Tips

Name: Dandenong Garage Doors
Brand: Dandenong Garage Doors
Rating: 4.1 (84 reviews)

Tips · June 7, 2023

Every homeowner has a list of things that need to be done around the property “at some point.” One of the items that are a common entry on this list is cleaning the garage. Whether your garage has always been a space to absorb your home overflow, or a recent move has turned it into a makeshift storage space, cleaning it out can be challenging.

Another common reason homeowners may want to clean out their garage space is the recent installation of electric garage doors. After all, if you’re going to install new doors, you may as well clean the space. With the convenience of electric garage doors, make sure you can optimise that storage space, whether for vehicles or other items.

The good news is that it’s easier than you think!

Simple Tips to Clean Your Garage Space and Keep it Tidy

‘Out of sight, out of mind’ is often the real reason why your garage space becomes the go-to place to dump excess items from your home. Or, you could have a lot of tools and garage related items, but insufficient storage space makes everything seem cluttered. Our experts have compiled a few easy tips that will help you get your garage space tidy in no time.

1. Declutter

The first step to creating order is to declutter. Clear out the floor, cupboards and shelves. Identify what you need and will still use. Then put similar items together so once everything is put away again, you avoid the hassle of searching for things when you need them.

2. Cleaning

No one wants to work in a dirty environment, so cleaning top to bottom is smart. Start by taking everything out of the garage. This works well if you have a driveway where you can pack items while you clean and sort. Consider the following:

Garage door: When washing your garage door, be sure to opt for a mild detergent as harsh chemicals will ruin the shine of your paint or other finishes.
Floor: Wash the floor with a stronger detergent to clear out any oil spills or chemicals. Our experts recommend adding sawdust or clay cat litter to absorb stubborn oil stains. For more severe stains, leave the litter or sawdust on for a few days. After sweeping the litter or sawdust up, you can also use a degreaser if the floor material type allows it.
Walls: Depending on how the wall looks, you may get away with simply giving the walls a good dusting. If you have some extra paint on hand revitalise with a splash of paint!

3. Create Hanging Space

Most garages don’t have sufficient space for everything you want to store inside. One of the easiest ways to resolve this is to create hanging space for smaller items that may usually sit on the floor or end up being placed randomly in cupboards. For example, you can use an old bungee cord and two wall hooks to create a line where smaller items can easily be hooked on.

4. Use Empty Jars for Storage

There’s no need to invest in expensive storage options for loose nails and screws. Simply use empty jars or bottles. These can be placed on a shelf above the area where you’re going to use them, for example a workbench.

Be sure to label the bottles with the screw or nail type and size. For instance, “timber 12mm” or “concrete 5mm” – that way you won’t struggle to find the right nail or screw when you’re working.

5. Add Extra Dividers to Existing Drawers or Shelves

If you have large drawers or wide shelves, it might be a good idea to add dividers to these spaces. This creates more space for smaller items. You can use smaller plastic containers, shoe boxes or small planks to divide the space in the shelf or drawer.

6. Create Tool Racks

Often it’s tools such as rakes, brooms and shovels that stand around looking lost adding clutter to your garage space. Create order by building a rack these items can be hooked onto.

Alternatively, you can also paint an empty drum or make a narrow box out of timber. Ensure it fits into a corner of the garage and place all these items inside it so they no longer fall over or get in the way.

How to Reach the Experts

If your garage needs an upgrade, it may be time to install a new door, complete with all the smart features to turn your space into more than just a storage facility. Simply call our experts on 03 9791 4933 for an appointment!

Why It’s Important to Clean Garage Roller Door Tracks

Regular usage, dirt and grease build-up are some of the common reasons your garage roller doors will start to give you hassles. The tracks are used to keep the rollers aligned and functioning optimally during operation. If the tracks become worn down or dirty, the rollers will not work properly.

We recommend you clean and maintain your roller door tracks every three months. Use our tips to help you keep your garage roller doors in good condition and running smoothly for many years.

1. Clear Out the Garage

In order to access the rollers and tracks comfortably and safely, it’s essential to remove any items that may get in the way. Take your vehicles out of the garage and clear enough space around the garage doors for you to move around unhampered.

Close the garage doors and use a stepladder to carry out an inspection of the rollers and tracks inside the garage. You may need to use a head torch to give you additional lighting.

2. Clean or Replace the Rollers

On inspection, you should be able to assess if the rollers are worn out or if they need cleaning. If the rollers are worn out, discard them and replace with new ones. A build-up of grease or dirt on the rollers can be cleaned using an old toothbrush. Wipe the residue away with a clean rag.

Metal rollers with open bearings can be sprayed with a lubricant. Nylon rollers with closed bearings don’t need to be sprayed. Make sure you use either a silicone spray oil or lithium-based lubricant for the rollers and watch out for any drops on the garage floor while spraying. These can be wiped up with a rag.

3. Inspect the Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and bolts are used to hold the track mounting in place as well as the hinges of the rollers. Over time, these can become loose or worn down. Tighten any nuts and bolts that are loose. If they need to be removed or replaced, it is best to contact a garage door professional.

You can also use an old toothbrush to remove any debris and grease that has accumulated on the hardware. The hinges may be sprayed with a silicone-based lubricant.

4. Clean the Tracks

With the garage doors still closed, bring your attention to the tracks. Before cleaning, make sure the power to the doors has been disconnected or turned off. Using a damp cloth, wipe any dirt away from inside the tracks. An old toothbrush can be used to dislodge thick dirt and a vacuum cleaner can also be used to remove debris from the hard-to-reach areas. For stubborn dirt and debris, you can use an automotive brake cleaner to wipe down the tracks. Do not use any lubricant on the tracks.

5. Clean and Lubricate Springs and Bearing Plates

Once you’re done with cleaning the rollers and tracks, open the garage doors. Using the silicone or lithium-based lubricant, spray the springs and bearing plates at the top of the doors. Also, spray the outside of the springs and towards the centre of the bearing plates. Once done, close and open the doors to distribute the lubricant.

If any of the springs or bearing plates are worn down or damaged, remove them and replace with new parts.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your garage roller door tracks and other parts on a regular basis keeps your roller doors in top condition and extend their lifetime. If you’re not sure whether the tracks need replacing or repair work done on them, call us at Dandenong Garage Doors on 03 9791 4933 for more advice. When it comes to roller garage doors Melbourne homeowners have been using us since 1976!

Reasons Your Garage Door Can Reduce Your Home Value

To understand what a significant difference an updated garage door makes to the value of your property, let’s have a look at some of the reasons an old door can reduce resale value:

Wooden doors start rotting or paint starts peeling after years of being battered by various weather conditions. New owners will either have to replace this and ask for a lower price, or request that you repair it.
It’s obvious that a garage door that’s been hanging around for years will have a few dents and dings that will need fixing. The aesthetics also won’t help you get your asking price.
Older garage doors have poor insulation and might already sag. Both of these instances will not be appealing to a potential buyer.

The Value a New Door Can Add

New garage doors, especially custom garage door options, add to the resale value of your home largely because of the benefits they provide the homeowner. The more features that look good and benefit the homeowner, the more enticing they will be to a potential buyer. Here’s what buyers’ value.

Increased Aesthetic Value

Whether you choose tilt panel lift doors, roller doors, or sectional garage doors, replacing the existing door is the place to start. Potential buyers see the exterior of your home before the inside. Whether your home gets any potential buyer action will depend on how it looks from the street. It’s commonly referred to as “street appeal.”

If your house has an old, loose garage door that looks like it’s hanging on a single hinge, it won’t seem appealing. A new, motorised, well-structured door on the other hand, will ooze street appeal. You can take it one step further by adding a bold colour that complements the style of the rest of your property. By viewing our ColorBond range, you’ll be able to choose the colour that’s perfect for your property.

Safety Enhancement

These days, we all want our homes and properties as safe as possible. That includes the door that secures your vehicle. Our motorised roller doors come equipped with internal/external keypads or handheld remotes which not only create ease of access but increase the safety of your garage. Our motorised doors are also made using high cycle motors which can easily be integrated with your home fire system.

Reduced Maintenance Cost

If you’re putting your home up for sale, a potential buyer doesn’t want the added hassle of having to constantly maintain the garage door to keep it working. Older doors might require cords, parts, and wires to be constantly repaired or replaced.

Our modern, prefinished, custom garage doors won’t require any additional maintenance. Newer doors will be better insulated, which will also reduce energy costs. New doors will eliminate all these issues and the cost of the door can be added to your asking price. In short, the new doors will pay for themselves!

Decreased Noise Levels

Few things can be as annoying as a squeaky garage door. It advertises your comings and goings to the whole neighbourhood. Whether your new door is motorised or operates manually, the new homeowner will have peace of mind that the door functions efficiently, effortlessly, and above all, quietly!

Smoother Operation

One of the most common grievances from homeowners concerning their garage doors is that the doors don’t function as smoothly as they should. This results in extra effort to get them open or closed. New doors will mean new parts and components which will lead to a smoother operation. You could even use this opportunity to upgrade to a motorised door with additional features to make operation modern and more convenient.

Upgrading to a new Dandenong garage door will eliminate time spent on repairing or maintaining a rickety door that’s old and dated. It’s time to give your garage a makeover and increase your home’s value at the same time!