By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Is a Carriage Door the Right Choice for Your Garage Remodel?

Blue Sky Builders carriage-style garage doorsIf you have been spending more time at home lately, you may be thinking about how you would like to improve the value of your house. One way of doing so is renovating your garage, which may include building onto it to increase its square footage or simply replacing the windows or door. There are many different styles of garage doors from which homeowners can choose. For example, some may have windows, while others do not. If you are considering carriage-style garage doors, you may want to go with the traditional “swing out” doors or a faux design that looks like carriage doors but opens up and down like today’s more modern garage doors.  Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Custom Garages • Doors • Garage Doors • Garage Safety • Garages • • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Why Steel Garage Entry Doors Are a Good Choice For Your Home

thumbnailWhile you may put a lot of thought into the aesthetics and security features of the front door of your home, you could be neglecting the safety of the internal and external entry doors into your garage. These may not seem as important to you, but the types of doors you choose for your garage can have a significant impact on all sorts of things, from safety to energy usage. The door that we recommend for all homebuilders or fixer-uppers is a steel entry door.

4 Benefits of Steel Garage Entry Doors

There are many benefits to installing steel entry doors in your garage, including the following:

  1. Security—It is much more difficult to break through metal than it is to break through wood or fiberglass. This is especially true for those who have a high-quality, powerful set of keyed dual locks installed with the doors. With or without the additional safety precautions, the strength of the material of these doors typically keeps intruders at bay.
  2. Affordability—Typically, steel doors are the least expensive option for entry doors. And while some might argue this is due to the material’s lack of aesthetic appeal, the truth is, with help from the right garage builder, you can actually create an attractive entry door, even with steel as the material. Possible ways to spruce it up include:
    • Diverse paneling options
    • Different colors
    • Ornate door lights
    • Elegant glass windows and other glass inserts
  3. Energy Efficiency and Good Insulation—Most steel entry doors, especially those for residential areas, are not made entirely of steel due to the heaviness of the material. In fact, other than the steel outer-coating, these entry doors often have a similar core as those made of fiberglass. Overall, this makes steel entry doors good at keeping the heat and cold outside, improving both indoor insulation and energy efficiency. Add some magnetic weather stripping and you will be well on your way to effectively braving the elements of inclement weather.
  4. Low Maintenance—Other than the possibility of dents, which are uncommon in residential homes, and rusting, which often takes a long time to occur, steel entry doors are very low maintenance. Other popular alternatives, such as wood and fiberglass can easily rot or crack from changing weather conditions.

Contact a Downers Grove Steel Entry Door Professional

Thinking about replacing your garage entry doors or determining which entry doors to use in your new garage? Call a Chicago-area garage building specialist at 630-852-8485 to discuss your options. With more than 40 years of garage building experience, Blue Sky Builders can help you choose the right steel entry doors for your garage, including helping you with the overall design, security, and environmental impact of those doors on your home.

Sources:

https://www.thespruce.com/installing-a-steel-door-at-home-1821451

https://learn.reeb.com/knowledge-base/wood-vs-fiberglass-vs-steel/

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/entry-doors/buying-guide/

 

By Christine Miller Custom Garages • Electric Garage Door Opener • Garage Doors • • • • • 0 Comments

How Do I Know When My Garage Door Needs to Be Replaced?

DuPage County garage door replacement professionalsWhether you are having trouble opening your garage door or simply want to update your garage with an electric garage door opener or some other exciting modern upgrades, there are many reasons you may decide to replace your garage doors. Sometimes, though, garage door replacement is a requirement borne out of necessity. In those cases, you may want to hire a professional to guide you through the process. In case you are not entirely sure whether you need to replace your garage door or your garage door opener, consider some of these definitive signs that your garage door and opener have seen their last days.

3 Telltale Signs You Need to Replace Your Garage Door

Overall, there are three main areas to focus on when determining whether you may need a new garage door or opener. The top two most critical areas to look at are the overall function and structure. Secondarily, you may also want to review aesthetics, special features, and other ways to improve your garage door or opener. While these issues may not necessarily affect your day-to-day functions and safety, they could still make your life a whole lot easier or your home a whole lot more attractive. Within each area, there are some significant things to consider. Here is a closer look:

  1. Problems with Functioning—If your garage door is not opening or closing, or if your opener is not functioning properly, a repair or replacement might be needed. For instance, if your garage door exhibits any of these issues, you are going to want to get it checked out:
    • Inconsistent Responsiveness: Perhaps your garage door will not close or open, or it may not close or open the entire way, or it may reverse shortly after opening or closing. The remote in your car or the controls inside your garage may have no effect. In addition to causing aggravation, all of these problems have the potential to put your family’s safety and security at risk.
    • Vibrations and Noises: Garage doors can vibrate when opening or closing, but if you notice excessive vibrations, or if your garage door generates significant noise when operating, you might want to have an expert look into this issue.
    • Constant Maintenance or Repair Visits: If your garage door keeps breaking down, it may be more cost-effective to replace it with a new and more reliable garage door or garage door opener.
  2. Structural Issues—Sometimes, a garage door and garage door opener alike will function properly, but other major structural issues may lead to safety concerns or other problems. These problems may include:
    • Damage to the Door: Hazardous weather, or irresponsible driving, or countless other issues may cause a garage door to be dented or damaged in some way that could impede its alignment.
    • Sagging, Rusting, and Rotting: If the door itself appears a droopy or rusted, or if the walls or frame around the door are damaged or rotting, these structural concerns will need to be addressed immediately. In these cases, a garage door may need to be replaced, and other repairs may need to be made to the garage.
  3. Aesthetics and Special Features—While these issues may not be as serious, they may still present compelling reasons to replace your garage door:
    • Design Decisions and Color Facelifts: If you are remodeling your home, or if you notice that your garage door does not fit the design or color of your house, a replacement might be the right choice, no matter how well the door is functioning mechanically or structurally.
    • Smartening Home Features: Special features like smart garage door openers and other modern conveniences can make your life easier, especially if you are upgrading your entire home to a smart home ecosystem. 

Contact a Downers Grove Garage Door Expert

If your garage door or garage door opener are not working the way they should, contact our Chicago-area electric garage door opener specialists at 630-852-8485. Blue Sky Builders can design, install, repair, or replace your garage door and ensure your equipment is functioning properly. Since we have more than 40 years of custom garage building experience, you can trust us to get your garage door in the best shape possible.

Sources:

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/is-it-time-to-replace-your-garage-door-opener/

https://incredibleplanet.net/5-signs-you-need-to-replace-your-garage-door/

https://realtytimes.com/advicefromtheexpert/item/1027469-5-signs-it-s-time-to-repair-your-garage-door

 

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • Garage Safety • • • • • • • 0 Comments

3 Tips for Garage Door Safety

Blue Sky Builders garage door maintenance and safetyFor many homes in the United States, the garage door is one of the largest pieces of moving machinery on the property. While a garage door may be viewed by homeowners as nothing more than an entryway, it is important to understand that there are a variety of hazards involved in using this equipment. Although any person can be the victim of a garage door injury, children generally face a higher risk. As a homeowner, there are several steps that you can take to improve safety around your garage door: Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Door Openers • Garage Doors • Tips and Tricks • • • • • • 0 Comments

How to Stop Your Garage Door Opener From Being Hacked

Blue Sky Builders garage door opener securityIn Wisconsin, two 16-year-old boys were recently arrested for stealing a car, crashing it, and then stealing a second a vehicle after the crash. The boys had gained access to the cars by hacking an electronic garage door opener and then burglarizing the garage. Finding the keys inside of the cars, they took the cars and went for a joy ride before police apprehended them. During the summer, garage burglaries increase, and one of the ways thieves gain access to a garage is through hacking electronic garage door openers. To secure your garage and the belongings inside, follow these simple tips to avoid the possibility of your car being taken out for a joy ride by a thief: Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • Garage Maintenance • • • • • • 0 Comments

When Should I Lubricate My Garage Door?

Blue Sky Builders garage door lubricationSummer is upon us, and that means your garage door is likely to see a lot more activity. Garage doors are used significantly less during the winter months, since they are only opened and closed when the family car is needed. However, in the summer, a garage often becomes the home’s most used entrance and exit. It may be opened or closed each time your children fetch their bikes and toys, when you and your spouse retrieve your lawnmower or gardening equipment, or for hundreds of other different reasons. This extra work that your garage door performs can create the potential for wear and tear. To keep your garage door functional and avoid causing problems during the summer, you need to make sure that it is well lubricated. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Should My Garage Have One Double or Two Single Garage Doors?

Blue Sky Builders single vs. double garage doorsWhen you want to upgrade the look and functionality of your garage, several of the most important decisions you must make involve the garage doors. Some decisions will significantly impact your property’s curb appeal, such as the color and decorative style of the doors. Other decisions are more functional, such as the insulating value and the type of electric garage door opener you install. But the most long-lasting decision you will make is this: should you design your garage for one double garage door or two single doors? Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Building Tips • Garage Doors • • • • • • 0 Comments

Understanding the R-Value of Insulation in Garage Doors and Walls

Blue Sky Builders garage insulation R-valueAre you tired of feeling a huge drop in temperature when you step out of your house into your attached garage during Chicago’s coldest months? Whether you are building a new custom garage in Cook County or upgrading an old garage in DuPage County, the choices you make about insulating the space can make a big difference in your comfort. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • • • • • • 0 Comments

Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal With a New Garage Door

Blue Sky Builders garage door selectionWhen some part of your home, like a garage door, needs to be replaced, you should not just automatically buy the cheapest option or an exact replacement for the one that broke. Your home may well be the most valuable asset you have. When the time eventually comes to sell it, you will want to get the best possible price for it. This means that you cannot wait until you are ready to put the house on the market to think about maximizing its value to potential buyers. Rather, protecting the value of your home has to be an ongoing practice, like changing the oil in your car and buying new tires when the old ones wear out. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Door Openers • Garage Doors • Garage Maintenance • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Garage Maintenance for Above-Freezing December Days

Blue Sky Builders winter garage door maintenanceThe Chicago area often gets a few days with 35- to 40-degree temperatures in December, giving homeowners a last chance to complete some lingering outdoor maintenance chores. Here are a few suggestions for garage maintenance on one of those days: Read more