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7 Common Garage Door Problems and How to Fix Them

Erika Matthews 04.11.2021

Are you having problems opening and closing your garage door lately? Do you feel frustrated because of this? Are you looking for some professional help? Well, you can get in touch with the SD Garage Doors Company based in Glasgow. With more than 60 years of experience, they are one of the best when it comes to garage door-related issues. On average, your garage door closes and opens about 1500 times a year. Now that’s a huge number! And because of that, there’s no wonder that it suffers from multiple maintenance problems. Here we have discussed some common garage door problems. And yes, we have shared ways to fix them too!

Your garage door is making unusual noises

While opening or closing your garage door, is it making unusual noises? Is it grinding, squeaking or creaking? The chances are that some parts of your garage door are pressing against each other. The solution? You need to lubricate them in order to prevent them from rubbing against each other. Now, there can be other reasons too. The noise can be caused by worn cables and rollers. In that case, to stop the noise, the best thing that you can do is replace it with a new one. Otherwise, it can have some serious consequences, including breaking during operation. In addition, this will cause more damage to the door. Can you hear the noise of loud bangs on certain occasions when your shutter or garage door is in operation? This can be the reason for a broken spring. If this happens, replace it immediately.

Your garage door is sticking or already stuck

A properly functioning garage door should be able to move along its tracks while you open or close it. What if your door starts sticking when it is in operation? Or, what if it gets completely stuck? Well, a broken moving part or bent track can cause this. If your garage door stops working, we highly recommend that you call a professional and get it checked. Your garage door might stop working because of obstructions in its tracks. Take your time, inspect and remove anything that you think is stopping your garage door from moving. Now, if your garage door is sticking, it can just be from the lack of lubrication. In order to make your door move, parts in it press against each other. And the track is a part of this too. So make sure that you take care of your garage door properly. As part of your regular maintenance, apply lubricant on the moving parts too. This will make your garage door work seamlessly.

Your garage door doesn’t open and close all the way

Does your garage door open partly and then get stopped? Or, does your garage door go halfway down only to get stuck? These can happen because of the following reasons:

There is a broken spring
You have dirty photo eyes
You have not adjusted the limit setting correctly
The tracks are not aligned properly
There may be some tiny object stuck at the bottom of the door

A malfunctioning garage door suggests that there is an issue with the track, the balance of the door, the springs attached to the door or the door opener. Inspect it well. If the problem persists, call a professional.

Your garage door has gaps or cracks in sealant or door

Are there splits and cracks in your garage door? They look unattractive. Also, they can affect the secure nature of the garage door. If the sealants have signs of wear and tear, make sure to replace them. For the cracks in the wooden doors, caulk them. This can restore their quality.

Your garage door closes too fast

A garage door must be safe to use, especially when people and possessions are around it. This is the reason why it is made to close slowly and react if anything blocks its way. Now, when certain parts of the door get damaged or worn, it becomes a threat to animals, people and vehicles. The system fails to react if anything blocks the path of the garage door. As a result, it closes quickly on things that are in its way. Why does this happen? It can be the result of a snapped cable or spring. How can you fix it? You need to replace it immediately so that your garage door gets back to its perfect condition. Also, it will be safe to use again.

Your garage door doesn’t stay open

Are you having problems keeping your garage door or shutter open? There might be a faulty spring system or spring. It should be replaced or fixed. A word of caution! Don’t try to replace or fix the springs yourself, especially if you are not a trained professional. This can turn out to be dangerous, and you might injure yourself in the process. Also, if you don’t do it in the correct way, it can further damage your garage door.

You can’t close your automated garage door

A lot of commercial businesses and homeowners use automated garage doors and shutters. In a day, they are used numerous times. This can make the safety sensors move. So, if you see that your garage door is not opening even after pushing the opening button several times, check the safety sensors. You need to adjust them so that they can get back to their working condition. These are ways you can troubleshoot some of the most common garage door problems. Of course, you need to be very careful while fixing your garage door issues. Otherwise, accidents can take place. After all, your safety should be your number one priority. However, know that it is always best to consult a professional and let them do the hard work.

Ascertaining Whether Wasps Pose a Threat

Erika Matthews 20.09.2019

There are many different types of infestations, and some of them can be more stressful than others. The truth is that any type of infestation is an inconvenience, but the presence of wasps can be dangerous in some instances, so it’s important to recognise a threat and ensure you get in touch with a professional company offering wasp removal in Edinburgh. Many aren’t fearful of wasps, believing that they will only attack when not under threat, However, wasps could assume there’s danger where there isn’t any, which will lead to an unprovoked attack that can be painful, and in some instances, fatal. Even though a was sting can be easily dealt with, it’s not something somebody would want to experience again and again, and multiple stings can be especially However, those who are finding a large group of wasps gathering could find that they have an infestation, and as the number of wasps increases, so too does the threat of being stung. If you should witness a large gathering of wasps on a regular basis, then it’s likely that there is a nest nearby.

Identifying a Wasps Nests

Wasp nests can come in a variety of different sizes, and some can contain as many as 5,000 wasps during the summer. Wasps nests are more likely to be found in sheltered areas such as under trees, in bushes as well as sheds and garages. Just because a wasps’ nest is active doesn’t mean that it needs to be destroyed, For example, if the nest is situated some distance away from the home, then it may be better to leave the nest alone until the wasps disperse on their own. However, if the nest is near or within the home, then it can be advisable to employ the services of a professional.

How to Remove a Wasps Nest

Although there are also some DIY treatments available, such as sprays, these are only effective if only dealing with a few wasps. Some may attempt to remove a wasp nest themselves, but this could do more harm then good, especially if you’re not experienced with the removal of wasps’ nests. Unlike bees, wasps have the potential to sting again and again, and although one can be treated with easily, 20 or 30 stings could prove to be more fatal. As well as ensuring that the wasps’ nest is being removed in the right way, the use of professional pest control also ensures that the regardless of where the nest is located, it’s being dealt with correctly without causing more disturbance around the home. The presence of a wasp nest doesn’t have to be problematic, but it’s important that the wasp nest is dealt with professionally to ensure that there is less likelihood of being stung and more chance of all wasps being removed from the home.

Common Kitchen Renovation Mistakes You Should Avoid

Erika Matthews 16.02.2019

Your kitchen is the most important room in the house. It is the place where you sit, talk and most importantly enjoys FOOD! Having it in the best and perfect condition is what you need to have in order to have a happy home. Keeping your kitchen in mint condition requires you to renovate it from time to time. While renovating it is important to avoid such mistakes:

Focusing on style and not practicality

In the modern age, there are many designs present for kitchens which make it look beautiful such as open cabinets and dark countertops but in real life, these can make your kitchen very impractical. Generally, kitchens require clean and open spaces along with a lot of storage space. So, while renovating your kitchen go with styles that suit your needs.

Not maintaining a good work triangle

You might be wondering what a work triangle is in a kitchen. A work triangle forms from the sink to the stove to the fridge as these are the three key elements present in every kitchen. While renovating your kitchen, it is important not to make it too crowded between the work triangle so that you and your family have enough space to move around.

Getting rid of ample countertop space

The countertops in your kitchen are as important as your stove or your sink! They hold your items, your food, your containers and even right down to your kitchen towels. A lot of times when people renovate their kitchen spaces, they let go of extra counter space to fit in something else but that is where they go wrong. Having more counter space lets you store more while giving you an open and breathing space.

Shopping for appliances later

When people renovate their kitchens, they generally finish up with the big-ticket things first and then look at the appliances later. But that is where you go wrong. While you are renovating your kitchen, you need to shop for appliances at that time so you can make adequate space for them while setting them in the right place as well.

Materials which only look good

This is probably one of the most crucial things you need to think about. Once renovating the kitchen, you might go with materials for floors, countertops and even cabinets which look extremely beautiful along with being heavy on the wallet as well. What people don’t realize when they are doing so is that these materials might look beautiful but they may cause problems from time to time while being difficult to manage. When renovating the kitchen, it is important to go with materials and designs that are practical while making them look good and focusing on what will be comfortable.

The Homeowner’s Guide – Plastering Your Walls

Erika Matthews 07.02.2019

Plastering a wall is a job that must be done with care to cover all the imperfections of the wall, so you must have a lot of patience. That's why many people hire professionals to do it and be perfect. In case you want to learn because you want to do it for yourself, here we leave you the steps to do it:

Preparation

First, you must prepare the mixture that will be applied on the walls that’s cement with sand, and little by little you will dilute it with water until it’s thick. You should also notice that the wall is free of any type of dust, dirt, grease and also remove old coatings such as paint or wallpaper that had previously.

And also, you can prevent from staining any part of your home and avoid disasters by placing newspapers, old shirts or sheets on the floor so that if a little mixture is thrown on the floor.

Application

After all the above description is ready, you must apply a funds fixer, and wait for it to dry within a few hours, and you cannot raise any kind of dust or sand because if it doesn’t stick to the wall and it will be a problem.

When drying, you can apply the same plaster or cement or sand mixture, you will be placing it on the wall in small quantities and helping with a trowel, thus trying to fill any part that you see is missing until the wall is completely covered, smooth and level.

Second Application

After applying the first part, you should wait approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour for the mixture to dry on the wall. Then you can apply little by little more mixture to go smoothing any lump that has been with the trowel.

You must be careful especially with the corners because it is a part that is usually difficult to cover. This is our secret weapon.

Polish

After the wall has dried completely, you must dry and polish the wall; this is done by first spraying a little water all over the place and passing the trowel to finish smoothing everything.

Final Touch

Already the final touch will depend on the person if you want to paint the wall the way you want or want to put wallpaper.

It really is easier to do than you think, you just have to have a lot of patience and watch tutorials in addition to reading, in order to learn the correct techniques.

Ventilation Renovation Ideas to Up Your Home’s Value

Erika Matthews 18.01.2019

If you have plans to put your house up for sale, you should consider doing some remodeling, and updating things, fixing ventilation problems, and odors control are just a few of the small things that make a difference and increase the probability of sale.

This is because the space will be more attractive to buyers because of its updated design, and its parts in a very good condition, which of course will be in a good state thanks to the repairs made in the passing of remodeling.

Bathrooms and Kitchen

Some people say that kitchen and bathrooms are the most important things in a house, that's why these two areas must be impeccable, besides of being the focus of the buyers and visitors, they are also parts which designers put more effort to update to give a good impact of the house.

Even though the kitchen and bathrooms are nice to look at, at the time of a sale, buyers care about how the wind drafts run through the space and take away odors from the area to the outside of the house.

Think Big With Small Things

Small things always make big differences, so you have to be aware of small details such as door and window frames, decorative lights on the ceiling. They are small coatings that make the house look luxurious and irresistible for buyers. Besides, making little changes to your windows, or using nets will help the wind flow go inside and out.

New Trends

You should be aware of new trends and the most used so your home does not miss anything new and be fashionable. In this way, the house will increase its value and sell faster because buyers always look forward for new things.

Limit the Number of Things

Stay neutral, if you’re going to remodel on your own don’t get out of control by adding many decorations, furniture, tables of different colors, this will cause the house looks very stuffy and will be unpleasant for the eyes.

An Interior Designer

One of the best recommendations would be to find someone specialized as an interior designer to advise you and do a good job together. This option might be expensive but it’s worth it and its result never fails.

No Internal Problems

Make sure the house doesn’t have any electrical problems or leaks in the roof to avoid paying a contractor and that the repairs were more expensive than how you expected. If you do, it's likely to save you time, money and long-term distress.

You cannot stop following at least one of these recommendations, they assure you success in your sale and they remain as an experience for your future sales. It is always a good idea to take advice, and take precautions of what could happen, so you must have everything ready to sell your house.

Design Tips to Renovate Your Gardens and Boost Ventilation at Home

Erika Matthews 14.12.2018

Having a small space in your yard doesn’t mean you’re not worthy to enjoy having a beautiful garden in full view of everyone while improving the natural ventilation at home when the weather gets warmer. Now with these recommendations, you won’t be able to resist designing your own garden and impressing your neighbors, and we are here to help you.

The way you distribute your plants helps a lot the optical illusion that your garden looks bigger than how it really is, so it's all about organization and playing with the colors of the plants and their sizes.

Outdoor Room

First of all, you have the option of creating an outdoor room, which is, designing a space where your friends and you can have a tea and enjoy nature around, without feeling confined or suffocated by the walls.

Recycled Bricks

You can create a path with brick residues, making your garden look more stylish and giving your guests a guide where to walk so as not to ruin your lawn.

Decorated Trees

Decorating trees or shrubs, nowadays is very fashionable. You can decorate the trunks with crafts or just give it a chic touch by decorating it with extensions of lights around its trunk and branches.

Play With Plants’ Heights

To boost up the natural ventilation inside home it’s important to play with the height of the plants or obstacles the wind waves will encounter on its passing to the house or workspace. Having the windows open when the weather is getting hot, and having trees with different heights far from the window will help the breeze go through faster and cooler than ever.

Wall Staircases

You can take advantage of the wall staircase to place them in one of the garden's patches and fill them with plants to create a nice design and very unusual as those that we lately have been seeing in some stores.

Your Windows Should Be Opening… But Not All The Way

Crossed ventilation is a very intriguing concept, where you have to play and place obstacles like trees or moving windows, so the wind waves can move freely on the entire space.

No More Grass

Another completely different option of what you have been reading before is to eliminate your lawn, place a cement floor and much more flowerpots with different types of plants, this option would go well to people who are busy enough to cut the lawn.

Seasons

Allowing the seasons of the year to decide for you is a good idea, for example in summer it would be the perfect occasion to decorate your garden with umbrellas and glass glasses which reminds you cold drinks. In winter it’s a good time to decorate with snowmen or snowflakes made of paper, etc.

Everything has to do with letting your mind fly, we hope these tips have given you the initiative and have caught the focus to start designing your own garden and how to decorate it on your own. Don’t lose hope of showing off a beautiful garden, it may even be the best in your neighborhood and keep cool and breezy your entire place.

2 Low-Cost Improvements to Do at Home

Erika Matthews 09.12.2018

The maintenance and repairs of a home or some construction is somewhat expensive for some families or even for some companies that find it difficult in some cases of bad economic times, so there are certain techniques or tricks that you can perform so that maintenance is much cheaper and even a little easier than doing it in the common and expensive way.

Even these techniques can be done when you are interested in selling your home, so you need to put it in good condition to get a little more money. These techniques also help that when doing these jobs, you will not release as much dirt or dust as in the common way of doing it.

Clean the Vinyl On Your Wall

The vinyl is a plastic that can be placed on the walls for both protection and for a decorative point of view, which makes the walls look fantastic and new for many years without painting or anything like that.

But in some cases this vinyl begins to peel off or get dirty, so you should clean it with a dry cloth, rubbing it in different directions and in a necessary case you can stick it back to its place. It is a simple point but that your visitors will take into account visually.

Repaint Exterior Doors, Windows, and Accessories

Being the first thing that people who visit your home see, the doors, windows and all the accessories that are on the outside of your house are a fundamental part when placing a price on your house if you want to sell them or maintain a good decorative presentation in front of the people who visit you, so you should always keep them in good condition and fix them.

These repairs can be done at a very low cost, so you can check in your shed some paintings that you already have or you can buy some at very low cost, that will work. By having your doors and windows in good condition, your house will have a good presence to your guests, neighbors or even appraisers who are going to review the price of your house.

These two tips are the main ones for the repair of your home at very low cost, there are many more that can help you, so get down to work and start renovating your home saving money in the process by following our lead.

2 Tips to Choose a Good Roof and Windows Sealant

Erika Matthews 29.11.2018

The windows and roof of a house is one of the main and fundamental parts of it, so it should have some care and maintenance so that it can fulfill its protective function in the best way and avoid any inconvenience that may arise at the time of finishing the construction of it.

To maintain the integrity of the roof and windows it is recommended to place a special coating called sealant, which keeps it in optimal conditions avoiding any problems of leaks, cracks, among other things, and on windows, it helps to avoid the flow of the air conditioner wind draft to lose or don’t reach all places and goes out the windows. So we must take into account many factors that are:

Material

In some areas, according to the environmental factors or the material of which the roof is built, the sealant will be applied in a different way or place than others, but before applying it, certain tests should be made with different materials such as rubber or liquid rubber, or asphalt, in the case of the roof, etc.

With these tests, you can see the acceptance of certain materials to the exposure of UV rays and the outdoor which makes then have thermal regulation, waterproofing, among others.

All these sealants are of European manufacture which makes them 100% quality, guaranteed with the highest standards of cohesion, adhesion, reactivity, movement capacity, and elasticity, resistance to stress, climatic stability, flammability, and cost, being the best in the world in this area.

Types

There are several types of sealants that we can find in the market according to the necessary characteristics in the construction work, which can be:

Polysulphide Sealant

It is the oldest and the most reliable, for its permeability and protection, it is a bit expensive with respect to other options that are in the market, but its quality is guaranteed, it has great protection against UV rays and its duration is 20 years or more by avoiding leakage, and cracks and creases on the windows.

Silicone Sealant

It is the most common used in the market, thanks to its low price and easy access, it has problems with metal surfaces because of the corrosion that may occur, they are resistant to UV discoloration, they are not recommended for areas that release a lot of heat since the product would not stick very well.

Polyether Sealant

They are for roofs that have moisture and serves to cure it, they last a lot, more than silicone, besides having a good bond can resist the cold, which would make it work like a thermal material, they are easily applied and have a good resistance to UV rays already outside, can last from 20 to 30 years if placed correctly.

To perform this type of work and choose the indicated sealant there are many things to take into account, but these two are some of the main ones, we hope that it worked perfectly for you.