Q. I am looking for a new garage door, how do I measure my garage door?

A. Garage doors are measured by the width or the door followed by the height.  So your standard two car garage door would be a 16′ x 7′ door and a single car garage door would measure at 9′ x 7′ or 8′ x 7′.

Q. What is the difference between an insulated door and a non insulated door?

A. An insulated garage door has styrofoam or some other insulation attached to the back of the panel.  A non insulated door is metal only and called hollow.

Q. What kind of maintenance should I perform on my garage door?

A. You should have your door lubed and adjusted every year to keep the door running smoothly and safely.

Q. My garage door is very loud what can I do?

A. The top two things that cause loud garage doors are the side rollers and the lubrication of the door.  We recommend your garage door be lubed yearly and we have nylon rollers which can be installed to greatly reduce friction and noise.

Q. When is it a good time to install a new garage door?

A. If your garage door is not functioning correctly, the door is a potential hazard. Do not try to fix on your own, instead contact a professionally trained garage door servicer. Another reason to replace a garage door is to enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to the 2010 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement is the #2 remodeling project in regards to return on investment. The report states that replacing your garage door will return 84% of the cost at the time of home sale. Lastly, your current garage door may be fading, sagging and just in need of a replacement. If you have a wood garage door that needs re-painting, replacing it with a new pre-painted steel garage door may be a better value. Painting a garage door adds significant weight to a door which may affect the spring and the performance of the garage door and opener.

Q. How should I choose the best garage door for me?

A. Each homeowner has needs for a new garage door that are unique based on the desired styling, the level of care & maintenance required, the energy efficiency and the location of the garage in one’s home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits you are:

– Choose the material that best suits your desired level of care & maintenance. Overhead Door of America offers different styles made from steel, wood composite, wood and aluminum.

– Choose the door design that is compatible and best complements your home, including window, color and decorative hardware options.

– Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction that best suits your needs depending on if you have a room above or adjacent to your garage or have children that play in front of the garage. Most garage doors are available with insulation or no insulation options.

Q. Are speciality sizes garage doors available? I have a uniquely garage that features an unusual size door.

A. Yes, speciality sizes are available in certain models for commercial and residential garage doors.

Q. Do I need to have the windows at the top of my garage door?

A. Windows can be placed in any section of the door layout. Window placement at the top or second to the top of the garage door will create the most natural lighting and provide the most security.

Q. My Garage door windows glass and insert broke. How do I replace the garage door glass and window insert?

A. Your garage door glass and window insert can be replaced by Overhead Door of America call us to schedule a repair.

Q. Should I secure my garage door with a lock?

A. If you recently installed an electric garage door opener on  your garage door, it is most likely not necessary to install a lock on your garage door.  Garage door openers that are installed correctly act as a lock for your garage door, causing it to be impractical for an intruder to open the garage door from the outside.  If you have an older garage door opener, you can test it yourself by attempting to open the garage door from the outside.  Additional the trade association for the garage door industry DASMA, discourages homeowners from installing a lock on the garage door.  This is because a friend or family member will open the door with the lock on it and cause the garage door to be damaged.  If you do require a garage door lock, Overhead Door of America has a few models available.

Q. What is the difference between extension or torsion garage door springs?

A. Extension springs are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal track when the door is closed. Torsion springs are typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted to the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when the door is moved. Torsion springs are a better choice because they balance the weight of the door better than extension springs for smoother operation and safety.

Q. What is the benefit of choosing an insulated garage door?

A. A garage door opening is very large. Insulated garage doors will reduce the transfer of heat or cold air into your garage. This is important for a number of reasons:

– For some houses the garage is attached to your home, which means the temperature from your garage can affect the attached living area. An insulated garage door will reduce the transfer of air from the outside to the inside.

– For houses with or without the garage door attached you may still use your garage as a workshop and your comfort will be a top priority. An insulated garage door will help keep the temperature regulated .

– If your garage is below another room in your home, air can travel through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. An insulated door will keep temperatures in the garage fairly stable to reduce the temperature fluctuation in the room above.

– An insulated garage door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior than a non-insulated door.

Q. What is the R-Value of a door and why is there large differences in different doors?

A. In the building and construction industry, R-value is a measure of thermal resistance. Specifically, R-value is thermal resistance to heat flow.

The higher the R-value number, the better the insulating properties of the material. However, an R-16 value is not twice as good as an R-8 Value. R-16 does not offer twice as much thermal resistance or twice the energy savings of an R-8 value. A value of R-16 offers a 5% reduction in heat flow and a 5% improvement  energy efficiency than a value of R-8, not 50%. No matter the R-Value, an insulated garage door will reduce the amount of heat flow and improve energy efficiency of a home.