Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Chances are that you don’t think much about your garage doors until they start malfunctioning and causing you problems.

However, if you want your garage doors to work well for as long as possible, you need to invest some time and effort in keeping them in good condition.

Even if you are not particularly skilled at repairs and manual labor, you can still do a few things which will ensure the longevity of your door.

Garage door experts at Rockstar Garage Door Repair Services of San Diego share some tips which you can follow.

Check the Batteries in Your Garage Door Opener

The simplest thing you can do to keep your door functional is to periodically check the battery levels in your garage door opener.

If you notice that the door is opening at an inconsistent pace and that it moves in jerks and tugs, don’t immediately assume that there is something wrong with the door.

Check the battery first, and save yourself the time and effort of calling a garage door mechanic if there is no need. If the battery levels are good and the door is not working properly, then it might be time for an expert. But explore your options first.

Lubricate the Mechanism

Like most of our machinery, garage doors need to stay lubricated in order to reduce the friction of movement and ensure much smoother operation.

The type of grease you should use depends on the type of door you have and the manufacturer’s recommendation. If you’re unsure, contact a garage door mechanic to help you figure it out. More often than not, white lithium grease is the best option.

The chain is the most important part of the system which needs to be lubricated, but also the overhead springs.

Check the Door Rollers

Rollers are an integral part of your garage doors. Check them periodically to see if there is any kind of damage. Most experts suggest checking twice a year. Spring is a great time, especially if you live in an area which gets cold and snowy.

If you notice any kind of chipping or cracking on your rollers, you should act immediately and consult an expert. Otherwise, you risk exacerbating the damage and making it a lot more expensive to repair, not to mention that you may not be able to use the door until it is repaired.

If you haven’t changed the rollers on your garage doors in the past five years, you might want to consider that option as well, as it is their life expectancy.

Look into the Noise

If you are annoyed by the noise your garage door makes, or if you have noticed that there is an increase in the noise levels, chances are that there is something loose or damaged which needs to be addressed.

If that is the case, you should check any moveable parts to see if they are moving too much and too loosely. Tightening a few screws and bolts might be all it takes to reduce the noise significantly.

On the other hand, if your garage door has always been loud, but you are looking to change that, there is a solution for that as well. Using noise-dampening hinges made of nylon or similar materials can reduce the noise significantly. However, chances are that you will need help from experts to install them.

People who use their garage doors every day should be aware that the regular wear and tear can lead to damage and that inspecting the garage door occasionally can help offset the worst of it.

What Causes Roof Water Damage And How To Prevent It

Old homes are very prone to roof leaks and water damage. Since the roof is usually out of our sight as most people rarely set foot in the attic, they often go unnoticed. The first sign of a roof water damage is a discolored spot on the ceiling or a mold growth around the moist area. If you don’t address this issue in time, you could face serious issues. The worst of these can even be a complete roof collapse.

In this article, the experts at KIC Restoration share their experience with roof water damage, what causes it and most importantly, how to prevent it.

What To Do In Case Of Roof Water Damage

The first thing you need to think about is your safety and the safety of your family. If the leak is a small one, simply put a bucket under the leak to collect the water. If there are no leaks, you can skip this.

Next, try to determine if you’re dealing with a leak at all. If you can’t find the source of the leak, go to the attic and take a closer look. The issue may be from a burst pipe and not a leak.

Finally, call a roof repair expert to assess the scope of the damage and offer their expert opinion. The goal here is to determine the origin of the leak.

Common Causes Of Roof Water Damage

Damaged Shingles

The issue with damaged shingles most commonly occurs immediately after installation or many years later. The problems after installation can be the cause of shingle defects or poor installation. The way to solve them is to hire an experienced roofer to correct the leaks. However, if the leak occurs years after installation, sometimes you’ll have to consider a full roof replacement. Make sure to hire an expert, as smaller leaks can be fixed without having to do a complete replacement.

Valley Damage

The valley is the angle where parts of the roof meet. This is a problematic area as rainwater usually gathers there. If the shingles are turned on the side instead of being placed straight, this could pose an issue later on.

Roof Features

Roof features such as skylights, vents or chimneys can also be a cause of a leak. These areas are particularly vulnerable since they are a direct link between the roof and your home. Chimneys are a frequent cause of a leak, as well as skylights.

Flashing Issues

The flashing is the thin layer of metal experts install at critical areas of the roof. The metal most commonly used is galvanized steel. However, as steel shrinks and expands depending on the temperature, the flashing deforms over time. If the deformation forms a gap for the water to collect in or pass through, the flashing should be replaced immediately.

 

How To Prevent Roof Water Damage

Having to deal with a roof water damage is not an experience homeowners remember fondly. However, making sure you prevent a roof leak is much less demanding. The best way to prevent roof leaks is to have your roof inspected regularly. This can help prevent roof water damage before it even occurs. Professionals can detect potential leaks and water damage by examining some signs that homeowners might miss during self-inspection. 

Can Your Building Pass the Annual Fire Inspection

Fire safety is a serious matter and a fire safety inspection needs to be performed each year to ensure that the building is up to code and that all of the fire safety measures are fully operational and not expired or damaged.

If there are any problems, a fire safety inspector will give you a report in which you will find a list of things you need to fix in order to pass the repeat inspection. However, you will have to pay for both of these inspections, as well as for the repairs.

That’s why experts at Red Truck Fire & Safety Co. devised a list of things to pay attention to before you invite an inspector and ensure that you pass the inspection in one take.

Be Prepared

When the inspector comes, they will want to see all of your fire safety documentation from previous years, as well as any modifications and improvements you made since the last inspection.

If your paperwork is scattered around, or even worse, missing, this might negatively reflect on the outcome of the report or at least make it a lot longer and more difficult for the inspector.

Apart from the detailed and organized paperwork, the inspector will need unobstructed access to all of your fire safety measures and devices. If there is anything that is locked, make sure that you have the key with you and that you provide the key to the inspector.

Know Some Basic Information about Your Systems

There are numerous companies which manufacture fire safety measures, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers.

That means that your fire safety inspector won’t necessarily know everything about the specific make and model that you have.

That’s why it is helpful if you know a few things about your fire safety equipment and keep the original paperwork provided by the manufacturer and the installer of the equipment.

Keep Your Fire Plan Visible

All buildings need to have a fire evacuation plan clearly visible and displayed so that everyone can see it and get familiarized with it.

If the fire inspector comes over, and you don’t have it, that is an automatic fail, which means that you will have to ask for another inspection very soon, all because of a single piece of paper.

If you don’t have a fire safety plan, please consult fire safety experts to help you come up with one which will be suitable for your building and your needs.

Most Common Causes of Inspection Failure

The fire safety inspection is a complicated process, and you need to make sure that your building is up to code in all aspects. Here are some reasons why people fail most often.

·          The fire escapes and emergency exits are not properly marked and lit

·          The corridors and staircases don’t have fire escape doors, self-closing mechanisms or release mechanisms in case of fire

·          There are objects obstructing the points of escape

·          Combustible materials are stored along the escape route

·          Fire extinguishers have expired

If you have any of these problems, make sure you fix them before the inspection. It is a lot cheaper and will make it easier to pass the inspection.

However, the most important thing is that you will have a building which is up to code and which will ensure that you have the best chances of preventing fires, and fighting them if they do ever occur.

How to Refresh Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring can be a real focal point in any home, no matter what style it is. It is the perfect flooring for both a period property or something thoroughly modern, and chosen carefully can look truly stunning with a variety of different home décor styles. But just like any other type of flooring, over time, it can begin to look a little tired and this can really let the rest of your room down. If you are keen to do something to refresh the look of your hardwood flooring, then there are a number of different things that you can try. Here are a few of our suggestions for refreshing your hardwood floors ranging from the really simple to the slightly more complex.

image:www.justwood.co.uk

Clean it!

It might seem a bit obvious, but really, sometimes all you need to do with a hardwood floor that is looking a little tired is give it a really thorough clean. If possible empty the entire room of furniture, making sure to lift furniture rather than drag it. Then you need to get up all the dust and debris that has accumulated, and even if you clean regularly you may be surprised by just how much there actually is. This can either be done gently with a vacuum cleaner or with a soft broom. Then all you need to do is it with a mop; this should be damp rather than wet. Water alone really should be all you need.

Take a look at the finish

If the finish on your hardwood floor is lacking a lustre, the kind of tiredness that comes from general wear and tear over a prolonged length of time then you may need to consider topping up the finish. If your floor is treated with a wax finish or a lacquer finish then you will need to consider how you go about the job carefully – if you prefer a higher shine then don’t forget the more natural looking oil finish is much easier to top up than lacquer. If the issue is a number of stains on your floor then you can follow a stain removing routine – using really fine steel wool, and then using a fine brush to apply some of the original finish. This should be all that you need to do to return your flooring to its former glory. It is important to ensure that you remove any excess before the finish dries and then once it is completely dry you can buff it using a soft cloth.

Buff it

Giving your hardwood flooring a buff and polish is a great way to get it looking great again. You will probably want to hire a machine to do this as they are not cheap. Ensure your floor is completely clean before you begin, otherwise you risk trapping any residual dirt under the polish. Make sure that you choose the best polish for your flooring, a good supplier or company who specialise in hardwood flooring should be able to advise you.

Resanding and finishing

This is not a job to be tackled lightly but it will really give you great results and if your flooring is looking very tired, perhaps with a few minor dents and a lot of scratches then you may find it the best solution. Hire a sanding machine and work slowly and carefully. Alternatively, you might prefer to leave this job to the professionals and get a professional to sand and finish your flooring for you, ensuring that you get fantastic results.