With bad weather coming right around the corner you want to make sure your garage door and opener are ready to handle it. We recommend scheduling a preventive service for your door. We can adjust, balance, tighten, and lubricate the door and opener. It is important to look around your door and see if water, air, or debris can make it in over the door, around the sides, or under the door. Not only will the door sealing tight all the way around help you stay warm and dry, but helps keep your garage nice and clean. New trim around the door and bottom rubber are quick fixes to help all winter long!

If your door is running rough, hesitating, or binding up it will only get worse with cold, icy, wet weather. The moisture absorbed by wood doors can cause more fatigue if the door is not balanced and ready for the added weight. Adjusting the hardware and balancing the door should be done by a professional due to the springs, but is a quick fix. Simply upgrading your rollers can make a noticeable difference on many older doors gliding smoothly up and down the track. The lubrication for a garage door opener, spring, and hinges can be crucial for smooth operation.

If you are not ready for winter, give us a call we can help! No one wants their door to stop working during the dark dreary winter.

So, your garage door is getting a little squeaky and may not be sliding as smoothly in the past. Maybe its time for a garage door tune and lube service? But what exactly does that entail?

Garage doors are like cars and other appliances, need to be maintained annually. Lack of maintenance causes premature product failure and is the single leading cause of garage door accidents. Annual maintenance should only be performed by a trained professional. Garage door springs and related hardware are under extreme tension and could cause severe injury or death if mishandled. Do Not Attempt to repair or adjust the springs, fasteners, hardware or wood board to which they are attached.
Let the professionals at Distribudoors perform our 26 point tune and lube service for you! This service includes an operational inspection of your door and opener as well as lubrication and adjustments as needed of the following items:

• Control panel, remotes, and keyless
• Boom and trolley
• Safety eyes
• Motor and gears
• Bellwire
• Safety reverse and limit switch
• Door balance
• Springs
• Rollers
• Cables
• Safety cables
• Drums
• Center bearing
• End bearing plates
• Pulleys
• Forks
• Shaft
• Hinges
• Brackets
• Tracks
• Hinge arm
• Strut and truss rod
• Spring anchor
• Bottom weather seal
• Panel condition
• Outer weather seal

If your home was built prior to 1978 it could have lead paint on it.  Lead paint can cause health issues, especially for small children.  In an effort to minimize the health concerns the EPA has implemented laws that require special procedures for removal of products, especially garage doors with lead paint on them. 

 We at Distribudoors have been certified to handle removal of lead painted doors since prior to the law taking place.  Testing your garage door for lead paint is easy to do in the field while quoting your new door.  Should you have any questions regarding your door and lead paint we would be glad to help!

Your home’s curb appeal can either benefit or struggle due to your garage doors. Here are several things to consider when choosing a new garage door for your home:

• Style – Take a look at the overall style of your home. Modern looking homes will not work with the same doors a Craftsman style home will.
• Maintenance – The amount of maintenance is important so your garage doors (and your home) stay looking their best! Steel, aluminum, and fiberglass garage doors can easily be washed and hosed off to keep up that curb appeal. Wood doors require stain or paint to be applied every couple of years.
• Insulation – A crucial piece of getting a garage door to best suit your needs, the insulation, or “r-value” can be used to regulate temperature, create a more rigid door, and help to filter out traffic noise.
• Windows – Deciding whether your new garage door should have windows can be a little more complex. The cost increase to add windows to a new door is much less than adding them to the door after installation. Increasing natural light in the garage can save on energy costs to light your garage. Garage door windows come in a number of options: square or arched, grids or plain, clear or opaque glass.
• Color – Steel garage doors are available in several colors and it is possible to paint to match any color scheme. However, the warranty of steel doors can be affected by painting them and should be considered. Wood garage doors are available in many species and color of wood, in addition to being stained or painted any color.

Distribudoors is always glad to help trouble shoot or explain over the phone how to make minor adjustments for your opener. This video is fantastic on how to reprogram keyless entry and transmitters (remotes). The opener used in the images is a Craftsman opener, the same programming method would apply for Chamberlin and Liftmaster as well. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aylz3tJZ_r8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Heather Huffer
Distribudoors
c. 206.473.0385

The biggest question we get asked is what design we think looks best on a customer’s home.  It is tricky since we will not be pulling up to the home daily.  For this reason we recommend checking out this video.  The designer does a great job explaining what elements you should consider when looking at purchasing of garage doors.  The curb appeal is important, but you want to think about insulation, durability, and function as well.  Distribudoors is proud to carry a large variety of designs, r-value, and construction!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvSyyxBfIGI&sns=em

If you are considering selling your home it is important to look at which improvements can get the biggest bang.  With the replacement of garage doors 84% of the cost can be recouped upon resale of the home.  Steel entry doors can gain you 102% of your investment back when selling.  The value of your home in general can grow 4-8% by placing decorative glass in your door.  New doors can help with curb appeal, energy efficiency, and allows natural light in. 

It is a great investment for you and the long haul of your home if you plan to sell in the future.  Check out this video from Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch for more great information!

http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/a-home-improvement-project-that-pays-2011-02-03/2DD9FA7E-464C-47B8-A925-A9FECB41D71A#!2DD9FA7E-464C-47B8-A925-A9FECB41D71A

Like us on Facebook and get entered to win a lube and tune service. Doors get used more in the spring and summer with lawn mowers and gardening utensils that have not been needed, plus the usually coming and goings of busy life. A lube and tune is a great way to get ready!

Distribudoors is excited about debuting our new booth at the Seattle Home Show! The Seattle Home Show is at Qwest Field beginning February 19th and runs nine days long.  Distribudoors has been an exhibitor at the Seattle Show for over 10 years.  Having put a lot of hard work into the new booth we would be honored for you to come by and see it!

We start out February with Heather Huffer returning to Distribudoors as the “Sales & Marketing Manager.” 

Heather started her leave of absence May 2010 to assist her husband Ty in recovering from foot surgery.  Ty has fought Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease for many years, and has now regained much of his strength from the surgeries on each of his feet. 

Thank you for all the well wishes for the Huffer Family, and we are glad to have Heather back!