Nowadays, almost every house has an overhead garage door. The garage doors have also significantly evolved, being able to sense your vehicle approaching and automatically opening. This is very advantageous since you do not need to step out of your vehicle to open the garage door. After entering, the door also automatically closes, leaving you with other issues to worry about.

Garage Door Repair

Just as any mechanical machines, overhead doors require maintenance and timely service to ensure they function as expected. It can pose a considerable safety risk if not serviced accordingly. The door is quite heavy. Therefore you can imagine the damage it can cause to your vehicle or your family if it becomes faulty.

We specialize in overhead doors installation, repair and routine service/ maintenance. The doors have various components which need to be changed and serviced on a routine basis. The parts are cables, drums, springs, hinges, rollers, panels and the door openers.

Types of overhead doors

There are several types of overhead doors. They are different due to the mechanism used to achieve the movement of the door in opening and closing. I will discuss shortly the different types available below. Please note we do installation, repair and maintenance for each type.

Chain Drive

Chain drive overhead doors make use of a chain to attain its movement. The chain is used in pulling or pushing a trolley, which in turn triggers the up and down motion of the door. Chain drives are the most popular overhead door movements. Two factors that make them be so popular are;

• Considerably cost-effective- Compared to other available types, they are the cheapest.
• Highly reliable- These doors are highly dependable, that is why they are as popular.
• Easy availability of their components- As with popular mechanisms, most retailers have stocked their spare parts which are also relatively cost-effective.

The only drawback with these types of doors is the noise they generate when the chain is moving up or down, closing and opening the door. For this type of door, we recommend LiftMaster 3255.

Belt Drive

This door makes use of a belt to move the door up and down. It produces significantly less noise compared to its chain drive counterpart. It is, however, more expensive to install and maintain. Its advantages include;

• Speed- The belt drive mechanism lifts doors quicker than the chain drive. So if accessing your home a few seconds faster matters, this is the overhead door for you.
• Robust- The belt drive has been deployed on many large motorcycles demonstrating the confidence people have in them.
• Ease of installation and maintenance- The belt drive is relatively easy to install and maintain. Replacing it is also not as problematic compared to a broken chain drive.

The drawbacks of the belt drive are;

• Lifespan- It does not last as long as the chain drive mechanism
• Performance- When it’s scorching and humid, the belt drive’s performance is slightly affected.

The Screw Drive Opener

This is the most sophisticated type of overhead door mechanism. It makes use of a threaded rod that moves from top to bottom of the door. The threaded rod propels the trolley that opens and closes the door. It is the least popular type in use, with the chain drive and belt drive taking up the lion’s share of the market. They, however, are the best alternative for heavier doors such as a two-door garage.

Its advantages include;

• Cost- They are cheaper than the belt drive and chain drive.
• Ideal for large doors- It is able to lift heavier doors compared to its counterparts.
• Virtually maintenance free- They require significantly less maintenance compared to the belt and chain drive.

Its drawback is the noise level, which is higher than the belt drive, though less than the chain drive.

All types of garage doors work well; it, therefore, comes down to personal needs and preference. The important bit is to regularly service and replace their parts for the doors to function well.