to the horsepower’s listed on the various motors available. Heavier garage doors will require more horsepower to operate, whereas having a motor with higher horsepower on a lightweight door could be unnecessary. Find the motor with the right amount of horsepower for your particular needs.

Aesthetics

A garage door is a big investment for any homeowner, one that they will have to live with for years to come. When looking at the various styles and types available, it is important to decide if you want a door that will blend in with the rest of your home, or that will make a statement. What about the ambiance of the neighborhood? Would you prefer a door that has windows, or a solid door panel? Take the time to consider all of your options to ensure that you are getting a door that you will be happy with.

Cost

Depending on the type, style, and features that your door is equipped with, this will determine the final cost. When shopping for garage doors, having a budget set that you are comfortable paying will help in determining what features you can and cannot afford to have included in your garage door.

When you make a decision on a garage door, be sure that it is a decision that you will be happy with using for years to come. When considering all of the options listed above, you’ll be more prepared to make an informed decision and find the right garage doors Pittsburgh that is durable, beautiful, and functional for your needs. Contact Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors today to get started on finding the right garage door for your home!