This blog is for all of the DIYers out there. In today’s economy, it is tempting to save money wherever you can. Many homeowners are looking for ways to cut down on expenses, which can often be difficult when so many things need to be done. It seems there is always something around your home that you must address. No sooner do you finish cleaning your gutters than a piece of your siding falls off. You fix the siding, but then you realize your toilets need to be re-anchored, your kitchen tile must be replaced, and a million other things require your attention. No wonder when it comes to garage door services, people are tempted to DIY rather than ask for a professional’s assistance. They don’t want to have to pay for yet another thing.
However, DIYing is not always a good option. Sometimes, it may be the opposite. Read on to learn when it is appropriate to DIY with garage doors and when you should contact someone for professional garage door services.
When DIYing Is Acceptable
There are plenty of things you can do for your garage door without contacting a professional. In fact, we encourage you to get actively involved in your garage door’s care. Here are four things you can do by yourself without enlisting professional garage door services:
1. Cleaning Your Garage Door
You do not need professional garage door services to clean your garage door. This is easy to do yourself as long as you are careful to use the appropriate equipment. When you clean your garage door, all you should need is a hose, a bucket of warm, soapy water, and a soft cloth or sponge. Do not use a pressure washer, harsh cleaners, or rough scrubbers.
2. Painting Your Garage Door
Painting your garage door is another project that you can DIY. It is not difficult to paint your garage door if you know the right way to do it. Always use exterior latex paint, and make sure you clean your garage door and prime it before applying your top coat.
3. Testing Your Automatic Reversal System
Your automatic reversal system is an essential safety feature. You should test your automatic reversal system every few months to ensure no accidents or injuries occur. To test your automatic reversal system, place a small, solid object like a child’s block in the garage door’s path. Then try to close your garage door. If your garage door does not retract immediately when it makes contact with the object, then you’ll need professional garage door services.
4. Lubricating Moving Parts
One thing you can do to keep your garage door opening and closing smoothly is to use a lubricant on your rollers. A small amount of WD-40 or a similar product can help those rollers move along the tracks smoothly. Make sure not to go overboard, though. Less is more when it comes to garage door lubricant. If you overlubricate and make it hard for your rollers to move along the tracks, then you will likely have to enlist professional garage door services.
When You Need Professional Garage Door Services
Okay, now you know what you can do by yourself. What shouldn’t you DIY? There are many situations when you need professional garage door services rather than DIY solutions. Here are some examples:
1. Fixing a Broken Part Or Making Adjustments
Your garage door is made up of many moving parts that are pieces of one intricate system. These parts must all work together perfectly, or your garage door can’t open and close. Even the slightest mistake when fixing one part will cause the whole system to become imbalanced, turning your garage door into a safety hazard. That is why you should hire a professional to fix or adjust parts of your garage door opening system.
Additionally, some parts are a safety hazard in themselves. For instance, garage door springs may snap while you are attempting to adjust or replace them. Snapped garage door springs can cause broken bones or lacerations, so you should always leave repairs, maintenance, and adjustment to an expert.
2. Replacing Your Garage Door
You should never attempt garage door replacement yourself. Your garage door is heavy, and it may fall on you if you are trying to DIY. Additionally, you may install a part incorrectly. If your opening system is not installed correctly, you will either experience an injury from your door coming off the track or you will need to contact a professional for costly repairs. Neither of these situations is ideal.
3. Replacing Parts
Replacing individual parts on your garage door is also not advisable for the same reasons you should attempt repairs. We cannot emphasize this enough. Any work on your garage door opening system must be done by a professional!
We Offer Professional Garage Door Services!
Do you need professional garage door services in Houston? Our team is here to assist you. At Garage Door Pros, we offer effective, efficient services at an affordable price. It doesn’t get much better than that. So if you need garage door maintenance, repair, or installation, get in touch with us today!