Blog - Tip Top Garage Doors

The garage door is one of the most important aspects of our houses, yet it is also one of the most frequently overlooked. The garage door is a vital component of any house; we use it daily to exit or enter our homes. Garage door installation is one of the greatest home improvement tasks that anybody can simply accomplish to gain some significant benefits.

One of the most crucial parts of your garage door for ensuring safe operation is its sensors. Opener Safety sensors, located at the bottom of normal garage door tracks approximately six inches from the ground send an invisible beam of light across the opening of your garage door. The brains of the automatic garage door opener system are the two sensors on either side of your garage door. An infrared signal is continuously sent between the two devices from one side of the automated opener to the other.

Wooden garage doors have a tendency to change their nature with harsh weather and humidity levels. The contract in winter and expand in summer. In dry winter weather, your door is pulled tight and does not let in the creep of moisture or snow. But during sweating summer or highly humid days, the garage door gets swollen and stuck! Excess moisture is the issue here that has to be addressed.

For most of us, painting is fun. So, when we decide to paint our garage doors to enhance their curb appeal, we are excited. But getting the color wrong or haphazardly painting them can ruin the aesthetic appeal of the door. so, extreme caution has to be exercised while painting garage doors.

If you're like many homeowners in Charlotte, your garage is full of stored items that don't have a designated home. From holiday decorations to bicycles and sports equipment, it can be tough to find a place for everything. You can make space in your garage with a little creativity. You can use storage bins to organise your tools and other gear. You can also install shelves and hooks to keep things off the floor. When it comes to storage solutions and maximising your garage space, don't be scared to be inventive.

North Carolina residents know that garage doors are a great way to protect their homes and possessions from snow, rain, dust, or other elements. It’s an extension to help create more space and also keep things that are essential in any household, such as bicycles or snow blowers. It also greatly enhances your curb appeal. You will compromise the safety and comfort of your house if you do not have a properly functioning garage. No matter how modern the design of your overhead door is, it will eventually stop working properly.

Replacing your garage door springs is a big job that should only be attempted by a qualified professional. However, if you are feeling confident and have the necessary tools, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. Be sure to follow all safety precautions to avoid injury.

There are many design options for garage doors. Roller garage doors, sectional garage doors, canopy garage doors, etc. are the different garage door styles. In this wide range, side-hinged garage doors have a special place as they come with many benefits. Allow an expert from our professional garage door company to explain.

Windows let in natural light, sunshine, and fresh air into any room. That is why garages are now being fitted with windows. This brings us to an important question.
Are garage windows just for curb appeal, or do they have any purpose at all? Our garage door technicians shall analyze this and weigh the pros and cons.

In today’s age, a garage is more than a home extension. It is multifunctional, being used for storage, recreation, and events. If you want to make full use of its visual appeal, you must focus on garage lighting.

If you are buying a new home or moving into a new one you would think of installing a new garage door. Apart from worrying about labor costs and other factors, your greatest worry would be how long it will take to complete the garage door installation.

It has been a while since you bought your garage door. It seems to show some signs of damage. Should you repair or replace your Garage Door? This depends on many factors like these.

“My garage door is not even inside my home. Why do I need to insulate it?“- this is what you think. But do you know how much you can save by using an insulated garage door?

A property is incomplete without a garage. Garages are used as a parking space for vehicles, but can become a spare room or a utility area. People may keep your toolbox, old household items, and other valuables inside the garage. With the advent of technology, garages have become sleek and convenient.

The average garage door moves up and down more than a thousand times a year. Garages must be maintained regularly to safeguard your vehicles and valuable ones. On constant use, garage doors are prone to deteriorate leading to garage door replacement

Your loud and squeaking garage door is trying to tell you something. Are you listening? When the garage door stops working smoothly, it leaves you with many questions.

Home maintenance can entail a long and tedious list of to-dos. Right from moving the garden, dusting the spare room, to inspecting the roof, the chores can be strenuous. Yet, one cannot have a safe and clean house without timely upkeep. When it comes to home maintenance

Garages are an extension of your home and they add to the aesthetic value of your property. Apart from a parking space for vehicles, garages can be used as storage rooms or workshops. Regular use of garage doors leads to wear and tear. In a region with a harsh climate, a garage keeps your tools and vehicles well insulated. Garages are like a security vault for your invaluable vehicles. A secure garage door, with a robust security system, keeps you safe from thefts and robbery. So, choosing durable and resilient material for your garage door is not only essential but smart. 

The garage is one of the critical entry points to your home and is opened many times. Besides, the entry door to the garage from the house may be opened unintentionally by kids or pets. Garage door insulation is the process of reducing heat flow in and out of the garage and energy loss. The amount of insulation a garage needs depends on the climatic conditions of the region. 

Choosing the best garage door should not be a hassle that causes you sleepless nights. It can be an exciting adventure since the garage door makes the first impression for guests and passersby. You also have a wide variety to choose from and different door designs assembled with care and using durable material from reputed suppliers.

We asked the garage door experts at Tip Top Garage Doors who have installed hundreds of elegant but sturdy garage doors in Charlotte & Raleigh North Carolina, Fort Mill South Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee to list factors that they considered very important. They came up with 6 critical factors to be considered apart from other minor ones.

Below are 6 important factors you need to consider and look for when choosing garage doors.

Homeowners in the United States are increasingly opting for advanced home automation. Garage doors, too, are becoming advanced both with wired setup and wireless setup. A majority of the garage door openers though are remote-controlled devices -with a wired controller and smart controller as primary options. 

The pattern of your garage door posses a unique influence on the entire outdoor design of your house. Garage doors will give you access to display your unique or personal design while improving the beautification of your apartment. When it is the period  to select new garage doors a homeowner will actualize there are large varieties of colors and patterns available. Prices of garage doors depends on the kind of door, material and size you choose. Here are some steps to consider when purchasing a new garage door.

We’ve diligently reviewed our top pick of LiftMaster garage door openers 2018. Below you will find the opener’s model, lifting capacity, compatibility and unique features that enhance performance, opener’s durability and overall safety and security. Read carefully to choose the ideal opener for your garage door.

How many times do you turn a garage door spring is one of the most asked questions especially by DIY enthusiast. However, before getting the answer, it is important to note that springs should only be fixed by skilled professionals. Springs are the most dangerous part of the door of your garage as they can cause serious injuries or death. Therefore, getting the count of times you need to turn the spring is not enough. Below is a detailed process on how to go about it.

Adjusting the force on the garage door is an important preventive maintenance procedure that should be carried out regularly. Opening and closing force adjustment protects the door while facilitating its movement to open and close as it should. However, this is not a task for everyone as it is quite technical hence best performed by skilled technicians.

The following considerations are vital in choosing the right and effective garage door opener.

Replacing the garage door spring is an easy process but a dangerous one. That’s why the whole spring tasks should be left to technicians. Here are the dangers of DIY garage door spring replacement.

Did you know that you can remodel your garage door giving it a classic appearance? Remember that when visitors walk into your home, the first thing that they see is the door into your garage. This project can be referred as a total makeover that not only renews the door but improves its performance. Majority of home owners tend to think that door remodeling process is complex and tedious. Well, this is not it as you can use simple stains to give your door the desired faux wood appearance while enhancing its operations. Here are easy to follow DIY steps to usher you to a successful door makeover.

A well functioning garage door guarantees safety and efficiency, giving peace to the residential or commercial premises owner. However, these doors are complex, as they are made up of different movable parts that rely on each other to function. A broken part may result to loud noise during the opening or closing process a situation that can be rather disturbing. Good news is that you do not have to put up with the noise, as you can use the simple DIY tips below, to manage the door:

DIY techniques go a long way in sorting out simple garage door issues. However, procedures may solve the door problem partially or worsen it. This may lead to added costs especially for parts replacements that would have been fixed through a simple repair if handled by a professional. But when should you call a technician to fix your door opener? Have a look at the situations below:

A well performing garage door guarantees safety and efficiency for the users. The operation of the door can be slowed down or halted by dirt clogging in the movable parts, broken springs and opener. Below are some viable tips for a better door performance:

Garage door replacement is a difficult decision to make, for many residential and commercial premises owners. This is because it requires both technical knowledge in order to choose the best door and financial muscle to fund the purchasing and installation costs. However, the process can be easier if the replacement is timely for fund mobilization and a technician involved for technical advice. Here are some reasons to help you to know if a total door replacement is due.

Garage door springs play an important role of lifting and holding the door weight. Some springs are suitable for commercial heavy doors while others are designed to lift the lighter residential doors. Here are the major door springs:

It is vital for one to know how to tell if the garage door sensor is bad. Sensors malfunction due to a number of reasons. Below are steps to guide you through the assessment process.

An automatic garage door should runs smoothly following a push on the opener’s remote control. This makes it easy for users to open and close the door without moving out of the car. However, poor door maintenance, faulty installation, unfavorable weather conditions, wear and tear of door parts are some of the issues that can make the door not to open. The following troubleshooting tips can lessen inconveniences, panic and frustrations caused by the failure of the door to open.

Apart from the frustrations caused by garage door off track, serious injuries and property damage may be incurred. It is advisable not to forcefully pull a jammed door down, as this bends the vertical tracks and popping out of the rollers from the track, leading to serious damage. Here are viable DIY tips to fix a jammed door:

DIY tips on how to maintain garage door are essential as they enhance it’s functions and prevents injuries and property destruction. However, engaging professionals is highly recommended, as they can easily spot potential door issues and fix them early. Here are some simple door maintenance practices:

A garage door is a mechanical object with many moving parts. This fact makes it prone to mechanical issues that result to faults. The mechanical problems develop gradually and later the door fails to close. Unfortunately, this may happen when you are pressed by time to leave the house or at stupid o’clock of late night. A door failing to close is a frustrating experience that brings about inconveniences, exposure to risks and untold misery. This makes it paramount for you to know what may lead to your door not closing and what to do about it.

Modern automatic garage doors are efficient when they are working well but, when they get faults, they can be a frustrating hustle to have around. These doors are prone to faults as they are mechanical devices. When the door of the garage gets stuck especially when you have to get in and out, it brings about untold stress.

Which garage door opener should I buy is a common question that nags the mind of many. This is because when the door opener is functioning well, the door opens and closes smoothly. The secret here is buying the opener size and style right for the door. It is difficult to identify the opener that meets your needs since standard ones come in almost the same design. Therefore, it is important to educate yourself on how to shop for the right product.

Garage door springs operate under high tension that enables them to lift the weighty door. Due to frequent use of the door, they break or loose tension after a period of time. In this case, they need to be replaced for the door to function adequately. There are doors that require extension springs while others use torsion springs. A good example is the overhead doors that use torsion springs that are normally fixed on the central bracket located in the middle of the door. If you choose to use the DIY method to replace the springs, it is important to beware of the risk involved as a slight mistake may lead to snapping of the spring causing injuries.

Garage door remotes come with automatic openers and they enable one to open or close the door while still in the car. The old generation remotes use switches while the modern ones use rolling code technology that changes the code after every use for security purposes. Once the remote is pressed, it sends a signal to the opener for the door to open or close. A remote may break, get lost or become faulty. This calls for simple programming, repair or replacement whereby you can involve a technician or use DIY tips.

An insulated garage door functions smoothly with minimal parts replacement. Doors that are not insulated are prone to extreme weather and other environmental effects. Though it is advisable to involve a professional to insulate the door for best results, you can choose to use simple DIY steps. In this case, you will need to get some basic tools and supplies normally available in the local stores.

Buying the right garage door opener does not guarantee smooth opening and closing of the door. This is because the smooth functioning of the door depends on proper installation of the opener. In order to successfully install the opener, it is advisable to contact a professional to carry out the process. However, for those who prefer performing the installation, there are some DIY tips that can help in executing the procedure effectively. It is vital to understand that the process may take up to ten hours if one does not have enough experience.

Garage doors are large and heavy moving objects that use frequently to access the house via the garage. These doors have numerous moving parts that play an important role in facilitating its opening and closing process. Some of the parts such as cables, openers, tracks and springs are present in all the doors. However, some doors may have other unique features depending on the model and the mechanism they use. When one of the parts is broken or faulty, the entire door fails to function smoothly.