What to Look for in a Garage Door Installation Company

Your home's garage door is central to your family's security and comfort. This is why it's imperative to choose a garage door company that you can trust. By doing so, you can ensure that you have a quality garage business on your side for years to come. Not sure where to start? The following information will explain some qualities to look for when hiring a garage door installation company. 

1. Experience

The best garage door companies will have the experience to prove their reliability. When selecting a business to hire, read customer reviews and ask about the company's roll in your community. These details can help you learn about the company's reputation.

2. Family Focus

Since your garage door will provide safety for your family, it's important to hire an installation company that shares these same values. When speaking to a potential installation professional for the first time, be open about your family's needs.

3. Certifications

With any home improvement specialist, certifications are a plus. Look into whether the garage door installation company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Also ask about other credentials and specialties.

4. Customer Service

Attentive customer service is key to compliment quality products. By hiring a business with impeccable service, you can ensure a trustworthy relationship with your garage door installation professional. This way, you know that they can responsibly attend to your service needs in the future.

5. Quality

Even the most impressive companies are lacking without top quality. A garage door company should be able to tell you about the durability of their products and the accuracy of the installation process. Be sure to ask plenty of questions about their available products before choosing to purchase.

By hiring a garage door company that you can rely on, your family can enjoy a stable garage door for years to come. A trustworthy garage door installation can support the structural integrity of your home and gift you the peace of mind that comes with security.

We encourage you to contact us today with any questions and/or service needs that you might have. We’re here to help!

Insulation & Garage Doors: What Should My R-Value Be?

If you are considering garage door replacement, you've likely done a lot of research already on what would be the right replacement. You might have decided on a design that will look good on your home, but you have probably not thought about the insulation.

Now, the mostly warm Texas weather in Austin may make you think that you insulation isn’t necessary; however, it’s important to remember that insulation is key when it comes to keeping cool air inside without allowing it to escape..

When gauging a garage door's insulation, manufactures rate it on a scale called the R-value. This is a scale that gauges its thermal resistance, or the ability to prevent temperature loss. To put understanding the R-value simply, the higher the number, the better it insulates.

R-values can go as high as 32 in some cases, but that doesn't mean you need the highest possible value. It is also important to remember that if you are choosing between an R-value 8 and an R-value 16 door, that doesn't mean it is twice as good at preventing temperature loss. In truth, the comparison is just a five percent gain from a 90% temperature loss reduction to 95% percent.

If you’re wondering what the appropriate R-value is for your new garage door replacement in Austin, the answer will vary by how you are using the garage. In most cases, an R-value 8 door will be more than enough for both an attached and detached garage. However, if you are using your garage as a living space, especially if you are having it heated or cooled by your HVAC system, you may want to consider a higher value - such as an R-value 16. Going higher than that gives smaller percentages of temperature retention and energy efficiency that may not be worth the price.

If you have questions on this, please don’t hesitate to contact us in order to further discuss.

3 Benefits of Regular Garage Door Service

If you're like most homeowners, your garage is more than just a place to park your car; it's the main entry to your home. As such, your garage door is subject to a lot of wear and tear. Routine maintenance and garage door service will help prevent unexpected breakdowns; but that's far from the only reason to schedule an appointment! Here are a few surprising benefits of having your door tuned up and properly maintained by an experienced technician.

• Preserves the Life of the Door.  Every garage door and motor manufacturer recommends having the door maintained regularly. During a routine service appointment, the technician can lubricate the gears, belts, tracks, and chains that support the heavy weight of the door. Having said maintenance items completed will reduce the amount of friction the components are exposed to under regular conditions; thus helping to ensure that your door works for as long as possible.
• Reduces Costs.  When it comes to garage door repairs, preventative maintenance is always best. By fixing minor issues as they occur, you'll end up saving money and time by preventing major breakdowns in the first place. Inspections are part of every standard service appointment and your technician will be able to notify you of any potential issues before they do damage to the motor or the door itself.
• Improves Safety.  Poorly maintained doors can slow down as the motor struggles to raise and lower the door. Though it may not seem like it, this puts your home at risk for theft and intrusion. The longer a thief has to slip under the door when you leave, the more tempting of a target your home becomes. Regular service and maintenance will ensure that your door raises and lowers at an appropriate speed, keeping your home and the things you love most safe while you're trying to make it to your destination on time.

Whether you use your garage as your main entryway or only use it to park your car at the end of the day, routine maintenance is crucial in keeping the motor running well. Don't put off maintenance until you notice a major problem.

We encourage you to schedule a professional garage door service appointment with us at Roadrunner Garage Doors.