Looking for a long-lasting garage door?

Keeping your garage doors in its best condition requires some work but making time to complete maintenance means you can enjoy a long-lasting door, with minimal effort over time. We’ve got some simple tips to prolong the lifespan of your garage doors.

Give them a look over regularly

A visual inspection is a great place to start with your maintenance. Have a look at the components including the arms, cables, springs, rollers and hinges. If you spot any wear and tear, it’s best to get this sorted out by a garage door specialist as soon as possible to prevent any serious damage to your door.  

Keep the parts oiled

This basic maintenance task will ensure your door runs smoothly as well as stopping any annoying squeaks and creaks. Oiling the moving parts such as the hinges, pivots points and the rollers even just twice a year with a quality spray lubricant, will add years onto the lifespan of your garage door.

Keep it clean

No matter the material of your door, clean it regularly with warm water and a sponge to prevent dirt from building up and casing damage. It also keeps it looking it’s best! If you have a steel door, this is also an opportunity to keep an eye out for any spots of rust forming. Any rust spots should be sanded down, primed, and painted over. Wooden doors can suffer from chipped paint due to water damage or warping, so if you spot this while cleaning, sand it down and repaint over the chips.

Test the door balance

If your garage door isn’t balanced properly, the door opening mechanism will be put under more strain and it won’t last as long as it should. The springs should balance it well enough that it lifts with only a few pounds of force. You can test this by manually opening the door halfway. When halfway open, it should stay in place without you needing to hold it there. If it doesn’t remain in this place on its own, then it’s improperly balanced and will be wearing out the springs. This is another case where a garage door professional should be your first call.

Garage door maintenance, servicing and repairs

No one wants their garage door to stop working prematurely. At Eastern Garage Doors, we provide garage door maintenance services to keep your door in its ideal condition for years to come. Get in touch with us today to book maintenance that ensures your garage door operates and looks how it should.

Looking for a long-lasting garage door?

YouTube is one of the best places to find diverse content about whatever interests you. This is especially true for motoring enthusiasts, with plenty of content creators putting out high-quality videos on everything from supercars to modifications, to reviews of the latest everyday choices. We’ve put together a list of some of our favourite motoring YouTube channels that are perfect for any car enthusiast!

EVO

EVO is a magazine dedicated to supercars, with a successful YouTube channel that boasts over 600,000 subscribers. EVO is a fantastic way to find in-depth reviews and comparisons of exotic cars such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, as well as popular (and more affordable) hot hatches and sports coupes.

Carwow

Carwow features an interesting mix of videos, with some featuring supercars going head-to-head in a drag race and others with reviews of the latest standard cars from all the manufacturers you’d expect. This channel is well known for its trusted reviews for those looking for their next car, whether that be for a family-friendly crossover or something a bit sportier.

Doug DeMuro

Doug DeMuro is a car reviewer and columnist who is best known for his YouTube channel. He regularly uploads reviews and vlog-style videos to his 3,000,000+ subscribers, featuring everything from supercars to accessible luxury cars to popular everyday cars. Doug’s entertaining personality and breadth of knowledge makes his channel one of our favourites.

Jay Leno’s Garage

Best known as a former late-night talk show host, Jay Leno is also an avid collector of rare and classic cars. If you’re after quality footage of rare exotic cars with entertaining commentary, you can’t go wrong with Leno’s YouTube channel. Just don’t expect much in the way of reviews or journalism – these videos are all about admiring a massive collection of jaw-dropping cars.

Eastern Garage Doors

Has motoring YouTube got you considering that classic car you’ve always dreamed of? Or, perhaps you need something bigger that’s suitable for a growing family? Whatever your reason, certain cars need an accessible garage to live in. At Eastern Garage Doors, we can adapt your garage with a lintel conversion that turns a single door garage into a double, offering more room to get in and around the space.

Take a look at our site for some garage inspiration and get in touch with us today to get started with your garage upgrade.

Four of our favourite motoring YouTube channels

It doesn’t matter if your garage is attached to your home or whether it’s an entirely separate entity, it’s of the utmost importance that all possible security measures are undertaken in order to shield your belongings and the rest of your home. It’s vital that your garage is structurally sound, and your garage door is up to the task of operating as your first line of defence. Your current solution may appear adequate, but if the door is ten years or older, a thorough inspection is essential to access whether you need a new door or a repair.

These days, thieves are far savvier than ever before. And while you may think it difficult to break into a garage, these thieves can spot a vulnerability from a mile away, and doors which have not been professionally installed or those with dents and broken frames are prime targets for opportunistic thieves.

How Do Garage Doors Get Broken Into?

There are numerous ways in which a potential thief can gain access to your garage. Older garages are mostly targeted due to their obvious vulnerabilities. However, don’t make the mistake of assuming that new garage doors are completely exempt from break-in attempts (although they are way more secure) it’s still imperative to cover every possible angle.

Older doors normally have only one lock and thieves have been known to drill through them or cut them out altogether – fortunately, advances on newer doors means that this is far more difficult.

The gap where the top portion of the door meets the frame is also a common area of susceptibility. Newer doors are fitted with a bar which protects the area behind the gap, where a crowbar would be all that’s needed to operate the locking system to gain hassle, and noise-free entry.

Roller and sectional garage doors have more protection than most other types of door simply because of their design. One of the only ways to break into a garage with a roller or sectional door is to cut through it, which would obviously be hard-work and very noisy. This is why opportunists are unlikely to target these kinds of garages, so long as they are in good working condition.

Some criminals have been known to use power tools to cut through the panel with the promise of a pay-day on the other side. It is an extreme example, but they’ll always be someone looking to take advantage if you’ve let it be known what you there’s something particularly valuable within the garage.

Security Features

Ageing garage doors pose a severe security risk to your valuables and your home in general, which is why garage doors are now built with security at the forefront. At Eastern Garage Doors, we have been providing high-quality garage doors in various styles, colours and designs for many years now. We use only tested manufacturers, who have been making, testing and improving garage door security for decades.

Over the years, as methods of garage door break-ins have been reported, our garage doors have evolved significantly to stay in-step with emerging trends.

You’ll find the following security features on any new manual garage door purchased from a reputable dealer:

• Two locks – one of each side of the door.
• The ability to upgrade with two additional locks.
• Strong bars which prevent the locks from being compromised from the outside.
• A strong anti-snap primary lock, which prevents access even if drilled or snapped.

Automatic garage doors have exceedingly secure locking systems which are powered by the door’s motor, which continually keeps the door pushed down until it receives a signal from the remote to open.

Additional Security Measures

Garage Door Defenders – For up-and-over garage doors, a garage door defender is an excellent way to provide substantial, durable and visible security. These are becoming more popular. However, they should be anchored into the ground securely for them to work effectively.

It prevents intruders by halting the outward swing of the door when someone tries to gain access, which means that, even if someone breaks the lock, the door will remain closed. Garage door defenders work in the same way as a steering lock on a vehicle.

When you buy a garage door defender, ensure it can be fixed effectively into the substrate outside the garage door – whether that be concrete, paving or tarmac.

The defender should be fitted just in front of the centre of the door. If you have a double garage door, you may need more than one defender.

Solid Timber Garage Doors – If you are concerned about increasing criminal activity in your area, or there’s an increase in steel garage doors being cut open, then a timber garage door may present the security upgrade you’re looking for.

Motion Lights & CCTV – Garages attached to the main home are the most prevalent, and can be seen on houses up and down the country. If this is the case, then security does need to be a priority as anyone that gains entry to your garage is literally only a door away from yourself, your family and your belongings.

Motion sensor lights and CCTV systems, are a very effective deterrent, particularly to opportunistic thieves and are ideal whether your garage is attached to your home or not.

Alarm Systems – Big advancements have been made with alarm systems over the past few years, and most new kits are wireless, so it’s ideal even if your garage is set a little way from the house. Dummy alarm boxes are commonplace in packs now, so you can affix these to your garage building, which essentially informs potential burglars that an alarm system secures the home.

In most cases, the best security solutions for home and garage will differ from person-to-person, as no two home are exactly alike. If you have any questions about security or any of our other products, then contact us today.

For a free, no obligation survey give us a call on 0800 048 0741, and our team will be happy to advise you on which security considerations would be right for your home and garage.

How Secure Are Your Garage Doors?

Wondered about how you can increase the value of your home without too much hassle? This month Eastern Garage Doors are here to share with you exactly how you can do just that. Increase your home’s energy efficiency, security and kerb appeal by following our expert advice.

How Can I Help Improve the Value & Saleability of My Home?

A fresh, secure and updated property is certainly a great way to increase your home’s value and appeal. The last thing people look for in a home is broken, insecure and unfinished fittings or facilities.

It’s well known that a fresh lick of paint and a quick clean can really make the difference to the overall look of your home, but leaving larger jobs such as repairing broken paving slabs, old inefficient windows and dilapidated doors can be a red flag to buyers and a green flag for break ins. Improve your home with a perfectly fitted new garage door; not only will it make the face of your home look uniform but it will offer you maximum security and increase your home’s value. For further benefits, please read on.

Energy Efficiency

A home that is energy efficient is a very attractive investment. Having a brand new garage door can help to insulate your home better and therefore reduce the need to turn on your heating. Not only is this good news for your bills at the end of the month but also better for the planet. A modern garage door is built to keep your home warmer and securer.

Security & Safety

A garage is a massive bonus to anyone buying a home and if you have one yourself, then you will be aware of the benefits. Many of us store our tools, furniture and even vehicles in there, so it’s basically a free storage facility. If you were to hire a storage unit the first thing you would want to ensure is the security and safety before leaving your belongings there, so why would your home be any different?

To ensure you have a good garage door that protects your home and belongings, as well as something that provides a deterrent to criminals, you will want to invest in a modern garage door. As we all know, technology has advanced massively in the last few years, so as you can imagine newer garage doors are more secure than older versions because they have new seals, security locks and measures put in place to keep you and your possessions safe.

Kerb Appeal & First Impressions

Regardless of whether you’re trying to sell or simply enjoy the home you live in, the overall appearance of your home can affect its first impression and even your own morale. It goes without saying that kerb appeal is a must when attracting new buyers as it reinforces the quality of your property. Most garages are situated at the front of a house and therefore, it’s one of the first things the eye will be drawn to. To increase your visual appeal, a clean and attractive garage door, and front door for that matter, has the ability to make a great first impression and encourage buyers to pay more for it.

When installing a new garage door, it might also be worthwhile to invest in a new front door; this is a great way to update and secure your property. If you would like to know more about the selection of both garage doors and front doors we have to offer, please get in contact with our friendly team today. 

Can a New Garage Door Add Value to Your Home?

Whether you are looking to replace your existing garage door, or fancy an upgrade, it can be helpful to know the average sizes of single and double garage doors here in the UK, along with the average size of the garages they are attached to. Take a look at our handy guide below to find out more about these average sizes, so you can maximise the potential of your garage space.

Average Single Garage Door Size

• 7ft width x 7ft high

The above measurements for a single garage door are typical of a standard garage door size UK. It’s worth noting that some types of door require a sub frame to be fixed (e.g. up and over and side hinged garage doors) so this will need to be taken into account if you are having a new door fitted.   

Average Single Garage Size

• 3m width x 6m depth

An average single garage is perfect for parking your car, however it’s important to take into consideration your everyday schedule to ensure it caters to your basic routine. For example, if you’re living with someone who has a disability, you will need to consider the space you’ll have around you in a single garage, so that you can maneuver a wheelchair with ease.

Average Double Garage Door Size

• 16ft wide x 7ft high

These measurements allow enough room for two vehicles to be parked together alongside one another. If you find that the size of your vehicles means that there isn’t much room left to open and close the garage door, the most suitable option would be a roller door as it takes up the least amount of space during operation.

Average Double Garage Size

• 6m width x 6m depth

These measurements would easily fit two cars beside one another, so for a large family – an average double garage should offer enough space to cater to your needs. A double garage with one large single door offers homeowners seamless convenience. Should you need to pop out, you needn’t worry about awkwardly steering your way out of a narrow gap. It can all be done in one swift movement instead when you have a large enough garage.

Talk to an honest and dedicated team who can enhance and alter the size of your garage or raise the height of your double garage doors. You can then choose a brand new door that’ll not only look great but provide you with effortless accessibility that you’ve been needing.  

Eastern Garage Doors have a wealth of experience supplying and installing a range of garage doors including sectional and automatic garage doors. We also provide garage conversions and alterations, servicing, repairs, front entrance doors, awnings, carports, canopies and verandas. All of our services are brought to you by our fully trained professionals, offering nothing but unrivalled quality. Based in Norfolk, we work throughout a variety of locations – simply find your nearest office today and give us a call.

Average Garage and Garage Doors Sizes in the UK

Whether you’re storing a classic car or sports car, it’s important to take the right steps to ensure that you prepare your cherished automobile correctly, before placing it into long-term storage. Save yourself time and money by following the top tips below to ensure that your car is ready to drive when the time comes to take it back out – without the hassle of easily avoidable maintenance and repairs.

Preparation Procedure for Your Car

• Smart charger – this will keep your battery full and stop it from going flat. You will still have to run your engine every few weeks but this beats doing it every week instead.
• Clean and polish – before storing your car remove any dirt that will over time corrode the body of the car.
• Ventilate – open your windows marginally, this will stop moisture from accumulating inside the vehicle.
• Top up your fuel and antifreeze – this can stop a build up of condensation. You may also like to add fuel preservative to keep the fuel lines in check.
• WD-40 – reduce the chances of rust by applying a little WD-40 the underside parts of the car that aren’t painted. This being said, do not use on belts, hoses or braking surfaces.
• Inflate tyres – keeping your tyres at their correct pressure will avoid flat spots.
• Keep the handbrake off – use tyre stoppers, this will relieve the brakes.
• Cover the car – doing this will keep any dust and dirt off your car and you may even wish to stuff the tailpipe with clean rags to stop any small creatures from exploring.
• Change the oil and filters – old oil can damage an engine if it’s left for too long.

Things You Can Do In Your Garage

• Safe – keeping your car in a locked garage is a must if you want to reduce the chances of theft.

• Well insulated – having a warm garage will keep your car efficient and working to its utmost potential.

• Dry – whilst your car is in storage it’s important to keep it as dry as possible. It’s a good idea to sweep the floors and place a plastic sheet on the floor to stop any moisture rising and thus, causing rust to the underside of the car.

If you cherish your car and are looking for a long-term storage solution, come to Eastern Garage Doors for a flawless garage renovation. Ensure a safe place for your prized possessions and trust our highly trained experts to get the job done right, the first time around. Give us a call today for a free, no obligation survey.

How to Prepare Your Classic Car or Sports Car for Long-Term Storage

Wooden garage doors really are aesthetically pleasing, and here at Eastern Garage Doors we’re happy to advise you on the best ways to maintain them, as it is relatively simple. Like everything doors must also be maintained, and this month we’re here to share our top tips to ensure your wooden doors stay looking great for longer.

Keep Your Door Clean

Using a cloth with hot water and soap will do the trick on both the front and back of your wooden garage door. This will remove any dust or dirt that can make the wood look dull and worn, spruce it up with a quick wipe down. By cleaning your door, re-staining the wood will become a less regular task.

Lubrication

Every other month you will want to check the mechanisms on the door, to ensure that they’re adequately oiled. You will know when your doors need oiling also because they will become stiff and usually make a screeching noise when you open or close them. It’s also important not to over-oil as this can attract the dirt and can affect the performance of the mechanisms.

Re-Sand & Refinish

Re-sanding only needs to be done every 3-5 years, this is a way to get your doors looking just like the first day that they were installed. Enhance its beauty once again, specifically after harsh seasons of beaming sun to heavy snow.

Repaint or Re-Stain

Before doing this job, it requires doing all of the above first to ensure you have a smooth finish.

Repainting or re-staining your wooden garage door will keep it looking fabulous and will shield it from damage. There is nothing wrong with doing this regularly, however if you clean it on a regular basis, this process need not be a scheduled task. Repainting or re-staining can be done every year, or every 2-3 years.

• When you do repaint your wooden garage doors you will want to remove any dust, dirt or peeling paint
• Apply a wood filler to any cracks or blemishes and leave to dry
• Sand down the door
• You will then want to degrease the door with a special cleaning spray and touch up areas of mildew, with a mildew cleaning solution
• Raise the door and let it dry
• Use masking tape to cover handles, walls surrounding the door, windows etc…
• Apply wood primer to the whole of the door and allow to dry
• Apply the paint and overlap the strokes for an even finish
  (You may want to apply a few light coats for the best coverage.)

Maintain Regularly

Keep the longer tasks to a minimum when you maintain your wooden garage door regularly. If you see any mildew starting to grow, give it a quick spray and a wipe. If you see that there’s dirt lingering around the mechanisms wipe this away too, and reapply the oil. Check all parts of the door to see that they’re in full working order.

Should your garage door not open or close, or tracking alignment/mechanisms aren’t quite right or you notice extensive repairs that you need help with, then consult a professional.

At Eastern Garage Doors our highly skilled and extensively experienced team are there to provide a friendly and honest service to each and every customer. Which is why we offer no obligation surveys and 10 year quality guarantee on all door surfaces.

If you’re worried about the maintenance of your garage doors or have come across heavy wear and tear – find your local EGD team and an expert will be right with you. Also if you wish to book any other services such as installation, please don’t hesitate, get in touch today!

Simple Maintenance Advice for Your Wooden Garage Door

Closing an automatic garage door may seem like an easy task and one that we take for granted. However, like with any machines, if we’re not careful we can cause ourselves and our property damage. It was only last summer that a Cambridgeshire woman was crushed in the roller mechanism of an automatic garage door after misusing it. Accidents such as these can be avoided with a few simple steps, and that’s why we’ve put together the following guide, describing 7 easy ways to stay safe around automatic garage doors.

Read the Manual

The best way to become familiar with your garage door and how it operates is to read the manual. Whilst it’s not Dickens, it’s an important document to read at least once. The manual should be able to tell you essential information, such as the key safety features e.g. the emergency release.

Keep Out of Reach of Children

Kids are known for being excitable, and often like to run around outside and play. However, it’s never safe for a child to go near a garage door, or be allowed to play with the remotes that operate it. If this is becoming an issue in your home, consider having a chat with your child about the dangers of playing near garage doors and always check twice before you open yours.

Inspect Your Garage Door Regularly

The best way to detect any developing problems with your door is to regularly check over it, making sure it’s as healthy and well-operational as it should be. Look for any signs of wear and tear. If your garage experiences any damage, for example, if it was backed into by a vehicle, then it should be checked over by a professional as the damage may be not be immediately apparent to an untrained eye. Never try and fix problems yourself, and always get a specialist company to carry out the repairs and maintenance. Due to the high tension springs and cables present in the mechanism, attempting the repair work yourself could result in injury.

Check Reversing Ability

An essential feature of an automatic garage door is its reversing ability, which ensures that if the door hits an obstruction, it will reverse its path and return back upwards. To test this, place a brick or similar below the garage door to make sure it performs this movement, repeating this test at least once a month.

Stay Away From Moving Doors

Don’t attempt any Indiana Jones close shaves by running under a garage door as it’s closing. Stand well clear any time a door is either opening and closing, encouraging anyone else around you to do the same, including pets and children. Don’t touch or hang onto a door as it’s moving either; this is how last year’s fatality occurred.

Deactivate Your Opener When You Go Away

For both safety and security reasons, it’s important to deactivate your garage door opener whilst away on holiday, preventing any unwanted access during your time away.

Always Shut the Door Fully

Try not to leave your garage door partially open. If it is reactivated, it will complete its closure, leaving very little time for escape if something happens to be underneath at the time. Not only this, but it’s wise to close the door completely to prevent would-be criminals from taking the opportunity to explore your garage.

Here at Eastern Garage Doors, we’ve got your safety in mind. We offer comprehensive garage door servicing, repair and maintenance services, in addition to installing a huge range of manual and automatic garage doors available in a range of styles. Our specialists cater for the entire East of England. If you have a question about your garage door, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly advisers today.

7 Ways to Stay Safe Around Automatic Garage Doors

If you find yourself wrapping up warm just to enter your garage, it might be time to investigate how to raise the temperature. Household garages are high-traffic areas, with many family members passing through to collect bikes, perform DIY projects and access their vehicles. But wintry weather can make these experiences less than enjoyable by turning your garage into a bitterly cold area that you will want to avoid at all costs. Not only that, but the harsh temperatures can potentially cause damage to equipment stored in this space. So if the Christmas season has landed you with a freezing cold garage, here are 5 tips to keep it warm.

Get Warm and Toasty With a Heater

An obvious choice for warming up a space is to install a heater. The decision you need to make is whether to opt for gas or electric, both of which have their pros and cons. Gas heaters are cheaper but require a gas supply and exhaust venting. Electric heaters are pricier but boast an easier installation.

To guarantee a safe fitting, heaters are best installed by a trained professional, who can also advise as to what model could suit your garage best. But beware; heaters are a wasted addition if your garage is not kitted out with decent insulation, as the heat energy will simply conduct through the walls and floor and disappear; which brings us onto the next few points.

Insulate the Garage Door

The simple laws of physics state that heat conducts through solid surfaces, and this includes your garage door. As a result, fitting it with insulating materials is a great way to help the heat stay in your garage. A variety of materials are available for this purpose, including foam boards and fibreglass batt insulation. Whatever you choose, ensure that it’s applied with a snug-fit; to achieve this, you may wish to hire out a professional to guarantee a good job.

Insulate the Garage Walls

Don’t just insulate your door and neglect your walls. This huge surface area is capable of conducting energy, letting it escape from your garage and making temperatures inside plummet to uncomfortable levels. Treating your walls to some insulation can work wonders in raising the temperature, especially when combined with the presence of a heater. There are a few insulation options available to homeowners; a trusted professional should be able to help you with your selection if you’re unsure.

You should also take note that insulation is only effective if it’s installed snugly and securely, which is why it’s best to get specialists on board to perform a thorough job.

Repair Or Replace the Weatherstripping

Defend yourself against draughts by repairing or replacing your garage’s weatherstripping. Weatherstrips create a seal between the garage and the garage door opening, keeping it weather-tight. Over time, these valuable components can become cracked, allowing cold air to escape through. Simply repairing or replacing weatherstrips can bring them back to top working order, helping to eliminate draughts.

Consider Caulking

Gaps and cracks are enemies of energy efficiency, which is why caulking is an important process to perform and maintain. Caulking means using a sealant and application gun to fill in any gaps and cracks around windows, garage doors, and other areas where gaps can appear. A rule to remember is to caulk any area where two dissimilar materials meet e.g. brick and wood. Before you caulk, clean the area and make sure it’s dry to prevent moisture from being sealed in.

If you want to banish the cold from your garage, the team at Eastern Garage Doors are here to help. Our specialists offer comprehensive supply, installation and maintenance of garage doors across the East of England. We also offer prompt and professional garage door servicing and repair to help keep your garage in good working order. To get your free survey or quote, simply get in touch with us today – we’re happy to answer all enquiries.