Though they look relatively simple in construction, garage doors actually have many components, especially if they’re hooked up to an electric opener.Because of this level of complexity—and the fact that a garage door must stand up against harsh weather—a garage door may suffer from any of several problems.
The most common problem is that the door becomes difficult to lift and lower. This may be something that can be resolved with a few simple adjustments and basic maintenance, or it may be more serious. If the door is connected to an electric opener, the first clue is to disconnect opener mechanism from the door by pulling the release cord or lever. If the door works fine manually, the problem is with the electric opener; in this case, consult your owner’s manual or call a garage door opener repair pro.
If you have a wood door, be sure to keep it properly painted or stained, both outside and inside. If you finish only the outside of a garage door, the door may warp and the moisture will subvert the paint, causing it to peel. Manufacturers of wood doors recommend you initially paint both the inside and outside and repaint the exterior surface every year or two.
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is a new website that features the next generation of Garage Doors For Florida homeowners. Your garage door is one of the major architectural features of your house. Selecting the right garage door in Florida is important not only for curb appeal but also because our weather can cause wooden garage doors to rot, warp or need constant repainting and maintenance. Garage Door Florida features a line-up of beautifully crafted composite eco-friendly garage doors from Eden Coast LLC. They are each custom built to homeowners needs and manufactured with to reduce your impact on the environment. For more information or to locate a dealer in Jacksonville please visit GarageDoorFlorida.com
A door that seems unusually heavy to lift may have a problem with spring tension. Garage door springs are under extreme tension because of the loads they must lift, and this makes them dangerous to adjust. If your door’s springs are out of adjustment, do not attempt to work on them yourself. Call a qualified garage door company
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Orlando Using More Solar Heating
As reported by Gwen Biasi
Greater Orlando Home Improvement Magazine
Energy prices continue to climb, but the good news is that the cost barrier to using green energy is dropping. People are seeking alternative energy sources that are abundant, environmentally sound and cost effective. Technology continues to evolve that helps us channel energy from the sun. The sun’s energy can provide space heating, hot water heating and electricity for lights and appliances.
Solar retrofitting
Solar retrofits are solar energy applications made for an existing home. Since the sun is an endless, environmentally friendly energy source, using it lowers utility bills. When retrofitting, the first stage of the project is to make a record as to how energy is currently used in the home so that the right product may be chosen.
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is an educational website for homeowners and consumers who are considering purchasing a new garage door. The Garage Door Florida website provides information on Eden Coast Custom Garage Doors which are crafted from composite materials and color matched to your home.There are many advantages to a Garage Door in Florida that looks great and will not need nearly the amount of maintenance a wooden garage door would need. For more information on how your home can have an Eden Coast Garage Door please visit the website Garage Door Florida.
Next, determine how much sun is available. The amount of solar energy available to a home is largely dependent on the time of year and your home’s location. For example, homes in the northern hemisphere need a southeast to southwest orientation to maximize solar energy. You will also want to assess sun availability by looking at what obstructions there are on the south side of the home, such as trees or taller buildings. Solar energy retrofit options may include active and passive solar energy systems, photovoltaic panels, as well as the use of wind and geothermal energy.
Passive solar heating
Passive solar is the most cost-effective approach to maximizing the use of solar energy for your home. Passive solar heating of homes is simple: It occurs when sunlight passes through a window, and no additional equipment is used to harness the energy. Passive solar applications use building elements such as walls, windows, floors and roofs, in addition to exterior building elements. Landscaping can control overheating by providing shade and windbreaks for winter winds. Once heat is collected inside, a well-insulated, airtight “building envelope” helps prevent heat loss and allows the sun to provide more of the heat needed by the house.
Active solar systems
Active solar energy systems use solar collectors and a pump or a fan to distribute the sun’s energy. Active systems are often used for heating water. The collector is a dark color to absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into heat. Some collectors have a glass cover, collecting solar energy all year. Domestic hot water requirements can be met in part by active solar systems. In most cases solar energy will only provide partial water requirements during the winter, but will provide most of the summer season requirements. In most applications the solar energy system is used to preheat water going into a conventional water heater. Outdoor swimming pools can be entirely heated by solar energy systems, eliminating the need entirely for a supplemental heater.
Greater Orlando Home Improvement Magazine
Energy prices continue to climb, but the good news is that the cost barrier to using green energy is dropping. People are seeking alternative energy sources that are abundant, environmentally sound and cost effective. Technology continues to evolve that helps us channel energy from the sun. The sun’s energy can provide space heating, hot water heating and electricity for lights and appliances.
Solar retrofitting
Solar retrofits are solar energy applications made for an existing home. Since the sun is an endless, environmentally friendly energy source, using it lowers utility bills. When retrofitting, the first stage of the project is to make a record as to how energy is currently used in the home so that the right product may be chosen.
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is an educational website for homeowners and consumers who are considering purchasing a new garage door. The Garage Door Florida website provides information on Eden Coast Custom Garage Doors which are crafted from composite materials and color matched to your home.There are many advantages to a Garage Door in Florida that looks great and will not need nearly the amount of maintenance a wooden garage door would need. For more information on how your home can have an Eden Coast Garage Door please visit the website Garage Door Florida.
Next, determine how much sun is available. The amount of solar energy available to a home is largely dependent on the time of year and your home’s location. For example, homes in the northern hemisphere need a southeast to southwest orientation to maximize solar energy. You will also want to assess sun availability by looking at what obstructions there are on the south side of the home, such as trees or taller buildings. Solar energy retrofit options may include active and passive solar energy systems, photovoltaic panels, as well as the use of wind and geothermal energy.
Passive solar heating
Passive solar is the most cost-effective approach to maximizing the use of solar energy for your home. Passive solar heating of homes is simple: It occurs when sunlight passes through a window, and no additional equipment is used to harness the energy. Passive solar applications use building elements such as walls, windows, floors and roofs, in addition to exterior building elements. Landscaping can control overheating by providing shade and windbreaks for winter winds. Once heat is collected inside, a well-insulated, airtight “building envelope” helps prevent heat loss and allows the sun to provide more of the heat needed by the house.
Active solar systems
Active solar energy systems use solar collectors and a pump or a fan to distribute the sun’s energy. Active systems are often used for heating water. The collector is a dark color to absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into heat. Some collectors have a glass cover, collecting solar energy all year. Domestic hot water requirements can be met in part by active solar systems. In most cases solar energy will only provide partial water requirements during the winter, but will provide most of the summer season requirements. In most applications the solar energy system is used to preheat water going into a conventional water heater. Outdoor swimming pools can be entirely heated by solar energy systems, eliminating the need entirely for a supplemental heater.
How to Guard Your Home Against a Hurricane
From the Florida Home Builder Website
f you want to safeguard your home from the devastating winds and rain of a hurricane, there are steps you can take now, long before a storm is on the horizon.
Some of these preparations you can do yourself. Others require the expertise of an experienced contractor. For the name of a reputable contractor in your area, contact the Local Home Builders Association in your area or call the National Association of Home Builders Remodelors Council at 800-368-5242.
The Roof System
Install hurricane straps or clips to the inside of your roof. This must be done by a roofing contractor when your roof is being replaced since it requires access to the inside of the roof underneath the sheathing. These straps/clips should be placed where the roof truss adjoins the exterior wall.
When the trusses are exposed, check to make sure that they are properly fastened. Fasteners include nails and staples. If the fasteners have missed the truss, the roof is weakened. You may want to add nails if they are scarce or if many have missed the top cord of the roof.
If you have a gable-end roof, make sure it is properly braced at the ends. This can be done at any time. Attach 2x4s or 2x6s to the gable end perpendicular to the truss system. Use screws, not nails, to attach the braces. Also, install steel angles to the gable end bracing to reinforce the gable ends.
Exterior Openings
Windows, French doors and sliding doors must be protected either by hurricane shutters or by an impact-resistant glazing such as laminated glass. Shuttering can be done with 5/8 inch plywood or metal storm panels. To save time before a hurricane, install the anchors or brackets now and store the shutters. Pre-cut plywood pieces should be mounted overlapping windows on all sides by four inches so that the shutters are attached to the frame underneath the exterior surface. Use anchors and wood screws to attach the anchors to siding or lag bolts for masonry.
Double garage doors are another weak point that needs to be reinforced. This can be done at anytime; the bracing can remain on the doors year round. Install cross bracing or girts horizontally across the door. Use six to eight 2x4s or steel girts.
Also, reinforce the track of the garage door with heavier gauge metal and anchor it to the frame with long screws.
Check with the manufacturer of your garage door to see if a strengthening package for is available.
Double-entry doors are another frail spot. Check the inactive door and make sure it's secured to the header and threshold; if not, add reinforcing pins to the top and bottom of the door. Also, add heavier hinges and more secure locks.
Fences and Porches
If you're putting up fencing, leave spaces at the bottom instead of driving every panel into the ground to allow air to go under the fence, rather than knocking it down.
Porches normally have weak roofs. Make sure the roof is bolted to the exterior wall of the house. Also, attach porch flooring firmly to the house.
By the time weather forecasters knew that Hurricane Andrew was going to strike South Florida, homeowners had little time to prepare their homes. Those who tried to buy plywood for shuttering windows a day or two before the storm found supplies completely depleted. By taking these precautions now, you'll save time, heart ache and money if a hurricane hits your area.
f you want to safeguard your home from the devastating winds and rain of a hurricane, there are steps you can take now, long before a storm is on the horizon.
Some of these preparations you can do yourself. Others require the expertise of an experienced contractor. For the name of a reputable contractor in your area, contact the Local Home Builders Association in your area or call the National Association of Home Builders Remodelors Council at 800-368-5242.
The Roof System
Install hurricane straps or clips to the inside of your roof. This must be done by a roofing contractor when your roof is being replaced since it requires access to the inside of the roof underneath the sheathing. These straps/clips should be placed where the roof truss adjoins the exterior wall.
When the trusses are exposed, check to make sure that they are properly fastened. Fasteners include nails and staples. If the fasteners have missed the truss, the roof is weakened. You may want to add nails if they are scarce or if many have missed the top cord of the roof.
If you have a gable-end roof, make sure it is properly braced at the ends. This can be done at any time. Attach 2x4s or 2x6s to the gable end perpendicular to the truss system. Use screws, not nails, to attach the braces. Also, install steel angles to the gable end bracing to reinforce the gable ends.
Exterior Openings
Windows, French doors and sliding doors must be protected either by hurricane shutters or by an impact-resistant glazing such as laminated glass. Shuttering can be done with 5/8 inch plywood or metal storm panels. To save time before a hurricane, install the anchors or brackets now and store the shutters. Pre-cut plywood pieces should be mounted overlapping windows on all sides by four inches so that the shutters are attached to the frame underneath the exterior surface. Use anchors and wood screws to attach the anchors to siding or lag bolts for masonry.
Double garage doors are another weak point that needs to be reinforced. This can be done at anytime; the bracing can remain on the doors year round. Install cross bracing or girts horizontally across the door. Use six to eight 2x4s or steel girts.
Also, reinforce the track of the garage door with heavier gauge metal and anchor it to the frame with long screws.
Check with the manufacturer of your garage door to see if a strengthening package for is available.
Double-entry doors are another frail spot. Check the inactive door and make sure it's secured to the header and threshold; if not, add reinforcing pins to the top and bottom of the door. Also, add heavier hinges and more secure locks.
Fences and Porches
If you're putting up fencing, leave spaces at the bottom instead of driving every panel into the ground to allow air to go under the fence, rather than knocking it down.
Porches normally have weak roofs. Make sure the roof is bolted to the exterior wall of the house. Also, attach porch flooring firmly to the house.
By the time weather forecasters knew that Hurricane Andrew was going to strike South Florida, homeowners had little time to prepare their homes. Those who tried to buy plywood for shuttering windows a day or two before the storm found supplies completely depleted. By taking these precautions now, you'll save time, heart ache and money if a hurricane hits your area.
Time to Replace Your Garage Doors
Wooden garage doors need maintenance and may face damage due to moisture, termites or weather conditions. If it is time to update your garage door you should consider a new composite material garage door from Eden Coast LLC. An Eden Coast Garage Door is beautiful to look at and will not need replacing or painting for many years. A new website, Garage Door Florida has all the information you need to learn more about these eco friendly garage doors.
The Garage Door Florida website showcases homes in Florida that have added a stylish Eden Coast Garage Door. Each Eden Coast garage door is custom made to match the style and color of your home. Once you purchase an Eden Coast garage door you will be able to enjoy it for more than 10 years without any worries or maintenance. Please visit Garage Door Florida
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is an educational website for homeowners and consumers who are considering purchasing a new garage door. The Garage Door Florida website provides information on Eden Coast Custom Garage Doors which are crafted from composite materials and color matched to your home.There are many advantages to a Garage Door in Florida that looks great and will not need nearly the amount of maintenance a wooden garage door would need. For more information on how your home can have an Eden Coast Garage Door please visit the website Garage Door Florida.
The Garage Door Florida website showcases homes in Florida that have added a stylish Eden Coast Garage Door. Each Eden Coast garage door is custom made to match the style and color of your home. Once you purchase an Eden Coast garage door you will be able to enjoy it for more than 10 years without any worries or maintenance. Please visit Garage Door Florida
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is an educational website for homeowners and consumers who are considering purchasing a new garage door. The Garage Door Florida website provides information on Eden Coast Custom Garage Doors which are crafted from composite materials and color matched to your home.There are many advantages to a Garage Door in Florida that looks great and will not need nearly the amount of maintenance a wooden garage door would need. For more information on how your home can have an Eden Coast Garage Door please visit the website Garage Door Florida.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Garage Door Florida Website Launched
When you think of green products for your home you probably don't think of your garage door. It is the largest moving part of your home and helps insulate your home from outside temperatures. Typical wooden doors need frequent maintenance, re-painting and needs to be replaced every 5-7 years. A new website, Garage Door Florida provides Florida homeowners with information on composite garage doors that are great for homes on the Florida coastal areas.
The Garage Door Florida website was launched by Eden Coast LLC, an Atlanta based manufacturer of high quality eco-friendly garage doors. The quality of the doors must be seen to be believed. The stain and painting options are matched to the colors of your home and each Eden Coast Garage Door is custom made in their Atlanta manufacturing plant. For more information please visit their Garage Door Florida Website.
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is an educational website for homeowners and consumers who are considering purchasing a new garage door. The Garage Door Florida website provides information on Eden Coast Custom Garage Doors which are crafted from composite materials and color matched to your home.There are many advantages to a Garage Door in Florida that looks great and will not need nearly the amount of maintenance a wooden garage door would need. For more information on how your home can have an Eden Coast Garage Door please visit the website Garage Door Florida.
The Garage Door Florida website was launched by Eden Coast LLC, an Atlanta based manufacturer of high quality eco-friendly garage doors. The quality of the doors must be seen to be believed. The stain and painting options are matched to the colors of your home and each Eden Coast Garage Door is custom made in their Atlanta manufacturing plant. For more information please visit their Garage Door Florida Website.
Blog Sponsor: Garage Door Florida
Garage Door Florida is an educational website for homeowners and consumers who are considering purchasing a new garage door. The Garage Door Florida website provides information on Eden Coast Custom Garage Doors which are crafted from composite materials and color matched to your home.There are many advantages to a Garage Door in Florida that looks great and will not need nearly the amount of maintenance a wooden garage door would need. For more information on how your home can have an Eden Coast Garage Door please visit the website Garage Door Florida.
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