- Sesame Garage Doors Pty Ltd, Bossley Park, Sydney, NSW 2176
- (02) 9604 1169
- info@sesamegaragedoors.com.au
If you’re like most Australians who drive regularly, it’s likely that your garage door moves up and down at least once a day. Just like any other motorised device or product, sectional garage doors(https://www.sesamegaragedoors.com.au/how-does-a-sectional-garage-door-work/) require regular servicing and maintenance to ensure they work at full capacity. Generally, if your garage door is used at least once daily, you should aim to have it serviced at least once a year.
If you fail to keep your garage door properly maintained, the springs and motors inside the door can cease to function properly and may become dangerous. For this reason, it’s important to know how to properly service sectional doors and keep them in great condition.
Keep an eye and ear out for spring or motor damage
Often, you can identify problems with roller doors by listening to and watching their movements. A sectional door in good condition should move smoothly and quietly up and down. If your garage door is making scraping sounds or moving erratically, it’s time to have your door serviced.
Check your garage door’s hardware
If you notice issues with your garage door’s movement, the first step is to check the hardware such as roller brackets and bolts. Ensure the tracks on both sides are free from rust and grime and tighten up any loose bolts with a socket wrench.
Lubricate any moving parts
One useful tip to prolong the longevity of your garage door is to keep all moving parts well lubricated. Spray lubricants can be used to maintain the door’s overhead springs, rollers and hinges.
Look for necessary adjustments
Sectional garage doors use springs that naturally lose tension over time. If your garage door is not balanced properly, it will reduce its longevity as it will have to work harder to move up and down. Test your door’s balance by pulling the release handle and manually moving the door half-way up. If it doesn’t stay in place, the door’s springs aren’t functioning properly. If one spring breaks, you should have both springs replaced to ensure the door remains balanced. Sesame Garage Doors(https://www.sesamegaragedoors.com.au) provide a reliable repair service and can help with replacing garage door springs or any other issues you may face.
Electrically operated roller doors are convenient and secure, but what happens during a power failure? Unless you have a battery backup in place, the door will stop working and you’ll need to operate it manually. In this guide, we will show you how to open and close your electrically operated door with the power off.
1. Disconnect the motor
All electric garage door openers have a manual release mechanism. This is located directly above the door and is usually operated by a pulling red cord. Pull the cord once until it locks into the open position.
2. Open the door manually
Once the mechanism has been disconnected you should be able to open and close the door manually. Electrically operated doors can be heavy, so grab the door with both hands and lift it. If the door is stuck, ensure the release mechanism has locked into place by pulling the cord again.
3. Hold the door open
Electric garage doors are weighted to allow them to close easily. This means when the motor is disconnected the door will fall to the ground once you let go of it. Get someone to hold the door open for you while you drive your car in or out. You can also prop the door open with a solid piece of wood.
4. Close the door carefully
Once you have removed your vehicle, close the door carefully. Do not let the door fall down under its own weight, as this can damage the door and track. Keep hold of the door so that it falls gently into the closed position.
5. Reconnect the mechanism
Once the door is safely closed reconnect the mechanism by pulling the manual release cord again. You should be able to feel the mechanism re-engaging with the roller. Once power has been restored, test the door to ensure it is working correctly. If you find the motor is running but the door is not opening, pull the manual release cord again to ensure the motor is properly engaged.
Warning: Do not pull the manual release cord if the door is open. This will cause the door to come crashing down. Ensure open doors are secured properly before pulling the release cord.
If you need assistance to operate a powered garage door, no matter if it is stuck open or if you’ve lost the remote, Sesame Garage Doors have experts on hand to help. Give our team a call on 02 9604 1169 or use the form here.
To make sure your garage door is working just the way you want it to, it’s essential you know how to adjust it correctly. Trying to make adjustments to your door’s travel without knowing how is a recipe for disaster, as moving elements out of place can result in your door becoming stuck or refusing to close fully.
Luckily, travel adjustment for Gliderol garage doors is simple and these tips will help you to get it right first time.
How does the door travel work?
The travel is controlled by cams that rotate and are placed within the drive unit. These function thanks to the gear mechanism that is activated by a limit switch. The inner cam is responsible for the door’s position when closed and the outer for the position when open.
Adjusting the door’s travel
The door will need to be set to manual operation, which can be done via the release lever. You’ll need to take away the gear cover on the cams so that you can see them clearly and move them into place. This will be on top of the drive unit and underneath you’ll find the internal cams. Next, loosen the three gear screws on the cams.
Adjusting the closing position
To change the door’s closing position, you’ll need to lower the door manually to the position you want it to be in. While doing this, make sure you’re looking at the rotation direction of the cam that’s the furthest on the inside. You’ll need to rotate this cam in the same direction, waiting for the inner limit switch to be activated.
Adjusting the opening position
For the opening position, manually move the door upwards to where you want it to sit when open. Make sure that the bar at the bottom doesn’t make contact with the guide stop. Again as with the closing position, watch for the direction the outermost cam rotates in and rotate it until the outer limit switch is activated.
Finish off
Make sure all the cam screws are tightened back up and the release lever is back in its original position. Gently position the door up or down so that the pin engagement locks it into place.
Automatic garage doors are great, with the simple push of a button your garage door will open allowing you to drive straight into your garage without having to get out of your car. This is not only more convenient it provides greater security as well.
However, you may be thinking that the cost of such devices would put them out of reach for most people. But with a wide range of aftermarket door openers now available it is possible to have all the benefits of an automatic door without the associated cost.
So in this tutorial, we are going to look at how to fit an automatic opener to your existing tilt or roller door.
Tools you will need:
Electric drill
Adjustable wrench
Screwdrivers
Step ladder
Rope
Steps to follow:
1. Check the condition of the door
Before you start you should check the condition of the door. It should travel freely up and down and be well balanced. Do this by lifting the door to half-way, now let go of the door and ensure it stays in position. If the door starts to fall, it will need to be tensioned first.
2. Install the weight bar
First, you need to fit the weight-bar to the bottom rail. Ensure the bar is positioned centrally for perfect balance.
3. Tighten the u-bolt
Next, tighten the u-bolt at the opposite end to which the motor will be fitted. This ensures the door remains secure when you loosen the bolts to fit the motor.
4. Secure the door
Now open the door and secure it using rope. Tie the rope approximately 300mm from both edges of the door. Now place a door stand or step ladder underneath the door to support it.
5. Remove the door bracket
On the side where the motor is to be fitted remove the u-bolt which holds the door to the bracket. Once removed allow the door to rest on the door stand or step ladders.
6. Install the door motor
Now you’re ready to install the motor. Switch the motor to manual and slide the motor over the axel and into the drum of the door. Ensure the motor wheel drive forks are engaged with the drum wheel spokes. Now secure the motor to the wall using an electric drill.
7. Refit the door bracket
Once the motor is in place refit the door to the bracket. Ensure you are well balanced and rest the door on your shoulder to help support its weight.
8. Ensure the door works smoothly
Remove the door stand and supporting rope and test the door to ensure it is balanced and works smoothly. Ensure the motor is switched to manual for this step.
9. Program the door opener
If the door is still balanced and works smoothly you are now ready to program the door. Follow the instructions that came with the motor to program the open and close cycles.
10. Carry out a safety test
The final step is to carry out a safety test. Switch the motor to automatic and place a piece of wood in the centre of the door aperture. Now close the door automatically. When the bottom rail touches the wood it should reverse automatically. If not the motor will need some adjustment.
Fitting an automatic door opener to your existing door is not all that difficult and should take no more than a couple of hours to complete. Once finished you will have an easy to operate door which is both safe and convenient to use. If you would like more information about our range of garage doors, which includes Gliderol and custom doors, get in touch with us here or give us a call on (02) 9604 1169.
Tilt garage doors consist of a single large panel that tilts outward and moves upward and back to open. They differ from roller door and sectional door types in that the door itself does not fold or bend.
Upon opening, the bottom of a tilt door will swing out from the garage slightly, lift upward and then the entire panel rolls back so that the outside face of the door sits flat against the ceiling of the garage. They rely on hinges, springs and rails on each side of the door, and enough clearance from the garage ceiling to accommodate the door once it is opened. The opener for automated tilt doors sits on a rail in the centre of the garage ceiling. Due to the balancing springs located on either side of the door, tilt doors can be operated manually with ease, too.
Although the bottom of the door protrudes from the garage for a portion of its opening and closing motion – therefore requiring some forward clearance – a great benefit to this style of door is that it can operate in places where roller and sectional doors cannot be installed due to space restrictions. Roller and sectional doors require a certain amount of space at the head of the garage opening. In cases where this space does not exist, a tilt door can be used without issue. This makes them suitable for existing low profile garages, or for new designs that seek to save vertical space. Tilt garage doors operate quickly, are easy to install and durable.
Another key benefit to a tilt garage door is that because the door panel is one solid piece, it can be fully customised to match the aesthetic of the rest of the home. Not only can the door be made of a variety of materials – achieving a sheet metal finish or a timber look for example – but it allows for decorative additions such as windows.
As tilt doors are reinforced from behind with a steel frame, they are also very secure, making them a safe, fully customisable and space-saving garage door solution.
The security, safety, and strength offered by sectional doors are some of the qualities that make it a popular choice among homeowners. Regardless of the shape of your garage opening, sectional doors can be customised to fit it perfectly. So, let’s take a look at how a sectional garage door works:
Opening and closing
Sectional garage doors open and close vertically to allow you to utilise the space around the opening. You can safely park your car against the door because sectional garage doors do not need space to ‘swing out’. It is also an excellent choice if you have a shorter driveway or garage space because the door panel curves upwards over the opening and back into the headroom.
Joints
Hinges help to join all the panels of the sectional garage door together. However, the end hinges are attached to rollers on the inside tracks of the garage door frame. These tracks run up vertically slightly above the door, on each side, and then back inside the garage horizontally.
Counterbalance
To balance the weight of the door, sectional garage doors have two large springs on each side. This ensures that the door does not fall too rapidly when someone is closing it. Note that the spring tension may need some adjustments if the garage door flies up by itself or falls down rapidly.
Adjustments
As springs age, they may lose naturally lose their tension and require adjustments. However, if the springs are well-adjusted and the door is well balanced, the sectional garage door will remain where you left it or sink back slowly. Should one spring break, remember to replace both springs to keep the door balanced.
Fitting
Sectional garage doors can offer a solution if your garage has limited access dimensions or requires large vehicle access. Unlike other garage door types, it can be specified and fitted accurately to give a full drive-through width and height.
Stability
Most sectional garage doors are constructed with galvanised steel for longevity and strength. Its panels are usually filled with an insulation foam that is 40mm to 45mm thick and the door is double-skinned. This stability and strength of sectional garage doors are impossible to achieve in other door types. Additionally, these features make it ideal for significantly larger garage openings.
Sesame Garage Doors provide reliable, quiet, and secure automatic garage doors in the Sydney Metro area. Talk to our team today on (02) 9604 1169 for prompt and reliable services.
Tilt doors are easy to use and easy to maintain, but sometimes they can jump off their tracks. This usually happens at the most inopportune moments, like before you set off for work or just before you leave for a vacation. This leaves you with a dilemma, do you leave the garage unsecured, or call the local handyman and risk delaying your holiday?
How much easier would it be if you could fix it yourself? Believe it or not, this is an easy thing to fix, even if you are hopeless at DIY. What’s more, it should only take a few minutes, allowing you to get on with your day as normal. In this blog, we are going to show you how to put your garage door back on its track in just 10 minutes using everyday tools.
Tools you will need:
Rubber mallet
Locking pliers/vice grips
Standard pliers
1. Disconnect the door from the opener
If you have an automatic opener, disconnect the door from the mechanism by pulling the overhead string which disengages the mechanism. You should now be able to open and close the door manually.
2. Locate where the rollers are jumping off the track
Open the door partially to move the wheels to the point where they are jumping off the track. Once you have located the position use locking pliers to hold the door open by clamping them on one end of the track.
3. Open up the track with pliers
Now take the pliers and pry open the track where the rollers have come off. Be careful to only open the track wide enough to ensure the rollers can move back into position. If more than one roller has come off the track repeat the process for all the affected rollers.
4. Push the rollers back into position
Now push the rollers back into position and use the rubber mallet to knock the track back into place. When all the rollers are back in place and the track is repaired, remove the locking pliers.
5. Check the door is working normally
Now you should be able to operate the door manually. If you have an automatic opening mechanism press the open button to operate the door as normal. As the door moves through the opening cycle it will catch the release mechanism and begin to open the door as normal. Open and close the door a few times to ensure everything is working correctly.
If you find that your door is becoming detached from the rails more often than usual, it may be because the track is damaged beyond repair and needs to be replaced. At Sesame Garage Doors we are experts at repairing and replacing damaged garage doors.
We can supply a range of tilt and roller doors in both steel and timber which not only look great but are easy to use and maintain. We can also supply Gliderol doors which are Australia’s leading up and over garage door manufacturer. So if you need help fixing your garage door or would like more information about a new one, get in touch with us today.
A power outage or a motor failure can force you to operate your garage door manually. Knowing how to keep your garage safe from thieves can give you peace of mind at all times. Here is how to lock your Gliderol door manually:
Zip-tie the manual release latch
Putting a zip tie on the manual release latch is an excellent way to manually lock your Gliderol door. Garage door openers normally have an emergency release lever that helps to unlock the door during a power outage. However, thieves can use this method to gain unauthorised access to your garage. You can prevent the door from being pulled and opened using the zip tie option.
Lock the garage door’s vertical track
A Gliderol garage door cannot be opened if the vertical track is locked. Use a padlock to lock it and nobody will gain access to your garage. You don’t have to worry if there are no holes present in the vertical track. A drill bit for metal and a hand drill can help you drill the necessary holes.
Garage side lock
You can lock the door using a side lock, which can be attached inside the garage door. It is locked by sliding the latch into the vertical track of the Gliderol garage door. You can install the side lock using four bolts. Remember that you can use a metal drill bit and a hand drill to drill holes for the side lock if they are missing. If your garage door lacks an area for the latch to slide into, look for the removable square knockout.
Unplug the garage door opener
Thieves can use a special device to grab the signal from the remote to your Gliderol garage door. Unplugging the garage door opener is an excellent way to secure your garage door, especially if you will be away for some time.
Sesame Garage Doors repairs, supplies, installs, and automates garage doors for both domestic and light industrial clients. We are a family owned and operated business that has been in the industry for more than 30 years. Call us today for services in the entire Sydney Metro area.
Are you thinking of installing roller doors in your home garage or commercial property? Is space a bit tight? We’ve got the solution for you.
The Glidermatic GRD+
If you haven’t got much side room for your garage roller door or door opener, then the Glidermatic GRD+ is the perfect operator for you. In fact, it’s the only operator in Australia that will work in situations where there is restricted side room on both sides of your roller door.
The slimline drive unit is completely encased inside the roll of the door. It doesn’t take up more room than the width of the garage door, which makes it a very practical roller door option.
There are supporting brackets at a higher level than the door opening which need to be fitted wider than the roller. An additional 25 mm on each side of the garage door opening will be sufficient.
The Rol•a•matic GRII
Another option is the Rol•a•matic GRII, which is designed to work with Gliderol doors as well as doors made by other manufacturers. Thanks to its smart design, it can easily transform manual garage roller doors into doors that you can operate by remote control.
Like the Glidermatic GRD+, the Rol•a•matic GRII fits within the door roll coil. You’ll need at least 25 mm of side room on each side of the garage door opening for the steel supporting brackets. Verify with a Gliderol installer that your existing door roll size is compatible with this option.
A roller door for light industry
For light industry, the Glidermatic GRD Opener is an ideal solution for properties with limited side room. The Drive Unit fits neatly inside the roll of the door and for installation, just 75mm of extra side room is needed (compared to tilt doors or manual push up doors).
Roller doors for tight spaces
So how much side room do you need for a garage door opener and roller door? The answer is you need very little for the above options. So don’t let limited side room stop you from installing automatic roller doors. At Sesame Garage Doors, we have top quality roller doors that will work in your situation. Contact us today to find out more.
Roller garage doors are a popular option with homeowners and businesses for many reasons. If you’re considering a replacement door, or trying to decide on the best option for a new installation, it’s worth taking a look at the benefits which roller garage doors can bring, as well as circumstances when another type of garage door might be a better investment. Here we take a look at the advantages which roller garage doors can bring, as well as some circumstances when a sectional door might be more appropriate.
A standard-sized garage can accommodate either a roller door, tilt or a sectional version: roller garage doors require more space above the garage door, but don’t require runners in the same way as a sectional door. In practice, this usually means that either is an acceptable option. If you have a double garage, a sectional door is going to be the best choice, as a residential roller door isn’t normally available in lengths greater than six metres.
Garage doors are available with one layer of material in their construction, or two. Obviously, in terms of withstanding a full-on assault, a double layer is going to be stronger. It, therefore, pays to opt for a sturdier door, regardless of type. While sectional doors may have a slight strength edge due to their construction, their locking mechanism can be a weak point. In contrast, a roller garage door with a strong locking mechanism will frequently have the edge.
Tilting doors require space as they move outwards and upwards, which can be a problem on tiny driveways. In such circumstances, a roller door could be a better option, as no room outside the garage is required at all in order for it to function effectively.
Both sectional and roller garage doors are available in a selection of colours and finishes, enabling homeowners to pick the one that works best with the rest of their property. Although both sectional and roller garage doors have benefits, a roller door is often the best all-round choice when it comes to versatility and value.