How to Open a Garage Door Without Power

how to open a garage door without power

Electric garage door openers make life a bit easier. But when there’s a power outage, your garage door cannot open automatically. Unless you have a battery backup the only way to open it is manually. You can do this from the inside or the outside; we will explain how to open a garage door without power in both situations. First, make sure your door is down and fully closed.

How to Open a Garage Door Without Power in 5 Steps

If you are stuck inside your garage:

  1. Unlock the Garage Door: Locks or latches near the outside of the door should be opened. Otherwise, they can prevent you from lifting it.
  2. Unplug the Garage Door Opener: Disconnect the opener’s power cord to avoid electrical shock or other injury if the power suddenly turns on.
  3. Use the Emergency Release Cord: The release cord hangs from the track’s center rail near the front of the door and has a red handle. It’s attached directly to the trolley. Pull on the cord to disconnect the trolley from the garage door opener carriage.
  4. Pull the Door Up: Lift the garage door straight up from the bottom. It should lift with relative ease; if not, a spring may be broken. The door should also stay in place once it stops moving and you let go. Call a garage door technician if you have difficulty with this step.
  5. Close the Door by Hand: Once you back your car out of the garage, you can get out and pull the door down manually. If a lock bar is installed, slide it to secure the garage door.

 When stuck outside your garage:

  • Find the emergency release kit near the top center of the door, and its respective lock.
  • Using the right key, unlock the emergency release cord to reveal the cable, which can be accessed via the lock tumbler.
  • Unlock the door with the key and turn the handle to a vertical position.
  • Pull the door straight up and make sure it remains open and stable.
  • Once you’re inside, pull the door down until it is fully closed.

How to Reconnect the Opener

If you have an automatic garage door opener, shut the door, plug in the opener, and activate the remote. The system should reconnect by itself and the chain should start moving the trolley. Open and close the door a couple times to make sure it’s working properly.

For doors without an automatic trolley, shut the door and move the emergency release cord towards it. A switch should engage with an audible click. Manually move the garage door arm until it connects with the trolley; you need to raise the door by a foot or two for it to click into place.

Next, plug the opener back in and open the door with the remote. Check for buckling sounds or jerky movement; if all seems okay, close the door and leave it.

Safety Tips for Opening a Garage Door by Hand

In addition to unplugging the opener as previously mentioned:

  • Never Pull the Emergency Release When the Door Is Open: If the door is open when you pull the cord, it could crash down. It’s best to wait until power is restored or call a technician to address the problem.
  • Don’t Leave an Open Garage Door: If it’s disengaged from the automatic opener, the door can suddenly slam shut from any type of movement, even a gust of wind. Children, pets, and objects below the door can be struck by several hundred pounds of force. The garage door should be attended until power returns, a technician arrives, or you can close it successfully.
  • Call a Technician If Necessary: Any difficulty disengaging the trolley can indicate a spring problem. Never attempt to work on garage door springs yourself; they are dangerous and a sudden failure can cause severe injury or damage. Call a professional.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

We hope our tips for how to open a garage door without power help. However, you can always trust Mesa Garage Doors to troubleshoot and fix any problem. Available 24/7, we address emergencies and repair needs for homeowners in Los Angeles and Southern California. Book your visit online or call 800-893-1107 today!

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How Much Should a Garage Extension Cost?

garage extension cost

You may consider a garage extension if you purchased a larger vehicle than your previous one. A garage extension can also turn your garage into a home office, dining room, entertainment center, home gym, kitchen, bedroom, or play room. Bear in mind this is not a low-budget project. We’ll detail some of the basic expenses below, in addition to various factors that can impact your garage extension cost.

Total Cost of a Garage Extension

According to HomeAdvisor, it costs $27,984 on average to build a garage (with a general range of $16,994 to $39,308). This equates to about $40 to $70 per square foot. But, it can cost $50,000 or more to build or expand your garage, depending on many variables. It can pay off to have a larger, more functional garage, both in terms of your experience and the impression it can have on potential home buyers down the road.

Factors to Consider

  • Size: Construction contractors often bid on garage projects based on size. A one-car garage is usually at least 12×20 feet. A two-car garage is at least 20×20 feet. The larger the garage, the higher the basic cost of building an extension, and many people choose larger dimensions such as a 24×24-foot garage. But keep in mind size is just a starting point in determining the ultimate cost.
  • Attached/Detached Garage: Complexity will certainly add to the cost. An attached garage is well-suited for small lots and homeowners who want direct access to their homes (especially when adding living space). Detached garages can be expanded as well, and you may have more choices in terms of layout, style, and size. They often require more materials and labor to modify. But here’s another garage extension cost factor—engineering help, as hiring a professional can cost a few hundred to up to $5,000 or more.
  • Structural Elements: If you’re starting from scratch, a foundation can cost from $1,600 to $2,000, for a 20 x 20-foot garage. Excavation work will add to the cost. But you can lower the cost if the new garage is built on the same site as the old one, or little demolition work is required. And location is a factor here; you can build or keep an on-grade concrete slab if the ground doesn’t freeze, but if it does, you’ll need a footer below the frost line.
  • Materials: All the materials used will add to the garage extension cost, and can include:
    • Siding: Aluminum siding ranges up to $7, brick up to $15, Hardie board up to $5, and natural stone up to $50 per square foot. Vinyl siding averages roughly $4 per square foot as does cedar siding, a visually appealing and environmentally sustainable option. Durable fiber-cement siding averages about $10 per square foot. If you want to refurbish the side of your garage with brick, it can cost up to $9 per square foot.
    • Flooring: Expect to spend $0.15 to $25 per square foot on flooring, depending on the material. Laminate flooring is about $2 to $5, but in the mid-range, vinyl flooring costs $2.50 to $5.50, engineered wood from $3.50 to $7, and Oak from $8 to $15 per square foot. Natural tile flooring ranges from $10 to $25 per square foot on average.
    • Roofing: If you have beams and columns in the middle, they can interfere with the finished space’s functionality. Removing these involves labor and potentially redoing the roof, and new roof trusses and beams vary in cost depending on lumber prices. Roofing ranges from $1 To $15 per square foot; asphalt shingles run up to $3.50, wood shingles up to $5.50, metal up to $6, and slate up to $15.

Framing is another factor. It can run, with materials and labor, from $15 to $30 per square foot if your garage frame needs to be expanded. Lumbar generally starts at $250 per 1,000 board feet; however, costs do fluctuate. Wood averages $1 to $5 per square foot and a steel frame averages around $2 to $6 per square foot in 2022.

  • Project-Related Costs: The garage extension cost can increase with various fees, which can include:
    • Architect Fees: An architect can charge from $2 to $25 per square foot, or from $125 to $250 per hour.
    • Architectural Plans: Custom planning can take a lot of time and effort. However, you can save with premade plans (cost between $500 to $1,000).
    • Permits: You’ll need a garage building permit, which can range from $1,200 to $1,500. However, permitting costs vary by location; according to the National Association of Homebuilders, permit fees typically account for 1.7% of the total project cost.

Other Garage Extension Costs

In addition to materials and labor, other costs you may incur include those for materials delivery, debris removal and disposal, and for protecting existing structures on your property. Modifications to your electrical and plumbing system add to the final cost as do HVAC, insulation, lighting, and security elements. Project management is another factor. Your project can cost 15% to 23% more to have someone supervise construction. And don’t forget the sales tax on materials and supplies in your state.

Schedule Your Consultation and Estimate with Mesa Garage Doors

We install high-quality garage doors throughout Southern California. Specializing in leading-brand garage doors and garage door openers, our factory trained installers and repair technicians do all it takes to ensure your satisfaction. Call 800-893-1107 to schedule an estimate on work related to your existing garage or an extension.

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How to Heat a Garage

How to Heat a Garage

Most Americans use their garages for more than just housing their vehicles. Some choose to modify their garages into makeshift storage spaces, workshops, play areas, or even art studios. But even with these clever adaptations, most garages aren’t designed to stay warm in the dead of winter. The reason being is they lack adequate insulation. It’s far too costly to heat an uninsulated garage without spending a fortune on heating costs. 

Even in Southern California, where we enjoy ideal weather year-round, it still gets chilly in the evening during the winter months. Using a space heater is an often futile gesture to heat your garage and likely would only increase the inside temperature by a marginal difference and certainly not worth the expense or electricity. 

So what’s the solution? Believe it or not, there are ways you can affordably heat your garage. We’ll help explain how to heat a garage and what options are best for your needs and budget. 

How to Heat a Garage

Choose a Heat Source Based on Garage Square Footage

As we stated before, most portable space heaters aren’t powerful enough to successfully heat an entire garage, especially when the temperature outside plummets. However, there are some options, such as ceiling-mounted garage heaters, that do crank out enough BTUs to sufficiently warm your garage. Before heading to your local home improvement store to purchase a garage heater, you’ll want to find the exact square footage of your garage. This should help you determine what size and wattage your garage heater will need to be. 

Most garage heaters, because they are installed on the ceiling, will come with remote controls for optimal convenience. There is one drawback to ceiling-mounted garage heaters and that is that they don’t typically keep the garage floor warm. Heat rises, and when you consider the heat that’s lost through any gaps in the garage door as well as having a concrete floor, it’s easy to see why your feet may stay a little chilly regardless of your ceiling heaters. 

Line Garage Walls With Batt Insulation and Paneling 

Regardless of whether you install top-of-the-line garage door heaters, it is recommended that you couple that with insulation so that your heaters don’t have to work overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature in your garage. Most garages don’t have finished walls, meaning they just have bare walls and lack adequate insulation. If you choose to heat your garage, this is easily remedied. 

Installing basic batt insulation along the interior walls of your garage can make a world of difference and save your heaters from having to run nonstop just to take the chill out of the room. Cover the interior walls with batt insulation and then install cover with plywood or additional drywall sheets. You can find batt insulation at any home improvement store or hardware store. 

Insulate the Garage Door 

Why stop with just insulating the walls? If you’re going to insulate your interior garage walls, it would only make sense to insulate the garage door as well. Depending on the thickness and material of your garage door, you’re likely losing a lot of heat through the garage door itself. Insulating your garage door may help keep your garage anywhere from 10-15 degrees warmer in the winter. Not only does insulating your garage door help during a frigid winter, but it helps keep your garage cooler in the summer months as well. You can find garage door insulation kits on Amazon or Home Depot and are a really simple DIY project for those that enjoy being handy. 

Eliminate Drafts and Seal Cracks

While installing insulation and mounting garage heaters are the first steps to heating your garage, it will do little good if vital warm air is being lost through unsealed cracks or gaps in the garage door, between the panels, or through windows that are improperly sealed. To find out where the air is escaping, you’ll need to conduct a visual inspection… 

  • Garage Door Frame: Most garage doors aren’t air-tight. In fact, few are. If you are heating your garage you’ll want to use weather stripping to seal the small gaps in and around the garage door. These strips have adhesive already on them and are extremely easy to install. Find and seal any gaps you see on the sides, between panels, and underneath the garage door where drafts are the most common. 
  • The Gap Under the Garage Door: Garage doors typically come with a seal at the broom that is intended to block drafts. But if your garage door is a little older, you may want to inspect the bottom seal of your garage door. If it appears that air is escaping, tighten or replace the seal/gasket that runs the length on the bottom of the garage door. If the seal has become cracked or has started to fall apart, you can easily purchase rubber weather stripping and replace the seal. Just remember to take your measurements before purchasing the weather stripping. 

Call Mesa Garage Doors to Install Garage Door Heaters

Serving Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County, Mesa Garage Doors has over 50 installation and service teams to manage all of your garage door needs. Our factory-trained technicians can help install and refurbish your garage door as well as assist in mounting garage door refacing panels. Call 800-893-1107 to learn more.

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Does Your Home Need a Pedestrian Gate?

pedestrian gate

As the name suggests, pedestrian gates are designed with the intent of offering a thoroughfare for pedestrians to walk onto a property, home, or business in a controlled fashion. Pedestrian gates typically aren’t wide enough for automobiles to pass through but are large enough to allow access for non-motorized vehicles like bikes or scooters to pass through. 

Not only are pedestrian gates aesthetically pleasing and can be designed to add a certain allure to a home or business, but they offer business owners and homeowners the opportunity to monitor and restrict who comes onto their property. They act as a stylish way of deterring solicitors and unwanted guests. If you are considering installing one on your home or business we’ll outline some of the benefits of pedestrian gates and how they can offer you increased security and peace of mind. 

Does Your Home Need a Pedestrian Gate?

The pedestrian gate is an elegant way to allow people inside your home or gain access to your property. These gates can be positioned in fences or walls, and they usually have some form of locking mechanism or security access technology installed along with them. Here are 5 reasons why your home needs a pedestrian gate. 

  1. Keep Unwanted Guests Out! – The number one reason why home and business owners install pedestrian gates on the perimeter of their properties is security. Entry gates may be one of the most effective ways to keep your home safe and secure, especially at night. These sturdy gates, when designed and installed properly, can help minimize unauthorized foot traffic while also protecting you from potential break-ins or other criminal activity. Pedestrian gates can also be installed in multiple locations throughout a property to partition off different areas and offer enhanced privacy where it is needed the most. Outfit your pedestrian gate with cameras, two-way microphones, keyless entry, or a gate code so that you can buzz visitors in upon confirming their identity. 
  2. Ward Off Solicitors – Let’s be honest, an unexpected knock at the door isn’t always a welcomed sound, especially these days. But when that phantom knock happens, your pedestrian gate can save you from unwanted conversations or having to interact with annoying solicitors. Keep in mind that entry gates don’t prevent deliveries or mail from reaching you, it merely stops the occasional passersby from coming to your front door. 
  3. Keep Children and Pets Inside the Perimeter – Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety and security of those you love. When it comes to young children, nothing can compare to the feeling of being able to provide a safe haven for them. With a pedestrian gate, you can keep strangers out and your loved ones inside a designated and secure area. When it comes to pets, these security gates are a godsend. Pets are great companions, but they naturally are tempted to wander off. Fencing your pet’s perimeter and outfitting it with a pedestrian gate will help ensure they stay far away from busy thoroughfares and potentially fatal traffic accidents.
  4. Adds Curb Appeal – There are a wide variety of security and pedestrian gates on the market today. While their main purpose is to offer enhanced security measures, they do add value to your property or business. Most pedestrian gates are constructed of wrought iron or solid wood. These beautiful pieces of functional art can add serious curb appeal and increase the resale value of your property.
  5. Reduces Your Insurance – When you keep your home safe, it’s easier to make sure that nobody will try breaking in or vandalizing your property. This means less risk and cost for insurance companies because they’ll be able to significantly decrease any potential claims on property damage or theft. Insurance companies are big fans of pedestrian gates. And when you add security cameras and intercom systems, you create an almost impenetrable perimeter around your home. 

Contact Mesa Garage Doors to Install a Pedestrian Gate

Serving Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County, Mesa Garage Doors has over 50 installation and service teams to manage your pedestrian gate and garage door needs. Our factory-trained technicians can help install and refurbish your garage door as well as assist in mounting garage door refacing panels. Call 800-893-1107 to learn more.

 

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5 Reasons to Install Wooden Driveway Gates

wooden driveway gates

The safety and security of your home and family are a very real concern to most homeowners, as they should be. Installing a driveway gate is one option that some property owners are looking towards to enhance the security and privacy of their homes. This is especially the case for those that may live on a larger property or compound.

The decision to install a driveway gate is one that should not be taken lightly. There are many factors you will need to consider before making your final selection, including material availability, cost-effectiveness, and access. While driveway gates can be built in a wide array of materials like wood, steel, and wrought iron, here we’ll be discussing the main reasons why installing wooden driveway gates may be the best fit for your home and family.

5 Reasons to Install Wooden Driveway Gates

Wooden driveway gates are a design choice that gives any property a regal quality and also offers superior protection and security. It should be noted that the design and appearance of wooden driveway gates have changed a lot over the years. Now manufacturers offer a more modern version of traditional wooden driveway gates, and they all aim to please. Here are 5 reasons why choosing to install a wooden driveway gate would be a good investment for your home.

1.   Cost

While wood isn’t the least expensive material to use for your driveway gate, it is high-quality and falls in the mid-price range. Priced at around $1,500 for a single panel, moving upwards to under $9,000 for a custom build with multiple panels, wooden driveway gates are still an economical choice for homeowners.

2.   Maintenance

Depending on where you live in the United States, wooden driveway gates have an average lifespan of around 15-20 years. Manufacturers usually craft wooden driveway gates out of pressure-treated wood and frame them inside a separate steel or aluminum frame to prevent them from sagging. Provided you don’t live by the ocean, in a rainy climate, or have your sprinkler system pointed at your gate on a daily basis, you can expect to get a long life out of this sturdy driveway gate. Keep in mind that wood is meant to withstand the outside elements. So take care of your wooden driveway gate and it will take care of you.

3.   Appearance Over Time

A wooden driveway gate will never lose its beauty as it is a natural product of Mother Nature. The decay process only enhances its mystique, making them more beautiful with time. Keep in mind that other materials like iron, which can rust, and vinyl, that fades over time, wooden driveway gates are preferred by many homeowners for their ability to get better with age.

4.   Privacy

As opposed to wrought iron gates that are almost entirely see through, wooden driveway gates offer the most privacy in comparison to other materials. The long slats typically used to assemble these majestic gates offer a continuous wall of privacy that onlookers are unable to peer through. This is an especially enticing option for families with children that play in the driveway or courtyard.

5.   Environmentally Friendly

It goes without saying that wood is a product of nature, while other materials aren’t biodegradable. Furthermore, wood that is used in manufacturing is usually sourced from land that grows trees purely for this purpose. So not only will your wooden driveway gate become one with the Earth again someday, but you won’t suffer the guilt of chopping down elder trees to create your gate.

As the market for automated driveway gates is flooded with more and more designs, materials, and color palettes, all of which are also viable options, there is just something about the inviting look and feel of a wooden driveway gate that makes any homeowner feel welcomed and protected.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors to Install Wooden Driveway Gates

Serving Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County, Mesa Garage Doors has over 50 installation and service teams to manage your driveway gate needs. Our factory-trained technicians can help install and refurbish your garage door as well as assist in mounting garage door refacing panels. Call 800-893-1107 to learn more.

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How Long Do Garage Doors Last?

How Long do Garage Doors Last

A professional, high-quality garage door can make your home more inviting and secure. Maintaining it will help you maximize its life span, too! Proper maintenance and care are the key to ensuring that this vital piece of equipment lives up to its potential for many years to come. Invest time and care into your garage door now, and protect yourself from expensive repairs down the road.

How Long Do Garage Doors Last?

The lifetime of your garage depends heavily on how much you use it and how well you maintain it. It is true that garage door manufacturers offer warranties, but they vary, with most lasting only three years. Experts claim that the average lifespan of a quality garage door should be between 15-30 years, while garage door openers typically last 10-15 years before they need to be serviced.

There are steps you can take to get the most out of your garage door and your garage door opener. Read on to find out what you can do to ensure you are taking care of this very valuable investment.

The lifespan of your garage door is determined by a number of factors…

Usage: If you have a larger family, you’re probably using your garage door quite often. The up and down motion of your garage door and the opener can wear on the springs and offer more wear and tear, which will ultimately play a part in how long your garage door lasts before it is in need of garage door repair or replacement.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance is a vital part of the longevity of your garage door. Most garage door repair companies offer inspections to keep the openers, springs, and any components operating in tip-top shape.

Local Climate: Weather plays another factor in the lifespan of your garage door. Colder climates, inclement weather, salty sea air, arid habitats, all contribute to the wear and tear of your garage door and its components.

Steps You Can Take To Extend the Lifespan of Your Garage Door

Apply Lubricant – Garage doors are one of the largest pieces of equipment in a household. They need attention. A light coat of lubricant every 3–6 months will work wonders. Though there’s more than one type of lubricant for different purposes (heavy oils can get dirty), a graphite compound or spray-on supplies will work best on hinges and rollers. They’re lightweight enough not to accumulate grime over time while still being durable against wear from opening the garage door regularly.

Clean Sensors – Sensors play a critical role in the safety and proper operation of your garage door. They detect when there’s an obstruction in their path, which is critical to the safety of your family, especially if you have small children. Make sure you regularly clean off any cobwebs around these important parts (a dry cloth works best). Lastly, check that both eyes on one side are working correctly by pressing each button with its corresponding number until all LEDs turn red then white again at least once a month.

Visual Inspection – Use your common sense to visually inspect each part of your garage door. Look for rust, corrosion, or any obstructions that may be occurring. It’s best to catch these issues before they become a safety hazard or wind up being an expensive repair.

Call a Professional – While you are more than capable of doing your own garage door maintenance, it is sometimes wise to contact your local garage door specialists for an inspection and maintenance. Oftentimes they may be able to spot something that you overlooked and take care of it before it becomes a larger problem.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

Serving Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County, Mesa Garage Doors has over 50 installation and service teams to manage your garage door needs. Our factory-trained technicians can help install and refurbish your garage door as well as assist in mounting garage door refacing panels. Call 800-893-1107 to learn more.

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