Wind Issues and Remedies As The Seasons Change
How does the wind in Anthem impact your home? Since our temperatures are now shifting to cooler days and nights, some residents returning to their seasonal homes may come back to discover garage door damage after our summer storms. Over the years, many properties in Anthem have reported damage from the excessive wind and monsoon storms. One of the first areas where issues can be seen is on the garage door. If you have a visible dent, crack or alignment issue then a Wind Impact Safety Inspection by a garage professional is highly recommended. When excessive wind force hits the front of your home it can create microfractures in the garage door panel that makes it vulnerable to bending and cracking. One of the first places to see evidence of this is around the door hinges securing the panels together. If the issue is discovered early, the door panel can be reinforced. The cost of completing this type of repair is far less expensive than it is to wait and replace the entire door later. Our technicians have years of experience identifying wind damaged garage door panels and providing options to homeowners. Our goal is to protect your garage door from a premature collapse. Your safety is our priority especially since the garage door is the largest moving object in your home.
FAQs:
If wind damage cracks are found on my garage panels, what can be done to stop it from happening again?
Wind Loading the door is the solution! To prepare your garage door for the wind you can upgrade the door hinges to 14 gauge, upgrade all rollers to nylon wheels, add struts to all sections and upgrade the springs to properly balance the garage door. This upgrade does add additional weight to the door panels so it is necessary to also upgrade the springs to a heavier duty product, which will properly balance the new setup. A common mistake is to not upgrade the springs and then this leads to future problems with the garage door opener and other components used to lift the door.
Does adding insulation to the garage door help prepare it for the wind and storms?
No, adding insulation only to a basic builder door does not protect it from the wind. Insulation is a great way to prepare your garage for the extreme summer heat and other temperature related concerns.
How do I know if the builder installed a wind-rated or wind resistant/reinforced garage door?
Most of the homes in Anthem have a builder grade, basic, single-layer garage door that is not rated for wind. That basic door comes standard from the builders with an optional upgrade at the time of installation. If your garage door was upgraded to a steel back, multi layer or insulated door it will be noted on a door sticker or label with the manufacturing information. You can research the codes and numbers to get more details on the door type, style and model. When our technician is onsite he will gladly share this information with you and use it to discuss your options. It is important to us that you are fully informed so you can make the best decision for your needs.
What is the cost for a Wind Impact Safety Inspection?
For residents of Anthem and the surrounding cities, our inspection and estimate is FREE. There is no trip charge, no obligation or sales pressure. Our inspection and our estimates for service, repair or upgrading your garage door are completely free!
Meet The Writer: Preston Hiller is the Owner and Operations Manager of Gecko Garage Doors, Inc. He is a local businessman with roots in Surprise AZ since 1994. He enjoys the outdoors especially camping and fishing with his wife, Rebekah and their 5 children. Discover more about this family owned business at www.GeckoGarage.com or call 602-854-8079.
