New Roller Doors Improve Kerb Appeal And Increase Property Values

As the renovation movement continues to gain traction across the country, homes from all time periods are getting makeovers, sometimes using original materials but more often, using the best of new technologies. Renovators have found they can keep the original character of a dwelling without having to use outdated methods.

Garage doors are a good example of something very visible and functional that have improved in every aspect of their manufacture. At Direct Door Services we have been manufacturing, supplying, servicing and repairing garage doors for over 20 years. In that time, we have seen many innovations resulting in improved performance, security and aesthetic appeal.

Need Space in Your Driveway? Get Rid of Your Old Garage Doors

Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s typically had tilt garage doors and even though they may still be operational, we recommend to renovators that they replace them with modern roller doors, for a number of reasons. Firstly, space in most driveways these days is at a premium. Most households now have more than one vehicle, and the old, tilt garages, by opening outward and upward, take up unnecessary space.

Modern Roller Doors Safer and More Secure

Secondly, the technology involved in fastening the doors has vastly improved from the clunky old springs mounted on either side of the door frame, which can become dangerous when worn. If they fail, the entire weight of the door can come crashing down on vehicles or much worse, people or pets if they happen to be in the area at the time. Roller doors use safe spring systems mounted above the door, and because they are made of lightweight material, are much safer in all respects.

This does not mean, however, that they lack in keeping the residence secure. Older doors are much more vulnerable to break-ins than new roller doors which are made of superior quality materials and fastenings. They also have a range of additional security technologies such as alarms available on installation.

Great Looks and Low Maintenance – Can’t Beat It!

New roller doors beat the old tilt-type doors hands down when it comes to looks and ease of maintenance. Up to the minute fashion colours and finishes to match the rest of the residence enhance the appearance and increase the value of the property when new doors are installed. Modern doors with a baked enamel finish also don’t need painting, reducing the need to freshen up the old doors with paint every couple of years.

Keep the Weather Outside

With the often-violent nature of our weather, keeping the rain out of the garage is a big priority for home owners. Tilt-type doors do not seal as well as roller doors, which have been designed for maximum weather protection.

Having replaced many old doors with new, efficient, attractive and secure roller doors, we have many very happy clients who are glad they made the decision to get rid of their old doors. Contact Direct Door Services for an instant facelift for your property.

Improving Home Security with Garage Doors

Home security involves a holistic approach. It is a combination of different security systems working together for the prime purpose of keeping a residential property safe from thieves and criminals. However, home security is tested not only by thieves and criminals, but also by unforeseen events such as accidents and natural disasters. Although much attention should be given to securing the main door, installing secure garage doors will help much more to keep the property secure at all times. More often than not, the home garage is used as an entry point when someone is breaking into a house.

If the garage door is not working properly and looks broken and weak, there is a good chance that your house can easily be broken into by burglars or criminals. At the same time, accidents can happen with faulty garage doors. If garage doors are not checked regularly, they can be effortlessly destroyed by a storm.

Garage doors can also give passers-by a glimpse of your property. You work hard for your property, but flashing it for everyone to see might attract thieves. If you have a garage door with windows, you might want to change it into a solid material to ensure that the home interior is not easily seen by people outside. Setting up an alarm system in your garage is also a good way to improve home security. You can also install lights in the garage to repel criminals from entering through the garage door.

Should You Hire a Professional?

When you notice that the garage door is not working properly, you can do maintenance by yourself if the problem is simple enough. Replacing hinges and putting lubricants on the rollers can easily be performed. Complicated mechanical problems such as improperly working remote controlled garage doors require the help of a reliable professional garage door specialist.

A good garage door specialist can work with both home and industrial garage doors. It is best to delegate the job repair to a professional to avoid further problems with the garage door. At the same time, working with something you are not familiar with might just cause an injury. These professionals have adequate knowledge and skills in handling the work.

Repair companies also offer warranty for the services they provide. Because of this warranty, you are also certain that they are doing their job. Otherwise, they will have to get back to the customer for any additional repairs.

Remember to choose a repair company with a positive feedback from past customers. For more inquiries about garage doors to improve your home’s security, please call 3802 2999.

Insurance for Your Garage Doors

Garage doors are primarily installed for security purposes, but there are possibilities that the garage door might be damaged. It may be from an intrusion, a big storm, or any other cause. Because of the security risk, you will need to act fast to work with your insurance company for the quick replacement or repair of a roller door or shutter.

Direct Door Services understands the need of residents and commercial building owners to quickly get insurance claims on the damaged door. The company will help you through the tedious processes that you have to deal with to fix your garage door.

Temporary Security

First, it may be that the home or business premises may have to be secured temporarily. With the garage door damaged, your property would be exposed to danger, theft and more damage from wind and storms. The company can send someone to visit the site to make the roller door or shutter temporarily function, if possible. This will give you and the company ample time to completely fix the door.

Insurance Quotes

Before you can claim insurance, you must first get quotes from a garage door repair company. Direct Door Services can provide all the necessary garage doors insurance quotes you will need to get insurance-covered work on your garage door. All you need to do is to call the company to help you with getting insurance for your roller door or shutter.

Claiming insurance can be quite a pain. There are many procedures to follow and you have to be very careful in everything you do. You also have to be aware of any loopholes in the insurance policy that might hinder your claim. The company will remove the hassle and burden from you by sending the quotes to your insurance company.

Repair or Replacement

The company covers all types of insurance work for garage doors. Complete replacement may be needed if the door has been damaged severely. The company will send out a fully trained roller door specialist to assess the extent of the damage.

The company can handle small repairs up to the full replacement of the roller door of any brand or make. The work inclusion covers replacement of slats and guides. The company can replace a damaged motor due to fusion. A fully qualified electrician can go to your property to carry out any type of motor system repairs or replacements. Repairs and replacements can be done to all brands of domestic or commercial and industrial roller doors or roller shutters.

Types of Insurance

Remember that insurance claims can be limited, depending on the type of policy you have purchased. Insurance coverage also varies, so make sure you really do purchase the right type of insurance to cover whatever incidents might occur on your property. For instance, damage due to natural disasters may not be covered by all insurance policies, especially if they do not automatically include force majeure in the policy.

You must remember, however, that if the cost of repairs exceeds the insurance coverage, you will have to shoulder the remaining amount. In any case, having insurance coverage will still work very much to your advantage as you will never really know when a disaster or major damage will happen.

To inquire about insurance for your garage doors, visit the company’s website at www.directdoors.com.au.

Choosing the Right Garage Door for Your Home

Installing a garage door in your home requires thorough evaluation of what it is you really need to suit your usage of the garage. Garage doors provide effective security for your vehicle and your house as well. But more than security, garage doors also add aesthetic quality to the house.

Garage doors, when selected and installed properly, can provide more convenience and ample security. They also enhance the appearance of the home. When choosing which garage door to install, consider the following factors.

Consider the Type of House

The garage door should go well with the style of the house. Naturally, old or colonial styles are certain to look good with the addition of a panel type garage door. Wood panel garage doors tend to go well with older house types. For more modern home styles, garage doors using metal or fibreglass materials would be a good addition.

Picking the Garage Door Type

Depending on the how you want the garage door to function, choose from the different types of garage doors. You may want your garage door to be fully automated. If so, then motorisation is needed for the garage door. It may also be that you do not require any automation in your garage door and simply want a classic look to complement the look and simplicity of the house.

Garage door types include roller doors, roller shutters, panel lift door and tilt-a-door type of doors. You may add in windows to the garage door to break the monotony in the door’s appearance.

What Material to Use

You can choose from different materials, from wood to stainless steel, to metal and fibreglass. When choosing the material for the garage door, remember that how long the door will last depends a lot on the material.

Each material has its pros and cons, so do consider these first and decide later which ones you can tolerate. Metal may be strong, but it can be dented if hit with some materials. Wood panels prove to be the least strong and they also require adequate maintenance, which could include staining and sealing.

Pick the Right Colour

The colour of the garage door should also be chosen properly so that the colour theme will bring out the best of the building’s style. There are many colours available for garage doors. You can go for neutral colours if you want to besafe, or you can use the colour of the trims of the house.

Garage doors are very useful in providing added security and convenience to the house. In choosing the right kind of garage door for your home, it is best to consult with a specialist in garage doors. That way, you get to know all the available options.

The Perfect Garage Door

Choosing a garage door can be more confusing than choosing a door for your home. Not only are there a variety of materials and finishes to choose from, you also need to decide on the mechanism used to open and close the door.

Choosing the right garage door is, however, extremely important in terms of security, curb appeal and also convenience. Direct Door Services can help you to nail down the perfect garage doors. Here are a few things to consider:

Cost Effectiveness

Budget constraints do have to come into this equation but you really should choose the best door that you can afford. You need a door that is sturdy and that will last for a long time – steel and wood are good options.

The saying, “Buying cheap is going to cost you”, is especially apt here – factor in the useful lifespan of the door you are considering before simply going for the cheapest option. (It’s not really saving money if you have to replace it again in a few years.)

Good Quality

That leads to the next point – look for quality. A good quality garage door will stand up to the elements better and look good for longer. Also consider maintenance when deciding on what material to buy – steel and Colorbond are low maintenance options. Wood will require varnishing every few years.

To Tilt or not to Tilt

This is probably one of the most important decisions as it will often affect the material chosen for the door. Choosing one or the other is generally more a matter of space available than personal taste.

A tilt door is tilted up and out of the way and tends to take up more space. On the plus side, it is easy and quicker to operate. A roller door rolls right out of the way and takes a little longer.

The Actual Materials

The materials will dictate the end look. Having an ultra-modern shiny steel garage door may not fit in too well with traditional Queensland architecture. On the other hand, a wooden door may not go very well with an ultra-modern design. You need to take the architecture of your home into account when it comes to choosing a garage door.

You need to consider the longevity and maintenance aspects of your chosen materials as well. Wood, for example, is subject to more damage by the elements than steel or Colorbond.

With 18 years of experience in the industry, Direct Door Services is on hand to make this confusing choice a whole lot simpler. Let them come out to see for themselves and see what they will suggest. For more information go to www.directdoors.com.au

Choosing the Right Paint for Your Garage

It might not seem like a big deal, but the paint you choose for your garage is important. This is the first thing that people see from the outside. The garage door has to blend well with the rest of the house and not be a visual liability. Often, garage doors are left out of the more important items to fix in the house. But, actually, they occupy a large space in the house and should be given the same attention.

Paint for Protection

Paint is not only for aesthetics, but also for function. It acts as protective covering for your garage doors. Paint material is essential in fighting off rust and any undue damage due to rust.

Garage doors may be made from different types of material. More information on garage doors here. For garage doors made mostly from wood, paint can act as an effective cover to protect them from climate and weather damage. Occasionally, you will need to do a re-painting of the garage doors to ensure that they are well protected from the elements. In early signs of rust showing or paint chipping off, act on it as soon as possible and do a thorough re-painting job.

What Paint Colour to Pick

People need to be careful in choosing the right colour for their garage doors as this could make or break the look of the entire house. More than often, the garage becomes part of the entire façade of the house, so the colour must blend or match the colour of the building.

It is a good idea to be guided by a colour palette to help you decide on which colour to select. There are available guides on colours to help you match different colours so that they will complement each other and be visually appealing even when they are not monochromatic.

The safest choice would be using the theme colour of the house, picking what is the most used tint on the house exterior. Be mindful about the style of the house as well. So if you have an old, traditional house style, choose a colour that will help accentuate the character of the house.

The garage door can also be used to provide a strong colour contrast to the house. If you have a modern type of dwelling, you can choose a colour that is more contemporary, yet still complementary to the colour range of the building exterior.

Garage doors can showcase your creativity and bring out the best of the home exterior. That is why choosing the right paint and colour for them is as important as deciding for the rest of the house.

Why Hire a Professional to Install Your Garage Door

Many people love doing DIY work. It makes them feel good, with a sense of accomplishment and triumph for learning to do things they have not done before. But there are certainly tasks and jobs that are not meant to be done by a DIYer. Doing so might lead to fatal accidents or injuries. Jobs such as installing or repairing garage doors are among those that require professional skills.

Automatic garage doors such as roller shutters have complex contraptions that require specialised technical knowledge. Before the actual installation, the door will have to be measured precisely by the garage door specialist. Attempting to do the installation by yourself could be dangerous. You could get into an accident while trying to install the door. There are many motor parts that need to be placed correctly for the automatic door to function correctly. The specialist will have to work with springs coils and chains during installation. Accidents could happen if the springs are mishandled.

Doing things by yourself might also be more expensive in the long run because if you fail to install the roller garage door properly, you will then end up asking for professional assistance to repair any damage or correct any mistakes in the installation. Professional door installers spent years to learn and master their craft. A DIYer who simply researched and dug books and online resources regarding garage door installations will not be able to master such skill in a few days. These skilled professionals also have years of experience so they know how to deal with issues and technical problems if ever they occur.

Dealing with technical problems is one thing that DIYers would not be prepared to handle. If a DIYer did manage to put the garage door together, it is still not a guarantee that it will function correctly. A malfunction could be disastrous. The door could fall apart and be damaged. Worse situations can happen like the doors crashing on your car or on a person. Guesswork has no place in installations such as this one. You will definitely need the technical expertise and experience of a professional.

Another advantage of hiring a professional is the assurance of the work done. There are chances that even a professional could make mistakes. If so, the work will be repaired and re-done as part of their accountability in the contracted work. Therefore, you will not need worry about extra expenses, just as you would worry if you are installing the doors by yourself.

Benefits of Using Remote Control Doors

Automation is heavily incorporated in our everyday lives. While some of the automated systems are solely for petty leisure, some are designed for valid purposes. Such purposes do not necessarily encourage laziness, but instead are meant to simplify work or to avoid unnecessary waste of time. Automated doors are one of the conveniences available today, providing many benefits and eliminating hassles in many situations.

Remote controlled garage doors are very good to install and utilise for residences and even commercial buildings. These doors are typically made of metal material, preferably made of steel or aluminium roller doors or shutters. Motorisation of the doors can be requested from the door services company and added as a special feature. The automated door can then be opened or closed using a remote control held by the driver.

Remote garage doors are very advantageous in many situations. For instance, if there is nobody to help and open the door for you, it would be quite tedious to be driving and opening the door at the same time. There could be some safety concerns as you would have to leave your car to open the door yourself. There would be extreme difficulty opening the door manually if you are caught in a strong storm. Remote controlling the opening and closing of the garage door would simplify life for you and eliminate unnecessary tasks. If you are going out of the garage, opening and closing it using a remote will definitely be much simpler than if you have to open and secure it manually. This would save you valuable time particularly if you are in a hurry to drive to an appointment.

Contrary to the usual expectations, the added cost in motorisation of the garage doors is so much worth it. As you have already invested in a durable and high quality garage door, making it automated would increase the value of the door. Garage doors do not have to be dull looking or be too industrial that they look like a storage room or a place for junk. They should be built to complement the look and style of the main house. You can pick the colour of your choice to bring out the best in your home and garage.

As the garage door is a really essential part of your home, protecting your vehicles from outsiders, it can gain added value with the right automation. Making garage doors remote controlled would be considerably convenient and a true time saver.

Garage Door Repairs

Garage doors need to operate properly at all times. Otherwise, potential problems such as unwanted accidents could happen. If the garage door gets stuck and cannot be opened, it would definitely cause a lot of problems as you would have difficulty getting the car out. The troubles get even worse if the malfunction happens when you are in a hurry or while stuck in a big storm. You should be able to look for signs of problems with the garage door early on, before the operational issues get worse. One good sign that there is something wrong with the garage door is when you start hearing unusual noise or creaks when opening or closing the door. It would be good to seek the help of a garage door repair company at the first sign of a problem.

Garage door maintenance service should not be difficult to find as there are contractors specialising in this type of work. They should not cost you a lot of money as well. Because the mechanisms in garage doors are most of the time complex, it is better to entrust any type of mechanical repair to a professional. Handling the repairs by you could be dangerous. You could get injured or much more damage to the door could happen if you make a mistake. The repairs could get even more complicated if you are dealing with a remote controlled garage door where motorisation is involved.

One benefit of hiring a professional to handle garage or roller door repairs is the warranty that they offer. This is good because if the garage door malfunctions again after the repair was done, you only have to report it to the service and they will render the corrections to the repairs for free. Service work with warranty also signals that the company is offering quality repair work. The trick is in finding the right company to repair the problematic garage door. Contracting a reliable repair service, equipped with the needed skills and knowledge, improves the chances of the door getting fixed quickly.

You may also do some maintenance work with the door. You can spray penetrating solvents into the hinges, rollers or latches of the garage or roller door. Adding lubricants to the rollers will help maintain the good working condition of the garage door. However, if there are persistent problems even after the preventive maintenance, then it is recommended to find and contact a repair service of good reputation.