Monday 26 July 2010

How to clean your roller garage door

1. The External Surface
It is better to choose a warm sunny day for cleaning your garage door as it will allow the door to dry quicker.

Ensure that you use a soft sponge when cleaning the external surface of your roller garage door. This will guarantee that you will not scratch any of the paint work causing damage to the appearance of your door.

First of all wipe over the entire surface of your roller garage door with hot soapy water. This will remove all dust and grime resting on the roller garage door surface.
Once this is done rinse down the soapy door with a hose. Attach a spray nozzle for a soft and even spray. This will allow you to remove all soap bubbles and dirt from the door.

If you have any tougher marks to remove first try using hot soapy water again but apply much more pressure. However, be sure to not scratch the paint. If this fails obtain a bleach free kitchen cleaner. As these cleaners are made to remove all types of marks this should do the trick. Spray the cleaning solution onto the mark and allow to soak for a minute or two. The mark should then just wipe away with a damp sponge.
Allow the garage door to dry completely before opening it as this could simply dirty the door all over again.
Once it is dry apply a lubricating oil on to a dry cloth and wipe over the entire surface of the roller garage door. This will help to protect your door against the elements until it is cleaned again.

2. The Internal Surface
It is not as important to keep the interior of your roller garage door however it is nice for it to be dust free. This allows you to store any item in the garage with no worry that it will get dirtied by the roller garage door.
However, rather than using the hose it will be adequate to go over the surface with a feather duster. This will get rid of any large cobwebs and any other dust lying around.

It would also be advisable to wipe over the brackets, hinges and tracks with a duster and then warm soapy water. This will ensure that all the elements of the opening and closing mechanism of the roller garage doors are working efficiently. Remove any dust and grime that could cause the tracks/hinges to stick.

Monday 19 July 2010

How to clean your roller garage door

1. The External Surface

It is better to choose a warm sunny day for cleaning your garage door as it will allow the door to dry quicker.
Ensure that you use a soft sponge when cleaning the external surface of your roller garage door. This will guarantee that you will not scratch any of the paint work causing damage to the appearance of your door.
First of all wipe over the entire surface of your roller garage door with hot soapy water. This will remove all dust and grime resting on the roller garage door surface.
Once this is done rinse down the soapy door with a hose. Attach a spray nozzle for a soft and even spray. This will allow you to remove all soap bubbles and dirt from the door.
If you have any tougher marks to remove first try using hot soapy water again but apply much more pressure. However, be sure to not scratch the paint. If this fails obtain a bleach free kitchen cleaner. As these cleaners are made to remove all types of marks this should do the trick. Spray the cleaning solution onto the mark and allow to soak for a minute or two. The mark should then just wipe away with a damp sponge.
Allow the garage door to dry completely before opening it as this could simply dirty the door all over again.
Once it is dry apply a lubricating oil on to a dry cloth and wipe over the entire surface of the roller garage door. This will help to protect your door against the elements until it is cleaned again.

roller garage door

2. The Internal Surface

It is not as important to keep the interior of your roller garage door however it is nice for it to be dust free. This allows you to store any item in the garage with no worry that it will get dirtied by the roller garage door.
However, rather than using the hose it will be adequate to go over the surface with a feather duster. This will get rid of any large cobwebs and any other dust lying around.
It would also be advisable to wipe over the brackets, hinges and tracks with a duster and then warm soapy water. This will ensure that all the elements of the opening and closing mechanism of the roller garage door are working efficiently. Remove any dust and grime that could cause the tracks/hinges to stick.

Thursday 15 July 2010

The history of garage roller doors

The first garage idea

As people were used to storing several horses in their outbuildings they thought that this concept could be applied to cars. These buildings looked very similar to modern day car parks, with some private and some publically owned. These was a very good business, however after 1910 there were too many cars to be housed this way.

The first private garage idea

The first idea for an individual garage was dreamt up in 1912. As car sales rose and became far more common place, society needed somewhere to store them and thus the garage was born. It was originally referred to as a different kind of outbuilding and cars were stored next to horses and carriages. Of course these first garages did not possess a door, let alone a garage roller door, but as people began to complain about the stink of the horses the idea of a garage developed further.
The first private garage realised
Because the smell of the horses was such a problem, people wanted a different space for their car and thus the garage, as we know it today, was born. The word garage comes from the French garer – to shelter or protect.

The first garage doors

Obviously with the garage holding such a valuable object, they needed a door. Rather than the current garage roller door, the first garage door was like a barn door. However, with the many obvious problems that this would cause, sliding doors were the developed as the nest best option.

The garage roller door

The sliding door design too had problems and on their third attempt to design a garage door they got it right and the garage roller door was born. In 1921, the overhead garage roller door was a huge success and became the norm when owning a garage.

The first garage roller doors where made out of thin panes of wood hinged together to enable to garage door to fold, but 1940 the option for flip-open resin plywood door became available. This was a lighter option than the solid wooden doors. However, in the 1970s galvanised steel became the material of choice.
The garage roller door opener was introduced in 1937 nearly 10 years after the automatic element to garage doors had been added in 1926, however due to cost or trend the garage opener was not a huge success for 30 years after its launch.

Tuesday 13 July 2010

How to install Roller garage doors

1. Decision
Before installation of your Roller garage door can begin, you need to ensure that you are happy with your choice. There is no point in installing a Roller garage door that you are not happy with and so place ensure that you like the colour and effect you have chosen.

2. Preparation
The only thing you need to install your garage door, besides the instructions we provide you with is the bare minimum of DIY experience. The instructions are provided with your Roller garage door. The guidelines that we provide you with are detailed and very easy to follow ensuring that installing your Roller garage door is as stress-free as possible.
Always read through the instructions before installing your Roller garage door. This will also add to the installation process as you shall be aware of the steps that will need to be taken. By having a small amount of knowledge before carrying out your installation you will not only find installing your Roller garage door easier but also reduce the small level of stress.
After reading the instructions, if you feel you will not be able to install your Roller garage door successfully we can arrange for an installation man to do it for you. This will not be the extortionate price charged by call-out handy men and therefore an affordable option.

3. Installation
Make sure that you follow our instructions to the letter; this will guarantee a successful installation of your Roller garage door. If you do not find the instructions detailed enough, there are different versions available to download off our website. It may be worthwhile having a friend read out the Roller garage door instructions. This will ease the process and provide a helping hand.

4. Checks
Once you have installed your Roller garage door you must ensure that it works correctly. Whether you have decided upon a manual or electrical Roller garage door, open and close the garage door a few times to make sure that it operates as smoothly as possible.

5. Guarantee
Your Roller garage door comes with two guarantees. The finish of your door comes with a 10 year guarantee. However, it is the rest of your Roller garage door which is the most important and this comes with a fantastic 5 year guarantee. This covers all the mechanism parts of your door, the vital elements for the operation of your Roller garage door. This guarantee is also backed by the component manufacturers and so you will not face any problems when claiming.

Monday 12 July 2010

Spice up your Garage Roller Door!

1. Accessories
The simplest way of spicing up your garage roller door is to replace the standard garage handle with something far more decorative and pretty.
You could also change the colour of your garage roller door. Instead of opting for a common and safe colour, choose something a little more vibrant or daring, some people have even painted every panel of their garage roller door a different colour.

2. Windows
It has become a new trend to install decorative windows into your garage roller door. These windows vary in size and style, allowing you to completely customise your garage door window look.
Not only will garage roller door windows add to the attractiveness of your home but also add value to your property. Also, as well as adding aesthetically to your garage door, these windows also have a practical value as they will allow natural light to come flowing into your garage. This will be extremely beneficial is you use your garage as more of a work room than a storage space.

3. Paint a mural
To give your garage roller door a really individual and unique look why not paint a mural on it.
What you choose to paint is down to personal preference and will make your garage roller door more of a talking point than the average generic garage door.
However, do bear in mind that your mural will not offend or insult any of your neighbours.

4. Printed photographic canvas’s
This is a fairly modern option and one that is proving very popular across Europe. It is now possible to print one of your favourite images/photographs onto a giant canvas to cover your garage roller door.
These images can range from gorgeous scenery, a family portrait to a canvas that implies there is a yacht or horses in your garage.
Unlike painting a mural, this option is less permanent and allows you to change the canvas, depending upon the season, occasion or your mood.

5. Seasonal decorations
Everyone decorates the rest of their house when the holidays come around, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, but no one really seems to bother including their garage door in these celebrations.
Break away from this common practice and decorate your garage roller door to coincide with the holidays. This can include applying reusable stickers that will not pull off your garage door paint when they are removed, wrapping your garage door with paper and adding a decorative bow, or even securing decorations to your garage door.

Friday 9 July 2010

I read this hilarious article about what would happen if garage doors never existed! Very entertaining but I couldn't tell if it was being serious?! I thought I'd share it with you all anyway.

1. Stolen stuff
It is obvious that if roller shutter garage doors had not been invented then storing items in there would be no where as safe or secure as it is nowadays. Although your car would still have a lock on it, it would not be as safe as if it was shut up behind a strong steel garage door.
As without a roller shutter garage door you would not be able to store anything in your garage, you would have to find the extra space in your home for these extra items. This could result in you either needing a larger home that you are unable to afford or have to sell the stuff.

2. Drafts
As there is usually a door connecting your house and the garage, a lack of a roller shutter garage door could result in awful drafts coming through the door. This will lower the temperature in your home, causing your heating bill to increase.

3. Homeless people
Without a roller shutter garage door, you will find homeless people sleeping in your garage. Homeless people are a huge nuisance when it comes to finding places to sleep, and a garage without a garage door will provide them a large, sheltered space in which to sleep. Also, homeless people often sleep in groups and thus if your garage is nominated as a good sleeping location then you will find you have a massive problem on your hands.
As a result of this you will probably find that your garage begins to smell of urine.
homeless man outside garage
4. Cats
Homeless people will not be the only ones relieving themselves if you did not have a roller shutter garage door. Cats are also experts in finding suitable outdoor locations to sleep and so without a garage door, your extra space will be full of stray felines.

5. Drugs
If garage doors had never been invented there would be another form of intruder you would be very keen to get rid of and that is drug addicts. Some of these may too fall under the homeless person description, but some may just be looking for a place to get high.
Not only is this dangerous to the people involved but it can also cause huge problems for you. Drug addicts are renowned for leaving their implements such as needles on the floor, resulting in huge health issues for you.

Thursday 8 July 2010

Differences in buying a Manual or an Automatic Roller Garage Doors

When perusing roller garage doors you will notice that the main difference is whether they are manual or automatically operated. Please find below a list of differences you should consider before deciding upon what kind of roller garage door you would prefer:

1. Price
Even though the garage door stays exactly the same, depending upon whether it is a manual or automatic roller garage door will have an effect on the price.
Because manual roller garage doors do not require any extra specialist mechanism, they are the cheaper option. Roller garage doors are also fairly light and so opting for a manual door is not, typically, a huge inconvenience.
If you prefer automatic roller garage doors you have to be willing to pay that little bit extra for the tubular motor that will need to be built into barrel that rests on top of the garage door opening. However this added element can make the installation process a little more difficult.

2. Installation
If you are choosing your garage door based upon the installation difficulty then the manual roller garage doors will be best for you. As there is no extra automatic element to be installed then the manual option is the easiest choice.
However, by opting for the easy option concerning installation you may be limiting yourself in terms of operation.

3. Operation
Obviously manual roller garage doors require you to physically open and close the garage door yourself, where as the automatic roller garage doors allow you to open and close the garage doors via the use of a battery powered remote. Therefore, if the weather is horrific or you are disabled in anyway an automatic garage roller door will be the most appropriate option.
However, if you do choose an automatic garage door you will need electricity access.

4. Access to Electricity
Obviously automatic roller garage doors require electricity access and therefore if electricity is not already available one would need to either consider supplying the garage with electricity or choosing the manual option.
Although it may seem like an unnecessary hassle to install an electricity supply initially, this can then be used for other purposes than simply the roller garage door. For instance, you could convert your garage to a workspace or use it to store your washing machine or tumble dryer.

Wednesday 7 July 2010

In the UK we tend to go for fairly plain looking garage doors. I know that when I was a kid all the garage doors I ever saw were plain, brown or cream and always rusting!

Easyfitgaragedoors.co.uk is doing a great job at revolutionising garage doors. Making them easy to purchase, install and then maintain or customise.

As for now, check out a bunch of these beautiful garage doors!

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Lessons on repainting your Garage Roller Door

1. Clean it

Before doing anything make sure that you clean your garage roller door. The best method is to employ a hose with a spray nozzle attachment, once you have done this wipe over the entire garage roller door with a damp cloth. This will ensure that all dust, grime and dirt if off your garage door.

2. Scrub it

The next step is to use a coarse scouring sponge and a strong detergent to scrub your garage roller door. Not only will this remove any dirt that has managed to stay on and also cause the surface of your garage roller door to become extremely rough. Although this may not seem immediately attractive it will enable to new paint to stick to your garage door and therefore not chip or flake off.

garage roller door

3. Rinse it

Once this has been done, rinse the garage roller door once again. This will ensure that no detergent is left on the door, which could potentially react with the paint. After you have sufficiently rinsed your garage roller door, allow it to dry.

4. Prime it

It is extremely advisable to use a primer base coat before applying the main coat to your garage roller door. The best type of paint to use is acrylic as due to the nature of this paint it is able to bend once dry. This is ideal due to the movement your garage door will be making every time it opens and closes.
Make sure that you stir the paint with a large wooden stick before pouring the paint into a spray gun. This will guarantee that the paint is of an even consistency and colour.

5. Paint it

Use a spray gun rather than a brush as this will allow for an even and smooth application without any brush strokes. Ensure that you use large sweeping strokes when spraying the paint.
Allow for up to 24 hours for your base coat to dry, this will depend upon the brand of paint you have chosen to use and should be stipulated on the tin.

6. Colour it

Once your base coat is dry you are able to apply your final colour coat. Clean out the spray gun so your chosen colour is not impaired is anyway.
The method of applying your final coat is exactly the same as applying the base coat. However, once you have applied your first layer of paint, allow it to fully dry and then decide whether or not you would like to apply a second coat to darken the colour

Monday 5 July 2010

About Roller garage doors

Family owned

Easyfit is the product of a family run business. Although we are a fairly small company, we ensure that our service is based upon customer satisfaction, therefore guaranteeing you will be left smiling after dealing with us. We pride ourselves on our service with a personal touch and our top of the range product.

Cost is Key

At Easyfit we know how much money matters and that’s why we ensure that our Roller garage doors are as cheap as they can be. We obtain all of our materials from Europe and out motors are mass made by one of the largest industrial manufactures in the world. This promises that we save money and because we do, so do you.
Another cost saving element of our Roller garage doors is that they enable personal installation. Due to the simple nature of our product you only require a minimum of D.I.Y to be fully qualified to fit a Roller garage door. All doors come with detailed easy to follow instructions, and we even supply further installation information online available to download. So, by carrying out the installation process yourself you are eliminating the need of a service man, therefore eliminating a service charge.
However, if you do require some assistance with fitting your Roller garage door, this too is possible. Although there will be a small service charge if this is the case it will be minimal in comparison to what a local call out handy man would charge and would be negotiated before delivery.

garage interior

Options

Our Roller garage doors come in a variety of colours and effects to ensure that we meet your needs as specifically as we can. Not only do we offer solid colour ranging from basic white, to yellow to dark green, but you can also opt for a metallic silver effect or choose from one of our three wood grain effects.
The next variable is whether you choose a manual or an electrical operation. Neither one nor the other is better is it purely down to individual preference. We offer this choice because, when designing our product we wanted to be as versatile as possible so as to not alienate any of our potential customers, therefore resulting in us providing both options.

Safety Features

Our Roller garage doors come with several safety features. The first is that all doors are fitted with receptive photocells. These cells prevent the door from closing when an item is in the way, whether it be your car, a child or garden furniture. Not only does this protect the garage door and ensuring durability but it also guarantees that our Roller garage door will not be the cause of any harmful accident.
The second is that all our doors are fitted with automatic locks that close as soon as the garage door is closed.
The third safety feature is a by-product of our Roller garage door insulation. Because we use high strength foam to insulate our doors, it adds to the strength of the garage door itself. Therefore making it able to withstand stronger pressure and force that it previously would be able to, as well as saving you money on your heating bill.

Delivery charge

We at Easyfit do not trouble you with a delivery charge. When obtaining a quote for your Roller garage door, the final price you see will include VAT and delivery.
Our drivers will negotiate a date and time suitable for you, to deliver your Roller garage door. However, the driver may need a hand when removing your door from the van, and so it may be advisable to ensure that someone appropriate to help will be there also.

Friday 2 July 2010

How to clean your roller garage door

Attempting to clean your door can be an almighty ball-ache because of the surface texture and sheer size/shape of the roller garage door. Here are a couple of tops tips I put together for you.

1. The External Surface

It is better to choose a warm sunny day for cleaning your garage door as it will allow the door to dry quicker.
Ensure that you use a soft sponge when cleaning the external surface of your roller garage door. This will guarantee that you will not scratch any of the paint work causing damage to the appearance of your door.
First of all wipe over the entire surface of your roller garage door with hot soapy water. This will remove all dust and grime resting on the roller garage door surface.
Once this is done rinse down the soapy door with a hose. Attach a spray nozzle for a soft and even spray. This will allow you to remove all soap bubbles and dirt from the door.
If you have any tougher marks to remove first try using hot soapy water again but apply much more pressure. However, be sure to not scratch the paint. If this fails obtain a bleach free kitchen cleaner. As these cleaners are made to remove all types of marks this should do the trick. Spray the cleaning solution onto the mark and allow to soak for a minute or two. The mark should then just wipe away with a damp sponge.
Allow the garage door to dry completely before opening it as this could simply dirty the door all over again.
Once it is dry apply a lubricating oil on to a dry cloth and wipe over the entire surface of the roller garage door. This will help to protect your door against the elements until it is cleaned again.

2. The Internal Surface

It is not as important to keep the interior of your roller garage door however it is nice for it to be dust free. This allows you to store any item in the garage with no worry that it will get dirtied by the roller garage door.
However, rather than using the hose it will be adequate to go over the surface with a feather duster. This will get rid of any large cobwebs and any other dust lying around.

It would also be advisable to wipe over the brackets, hinges and tracks with a duster and then warm soapy water. This will ensure that all the elements of the opening and closing mechanism of the roller garage door are working efficiently. Remove any dust and grime that could cause the tracks/hinges to stick.

Thursday 1 July 2010

5 reasons why you NEED a roller garage door

1. Cost

Budgeting for your Roller garage door is the easiest thing you will ever do. Not only do we keep our costs down by purchasing al our materials from European manufacturers, but we also buy our motors from one of the leading manufacturers in the world. This means that the money we save, you save.
Also, if you purchase a Roller garage door now online you will receive a 50% discount, making Roller garage doors the cheapest garage doors around.

roller garage door
2. Security

Don’t be fooled into thinking that by saving money on your Roller garage door you will be compromising in terms of safety. Our Roller garage doors contain three main safety features. The first is that all of our locks are automatic, meaning that the Roller garage door will lock automatically whenever you close the garage; you will not need to do anything. Secondly, all of our locks contain an electromechanical brake. This means that the garage door will not open once it has been closed, unless you are opening it of course. Thirdly, our laths are insulated by a high strength foam, therefore not only reducing the amount of heat loss through your garage door, but also making your Roller garage door much stronger.

3. Safety.

Our Roller garage doors are all fitted with reflective photocells. These photocells prevent the door from closing whenever there is an obstacle in the way. This means that no damage will be cause to your car or any other of your belongings. It also means that no small children or animals will be harmed when your Roller garage door is closing.

4. Variety

When choosing your Roller garage door you will need to decide how you want it to appear. We offer a huge variety of colours and effects for you to look through, ranging from standard white to vibrant yellow to a dark forest green. The effects we offer are a matt finish, three wooden effects and a metallic option.
You will also need to decide whether you would like a manual or an electronic functioning door.

5. Warranty

Your Roller garage door comes with two different guarantees. The first is a ten year guarantee for the finished look of your Roller garage door. We all know that appearance is important and we will insure the appearance of your garage door for a whole decade. The second is a five year guarantee for all the other parts of your Roller garage door, including the electronic motor and all the mechanical elements of your door.