Installing & Maintaining Side Hinged Garage Doors

The Side Hinged Garage Doors make a popular preference among the homeowners because they are both stylish and functional. These doors unlike the roller or sectional doors swing out like the conventional two doors giving easy access without any complicated mechanism.

At a secure house, we realise that such doors must not just be fashionable but they must also be secure and durable. Properly installed and maintained, side-hinged garage doors can be able to keep their looks and performance years. This manual contains all that you have to know about the installation and maintenance of side-hinged garage doors.

Installation Process of Side Hinged Garage Doors

The installation of these Garage Doors should be done with a lot of planning and precision. Two major ways are DIY installation and professional installation.

DIY Installation

Homeowners who are not afraid of equipment and building activity can find it gratifying to install the Side Hinged Doors on their own. Nevertheless, a number of significant considerations should be made:

1. Skill Requirements
   • The side hinged doors are bulky and require accurate adjustment.
   • Appropriate to skilled handypersons who have knowledge of power tools and installing hardware.
2. Accurate Measurements
   • Take the measurements of the width, height and depth of the garage opening.
   • Make sure that you consider the hinge position and the door swing clearance.
   • The wrong measurements may cause the misalignment or improperly closing the doors.
3. Level Doors
   • Check the level of the doors with a spirit level to make sure that they are perfectly horizontal and upright.
   • Lopsided doors are able to rub on the frame, swing, or unsecure lock.
4. Proper Hinges and Hardware
   • Select good quality hinges that have the ability to support the weight of the door.
   • Make sure that the screws and bolts are tightened. Poor hardware may cause saggy or failure to operate.
5. Helper Assistance
   • Doors are very heavy and therefore, the presence of at least one helper will make installation safe.
   • One individual can be holding the door in place as the other one is locking the hinges.

DIY Tips:

• Take care when following instructions of the manufacturer.
• Reproduction Measurement Pre-drilling or Hardware Check Before drilling or attaching hardware, re-checking measurements is done.
• At all points have a level and a measuring tape.

Professional Installation

Most homeowners should employ the services of a professional installer. Professional installation has a number of benefits:

1. Exquisite Balance and Flawless Movement.
   • The tools and experience of the professionals can enable them to align doors perfectly.
   • Correct alignment will provide smooth swinging, firm closing and extended life time.
2. Post-Installation Support
   • A large number of professional installers have warranties or after sales services.
   • This makes sure that there are effective adjustments or corrections that are made after the installation.
3. Safety Considerations
   • Professionals can use heavy doors safely and eliminate the possibility of injuring themselves during the installation.
   • When the doors are properly installed it minimizes the chances of the doors to sag or malfunction.

Maintenance Tips for Side Hinged Garage Doors

Regular maintenance is also important to ensure long usage and looks even after the installation is perfect. Through good maintenance, rust, warping, and mechanical problems are avoided.

1. Lubricate Hinges Regularly

• Friction occurs in hinges and moving parts when they are being opened and closed.
• Use lubricant of high quality every few months to avoid squeaking and so that it operates smoothly.
• Hinges and hardware life is increased and wear is minimized by proper lubrication.

3. Check and Tighten Screws or Bolts

• Door movement Repeated movement of hardware at doors may loosen.
• Check all the screws, bolts and hinges and tighten those that are loose..
• Hardware could be loose, which leads to the misaligning or uneven swinging of doors.

4. Inspect Weather Seals

• The weather strips allow no drafts, water, or pests to come into the garage.
• Place cracks, gaps or wear check seals and change them accordingly.
• Proper seals mean better insulation of your garage and secure your garage interior.

5. Seasonal Checks

• Check the doors prior to and after the extreme weather.
• Check to see whether there is rust, warping or mechanical problems.
• The early identification saves the cost of repair after the fact.

Additional Tips for Longevity

• Do not make the doors open or close. Soft working increases their life span.
• Always leave the space before the garage empty to avoid any harm during opening and closing.
• In the case of metal doors, the application of rust-resistant coating should be done on a regular basis.
• Take professional check-ups after every few years so that to identify future issues at an early stage.

Conclusion

The secret of getting maximum performance of Side Hinged Garage Doors is the installation and subsequent maintenance of the doors. Whether you are assembling a DIY project, a work of professionals, you are well aligned, with good hardware as well as proper clearance are some of the reasons why you are going to have a smooth running project and not failures in the usage.

In order to maintain your doors in good working condition, locking them, and making them attractive, Secure House suggests routine maintenance including lubrication, repainting, inspecting hardware and replacing weather seals. By following these measures, home owners will be able to have years of use of decorative and strong hinged side garage doors.

For more information and advice on our broad range of electronic 3-point locking systems, multipoint locks and how they can be incorporated in your home, please don’t hesitate to contact any of the Secure House team on 0207 8594 207 or [email protected]