Any Door

How to Automate Your Garage Doors

There are hundreds of garage door openers to choose from but before you can do that there are two key considerations concerning your garage door itself.

Before deciding on an electric garage door opener check that an able bodied person can effortlessly open the garage door manually as a motor will not do what they can’t.  If the door works smoothly and effortlessly, then adding an electric operator should be straight forward.

You will also need to check that your door balances at around chest height to ensure you have the correct spring tension for the operator to lift the door.  If the springs are broken or the door is not balanced properly the electric operator will not work effectively.  You may need to service the door by lubricating the moving parts or replace the door springs and other moving parts.

The other consideration is to know what type of garage door you have.  This is because it is essential for you to choose the correct device to suit your door mechanism to ensure the safe and smooth operation of your garage door.

There are four main types of garage door mechanism: retractable door, canopy door, side hinged door, and sectional door.

Up & Over – Retractable Garage Doors (Tracked)

These are identified by a single door panel with springs either side or horizontal ceiling tracks which support the door in the open position.  When the garage door is fully open, the bottom edge of the door is flush with the garage door frame

If you have a retractable up and over garage door then you are in luck, as these are ideal for automation and you can safely use any type of operator.  Your main considerations must be the noise (AC or DC motor) and the material, width and weight of the door to ensure you choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

Up & Over – Canopy Doors (Trackless)

This door type is not recommended for safe automation although there are options available; I would never recommend or safety and reliability.  If you don’t want to replace the entire door and mechanism you can purchase a retractable door mechanism and replace the canopy door gear.

An up & over canopy door is identified by the large spring which runs over the head of the door and when the door is open the garage door panel protrudes by approximately 600mm from the opening.

Side Hinged Doors

These garage doors can be automated using a conversion kit with most operators.  You will need to check the operator can be use for side hinged doors so that the auto-reverse safety feature functions normally.

Sectional doors

Sectional Garage Doors are identified by hinged panels that allow the door to rise vertically without swinging out as the door opens.

They are perfect garage doors for automation as no additional parts are required and you can use any type of AC or DC operator.  To ensure the operator will fit it’s a good idea to check the clearance above the door during its opening cycle then check the minimum clearance requirement for the operator as they vary.

Again your choose an operator powerful enough to lift the door.

About the Author

A garage door can make up to 25% of the frontage of your house, so making sure you have a garage door to complement your home is important in maximizing its value and appeal. Do not forget to visit -http://www.garagedoorsuperstore.co.uk

Close every door – Donny Osmond (Andrew Lloyd-Webber)

Sanyo HPS-SG3 200-Square-Inch Electric Indoor Barbeque Grill, Black $38.99 Adjustable temperature control provides a wide range of grilling options up to 425 Non-stick grill allows fat to drain away for healthy cookingRemovable water-filled drip pan catches excess fat and ensures virtually smoke-free cookingSears foods like a traditional barbequeDouble-coated and easy-to-clean non-stick cooking surfacesDishwasher safe drip pan cool touch handles and baseStacking design f…

Cuisinart DGB-625BC Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal $79.99 The easiest way to great coffee is the Cuisinart Grind & Brew! This 12-cup coffeemaker automatically grinds the beans right before brewing to deliver the freshest coffee flavor, and the streamlined design with a brushed metal finish looks great in any kitchen. Fully programmable, with a large control panel, its easier than ever to enjoy a hot cup of coffee any time of day. Simple, quick, delicious…

Koolatron – Koolatron Voyager Cooler $107.00 The Koolatron Voyager 29 quart 12 Volt cooler is ruggedly designed with plenty of room to store and cool all your favorite travel snacks and beverages. Your family will no longer need to stop for food or soda while on the road. The time and money saved by eliminating stops at the convenience store while on trips will more than pay for the Voyager over time. A 12 Volt plug is included with your Vo…

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1992 Canadian Cast) $10.84 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat completed the transition from cantata for schoolkids to big-budget glitzfest with Steven Pimlott’s 1991 London revival. Here’s the 1992 Canadian version of that show, and even if it’s not an ideal recording–Janet Metz as the narrator is no match for Laurie Beechman in the original Broadway cast and there’s a little t…

Anywhere But Home (w/ bonus DVD) $5.53 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

The Ultimate Oliver Stone Collection (Salvador / Platoon / Wall Street / Talk Radio / Born on the Fourth of July / JFK Director’s Cut / The Doors / Heaven and Earth / Natural Born Killers / Nixon / U-Turn / Any Given Sunday Director’s Cut) $27.50 This 14-disc set is at least the third massive DVD collection with the Oliver Stone moniker. New to this set are two documentaries that aired on HBO: Looking for Fidel (2004), Stone’s second film shadowing the Cuban leader, focusing on the regime’s iron-fisted defector policy. Persona Non Grata (2003) is an examination of Palestinian conflict. Both of the films have a constantly moving camera, gi…

Knock on Any Door Knock on Any Door…

Knock on Any Door [VHS] $19.98 …

Knock on Any Door [VHS] $19.95 …

Honeywell RCWL300A1006 Premium Portable Wireless Door Chime and Push Button $31.94 The Honeywell RCWL300A P3 Premium Portable Wireless Door Chime and Push Button makes it easy to replace your home’s generic doorbell ring with a chime tune that better fits your individual style. This chime is also compatible with a wide range of optional security accessories that can help you safeguard your home and family, and it comes complete with a pre-programmed bell push button. .caption …