Tech Savvy LiftMaster Garage Door Openers

In the world of technology and phone apps, LiftMaster garage door openers are keeping up with the current times.  Being a preferred garage door dealer for LiftMaster openers,  I do admit that when all the internet tech savvy apps started being applied to garage door openers my first response was to say ” Why?”  However, as many things go  – One day when my husband and I returned home from a weekend trip up north he asked, “I wonder if we closed the garage door before we left the cabin?”  (With the cabin 2 hours away, this was not the time to have this thought.)  Then I remembered all I needed was my smart phone and my MYq app.  It would take just a second to answer this question.

Thank You LiftMaster – MYq technology gave my husband and I piece of mind that indeed we did close the garage door!   It brought me back to another time when I thought why I would ever use Siri on my Iphone.  I smiled and laughed.

North Central TR138 OAK, AR138 OAK and CHERRY

THE NEW COLORS HAVE ARRIVED! North Central now offers Oak and Cherry steel in Models: TR138/AR138 & TRII/ARII. We are always very excited to offer more options to our customers. These doors can be the perfect compliment to your outdoor curb appeal.

March Madness

March is a very busy month – St. Patricks Day, Easter, the arrival of Spring, hocky and basketball tournements. March is also a great month for garage clean up and organization. Here are 3 ideas found in Better Homes and Garden we thought you may enjoy.

Streamlined Storage:
A garage is on optimal place to organize and store not only garage gear but also off-season belongings.

Multifunctional Bench:
Combine different storage solutions to make a complete workstation.

Can It:
Store such things as birdseed, sand or salt. Make sure to place a cup inside for easy measuring!

We know cleaning the garage after a snowy and cold winter can be a daunting task. Good Luck to you all!!

My Favorite Garage Door

North Central AR-138

My favorite overhead door for many years has been North Central Door Company’s Model TR-138 and TR-II.  North Central is a smaller manufacturer who packs a lot of quality into their thermal line of garage doors.   I recently received a phone call from a customer that said they loved there TR-138 door as much today as when we installed it 10 years ago!  What an endorsement!

The TR-138 (1 3/8”) and TR-2000 (2” think) comes in a variety of styles.  The Classic Raised Panel, Long Panel Ranch and a Carriage Stamp.  All doors offer 26 gauge front and back steel, with a bonded polystyrene insulation.   If, your feel you need even more pizzazz, add windows and outside hardware.

Year after year North Central gets voted our favorite polystyrene insulated garage door – cost, quality, and good looks make this door #1!

http://www.northcentraldoors.com

http://www.accenthomesinc.com

 

 

National Safety Month

The National Safety Council www.nsc.org has named June National Safety month for your home. I thought this would be a good time to remind us of the safety needed for and around your garage door.

1. Make sure the garage door opener control button (wall button) and outside keypad is out of reach of small children.

2. Do not let children play with garage door remote controls.

3. Know how to disconnect the opener from the garage door.

4. Visually look at cables for signs of fraying and weakness.

5. Test the garage door opener’s reversing system. 

6. While on vacation, use the garage door opener’s lock switch to lock out remote transmissions; or, check out a new opener with My Q technology.  My Q allows you to open and close your garage door from anywhere you may be with internet access. www.activateyourhome.com

7. If the garage door will not open or seems sluggish, check above your door for a broken spring. A broken torsion spring will have a separation between the coils.  Using your garage door with a broken spring will wear out the gears in the garage door opener unit.  Springs are very dangerous and should be replaced by a professional.   

8. If you are using your garage door manually (without a power opener) always use a lift handle.  This will avoid pinching your fingers between the sections.

 

High Energy Efficient Garage Doors

The below information is from www.clopaydoor.com

A drafty, un-insulated garage door may not be an obvious culprit in rising monthly utility bills, but it’s worth giving it a second look if you have an attached garage.

Garages are more susceptible to temperature fluctuations given how often the garage door is opened and closed every day. Since attached garages typically share one or two common walls with the house, any hot or cold that travels through the door will ultimately affect the adjacent living areas.

An insulated garage door can help stabilize temperatures in the garage to reduce heat loss or gain.

The same principle applies to your front door.

If you’re thinking about upgrading to a more energy efficient model, stop making excuses.

Myth: Upgrading my garage door or entry door won’t save that much energy.

Reality: A new, energy efficient garage door can reduce energy loss through the garage by up to 71%.

Depending on the specifics of the home, a well insulated door can keep an unheated garage 10 to 20 degrees warmer on a cold winter day. That can have a significant impact on the comfort of family rooms or bedrooms located above or next to the garage.

It’s also important if items like refrigerators, washers and dryers or water heaters are located in the garage.

There are two different types of insulation used in garage doors: expanded polystyrene and polyurethane. The higher the R-value, or the lower the U-factor, the more energy efficient the insulation is. Doors constructed from both kinds are strong and durable.

 

Painting Your Garage Door

The video below is a perfect “How To” video on painting your garage door.  Watch how the hosts of  “Around The House” paint this  HAAS Thermal garage door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc_Y3S6ErDg&feature=youtu.be

Cedar Door Fashion

Before

After

 

 

 

 

 A new, rich looking cedar garage door harmonizes with the cedar siding and it’s surrounded by arched trim to echo the portico’s arch. Additional upgrades include a larger front window, bigger dormers, fresh roofing, and a gracious front walk.  This classic Cape-Cod home is all about class and style.  See other Cedar Wood Doors and designs at: www.greatnortherndoor.com 

Garage Doors in the kitchen

Wait… what? Garage doors in the what? It’s true, folks. For those wanting to easily alternate between eating in a conditioned environment and eating al fresco, the simple choice just might be a garage door in this unlikely location.  (article taken from The Kitchn)

Detached Garage

This article in Better Homes and Gardens takes a simple garage and makes it fabulous! 

Improve the Basic Detached Garage

Simple and practical, this detached garage represents a style that lives on at millions of homes.

The modest two-car garage is a prime example of how you can make a basic structure better than average. It’s been dressed with a ribbon of brick around its base, shingle siding, hefty white trim, a hint of a pergola along one side, red roof tiles, and an inviting window and flower-filled window box. It’s tidy, cozy, and a quaint hideaway for a car.