Why Automate Your Garage?

Whether you’re leaving the garage and forget to close it, enjoy keeping it open, or just have a manual garage door that’s heavier than the norm, there are numerous reasons you may want to automate your garage, but what is garage door automation? Garage door automation can range from adding electronic components to an old manual garage, so that it opens through the use of a remote, or having a device automatically close a garage after its been left open for a certain amount of time. There are various devices that can assist with automation depending on the type of garage door, as well as your needs.

What Types of Garage Doors Can Be Automated?

An automatic garage door is a modern convenience, and, luckily, most manual garage doors can be converted through the use of a remote, as long as they’re in good condition and not an older model that uses unusual types of springs. Overhead doors are the easiest types of doors to automate and conversion isn’t too expensive. Canopy doors are a little more difficult to automate as they require bow arm conversion kits. With these kits, a bow is essentially attached to the back of the garage door and works in conjunction with a boom to open and close the door. Hinged doors require the use of swing arm kits or hydraulic openers, while sectional doors require a boom and operator. There’s been much mentioned about a boom to convert manual garages, so what is it? A boom is a type of door operator to help lift, lower, and keep a garage door in place.

Despite the ability for many doors to be automated, some garages just don’t have the overhead space available for an opener to be installed. If you’re worried about whether your garage has space, you can contact a professional garage door repair and installation expert who will examine your garage and provide options for openers that may allow you to automate your garage.

Automate Your Garage to Close When Left Open

Sometimes it’s easy to forget to close the garage door if you’re in a hurry, or have something else on your mind. You can receive alerts when this happens, but how does that help if you can’t turn back to close the garage. If you consistently forget to close your garage door after leaving the house, you may want to look into automating your garage to close after a certain period of time. This is especially important for safety reasons. Most garages are connected to the house, so leaving the door open may result in trespassing or theft. There are sensors that can be installed in your garage to close the door after a predetermined set of time that will close the garage if you’ve left it open.

The Benefits of Garage Door Automation

Automation provides more security, especially if you’re the type to forget to close your door. They’re also more convenient, especially if your door wasn’t automatic to begin with and you had to manually open and close it each day. Automatic garage doors can also help prevent injury due to having sensors intended to to prevent a door from closing when a person or animal is entering or exiting. Automatic doors also do the heavy lifting for a person who might experience a pulled muscle from trying to maneuver the door. These opener require very little energy and also increase the value of your home.

Thus, garage door automation is practical, typically inexpensive, and provides peace of mind. Most garage doors are automated, but if you live in an older home, you may want to contact a professional garage door installation company regarding your conversion.

Although Shepherd Shoreline’s home base is located in Norton Shores, we serve a variety of cities and towns around Michigan, including Allendale. Garage door repair in Allendale, MI doesn’t have to be stressful for our customers, as we make the repair or installation process easy. We’ve been repairing and installing gutters and garage doors for over 50 years. Allendale is only a short 30 minute car ride east of Norton Shores, so if you’re in need of fast service, we deliver depending on the issue with your garage.

Common Allendale, MI Garage Door Repairs

One of the most common types of garage doors in Allendale is the sectional garage. These doors consist of horizontal sections that are connected by hinges. The sections rise upwards and rolls back along the garage ceiling when opened. Sectional doors consist of joints in between the panels that make up the door itself, brackets, which are connected to cables to help lift the door, torsion or extension springs, tracks, the garage door opener, and photo eyes.

The Troubling Signs of Broken Garage Door Parts

Garage door hinges – Garage door hinges typically last between 10-15 years. If the hinges are loose or missing screws, then problems may arise. This could possible mean that the metal around them has worn or deteriorated. A rusted or loose hinge can damage the garage door panels and tracks. If you fail to call a professional, this could lead to costly repairs.

Brackets – Brackets have similar issues to hinges. If they come loose, they can pop off. They may also be affected by the springs, so it’s important to call your Allendale garage door repair experts for this fix as springs are extremely sharp and dangerous. Adjusting them on your own, but improperly can cause bodily harm and damage to your garage as well as the contents inside.

Lift Cables – Lift cables hold the tension of the springs, counterbalancing the garage’s weight, so that the door can be easily lifted. Each time the door is opened or closed, the cables move. Cables may be worn due to weather, or they might rub against some other component of the garage door, like the tracks. If wires are hanging down, or springs appear in good condition, the cable may be broken.

Springs – Garage doors either use extension springs or torsion springs. Both have the same function of assisting doors to open and close. The springs gain tension when doors are closed and release tension when doors are opened. Springs can break down over time due to normal wear and tear, rust, faulty installation, or even improper maintenance.

Tracks – Tracks can bend under the garage door’s weight or become loose if not installed properly. This may eventually cause rollers to slide off or break as well, causing garage doors to collapse inwards.

Garage Door Opener – Garage door openers can have a variety of problems, such as wall switches failing, remotes failing, the door failing to open, grinding noises, and so on. The easiest solution to troubleshooting a broken garage door opener is to call a professional.

Photo Eyes – Oftentimes seemingly broken photo eyes are caused by obstructions or even due to sunlight. There are ways to safely test the photo eyes for functionality, which can be found in our informational article about Grand Haven garage doors.

So, if you’re in need of garage door repair in Allendale, MI schedule a call with Shepherd Shoreline today. We’ll be sure to offer a speedy and honest response in regards to your query and send out a technician to diagnose your repair. Trust in Shepherd Shoreline for your garage doors and gutters and see what our previous customers have to say about our services.

Grand Haven Garage Door Repair

Grand Haven garage door repair is as simple as a phone call away. The skilled garage door specialists at Shepherd Shoreline are adept in residential garage repair throughout West Michigan. A thoroughly working garage is important to any resident as they’re often used as entry and exit points for home owners and their vehicles. When owning a home with a detached garage that fails to function, it’s possible that a person can become trapped inside. Protect yourself and your family from unwanted dangers of of poorly working garage door by understanding their dangers.

Can a Grand Haven Garage Door Kill You?

Death by garage door is rare. Forty eight people were killed by automatic doors between the years 1982 and 1992. With newer technologies, garage doors have become safer in general; however, their parts can cause bodily harm when not installed properly. Some of the most hazardous aspects of a Grand Haven garage door come from DIY installation and spring repair. More than 20,000 injuries from failed garage door repair occur each year, the reason being is that people receive the wrong information online, use the wrong parts, and try to fix components that are pressurized. A garage door consists of moving parts that, when tampered with, may cause the entire door to malfunction.

What are the Most Common Garage Door Injuries?

• Crushing – This is one of the most common and dangerous accidents caused by a garage. Garages have sensors to detect when people or animals are underneath, but if your sensors are blocked or your door needs repair, this type of accident could cause a lot of damage to your body or car.
• Pinched Fingers – Children are curious and one common injury is when their fingers get caught in garage door sections or tracks, but, of course, this can happen to an adult as well. Stay away from doors while in motion.
• Lacerations -This often happens when a garage door window breaks. However, many newer door styles use shatter-resistant glass, making this issue less common.

What Does a Grand Have Garage Door Repair Specialist Do?

A certified garage door specialist can perform safety inspections, replace and install new garage doors, as well as make adjustments to garage door parts. West Michigan garage door specialists help save money and time as well as take ownership for the repair of your garage door. Step out of the way of danger and entrust your garage door to someone with years of professional garage door repair and installation experience.

Whitehall Garage Door

About five miles from Lake Michigan, Whitehall is a small city of over 2,000 people located in Muskegon County. According to a 2010 census, there were over 1,000 households in the region and many of the homes are older. If you require Whitehall garage door installation for you home, Shepherd Shoreline carries a variety of doors from industry name brands like C.H.I. Overhead Doors, Mid America Door, and Amarr Garage Doors. Each brand sells their own collection of fully functional and visually appealing garage doors that work beautifully no matter the style and size of your home. When it comes to Whitehall garage door installation our technicians will be as thorough and efficient as possible. In this article we’ll cover some of the types of doors your home could choose from as well as provide more detail about the garage door installation process.

Home buyers often purchase homes to express their personal style, so why not do the same for your garage door? Whether your home is traditional, contemporary, or rustic, there’s a wide range of garage designs that can be installed to compliment your home’s look.

Traditional Whitehall Garage Door

The traditional garage door is typically made of steel and consists of rectangular panels and windows. The traditional garage door is often labeled classic and timeless and is one of the most common types of doors you’ll find in Whitehall. This style of garage door can have overlays, be embossed, or stamped. Traditional garage doors can also be made to look like wood, without the cost and maintenance of installing an actual wooden door.

Contemporary Garage Door

Many of the homes in Whitehall may be traditional, but if you want to modernize the look of your house, consider a contemporary garage door. Contemporary garage doors are also often made of metal, but enhanced by wood tones for a sleek look. These doors have a variety of window arrangements, like short and long planks, that can be arranged side by side, diagonally, or in other patterns. Contemporary doors tend to be flat in appearance even when they’re broken up into panels.

Rustic/Carriage House Whitehall Garage Door

Also called farmhouse-style or barn-style garage doors, rustic doors are often made of wood or have a wood tone for a more natural appearance. Rustic garage doors are often fashioned in carriage house style, in which the door appears or is made up of two separate doors. Carriage house doors were the original types of garage doors used to store buggies and swung open in a forward motion. Many modern carriage house doors roll-up in the same way that other garage doors do, but you can still opt for a mechanized version of the doors that swing forward.

How to Install a Whitehall Garage Door

Installing a garage door takes a lot of work and should be best left to professionals who can deliver the new door and take away the old door. A garage door professional will also be able to identify any wear and tear on your garage’s tracks or install new ones if necessary. Garage door installation typically takes three to four hours, but this is also dependent on the type of door you’re having installed. On average, garage door installation costs anywhere from $700-$1500, but again, the material and style of your chosen door may alter pricing.

Allow Shepherd Shoreline to update the look of your home by providing Whitehall garage door installation. Our garage store shop is open Monday through Friday, 8AM-5PM. Call our Email us today to learn more or receive an estimate.

Grand Haven Garage Door

When it comes to your Grand Haven garage door, maintenance is key, as with any garage door. Garage’s are an overlooked part of your home since they are mainly used for storage, entering, or exiting the premises. With anything that is neglected, unwanted damage may occur. Rollers, cables, and springs are often the culprit when it comes to garage door issues. These components can break due to poor maintenance or even the weather. Below we’ll provide tips and tricks, so that you can maintain your Grand Haven garage door.

Grand Haven Garage Door Maintenance

Inspection, inspection, inspection! The best prevention against Grand Haven garage door repair is visual inspection; however, some maintenance should be left to garage door technicians. Check hardware, such as door tracks and hinges to make sure they aren’t bent or loose. Check the rollers, springs, and cables. Make sure the rollers are not worn and cables aren’t frayed. If your door springs are broken, call a professional immediately. Trying to fix the springs on your own can result in bodily harm or even death.

You can perform garage door balance and reversal tests on your own. To perform a door balance test, you need to disconnect the door from the opener for manual operation. Lift the door halfway and then release, if it falls, it’s not balanced. When it comes to a reversal test, place a piece of wood or thick foam sponge beneath the door. When the door touches the wood or foam, it should reverse, if not, you’ll need to call a garage door repair specialist. You can also test the photos eyes to make sure they’re aligned and that there’s no debris blocking them.

Another great way to maintain your garage door is through lubrication. You can use silicone sprays to grease smaller parts, or white lithium grease, but that must be applied manually. Close the garage door and turn off the power. Lubricate door hinges, rollers, and ball bearings. Please note, don’t lubricate your tracks because this will cause issues with rollers. You should also lubricate the springs. Lubricate the moving parts of your garage at least once every six months. This not only increases the longevity of those parts, as well as keeps the door quiet.

Your Grand Haven garage door is an essential part of your home, overlooked or not. If you’d rather have a professional perform maintenance on your garage door, the technicians at Shepherd Shoreline are here for you. Call or Email today for a quote!

Garage Door Repair Coopersville

Townhouse Garages

Coopersville was named after Benjamin Cooper, who purchased 640 acres of land to harvest timber near Ottawa county, Michigan. Being heavily forested, you may imagine that Coopersville has a plethora of wooden garage doors, yet steel has become the most popular modern garage door material. All garage materials have their pros and cons and each is affected differently by the weather. If you require garage door repair in Coopersville, rely on the experienced team at Shepherd Shoreline. We have over 50 years of experience installing garage doors in Coopersville.

Facts About Coopersville, MI

• Coopersville, Michigan has a population of 4,386
• The area consisted of 1,604 households according to the 2010 census
• The median property value is $125,000

When You Need Garage Door Repair Coopersville

With over a thousand households, and growing, you can now find a balanced mix of older home and newer construction in Coopersville, Michigan. Older homes may have outdated garage doors. Steel and wood garage doors last around 20 years. Steel doors are door are inexpensive, can be tailored to match your home’s aesthetic, and require less maintenance. However, they have poor insulation, which can affect their components, especially in extreme Michigan weather. Wooden garage doors are strong, attractive, and can be customization, yet they can decay, and, similar to steel garage doors, often have poor insulation. Insulation is a huge factor when maintaining the components of your garage door, as each as its own lifespan.

Springs, cables, openers, etc., all have their own life-spans. Garage door springs last around 10,000 cycles, which is around 14 years. If not maintained properly, springs can break sooner. Metal contracts in the cold, which can cause damage to garage door springs. Garage door cables should be inspected once a year. If you notice any signs of fraying, you’ll want to replace your the cables. With the invention of newer technologies, garage door openers are no longer what they used to be. Smart garage door openers can connect to your phone or other devices. Garage door openers typically last 15 years, but maybe that will change with new designs.

Garage door repair in Coopersville, MI doesn’t need to be stressful. We sell a variety of brand-name products to replace existing garage door parts when necessary. We are open and ready to assist you. Give us a call at 231-780-2847 to schedule your appointment or receive an estimate.

Muskegon Garage Door Opener

Did you know that the average garage door opens and closes around 1,500 times a year? Your Muskegon garage door opener is an integral part of the garage door system. A garage door is opened with the assistance of the garage door opener, a motorized device controlled by a switch, be it a wall switch, remote, or even on your phone, that opens and closes the garage. Garage door openers typically last anywhere between 10-15 years, but some may last longer. Maintenance is imperative to keeping your garage door opener operational.

The Garage Opener:

There are varying types of garage door openers. North America mainly uses a central system in which the door opener is connected to the center of the garage door. Today most modern openers use a rubber belt rive system to open the door, while, in the past, most used chains. Motors also have different ratings, which allows them all to lift different weights. Most opener motors are alternate current, or AC models. Their ratings range from .5 to .75 horsepower. Some motors have variable speeds, like direct current models. The opener itself consists of a receiver, whereas the garage door opener remote is a radio transmitter. When the remote is pressed, a signal is sent to the opener. One of the most common garage door remote problems is as simple as dead batteries. You can also add a garage door opener keypad, this is a pad that you must enter a code on in order for the garage to open. Garage door opener keypads add an extra layer of safety to your home.

Muskegon Garage Door Opener Maintenance:

Ensuring the functionality of your garage door opener relies on its surrounding components, like cables and springs. You should also lubricate the garage door track at least once a year. Yet, the opener itself should be inspected every month. The best way to do this is by performing a reversal test to evaluate the door opener’s force setting. With the door open, place a one-inch board, or two-inch thick sponge, below the garage door. The door should reverse when it hits the board. The reversal test is important because if the garage door system exerts too much force it could potentially kill children or pets.

Garage door openers are integral to the operation of your garage door. If your garage door opener is failing, consider hiring Shepherd Shoreline to install a replacement garage door opener. We carry top of the line brands like Linear and Liftmaster.