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A garage door can account for 20% - 30% of the front elevation of your
home. While a garage door is not something that you would buy on a
regular basis, it can improve both the appearance and the security of your
home. To help you choose the right garage door, we have compiled a list of
Frequently Asked Questions with answers.

Questions:
1) Who runs the Garage Door Man?
2) What products does the Garage Door Man stock?
3) Do you offer guarantees?
4) Are all doors supplied and installed or can I install myself?
5) How can I pay for my new doors?
6) What are your opening hours?
7) Who will install my garage door?
8) How much should I spend on my garage door?
9) What size door do I need?
10) What design will be right for my home?
11) What material and finish should I choose?
12) What lifting gear should I use?
13) What accessories are worth considering?
14) Why should I use a professional installer?
15) Is 26 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
16) Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage is not
insulated?
17) What are the benefits of a steel garage door over a wood
garage door?
18) How do I dispose of my old garage door if I replace it with a new
one?
19) When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
20) I have a one piece door now, can I replace it with a sectional
door?
21) Are special size doors available? I have a custom built garage
that features an unusual size door.
22) My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door.
What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional
door?
23) I have been comparing R-values of various doors and am
suprised at the variance among them. Can you explain this?
24) How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
25) Do I need a lock on my garage door?
26) What type of spring is better...extension or torsion?

Answers
1. Who runs Garage Door Man?
Garage Door Man is a family run business established in 1994. Each
inquiry is followed up by a free site visit and survey, at which time we
provide a fixed price written quotation for the door, accessories and frame
of your choice. At no time are you under any obligation to purchase.

2. What products does Garage Door Man stock?
Being independent, we are free to choose only the very best doors and
accessories which conform to all current safety and quality criteria. We
personally research all of our door suppliers and, in most cases, we have
tried and tested their products. As such, we only select products from the
leading garage door and operator manufacturers.

3. Do you offer guarantees?
All products are guaranteed by the relevant manufacturer, some for as long
as 15 years. The Garage Door Man follows up manufacturers guarantees
with an additional labor guarantee on ALL doors and operators purchased
from the Garage Door Man.

4. Are all doors supplied and installed or can I install it myself?
As well as our supply and installation service, we are able to supply garage
doors, electric operators and replacement parts on a supply only,
do-it-yourself basis. Sectional doors and electric operators are available
from stock and can delivered within 5-7 days from receipt of order.

5. How can I pay for my new door?
We accept payment by cash, check, visa and master cards.

6. What are your opening hours?
8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on
Friday. We are here to answer calls at your convenience. Should the office
be unattended for any reason, an answering service will take your message
or provide you with an alternative number where you will be able to speak
with a member of staff directly.

7. Who will install my garage door?
All installations are undertaken by qualified trained staff, who are
constantly under going further training, thus ensuring all installations are of
the highest standard.

8. How much should I spend on my garage door?
The cost of a garage door is determined by the following:

Door size
Style
Finish - steel, timber or GRP
Lifting gear
Extras - windows and electric operation obviously, a door built to a high
specification, for example a insulated steel door, is more expensive than a
wood door. You should bear in mind however, that as a insulated steel door
is of a superior quality, it will require very little up keep, where as a wood
door will require painting every couple of years to help maintain its
appearance.
We suggest homeowners consider the following points when purchasing
their next garage door:

Maintenance Requirements
Insulation "R" Values - i.e., Polystyrene versus polyurethane
Styles Available - i.e., Raised panel, flush, ribbed, elongated panels...
Thickness - A thicker door is not always better!
Durability - Will it dent?
Composition - i.e., Steel, wood, vinyl, aluminum, composite, fiberglass
Available Colors, Finishes and Window Options
Strength and Gauge of Track, Hardware and Face Steel
Security and Safety Issues
Warranties - on the equipment and on the installation labor
Counterbalance Spring Mechanisms - i.e., Extension vs. torsion
Construction of Sections
Available Options - i.e., Quiet glide rollers, seals, emergency disconnect,
etc.

We are committed to helping you select the best garage doors for your
home. We offer a large and diverse product-mix to guarantee the
satisfaction of your needs. Professional installation and friendly service are
the building blocks of our company.

9. What size garage door do I need?
All door opening sizes differ from garage to garage. Different door styles
and actions require different sized frames. Please don't allow this to worry
you. We are willing to visit your home and advise you accordingly as to
which door size will be the best for your opening, taking the framework and
clearances into account.

10. Which design will be right for my home?
Your garage can account for up to 30% of the front elevation of your home.
As such, it can have a major impact on how your home will look. It is
important, therefore, that you choose the correct design that will help to
help personalise your home now, but that you will still enjoy in 10, 15 or
even 20 years time. When making your decision, you will have to take into
consideration not only the current style of your home but also how the door
will look in the surrounding area. Some local authorities may require you to
obtain planning permission before changing your door.

11. What material and finish should I choose?
This decision should be considered in the same way as the choice of
design. All doors in the The Garage Door Man range are available in a
variety of materials and finishes.

12. What lifting gear should I choose?
This decision is just as important as the choice of material and finish. Do
you need your garage door to have extra height or width to accommodate
tall or large vehicles? You wouldn't want to purchase a new garage door
only to find that your car is too high or too wide to clear the door panel or
lifting gear.

13. Which accessories are worth considering?
This is the final decision that you will need to make. Accessories can help
add your own personal finishing touch to the garage door.

Electric option - Probably the best accessory that you could choose, not
only does it allow you to open and close your new garage door from the
comfort of your car, it will also add value to your home. Additionally, it will
also encourage you to actually park your car in the garage overnight,
saving it not only from the elements but also from the risk of theft.
Designer windows - Not only does this option add style to your new door, it
also allows natural light into your garage thus saving on your electricity bills.

14. Why should I use a professional installer?
At Garage Door Man, we firmly believe that the installation of a garage door
is not a do-it-yourself job. A garage door is the largest moving object in
your home and because of the large number of small parts, its installation is
highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and
proper installation is critical to the performance of your door. One of the
other services a professional installer can provide is the disposal of your
old door, if you are replacing a door.

Professional installers can typically install a door in a few hours and are
careful to make sure safety requirements are met. Installations by most
homeowners typically span several days and cause much frustration. In
addition, incorrect installation can void certain warranties, so we
recommend a professional handle the job for you.

15. Is 26 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
No. When comparing strengths of steel, remember, the lower the gauge
number, the thicker (and stronger) the steel is.

16. Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage isn't insulated?
A garage door opening is a very large hole in your garage. Insulated doors
will help to reduce the amount of outside temperatures that enters your
garage, thus keeping it more comfortable for you. This is important for a
number of reasons:

1.   If your garage is attached to your home, any air in the garage can
travel through the doorway to your living area.

2.   If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a top priority.

3.   If your garage is below another room in your home, air can travel
through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. An
insulated door will keep temperatures in the garage fairly stable to reduce
the temperature fluctuation in the room.

4.   An insulated door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior
than an non-insulated door.

17. What are the benefits of a steel garage door over a wood garage
door?
1.   Steel doors are low maintenance. (Typically a wood door needs to be
painted as frequently as the wood trim on your home due to weathering).

2.   Steel doors have longer warranties than wood doors.

3.   Steel doors can be insulated, making them far more energy efficient
than wood.

18. How do I dispose of my old garage door if I replace it with a new
one?
Garage Door Man will properly dispose of your old garage door when we
install a new garage door for a small additional fee.   Discuss this with the
salesperson when you get your estimate for your new door.

19. When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
We recommend replacing your track when you replace your door because
each brand of garage door has been specially designed to work with a
specific type of track. In addition, replacing your track is an inexpensive way
to insure that your entire garage door system is as safe as possible. By
replacing your track you also ensure that your door warranty will apply, in
the event that you have a problem.

20. I have a one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?
Yes. Your professional garage door installer can install a sectional door for
you by installing track and springs to accommodate a sectional door.
Depending on the construction of your garage, other modifications might be
necessary. We would advise you to ask your estimator to evaluate the job
prior to installation, so that any modifications can be performed before
installation.

21. Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that
features an unusual size door.
Yes.

22. My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is
the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
Standard headroom applications require 12" to 18" of space between the
bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling.   However,
Rapid Garage Door specializes in custom-built applications. A variety of
special track options are available and make it possible for many unusual
garages to be fitted with doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible
to install a door in an area that has as little as 4 1/2" of headroom.

Other special track applications include:

1.   Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high
and the garage door has room to lift straight up.

2.   Follow-the-roofline track, which is used when the ceiling of the garage is
pitched at the angle of the roof, making it desirable for the door to follow
the same angle, thus providing additional overhead room.

3.   Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the
door must still retract to a horizontal position.

23. I've been comparing R-values of various doors and am surprised at
the variance among them. Can you explain this?
Many manufacturers use R-values to show the energy efficiency of their
product. This number is arrived at through a calculation that looks at the
thickness of the insulation and its chemical properties. Therefore, most of
the R-value numbers you see, reflect only the R-value of the section...not
of the installed door. A door's insulating capabilities can be greatly affected
by the door's construction.   Polyurethane is a much better and more
efficient insulator than polystyrene.

24. How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced:

·      You should be able to raise your door in 1' increments and the door
should stay in place where you stop it.

·      When the door comes down, it lowers in a controlled manner and
doesn't slam.

·      When the door goes up, it is at a controlled pace.

·      The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header
when the door is in a raised position.

25. Do I need a lock on my garage door?
If an electric garage door opener has been installed on your door, it is not
necessary to have a lock. Newer electric openers function as the lock,
making it improbable that an intruder would be able to lift your door from
the outside. If you have an older opener, check to see if your door can be
lifted from the outside.

DASMA, the trade association for the garage door industry, discourages
homeowners from attaching a lock when an opener has been installed,
because too frequently, a child or other family member will accidentally lock
the door. If someone then tries to open the door using the electric opener,
the opener will pull against the lock causing the door to be damaged.

If no opener is installed on your door, you should certainly have a lock
installed.

26. What type of spring is better...extension or torsion?
There are two types of springs used on garage doors today...extension and
torsion. Most people are more familiar with extension springs. These are
the springs that are attached on either side of the door and stretch along
the horizontal part of the track when the door is closed. Torsion springs are
typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted to
the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when
the door is moved.

A torsion spring is a superior spring, primarily because it offers more safety
to the homeowner and better balances the door to provide smoother
operation


	Garage Door Man

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