FAQS

The R-value on a garage door tells you how well it insulates. You might think that it isn’t important to insulate your garage, but there are several reasons why it’s necessary. If you happen to spend more time than usual in your garage, like if you have a workshop there, for example, then you’ll definitely be aware of the importance of insulation.

But your garage is also affected by its connection to the rest of your house, particularly if you have a room above it. Of course, if your garage isn’t attached to your house, you can get a garage door with a low R-value, or even no insulation at all.

So check the R-value of a garage door before you buy it. The higher the number, the better its insulation properties. For example, if you have a good quality 1-3/8” garage door, the R-value could be as high as 6.5. For a lower-priced door, with a 9/16” thickness, the R-value could be around 4.4.

What’s headroom, backroom and sideroom?

Headroom is the amount of space inside the garage between the top of the garage door and the ceiling. Backroom is the inside length of the garage, from front to back. Sideroom is the distance between the sides of the garage door and the side walls of the garage.

You need to know these dimensions when you’re installing a garage door because the hardware needs a certain amount of room to operate freely.

Torsion garage door springs are under extreme pressure and, if not handled properly, could release with enough power to kill you! You need specific tools and training. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you have a professional do this job.

Torsion spring cycles are figured out mathematically. You take the average number of times your garage door goes up and down every day, multiply by 250 days, and multiply again by 10 years. The reason they use 10 years is because that’s the average life of a garage door.

You have a choice of 4 torsion spring cycles for garage doors: 25,000 cycles, 50,000 cycles, 75,000 cycles or 100,000 cycles. So you just have to know how many times your garage door will be opened and closed every day, and figure it out from there.

You can definitely paint a steel garage door. If you use a good quality latex paint, it’ll last a long time. But don’t use an oil-base paint – it’ll bubble and peel off.

You can paint other garage doors, too. Wood garage doors look great when painted or stained. Fiberglass garage doors can be painted, too. The great thing about painting a garage door is that you can match it to the décor of the rest of your house.

You should be able to lift your garage door with one hand, no matter what the size. Garage door systems are specifically designed to take the weight off the door. If you can’t lift the door easily, then it’s probably unbalanced, and you need to call a professional garage door technician to fix it.

It’s important, after your garage door is installed, that you totally familiarize yourself with the operation and safety guidelines. Make sure you have owner’s manuals for the garage door, and for the garage door opener, too, if you have one.

Your manual will outline the operation and maintenance requirements you’ll need to know to make your garage door last as long as possible. Also, garage door safety has been a source of great concern in the past. With new technology, it’s not as much of a problem anymore, but you do need to follow certain guidelines to avoid injuries.

We also recommend you Tune-Up your garage door for preventative maintenance.  Our Tune-up includes the following:  Tighten and replace bad nuts and bolts; adjust track; set tension on springs; lubricate door; adjust opener; tighten chain; set limit switches.

There are many garage door openers on the market. Many of them are good. Several stand out and deliver great quality and value. C.H.I. has many different levels of product from standard to premium. In our opinion the warranty and service for this product is second to none. LiftMaster and Linear operators and accessories also offer dependable

service and ease of use. Each of these product lines are sold, installed and serviced by Apex Overhead Doors.

Which one is best for you is really a matter of choice. There are certain garage door openers that are designed for certain styles and sizes of garage doors but, on the whole, they all do the same thing – they automatically open and close your door so you can comfortably get in and out of your vehicle away from the elements.

Call us and get a care free installation. Automated garage doors for superior access with a garage door opener.

Do you use your garage – I mean for your car? Many garages are storage areas and workshops, while the vehicles sit outside, at the mercy of the elements. But no matter what you use your garage for, your garage door is important. Without it, your belongings, including your vehicle, would be open to thieves. So although many of us take garage doors for granted, there are some things you need to know about them. And our top 10 garage door questions will reveal those things.