Garage Door

As we run to and from the car this winter, you might think of a garage as nothing more than a middle ground that protects you from the harsh outdoors and it’s unforgiving elements. However, we can’t forget the good times of pulling out the pool floaties and grabbing a cold drink from the cooler on a hot day.

Our garages are a vital part of our homes year round and can be a real inconvenience when something with the garage door goes wrong. It’s important to maintain these systems in order for them to last through the winter and continue to operate efficiently as the warm weather returns, but they need our help to do it.

Preparation

Changing – Remote garage door buttons and external keypads are vital tools and gateways to warmth. Ensure you don’t get stuck out in the snow by checking their batteries and even consider keeping a spare set of batteries nearby.

Organizing – This is the season for bad weather. Locate any snow blowers, shovels, salt bags, ice scrapers, or tools you may need to battle the winter and keep them at the ready. Check the weather frequently so you’re not surprised by changes that could affect your routine.

Closing – It’s cold out! Keeping your garage door closed is better for the door’s lifespan and your heating bills overall. It prevents excess moisture and brisk air from making a home in the welcoming warmth of your garage and causing damage during its stay.

Maintenance

Cleaning – The tracks and sensors should be cleared of any debris in order for them to continue to run smoothly. Even the door itself could probably use a wipe down as dirt can make its way into places it shouldn’t and cause more problems than it should. Also check for any rust spots, water damage, or warping that may have occurred since it’s last check-up.

Lubricating – Working pieces such as ball bearings, rollers, springs, hinges, and any other metal parts that move should be sprayed regularly. This is crucial in the winter months as these components are more prone to sticking, causing excessive tension and possibly costly damage.

Balancing – To keep all parts running smoothly, the tracks and metal framing need to a be aligned and a quick balance check should do the trick. Have a professional check these regularly to ensure all is operating correctly.

Inspection

Cracking – Weather stripping, sensors, and window panes can become victims to the winter weather as well. These components are less durable than their previously mentioned metal counterparts, but can easily be maintained. However, metal springs are typically the ones that we see the most problems with in the cold. Checking for any cracking in these parts can be a quick, vital fix.

Contracting – Much like we wish we could do with our body’s extremities, metal contracts in cold temperatures. When this happens, certain nuts and bolts can become loose, may even fall out of place, and will need to be tightened and replaced.

Adjusting – Even if the sensors don’t have visual cracks, they may need to be realigned instead. These safety features can become askew over time and adjusting them back into place is an important aspect of their usefulness.

Consultation

Continued regular maintenance should be on the calendar in order for your faithful garage door to be able to continue its mission. If you see anything out of place, contact the experts at Garage Doors of Indianapolis to come out and inspect and repair it today!

What are my options?

Garage Doors of Indianapolis offers a large array of commercial garage doors for any Central Indiana facility, backed by good quality at a great price. Our selection includes insulated and non-insulated doors, both with and without glass. Rolling overhead industrial doors are also available in aluminum, steel, or stainless steel options, with an assortment of fire doors or interior, high-strength fabric traffic doors, and shutters.

There are a lot of possibilities to sort through – how do you decide which garage door is right for your business? It all depends on how you need your door to function, and what it is protecting.

Consider…

1. Where is your business located?
2. How much will the door be utilized?
3. What you are keeping stored beyond the door?
4. What other needs might be involving the door, its functionality, and its durability?

What are the benefits?

Energy Efficiency

Insulated garage doors from Garage Doors of Indianapolis have one to two additional layers of defense when compared to our traditional single-paneled, uninsulated doors. The extra material, including a core of insulation in between the outer metal panels helps to keep your building from leaking air conditioning or heating – reducing the costs of your energy bill.

Climate Control

Some businesses require more comfortable environments than an average storage warehouse might – places such as restaurants where patrons don’t want to freeze in the winter, or food packing plants that can’t afford to lose their product to a summer heat wave. Facilities with temperature-sensitive materials would benefit from insulated garage doors as well, as they are built to block inclimate weather in any season.

Durability

Speaking of weather, wind and hail damage costs can also be reduced when a business installs an insulated garage door. Insulated doors provide superior energy efficiency and stand up better to wind gusts. When it’s not fighting the elements of the outdoors, these doors will can withstand everyday wear and tear as well. Whether they are attached to a residential building or business, garage doors are frequently used. Making sure they will withstand the miles, but are also are easy to use is important to keep in mind.

Protection

Having multiple layers of material also means more layers of security. Garage Doors of Indianapolis’ insulated doors can help protect against internal accidents that can happen, as well as thieves who may try to break in. Whatever your facility’s needs may be, our doors will withstand demands for higher security with their impact-resistant structure.

Our team of technicians has met with designers, builders, and architects to bring you the highest standards, training, and understanding of installation and the quality our products have to offer. Whether your business is in search of a safeguard against any outside force, a cushion preserving any valuables inside, simply a long-lasting garage door, or all of the above, an insulated commercial garage door might be the right choice for you and your business.

With so many choices, look for quality products at fair prices, unrivaled customer service, and expertise in commercial garage door maintenance. Contact Garage Doors of Indianapolis today for a free consultation! As always, you can contact us this morning for service today!

The future of technology lies in custom-built homes. A garage door renovation might seem like it’ll break the bank, but it doesn’t have to be. Having work done on your garage door can make a big difference, from curb appeal to increased usefulness.

One of the most common trends in home renovation lies in garage doors. These doors are only improving as technology improves. Doors that are reliable, quiet, and quick are the key components you should look for when it comes to garage doors. Today you can purchase a garage beautiful door that is also energy efficient. And more frequently, consumers are choosing to purchase garage doors with automatic technology. This technology makes opening doors safer, and you can control your door opener from anywhere.

New garage door technology no longer has to operate off of traditional electricity. Some models operate off of a battery charged by house current. So, if the power goes out, the opener will continue to work. High tech openers are able to operate the door anywhere an Internet connection is available by using smartphones or computer. Through apps, you can operate the garage lights, or open and close the garage door.

New garage door technology also comes with safety sensors. These sensors prevent the door from closing if it senses something is below the door. Thanks to an infrared light that expands the width of the door, when something is sensed in the line of the light, the door will reverse. These precautions help families with young children or pets to have peace of mind and also protects belongings from being crushed.

Garage door opener technology is also important for the safety of your home. How many times have you thought, “did I actually close the garage door?”. If your door is left open, your home could be a target. With new technology, you are able to customize settings so that your door will be programmed to always close at a certain time. You can also access your door technology through an app, and can close it from a remote location. With smart garage door technology, safety and a sense of security are at your fingertips.

Peace of mind can also come in the form of garage door lighting. Coming home to an unlit home can be scary, and external lighting can help to ease that discomfort. Not only is there garage door opener technology that is purely solar powered, but the interior and exterior lighting are also powered through this same sustainable technology. With bright lighting, you can rest easy knowing you won’t have to fumble around in the dark or wonder what is in your surroundings.

Garage doors shouldn’t have a load of features that you don’t need. Rolling code is useful garage door opener technology that you might want though – this advanced coding system reduces the change of a thief hacking your opener code and breaking into your home. “Code grabbers” are no longer able to hack this rolling code to gain entry into your home.

Interested in getting the latest garage door technology? Safety and quality doors have been our specialty since 1979. Locally owned and operated, Garage Doors of Indianapolis can answer your questions about improving the insulation of your existing garage, as well as explain all of the available options for insulated garage doors.

Contact our team of garage experts to start cutting energy costs in your home today!

The Fall Season is Upon Us, What Should You Do To Prepare Your Garage Door for Colder Weather

Cooler weather will be on its way sooner than you think, meaning it will be time to replace your summer wardrobe, as well as make sure you don’t have to replace your garage door.

If you have a garage door, you more than likely use it every day. Because of that, it’s easy to overlook gradual issues that form, minor changes or build-up that can occur. But how can you tell if your garage door needs some fall maintenance?

• Has the rate of opening and closing slowed?
• Are there pieces or parts coming out of place?
• What can be done to help prevent more problems from arising?

A quick visual inspection of your garage door can tell you what you may need to have updated and our maintenance team can help!

Before the unpredictable winter weather rolls into Indianapolis, now is a great time to follow a few quick steps to ensure your garage door is ready for fall:

Trust Your Senses

As the weather turns, it’s important to make sure the mechanisms of your door are fully functional after experiencing wear and tear. Over time, the tracks or door panels may become warped naturally or due to a few dings from the cars or the kids playing in the driveway. Use a level to check up on the tracks to decipher if any adjustments or repairs need to be made.

Don’t rule out any strange sounds either. Most garage doors are loud, but excessive noise, shaking, or new creaks may be a sign of a larger issue.

Tidy It Up

Like any part of your home, it’s important to keep your door and the area around it clean. Here are some things to look for when doing some fall cleaning:

• Remove any dirt, grass or debris. You may have some build-up left over from summer fun. Clean your door and the nearby area with a pass of the vacuum hose or quick wipe with a wet rag.
• Clean and realign your safety sensors. This will help prevent accidents and injuries and ensure the door closes properly. The last thing you want is colder weather to roll in and a door with misfiring sensors.
• Check or change batteries. Not many things still run on alkaline batteries, but your garage door openers might do so. Replace the current batteries with a fresh pair if you haven’t done so in a while. It’s also helpful to keep a spare in your car.

Test The Moving Parts

Lubricate any parts that may be thirsty – typically rollers, hinges, springs, or smaller moving parts. Keep in mind that these same elements may need to be replaced if they’re cracked, chipped, or rusted.

Insulation will also help these parts continue to sail smoothly through the colder weather. Tasks such as checking on the weatherstripping can assist with keeping unwanted pests from making your warm home theirs as well. Don’t let your garage door become a victim of harsh weather – these easy tips for fall-proofing your garage door can save you time and money.

Ready For Fall With Garage Doors Of Indianapolis

Sometimes garage door maintenance isn’t an easy fix – and that’s when you need to call the professionals to help. The experienced experts at Garage Doors of Indianapolis are here for any and all of your garage door repair needs. Whether you’re coming in from a bonfire or back from a Colts game, make sure the cold weather and elements stay outside.

Contact our garage door experts or call us to prepare your garage door for fall today!

Here’s what you need to know when considering an insulated garage door for your home

A garage door renovation might seem like it’ll break the bank, but it doesn’t have to be. Installation of a single new garage door costs on average between $500 and $800. Having work done on your garage door can make a big difference, from curb appeal to increased usefulness.

One of the most common trends in home renovation is installing an insulated garage door. What will that do for your home? For one, you may save money on energy costs in the long run.

Below is a primer of what you need to know if you’re considering an insulated garage door at your home.

Energy Efficiency

Installing an insulated garage door can help you save on energy costs. This is the most common reason to consider one. Garages are one of the least energy efficient rooms in the home. In fact, it’s often overlooked when homeowners focus on cutting energy costs. It’s built differently than the rest of your home and has different needs and functions. Yet, garage doors are often connected directly to rooms in the house.

Garages often serve as the first line of defense between the house and outdoor weather. An insulated door will help regulate cold wind coming into the house, which gives your heater a break. If the heater is working easy, you’ll save on energy.

Also, consider material costs in your garage. If your garage is better protected from the elements, your car will sustain less damage – as will materials like paints and other chemicals.

Improved Durability

Having an insulated door is likely to give you a more durable and stronger door. Insulated garage doors have multiple layers and are often built with steel or aluminum. Increased durability will lengthen your garage door’s lifespan, which is important when it’s facing Indiana wind, rain and snow.

Insulated doors also tend to maintain temperatures in the area just inside the door, which will protect your garage door opening system. If those parts are protected from damage, they will last longer as well.

A Quieter Door

If having a quieter door matters to you, then having an insulated door is an added bonus. Garage doors – particularly older ones – make a fair amount of noise. If your door is making excessive noise, check your track and rollers and be sure to keep them lubricated.

Potential damages or needed repairs aside, insulated doors are quieter because their panels are connected tightly, so there’s less loose material to make noise. They are also heavier, meaning they won’t shake or vibrate as much.

Don’t Forget These Factors

While the focus is usually on saving energy, here are some other factors to keep in mind:

• Choose the right windows – Garage door windows aren’t usually energy efficient. In Indiana, you may consider not having windows in the garage, but if you do, be sure to buy windows that are energy efficient.
• Weatherstripping – By installing weatherstripping, you can make sure your door fits correctly. Check to make certain there are no gaps anywhere or your insulated door won’t be as effective.
• Invest in High Quality – You can save energy and cut costs by making sure you have good hardware around your garage door. You don’t want any hardware to be misshapen or bent.

Insulated Garage Doors In Indiana

Controlling both the heat and the cold has been a specialty for Garage Doors of Indianapolis since 1979. Locally owned and operated, we can answer your questions about improving the insulation of your existing garage, as well as explain all of the available options for insulated garage doors.

Contact our team of garage experts or call us at 317-284-9593 to start cutting energy costs in your home today!

With dozens of home styles currently on the market, why shouldn’t you select a garage door that’s as unique as your home?

Whether you’re remodeling or undertaking a new build, it’s possible to find a complementary garage door style, whether it’s traditional, contemporary, Craftsman, Colonial or mid-century. With further customizations based on materials, hues, and finishes, your garage door can be a perfect fit for your home and lifestyle.

Garage Door Styles

The style of your home sets the foundation for the type of garage door you should ultimately choose. Building a modern townhome, condo or house? Or are you planning a remodel of a Park Tudor or a 1950’s-style ranch?

Make sure the aesthetics of your new garage door fits your home. Consider the following garage door styles:

Craftsman: The clean lines of a Craftsman or Mission style home demand the same styling in a garage door. These doors are distinguished by the raised panels and streamlined windows. Look for carriage house garage doors among these styles.

Modern/contemporary: If you live in a contemporary or modern home, garage door choices have significantly expanded in recent years. Not only do you have numerous options in material construction, you have garage door styles that range from minimalist to bold. These options can include long panels that seem to disappear into one sleek surface. They also include designs with or without window panels.

Traditional: If your design aesthetic — or at least that of your home — aligns more with Colonial, Victorian or Cottage, you can choose from traditional garage door styles in addition to more recent variations. If you’re remodeling a historic home, you may want to engage an architect or a professional garage door installer experienced in historic buildings. By focusing on windows and fixtures, you can choose a garage door that is cohesive with your home. In some cases, it may be appropriate to select a custom or semi-custom garage door.

Midcentury: With a mid-century design aesthetic, you can opt for a combination of contemporary and traditional characteristics. You can choose from among garage doors with slightly grooved rectangular panels, for example.

Materials and Colors

Give your garage door an even more distinctive look by choosing from various materials and finishes. For example, wood pairs well with more traditional home designs like Victorian, Craftsman, and Colonial. With modern homes, you can broaden those options to include fiberglass or metals like steel and aluminum.

Customize your garage doors even further with color and finishes. With wood, those options can include a wide range of finishes from painted white or a deep mahogany stain. Metal garage doors also are available in a wider range of colors, including bold blues, barnyard reds, cool greys and deep greens.

With so many garage door styles available, your home’s curb appeal will definitely get a boost. Contact Garage Doors of Indianapolis to explore options!

It can be cumbersome to dispose of an old garage door, and it isn’t always necessary. There are plenty of cool ways to recycle the frame, structure, and material for functional and decorative uses in your home. We’ve compiled a few ideas.

The richness and decorative quality of wood

Wood doors are hearty, heavy and often contain decorative elements. They can be stripped, refinished and repainted for a range of “looks and feels.”

Furniture. From tables, headboards, and benches, the sturdiness of panels makes them a flexible option for indoor and outdoor furniture.
Artwork. The horizontal and rectangular shape of door panels are ideal for the space above a living room couch or to cover a long space on a wall.
Walls and decorative screens. Remove the panels and hinge them together to screen things out of your oasis. The physical barrier gives you a sound and visual buffer, whether used inside or outside.
Vanity frame. Give a dresser or even a wall a background with character–embellishments, shelves, and mirrors can be added to garage doors to create a statement piece.

A touch of glass

Glass adds light, drama and draws the outside in. Create a “wow” factor by adapting glass doors as:

Interior doors. Open a room and make living space look bigger with a glass garage door. It can offer privacy without sacrificing visibility.
Windows. Getting air is as easy as lifting a glass garage door when used as an outside window.
Cabinets. Glass panels can be removed and placed in wood frames to create a charming cabinet.

Strong as steel

Steel stands up to the elements and weight. Consider using steel door material for:

Shelving. Heavy objects, like books and plants, are easy to contain and display supported by steel panels.
Benches and other furniture. You’ll want cushions because steel isn’t cozy, but it can create a modern furniture fixture, like a bench, desktop or table.

Unsure of how to remove an old garage door? We can help. Garage Doors of Indianapolis has served the greater Indianapolis area with garage door installation, maintenance, and service for more than 38 years. Contact us today!

It takes more than just extra square footage to expand your living space–smart features are expanding from the home to the garage to help you create the environment you want with the touch of a smartphone.

Garage door openers are the “most active and frequently-used smart home device,” according to the Chamberlain Group and Parks Associates. With 14 percent growth expected in the smart home market from 2016 to 2022, garage door innovations are likely to snowball as well.   

What smart garage door functionality is possible?

Internet of Things (IoT) applications are giving homeowners the ability to make their property more secure, ease/simplify mundane tasks and even control expenses. Computer, wireless and mobile technologies are enabling a range of solutions to hit the market, including smart door locks, network security cameras and smart thermostats and meters. The technology allows for mobile alerts and notifications, digital logs regarding access activity, monitoring and remote control from mobile devices.

Brands like LiftMaster and Chamberlain are integrating home and garage functionality so that you can:

• Open and close via smartphone and voice activation. Ideal when someone is locked out, traveling, lost the remote or just has their hands full: you can control access wherever you are.
• Turn house lights on as garage door opens. Not only is it easier for you to walk into a well-lit house, house lights are a deterrent to possible intruders–especially when they suddenly switch on.
• Remote-control temperature. Climate control is key, whether you are storing hot, cold or humidity-sensitive items in your (well-insulated) garage, or you want to make it enjoyably habitable.   
• Access/use the garage even when the power goes out. Some garages shut down without electricity, and it may not be easy or possible to get in. Backup batteries and batteries that charge from the house make opening and closing the door a snap.

Interested in learning more about your smart garage door options? We’d be happy to show you around the Garage Doors of Indianapolis northwest showroom or contact us for a consult.

Smart garage door design and function that raise home values  

In yesterday’s down real estate market, garage door updates were one inexpensive way to raise home values–garage door replacements, in fact, produce an 83 percent return on investment, according to U.S. News & World Report. That fact isn’t changing. As we head into 2017, however, homeowners can also take advantage of design, material and smart technology improvements driving innovation in garage space design and function.

On deck for 2017

Statement pieces

A garage door’s color and design can make or break your house’s aesthetic. That’s why you don’t want to stray far from its current colors and shapes; these elements can create a powerful effect even if you have opted for a neutral instead of a current bold, trendy color.

Extending accent colors and shapes from the home to the garage allows you to make a cohesive and interesting statement. Accent colors featured on shutters, window trim and the front door are excellent starting points and references to start brainstorming; you might want to consider using lighter or darker shades for the garage.

Your house will inform not just the color, but also garage door design elements, particularly angles, arches and patterns that can be applied to windows and panels.

Flexibility

Lines are blurring between indoors and outdoors; patios and decks now function as livable spaces, and the same concept has finally reached the garage. It’s not just a place to park your car anymore–garages are being outfitted with movable walls, outdoor furniture, screens and insulation to make them inviting and usable year round.

Look for garage door details to also appear in interiors via transparent walls and glass doors that replace windows in offices, living and dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.

More light

Because garages are used for a variety of purposes, they are being designed to let in more light. Big windows that produce brighter, better-lit spaces are popular options.

It’s not just physical light that is a trend; lighter-weight material gives garage doors a modern, sleek look without the weight of wood, steel or glass. These materials are good-looking substitutes and practical, inexpensive choices. They require little maintenance and ease wear-and-tear on parts. Try:

• Aluminum instead of steel
• Polycarbonate instead of glass
• Fiberglass instead of wood

Smart technology

Convenience and user-friendliness are two concepts driving many tech-based improvements in our daily routines, including how to enter and secure your home. Smartphones, for example, can open and close garage doors, reveal their current position and cite the person who last opened them.

Other options are well on their way to being adopted, including parking guides, which use lasers to illustrate your path in and out of the garage. People prone to grazing walls and dinging cars will appreciate this feature, which cuts down on potential damage.

Additional safety features are available on remote-controlled, wireless/keyless, smartphone-controlled and Internet-activated remotes. Many garage door companies also provide rolling codes, which are virtually impossible for hackers to replicate.

Energy efficient

An outdoor living space has to be just that–livable, which isn’t possible when your garage is 98 degrees or cold enough to hold items from your refrigerator. Maintaining a comfortable temperature is critical for comfort–and cost.

Insulation is a must. If you have a finished room against or above an uninsulated garage, you are likely overspending/losing money on heat and air conditioning. The warm/cool air is being leeched by the garage space.

Insulated door panels and walls are critical. Consider insulated options like aluminum, fiberglass, wood, and vinyl, but steer clear of glass.

Innovative technology has given homeowners new ways to manage their appliances, thermostats and lighting systems. There’s even a smart oven on the market that knows what food it’s preparing and cooks it to perfection.

Some of the latest technological gadgets can simplify the operation of garage doors, as well as make garages more comfortable. Take a look at some of these trendsetting products:

Smart opener

Garage door opener manufacturer Chamberlain has developed an app for Android and Apple wireless devices, MyQ Home Control. With the app and a compatible opener, users can open and close their garage door from anywhere and control individual lights throughout the home.

MyQ can communicate with other wireless devices in a home, too, such as Nest thermostats. And eventually, Chamberlain plans to introduce MyQ technology that will open the garage door automatically, when it detects a homeowner’s car approaching.

Intuitive fan

A powerful new air circulator from Vornado is designed to ensure maximum airflow – it doesn’t just blow air in a straight line, it twists and twirls to move up to 655 cubit feet of air per minute.

Most fans have settings of low, medium and high, whereas the Vornado Energy Smart Circulator has an output control just like the volume knob on a stereo and can be adjusted incrementally. At only 17 inches tall, this powerful air circulator may be the perfect solution for stuffy garages.

Light and sound

A new product from Canadian manufacturer Sengled lets homeowners enjoy adjustable lighting and music in the garage. The combination light and speaker screws into a standard outlet, and using the Sengled app, homeowners can adjust the brightness of the lights and listen to their favorite music or podcast.

Amazon recently released Echo Dot, a smaller version of its Echo, a wireless Bluetooth speaker. With the accompanying Tap, which is about the size of a hockey puck, users can play music on the speaker or ask it to find answers to questions, similar to iPhone’s Siri interface.

Warmth on demand

The QMark programmable digital wall heater can warm up a chilly garage without taking up valuable floor space. Designed for spaces up to 200 square feet, the heater also includes a nightlight and a fan-only function for air circulation. For larger garages, the Berko Architectural Wall Heater heats up to 480 square feet and features a stylish powder-coated steel finish.