If you arrive home in the middle of the night, or during inclement weather, the last thing you want is for your garage door opener to fail you. Unfortunately, that's exactly what can happen if you don't keep your garage door properly maintained. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help prevent mechanical malfunctions. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your garage door opener in tiptop shape.

Occasionally, you could experience problems with your security gates. Depending on the nature of the problem, you could possibly resolve it with basic troubleshooting. Here are some common problems that can occur with security gates and what steps you can take.  The Gate Hesitates When Opening When a security gate hesitates to open after the opener is depressed, it could be a sign that the gate is too heavy to close.

Taking care of your garage door can be a fickle process. There are numerous ways you can ensure that your garage door is working properly. Throughout the course of this brief article, you will discover a few garage door troubleshooting tips. Loose Connections Electronic parts can become loose or otherwise will not be sufficiently connected. It is important to make sure that all of the electronic connections, such as wires and other small parts, are properly connected.

If you've taught your children to have a healthy respect for dangerous items in the house and garage – such as your lawnmower and chainsaw – it's important to remember that you should also provide some safety education about the garage door. While it might seem innocent enough, the garage door can pose a risk in several ways. Hospitals documented more than 13,000 cases of injuries in 2007 that involved garage doors. Given that children are often at risk of a garage door-related injury because they frequently play around it, it's imperative to set forth several rules that will discourage your children from playing in this manner.

Many home improvements add value to a home, but some projects give you a bigger bang for your buck than others. Since many homeowners want the best money for their remodeling dollars, it is a good idea to start out with the renovations that have the best pay out in the long run. If you plan to have some remodeling done soon, consider the following projects with some of the best return on investment:

If you own a business housed in a building with several garage doors, you may be particularly vulnerable to break-ins. Residential garage doors can be opened from the outside in just a few seconds using a wire coat hanger or other device. While your commercial garage doors could provide a bit more security than typical residential doors, they're still no match for a determined burglar seeking the tools or other valuables you keep inside.

A noisy garage door can really grate on your nerves, especially if you're someone who enjoys peace and quiet. While some noise is to be expected when you open and close your door, it should be minimal. If your door is noisy, it might need to be repaired. Maintenance issues, such as loose hardware and parts, cause unnecessary vibration, friction and noise. Following are just a few of the issues that can cause your door to be noisy.

Did you know that choosing a garage door can also be an important exterior decor choice for your home? Garage doors aren't just a mechanical door to an extra area of the home, they are one of the standout features of a property. A garage door communicates how much the owner might care about the home and the property, and the overall style of the property. Deciding on a style of garage door for your home involves considering how it would look with the other exterior design elements, and how you would like it to function.

You recently bought a house that has a distinctive rustic or cottage-style appearance, or you're working to make your house look that way. The garage presents a problem because the door is relatively basic and boring, and it doesn't fit with your image of a cottage-style home. Implement some strategies to make that garage blend in with the rest of your home's country-style exterior.  Paint the Door If you have some artistic talent, you might paint designs on the door that convey a cottage or country style.