Category: Blog

Spring is here, and a lot of people are using this time to get their homes in order. It’s a lot nicer being cooped up in your home if it’s clean, tidy, and well organized. Giving your home a good spring clean will give you more space and make your home more comfortable, but make sure you don’t forget about your garage during this spring clean.

Garages can often be dumping grounds for everything you don’t use regularly. But not anymore. Giving your garage a thorough spring clean could transform it into another space you can spend time in. You could even repurpose it as a gym or playroom, for example.

Ready to get spring cleaning? Here’s how…

Start from scratch

You can’t clean around all the clutter, so the first step is to get it all out of the garage. Pile everything up on your driveway, in your yard, or in your house so you’re left with an empty garage (or as empty as it can be).

Scrub it clean

Now your garage is empty, it will be much easier to clean. Start by removing any larger bits of debris before vacuuming the entire space. Think about all the dust and cobwebs in the top corners as well as just vacuuming the floor. Dust off any surfaces such as workbenches and shelves. Then you can wipe surfaces clean with soap and water and wash down your garage floor.

Sort through your stuff

While the garage floor is drying, you can turn to that pile of things on your driveway. Chances are that you don’t need all of it, so sort through it and determine what can be thrown out or given away. Once you’ve decided what you’re going to keep, you can decide whether it still belongs in the garage or whether to find it another home.

Move back in

Now it’s time to move everything you need back into the garage. But you’re not going to pile it back in; you’re going to organize it so that you have a tidy garage with everything in its place. Use storage solutions like shelves, drawers, and wall hooks to organize everything properly. This will make your garage much more spacious and will make it easier to find things when you need them.

While spring cleaning your garage, it’s also a good idea to give your garage door a once over to check for any damage or faults. Now is the perfect time to book your annual garage door tune-up, so call Carolina Garage Door for all your repair and maintenance needs across Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

When you’re moving home, you have a lot of decisions to make when determining the criteria for your perfect house. One of these decisions is all about the garage – do you want your garage to be attached to the house or detached? To help you make your mind up, here are some of the advantages of each choice.

The pros of a detached garage

• No impact on home temperature – If you don’t spend much time in your garage, then you’re unlikely to be heating and cooling it to an ambient temperature. This means that the space will be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Since your garage isn’t attached to your home, this will not affect the temperature inside your home, which otherwise could make heating and cooling less efficient.
• Less noise – Noise also won’t be transmitted through the walls between your home and garage with a detached garage. This means you can use noisy tools or instruments without disrupting the rest of your family.
• Easier to extend – If you plan to extend your garage, you will have more flexibility to do so with a detached garage since you will not be limited by the walls of your house.
• More secure – An attached garage provides an additional point of entry to your home. Your garage may be more vulnerable to break-ins compared to your home, but at least an intruder breaking into a detached garage won’t be able to get any further through it.

The pros of an attached garage

• Stay undercover – Going back and forth between your garage and your home won’t be a pleasant experience when it’s raining outside. With an attached garage, you don’t have to step foot outside, making it easier and more comfortable.
• Adds to the front of your home – An attached garage is a part of the façade of your house. This can boost your home’s curb appeal by making it look larger and complementing the overall design of the house.
• Cheaper to build – If you’re building a new garage from scratch for your home, then an attached garage will be the simpler and cheaper option. This is simply because it will be using at least one of the walls that already exists in your home, so less building work is required.

We hope this has helped you make your mind up. Both are good options so it will, ultimately, come down to your own personal preferences and needs. If you need a new garage door installed after moving home around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point, then contact Carolina Garage Door for our professional services.

Your garage door cables are a vital component of the safety and functionality of your garage door. A snapped cable could lead to serious risk of injury, not to mention the cost of replacing the cable and repairing the resulting damage. So, it’s important that you keep them in good condition to prevent them from deteriorating too much. Here are some tips for maintaining your garage door cables.

Inspecting your garage door cables

Visually inspecting your garage door cables on a regular basis will ensure that you notice any damage or wear and tear to them. When inspecting your cables, you should check their condition both with the garage door open and closed. Look out for the build-up of dirt, grime, and debris on your cables. Check for signs of wear and tear such as fraying along the cables, rusting, and any bends or kinks in them.

If frayed cables are left and you continue to use your garage door, then they will continue to deteriorate and can eventually snap, which is a great danger. Another problem with the operation of your garage door may have caused the cables to become kinked or frayed, so it is important to call a professional to inspect your garage door so they can identify and repair any issues with it.

Maintaining your cables

There are certain maintenance tasks that can keep your garage door cables in good condition. Applying a spray lubricant to them can help to fight rust and oxidation. Just try not to use a too heavy lubricant as these can attract a lot of dust and dirt. You should also have a garage door technician check the balance of your door regularly to help prevent imbalances placing too much stress on the cable. This can cause the fraying and kinks that you want to avoid.

When to replace them

Your garage door cables should last several years, but it is important to have them replaced if they start to fray. You should also consider replacing rusting cables as the rusted areas will become weaker and may also lead to the cables breaking.

If your cables need repairing, maintaining, or replacing, then we advise calling a professional garage door technician as this can be a very dangerous job. The cables carry a lot of the load when lifting your garage door, so a mistake can cause the door to come crashing down hard. This is why it’s also important to have them replaced sooner rather than later.

If you need garage door maintenance or repair, whether it’s for your cables or something else, contact Carolina Garage Door. We provide garage door services for both residential and commercial garage doors around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

You choose the perfect color to paint or stain your garage door. Then, over time, you notice it start to fade and no longer look its best. What causes this to happen? And how can you keep your garage door looking as good as new for years to come? Read on to find out…

What’s causing your garage door finish to fade?

The number one culprit when it comes to damage and degradation of your garage door is the weather. The sun, in particular, could be responsible for a faded finish. Because just like the sun’s UV rays are harmful to our skin, they can be harmful to other materials, too. Regular sun exposure causes colors to fade.

The heat from the sun can also do some damage, especially if your garage door is in direct sunlight for extended periods. The sun’s heat and rays can damage the top layer of the garage door and cause the paint to crack. Under ongoing extreme fluctuations of temperature, the garage door material itself can even start to crack and degrade, especially if its protective top coating has been worn down by the sun.

Wind, rain, snow, and hail can also cause your garage door finish to fade. It’s not only hail that can scratch your top coating, but also dirt and debris carried by strong winds. Prolonged exposure to moisture has its problems, too, including rusted metal and moldy wood.

How to prevent fading

There are a number of things you can do to help your garage door fight the elements and keep it looking good all year round. Firstly, figure out which way your garage door faces. If it faces southward or westward, then it will be getting the sun during the times of day it’s at its strongest. If this is the case, you should employ additional measures to protect it.

You could, for example, plant trees or install sun shades to keep the sun off your garage door. Another good idea is to finish your garage door with a paint or stain that is resistant to UV light. This will help to slow down the fading process and make your garage door last longer.

Make sure you inspect your garage door on a regular basis to check for fading, wear, and any damage. If you do notice that your finish has faded, then you can simply refinish it to give it back its original vibrancy.

If you’re in need of garage door repair or maintenance around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, High Point, NC, then contact Carolina Garage Door to find out more about our professional garage door service.

When you picture a garage floor, the first image that comes to mind might be unfinished concrete. But it doesn’t have to be like this in your garage. Sure, you probably don’t want polished hardwood floors if you’re going to be working with tools and parking your car, but there are still a variety of flooring options that could improve the appearance of your garage and even make it more comfortable.

Let’s look at some garage flooring options for you to consider…

Polished concrete

If you’re happy with your concrete flooring but still want to neaten it up and make it look nicer, then you can opt for a polished concrete floor. This makes it look sleeker and more appealing than unfinished concrete, and is still tough and durable.

Tile flooring

There are various kinds of tile flooring you could choose for your garage. A popular choice is interlocking tiles or jigsaw tiles. These are commonly made out of rubber or vinyl and easily connect together with interconnecting grooves on each side of the tile. This makes them easy to apply and dismantle, so you can remove and replace a single tile if it becomes damaged. You can create a solid-colored floor or mix and match to create patterned flooring.

Roll out mats

Large roll out mats, as the name suggests, simply roll out to cover your garage floor. These also come in a range of materials, such as vinyl, rubber, and various plastics. They can be textured to create a less slippery surface. These mats create a durable surface that’s still comfortable underfoot, although you can’t remove sections when repairs are needed, unlike tiles.

Paint

Another low maintenance option is to simply paint over the existing floor to give it a nicer aesthetic and to add a layer of protection. You can choose from a variety of paint colors to achieve the style you like. Make sure the floor is clean and free of cracks before undertaking this.

Epoxy flooring

Epoxy is another option that you can paint onto your existing floor, except it creates a slightly tougher surface compared to paint, making your garage floor more durable and resistant to moisture. Again, you can choose from various colors and styles.

A new garage door may be first on your list of garage renovations (since it offers such a good return on investment), but think next about your garage floor. Having supportive flooring underfoot can be especially important in commercial garage spaces where workers spend many hours per day. So, think about the perfect flooring to go with your commercial garage door.

And for a new overhead garage door or a garage door tune-up around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point, contact Carolina Garage Door.

If you’re choosing a new garage door, then one of the factors you consider in your decision might be sustainability. Lots of people are trying to do their bit to make their daily habits a little more eco-friendly. Luckily, since garage doors can last decades before they need replacing, there’s already no a lot of waste involved. But choosing the right materials and supporting sustainable manufacturing practices are small changes that can contribute to a big difference.

Here are some of the most sustainable materials you can choose for your garage door…

Wood from responsible sources

Wood is a relatively sustainable material because it is produced naturally in the earth rather than manufactured, making it renewable. But it is not a limitless material, and the negative effects of deforestation have been documented around the world. If you opt for a wood garage door, do some research into the suppliers to ensure that they source the wood responsibly and follow environmental regulations. Responsible practices may include replanting trees after harvesting others for manufacturing.

Recycled materials

Recycling materials rather than wasting them is another sustainable practice. Garage doors can be made from recycled or reclaimed wood as a more environmentally-friendly option. Waste steel and aluminum can also be used to manufacture garage doors, making this a sustainable process that doesn’t involve cutting down trees.

Insulative materials

If your garage and garage door are properly insulated, this means you need to use less energy to keep your garage at a comfortable temperature. This is especially important if your garage is attached to your house. So, it’s important that you choose insulative materials for an eco-friendly garage. Wood is a better insulator than metal, making it a greener choice.

Aluminum is the worst insulator of the commonly used garage door materials because it is lightweight and thinner than steel. If you opt for a steel or aluminum garage door, then you should add insulation to your door to improve this property.

The pros and cons of windows

Will adding windows to your garage door make it more or less eco-friendly? The answer is complicated. They will let light in during the day, meaning you’re less likely to need lights switched on inside. But this depends on the size of the windows and how much light they let in. You may still need some lights on inside, mitigating their benefit. Make sure you opt for energy-efficient lightbulbs in your garage. The downside of windows as that they will let in more of the cold from outside (or the heat during summer), increasing your heating and cooling demands inside.

How sustainable and eco-friendly can you make your garage door? Contact Carolina Garage Door if you need any help choosing the right materials and style, or installing your garage door in Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

Often, new year’s resolutions revolve around looking after our bodies or our bank balances more carefully. Unfortunately, more often than not, these new year’s resolutions fail by around February. We fall back into old, familiar habits and forget about the things we pledged to do.

The same can be said for garage door maintenance. We have the best intentions to look after our homes and garages, but then life gets in the way and we forget to do those little checks or put off booking a garage door tune-up.

Make 2020 the year you make a change and start taking good care of your garage door! Here are a few things to prioritize this year with your garage door…

Give it a once over

Here’s something you can do right now while it’s on your mind. Go out to your garage and open the door. Pay attention to how it opens and how much noise it makes. If you notice loud or unusual noises, if the door doesn’t open smoothly, or if it looks crooked, then it’s worth calling a garage door repair technician to arrange a tune-up for it. Don’t put it off!

If it opens fine, check around all the hardware to ensure everything’s in good condition. Make sure there are no loose bolts, that the cables aren’t frayed, and that the springs aren’t damaged. Monitor the door when you close it as well to spot anything unusual in the way it operates. Remember, if something seems off, call a professional.

Plan a maintenance schedule

A quick inspection like the one we’ve just described should be done at least every few months, if not more frequently. To help you stick to this for the year ahead, schedule a date and time for all your routine inspections. This could be once a month or every two months, for example. Put them in your calendar and even set a reminder on your phone to make sure you stick to your maintenance resolution.

Book a garage door tune-up

If it’s been a while since you last had a professional tune-up for your garage door, then call a repair technician now to schedule a time for them to come around. If you’ve had one in the last 6 months, for example, and your garage door and opener still seem in good shape, then plan when you’re going to book your next one. Mark your calendar for 3 months from now, for example, when you’re next due professional maintenance. And, in the meantime, pledge to call a professional if something goes wrong with your garage door.

If you need a garage door tune-up or repair in Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, or High Point, then contact Carolina Garage Door today.

Once your child starts crawling and then walking, their surroundings are like an adventure park waiting to be explored. Parents and grandparents know to childproof their homes to keep children away from sharp objects, chemicals, and other dangers. But, often, the garage is forgotten about. Sure, you don’t spend much time in there, but there are lots of things in the garage that could pose a threat to your curious child.

Here are some quick tips for childproofing your garage and garage door.

Keep the photo eyes clear

All modern garage doors now come with safety features like auto-reverse. This feature depends on two sensors at either side of the garage door, close to the ground. If something is stopping these sensors from “seeing” each other (like a small child in the path of the door), then the garage door won’t close and may reverse its direction. Keep these sensors clean and clear of debris so they can properly communicate with each other.

Keep remotes and keypads out of reach

If the remote to your automatic garage door opener gets into the hands of a child, they could easily get themselves hurt. Make sure the controls to your garage door opener, whichever form they’re in, are out of reach or locked away if necessary.

Keep tools out of reach

Most people store their tools and other sharp, heavy objects in the garage. Find a place to store these that’s well out of reach or secured with either child locks or actual locks. And make sure you always tidy them away after you’ve used them. Don’t leave them lying around for little hands to get hold of. The same goes for storing chemicals and gasoline.

Keep vehicles locked

If you store a car or other vehicle in your garage, make sure you always lock it before leaving the garage. If a child can get inside the car, they might be able to release the handbrake and roll the vehicle. A small incident like this probably won’t injure the child, but it could damage your car and garage door.

Regular garage door tune-ups

Your garage door can be extremely dangerous, especially if it’s not maintained properly. Broken garage door springs can fly off and seriously injure someone, or a damaged door can suddenly drop. Make sure you arrange regular maintenance and tune-ups for your garage door and call a garage door repair technician if you notice any problems with it.

If you need a garage door tune-up or a new garage door with modern safety features, then contact Carolina Garage Door. We operate around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point, NC.

There are lots of different materials you can choose for your new garage door, even the lesser-seen glass garage doors. But, the two most commonly used materials are wood and metal. Typically, either aluminum or steel are used in metal garage doors, and various types of wood can be used, such as plywood or cedar.

If you’re in the market for a new garage door, this article will help you decide whether you should go for wood or metal.

The benefits of metal garage doors

• Highly durable – Metal garage doors, especially steel ones, are extremely tough and can stand the test of time. It is difficult to scratch or dent metal doors, and they are not sensitive to the elements like wood doors, which can warp due to moisture and expand in the heat.
• Lower cost – With average prices of $740-$1,140 installed, metal garage doors are generally the cheaper option compared to wood doors.
• Low maintenance – Unlike wood doors, metal doors don’t need sealing, sanding, and refinishing. In general, metal doors are much easier to maintain, which could mean you save money on garage door maintenance in the long-run.

The benefits of wood garage doors

• Better insulation – Wood is a much better insulator compared to metal. This means that the inside of your garage will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without you having to run AC or heating inside. As well as saving you money on energy bills, this could also mean you don’t have to spend extra to insulate your garage and garage door.
• A luxurious aesthetic – Most people consider wood to add more of a luxury appeal to the front of their home, compared to metal. It can also be matched to other elements of your home like the front door or window frames, creating a cohesive, elegant look.
• Adds curb appeal – With better aesthetics also comes improved curb appeal. If you’re looking to sell your home, then installing a new wood door could raise interest in your home and perhaps even add to its value.

Whichever you choose, Carolina Garage Door can help you choose the perfect garage door and install it at your home or business. Get in touch for our installation services or for a garage door tune-up around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

Maybe you’ve backed your car into your garage door, your kids have been messing around too close to it, or strong winds have got the better of it. Whatever the cause, damage to your garage door is bound to happen sooner or later. And when it occurs, the question is whether the damage can be repaired or whether you need to install a new garage door entirely. The third option of ignoring the damage until it becomes unavoidable simply isn’t an option. Or, at least, it would be a very dangerous and costly option.

The best thing to do is to call a garage door technician to assess the damage and recommend the best course of action for you. They may be able to repair the damage easily, or it might not be possible if the damage is extensive. They’ll be able to advise you about the cost of both options so you can decide which is worth it. If you have a particularly old garage door, then replacing it is probably the better option in the long-run.

To give you an idea of which option is better in your case, here are some common cases of damage to garage doors and whether you can repair them or not.

Damage to the hardware

In most cases, any damage and degradation of the hardware integral to operating your garage door can be resolved by replacing the parts. For example, a broken garage door spring or cable resulting from wear and tear can simply be replaced with a new part. However, it is essential that you leave this type of job to a professional as it can be an extremely dangerous process.

Damage to garage door panels

Most garage doors are divided into sections. So, if you back up into your garage door or if minor damage occurs any other way, then it will probably be isolated to one or two of these panels. As long as the damage is not too severe, chances are that you can have the panel replaced rather than replacing the entire door. Replacing a garage door panel could cost you around $500, including the labor costs, which is certainly less than buying and installing a new garage door.

When replacement may be necessary

If damage to your garage door is more extensive, covering multiple panels, if the garage door is severely bent, or if the tracks have become bent, then investing in a new garage door is likely to be the safer and more cost-effective solution. Extensive repairs will add up in cost and may leave you with a weaker garage door that is more susceptible to fail in the near future.

Whether you need garage door repairs, replacement, or simply a garage door tune-up to make sure everything is in good working order, contact Carolina Garage Door for our expert services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.