Unique Design

One of the most significant benefits of a custom garage door is the ability to create a unique design that complements your home’s style. Overlay Collection specializes in crafting custom-made wood garage doors, allowing you to choose from various wood species, finishes and designs to create a one-of-a-kind door. Whether you are looking for a traditional carriage-style door or a modern, minimalist design, Overlay Collection can bring your vision to life.

Perfect Fit

Pre-made garage doors may not fit your garage’s dimensions perfectly, leaving unsightly gaps or requiring modifications to your home’s structure. With a custom-made garage door from Overlay Collection, you can ensure your door fits your garage opening perfectly, providing a tight seal and preventing drafts, leaks and other issues. In addition, this ensures that your garage stays secure and comfortable year-round.

Improved Energy Efficiency

A custom garage door can also help to improve your home’s energy efficiency by providing better insulation and sealing. With a well-insulated garage door, you can keep your garage at a comfortable temperature and reduce energy bills. This is especially important if your garage is attached to your home, as it can help to reduce heat loss and drafts in your living space.

Increased Home Value

A custom garage door from Overlay Collection can also increase your home’s value and curb appeal. A stylish and unique garage door can make a big impression on potential buyers, setting your home apart from others in the neighborhood. 

Superior Quality

Finally, a custom garage door from Overlay Collection is built to last. Their small team of expert craftsmen and carpenters handcraft each door using the highest quality materials and construction techniques. This ensures your door is visually stunning, durable and reliable, providing years of trouble-free operation.

Custom Garage Doors in Minneapolis

Aside from the abovementioned benefits, a custom garage door also offers increased security. If you are looking for a custom-made wood garage door designed to your exact specifications, contact Overlay Collection today to schedule a consultation with one of their Sales Associates. As a division of IDC-Automatic, they have over 40 years of experience providing their clients with the highest quality garage doors.

The post Top Five Benefits of a Custom Garage Door appeared first on Overlay Collection.

Keep Your Garage Door Opener Secure

Many homeowners make the mistake of leaving their garage door opener in their cars, which can be an easy target for thieves. This may seem like a non-issue if you park in the garage, but if your car is broken into elsewhere, thieves can also steal registration documents and potentially track down your house. They have easy access to the inside of the home if they also have the opener. Keep your opener with you, and don’t leave it in the vehicle.

Install a Garage Door Sensor

Installing a garage door sensor is an excellent way to secure your garage door. It will notify you when your garage door is opened, even if you’re not at home. The sensor usually provides notification options such as text or phone. This allows you to act immediately and prevent unauthorized access to your home. As an added benefit, it can also tell you if you’ve left the door open after arriving home after a busy day.

Secure Your Interior Entrance

When your garage is attached to your home, it’s common practice to leave the interior access door open while ensuring the garage doors are secure. But should a thief bypass your garage safeguards, there’s nothing stopping them from entering the home. Installing a deadbolt lock on the interior door and reinforcing the doorjamb prevents it from being kicked in. Likewise, if you lock your front or back doors open, you should treat this door with the same level of security.

Upgrade Your Garage Door Opener

If your garage door opener is older, it may be more susceptible to hacking. Consider upgrading to a newer model with more advanced security features, such as rolling codes. Older models only use a single code, but rolling codes change every time you use the remote. This will make it more difficult for thieves to access your garage.

Don’t Forget High-Quality Doors

High-quality garage doors are the first line of defense for home security. Well-built doors that are difficult to break or damage make it harder for burglars to access your garage and home. Each of Overlay Collection’s custom-made garage doors is crafted by hand and designed for exceptional performance, durability, and personalized style, all adding safety and value to your home. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards enhancing your home’s security and curb appeal with a custom garage door.

The post Garage Door Security: Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Home Safe appeared first on Overlay Collection.

Finishing Perfection

If you purchased a custom-built specialized luxury car, it’s not likely you would choose to slap on random wheels from the discount tire company. Instead, you would want to select wheels that reflect the style and character you wish to convey while showing off your ride. 

As with the car’s wheels, your home’s garage door should be carefully chosen. 

• Your garage door can enhance the architectural style of your home. For example, a structure designed at the turn of the twentieth century will look more harmonious with a carriage house or barn door appearance rather than a more modern roll-up door.
• A home with accents of natural wood or stone would be improved by a custom wooden door, much more than a basic white steel door found at the local hardware store. 

Form and Function

After all the time and effort that’s gone into making the rest of your home perfect, you won’t want a garage door that looks like it will crumple at a withering look. Instead, you want a sturdy door that will withstand Minnesotan weather in all seasons, protect your belongings and bolster your security. Your new door must also operate smoothly and consistently for years to come. Each Overlay Collection door is crafted by hand to meet your specific needs and our exacting standards by our team of expert carpenters. Contact the design team at Overlay Collection to put the finishing touch on your home.

The post Custom Garage Doors – Your Home’s Finishing Touch appeared first on Overlay Collection.

How Does a Garage Door Add Value to a Home?

First, it is important to understand that the value added by your garage gives you a return on investment of over 93%. This is an exceptional rate of return, providing better results than a kitchen remodel or a new roof. 

Knowing that you will recoup most of your money for the remodel can put your mind at ease, but the additional boost to your home’s value can be where the curb appeal factor comes into play. If your current door is worn out, dingy, dented or broken, it can make it appear the property hasn’t been kept up. If the door doesn’t match the style of your home, it can be jarring and look out of place. Finally, if your home isn’t as up-to-date as others in the neighborhood, a new garage door coupled with a few minor exterior touch-ups can make your home fit right in.

Wood Provides Additional Curb Appeal

No matter the style of your home, wood touches in a matching style increase your property’s warmth and welcoming nature. Wood overlay garage doors lend elegance and sophistication that other types of garage doors don’t. And because these types of doors are wood overlaying a steel core, you have all the charm of carefully crafted wood coupled with the protection offered by a traditional steel door.

With a wide variety of colors, finishes, styles and materials, don’t overlook this central feature of your home’s exterior. Contact Overlay Collection today to increase your curb appeal and your home’s value.

The post Overlay Garage Doors Add Value to Your Home appeared first on Overlay Collection.

Noise Reduction 

Insulated garage doors can help you enjoy peace and quiet by reducing outdoor noise and with quieter operation than other garage doors. Some older garage doors without insulation can creak and rattle when opening and closing. This irritating noise can happen as the panels vibrate when opening and closing. Insulation can help provide the padding for a smoother operation.

Durable Strength in All Weather Conditions

Insulated garage doors contain higher-quality materials for strength and durability in all types of weather conditions. In addition, these doors can be more resistant to dents from hail or warping from heavy rains and snow. As a result, you can save money with less need for repairs or maintenance.

Damage Protection

Extreme temperatures can damage the structural integrity of your property and ruin your vehicle and belongings. Humidity levels can create rust or mildew on stored tools and equipment and destroy electrical components in your vehicle. Insulated garage doors help keep temperatures controlled during all seasons to prevent damage. 

Superior Custom-Made Insulated Garage Doors in Minnesota

Insulated garage doors are one of the best investments you can make for your Minnesota home. For over 40 years, Overlay Collection has specialized in handcrafting custom wood garage doors for your specific needs in Minnesota. As a family-owned and operated business, expert carpenters and craftsmen understand the importance of protecting your loved ones with the best materials for your home. Call to request a quote today. 

The post Why You Need Insulated Garage Doors appeared first on Overlay Collection.

What to Look for in a Commercial Garage Door Company

A careful evaluation of the following factors can help you determine the best garage door product and service provider for your company’s needs.

Reputation

A reputable garage door company has a long and successful track record of providing excellent service throughout the local community. Start by checking out the online reviews provided by the customers of all the garage door companies near you. Are most of them positive, or do you find complaints in crucial areas like the quality and craftsmanship of their products or their commitment to meeting their customers’ needs?

You should also talk to other business owners about their experiences with the garage door companies in your area. Find out if they’re happy with the service and whether they would choose the garage door company again.

Product Selection

When it comes to garage door requirements, no two businesses are alike. While a roll-up door might make sense for one company, another might benefit from a sectional unit. And if you’re a retailer, you’ll likely need a security grille to protect your storefront or selling space.

Your garage door company should offer an array of products to optimize your selection possibilities. They should also represent garage door manufacturers known for producing high-quality doors featuring multiple material options.

Available Services

While many companies will be happy to sell you a garage door, some fall short when it comes to installation and other essential support services. You’ll need to know what to look for in a garage door installer and determine whether it can also meet your maintenance and repair needs.

Besides the service menu, you should also find out who will be doing the work — in-house technicians who are company employees or third-party contractors with questionable credentials. Ask if they’re available to provide after-hours emergency service as well.

Warranty Coverage

The best garage door companies stand behind their work by offering comprehensive warranty protection to give you extra peace of mind. The warranties should cover materials and workmanship for the installation of brand-new products. Additional options should also be available for service and repair work.

Overlay Collection Checks All the Boxes

If you own a business in the Minneapolis area, you can trust Overlay Collection for all your commercial door needs. Since our founding in 1974, we’ve earned a stellar reputation for offering high-quality products at competitive prices. We also offer a full menu of installation, repair and maintenance services performed by our team of well-trained technicians. And with our superior warranty programs, you can choose us as your garage door partner with complete confidence.

The post How to Choose a Garage Door appeared first on Overlay Collection.

As a homeowner, part of keeping your garage safe is understanding how to identify and address garage door safety hazards. With some basic knowledge, general maintenance practices and professional assistance, you can effectively enhance your garage door’s safety.

Garage Door Dangers

Garage doors pose a minimal danger when they are running normally. However, there are a few red flags that indicate an increased hazard a professional should handle. The following are some garage door dangers to avoid:

Unusual Sounds

If your garage door starts making unusual sounds, you may think it’s a sign of normal age and wear. Though abnormal sounds are easy to dismiss, they could reveal a greater structural issue within the door. Sounds you may want to investigate include:

• Scraping
• Rattling
• Banging
• Rumbling
• Squeaking
• Grinding
• Popping
• Vibrating
• Excessive noise

These noises could indicate loose, worn or dirty parts that may be compromising your garage door’s effectiveness and safety. Continuing to operate your door without addressing odd noises may lead to bigger and more dangerous issues like a broken spring or damaged garage door hardware.

DIY Repairs

In some cases, you may be able to pinpoint an issue with your garage door that needs to be fixed. Completing the repair yourself may seem cost-effective or efficient. However, a garage door is a complex mechanism with several variables that could complicate your repair.

Depending on what your garage door consists of, it could weigh hundreds of pounds. The sheer weight of the door poses a threat if it moves or falls unexpectedly during a repair. A lack of proper tools and expertise could also endanger you during maintenance tasks. Some parts of a garage door are extremely dangerous, like the spring, and should only be handled by a trained professional equipped with proper tools.

Springs

There are two types of springs that help lift garage doors — torsion and extension springs. A torsion spring applies torque to a metal shaft that is secured above the garage door and unwinds and winds as the door opens and closes. An extension spring stretches to attach to either side of the door and exerts a pulling force through its attachments to lift and lower the door.

Regardless of the type of spring attached to your garage door, they are extremely hazardous. The dangers of garage door springs stem from their design. These components have enough tension to handle hundreds of pounds to lift a garage door. If the spring breaks while you are touching it or standing nearby, the force can cause bodily harm and danger. And since the spring helps hold the door in place, a broken spring could send a garage door crashing down.

Garage door safety cables can be installed to contain a spring if it breaks. But even with a safety cable, garage springs need to be handled skillfully. Any spring repairs or maintenance is best left to a trained professional.

Garage Door Safety Features

Modern garage doors have several safety features that protect you when used alongside a regular maintenance routine and general caution. These basic garage door safety requirements help prevent accidental entrapment or injury from a closing door and can help keep you safe when the power is out:

Photo Eye

Garage doors that were manufactured after January 1, 1991, must comply with entrapment protection requirements from the Underwriters Laboratories. This includes having electric eye sensors, which are installed close to the ground under a garage door. The sensors connect to each other with a light beam. If anything breaks the beam connection, the garage door safety sensors signal the opener to send the door back up.

In this way, the photo eye system helps detect people, animals or objects that may enter a garage door’s path while it is in motion.

Auto-Reverse Mechanism

A garage door’s auto-reverse feature works in tandem with the photo eyes to protect people, pets and objects from a closing door. Essentially, a garage door should return to an open position if the photo eye beam is interrupted or the door encounters any force. If an object enters the door’s path but does not trigger the photo eye, a minimal amount of resisting force should signal the auto-reverse mechanism to send the door back up.

Manual Controls

Electric garage door openers are extremely convenient — unless the power is out. This is why garage door openers include a manual function. You can usually activate manual controls by pulling a red cord attached to the garage door track. After pulling the cord, you should be able to lift the garage door manually with two hands.

Manual controls allow you to drive your vehicles out of your garage if you need to leave home during a power outage. These controls also enable you to disengage the opener when performing simple maintenance tasks to prevent the door from opening and potentially injuring you.

Garage Door Safety Tips

There are some important steps you can take to fine-tune, test and strengthen your garage door’s overall safety. Use these garage door tips to guide you as you maximize your door’s safety:

Perform Simple Maintenance

Though some tasks should be left to the professionals, there are still plenty of maintenance jobs you can complete on your own. Perform the following checks and maintenance to keep your garage door running smoothly:

• Lubricate parts: According to the International Door Association, your garage door may benefit from lubrication twice a year. Apply spray lubricant to your door’s tracks, rollers and hinges to support proper function and reduce any noises from lack of lubrication.
• Change batteries: If you’re experiencing issues with your garage door remote and the door will not open, the first thing you can check is your remote opener batteries. A new set of batteries could be all you need to get the door running again.
• Clean and align sensors: If your photo eye sensors are dirty or misaligned, your door may struggle to open and close as expected. Check the sensors — which are typically located near the ground on either side of the door opening — for any dirt and debris. If they seem out of line, try straightening them and testing the door again.
• Tighten hardware: Temperature changes between seasons could cause your garage’s attachment hardware to loosen over time. If you notice rattling sounds while the door operates, use a wrench to tighten all roller brackets, bolts, hinges and nuts.
• Replace weather seal: The weather seal on your garage door blocks out the elements and debris to maintain a stable temperature and clean environment in your garage. If you can see the sunlight through damaged sections of the seal, you may want to replace it. You can purchase the supplies you need for this project at a hardware store and complete it on your own if you desire.

If you’re not sure how to complete a maintenance task or you’d prefer to hire a professional, you can schedule a garage door tune-up for reliable service.

Test Your Door Regularly

Your garage door likely has built-in features to help protect you from injury, but you need to ensure these systems are working. A few monthly tests can help you confirm whether your garage door’s safety mechanisms are functioning properly:

• Balance test: To test your door’s balance, first close the garage door and disconnect the automatic opener. Then, try to lift the door manually. The door should move smoothly with little resistance and remain open when you let go. If the door is difficult to open or falls closed, it may be off-balance and need servicing.
• Visual inspection: With the garage door closed, stand inside your garage and inspect the door. Check the rollers, pulleys, springs, cables and mounting hardware for visual signs of damage or wear. Any looseness, fraying, rust or unusual appearance could indicate a larger garage door issue that a technician should address.
• Reversing mechanism test: To test your automatic reversing system, open the garage door and place a two-by-four piece of wood in the center of the garage door opening. Then, press the button to close your door. The door should automatically reverse when it touches the wood if the reversing mechanism is working. If the door does not reverse, contact a technician to repair your door immediately.
• Photo eye test: Begin with your garage door open to check the photo eye sensors. Grab a long object, like a broom or tool, and press the button to close your garage door. As the door descends, wave the object in front of one of the photo eyes to see if the door automatically reverses. If the door continues to close, you may need to clean, realign or replace your photo eye sensors.

If your garage door fails one or more of these tests, contact a professional immediately to have the appropriate safety feature repaired.

Address Garage Door Security

Part of keeping your family safe around your garage door is ensuring the door is reinforced against break-ins and tampering. You may want to enhance your garage door’s security with the following measures:

• Install motion detection floodlights: Placing motion-activated floodlights outside your garage door could help increase your garage security. The lights can startle and momentarily blind a thief, which could deter them from accessing your property.
• Protect your opener remote: Most people store their remote garage door opener in their vehicle for convenience. This can present a serious security risk, as thieves may check your vehicle and gain direct access to your garage and home through the remote. To increase your garage door opener safety, you can purchase a key fob remote opener that stays with you at all times. Or, you could hide your opener within your vehicle to remove it from sight.
• Close your garage door: This is a simple yet important tip. Always check to ensure your door is closed at night and limit the amount of time you leave it open during the day.
  Consider upgrading your door: An older garage door may have more vulnerabilities, especially if it is worn down. You can improve your garage door’s safety by upgrading to a newer, more structurally sound model.

Know When to Call a Professional

Knowing your limits is paramount to maintaining garage door safety. If you notice unusual noises or issues with the cables, rollers, tracks or drums, it may be best to call a professional for an inspection and repair. You’ll also want to trust a professional for a spring repair or replacement. It is dangerous to replace garage door springs on your own when you have not been trained.

If you do not feel confident identifying or addressing an issue on your own, you should call a professional. Using a garage door technician can save you time, keep you safe and ensure the job is done correctly.

Garage Door Child Safety

Since 1974, at least 85 children have suffered permanent brain injuries or died in automatic garage door opener accidents. Though safety measures have been implemented through mandatory photo eye and auto-reverse technology, it is crucial your child understands the importance of garage door safety. This is especially true if your child is old enough to play outside with minimal supervision.

You may want to communicate the following garage door safety tips with your children:

• Always check to see if the door’s path is clear before closing the garage door.
• Avoid touching or hanging on the garage door while it is in motion.
• Avoid tampering with the photo eyes.
• Avoid sharing a garage door passcode with friends or strangers.
• Avoid leaving toys in the garage door’s path.

In addition to educating your child, ensure any wall-mounted opener buttons are out of reach of younger children. If you have a key fob garage door opener, avoid letting small children play with your keys. You may also want to discourage older children from operating the garage door until they are responsible enough to watch for hazards and practice appropriate caution.

Trust Overlay Collection for Your Garage Door Repairs and Maintenance

A well-maintained garage door puts you in the best position to protect the people who use it and keep the door functioning properly. At Overlay Collection, we think differently about garage doors. For our customers, that means same-day service from our professional and knowledgeable staff. Whether you need a garage door repair or garage door maintenance, our experts can complete the job safely.

For more information about how you can get your garage door in shape, contact us or request a service today!

The post Garage Door Safety Guides appeared first on Overlay Collection.

If your garage door isn’t working properly, aligning your garage door sensors may be the solution. Even a slight impact can knock the sensors out of alignment, so it’s a common problem you can often resolve with a little troubleshooting.

Do Your Garage Door Sensors Need Aligning?

Garage door safety sensors are located on each side of the garage door near the floor. They emit an infrared beam that can detect people or objects in the path of the garage door. If they detect anything, they’ll prevent the door from closing until the obstruction has moved out of the way. However, these sensors can prevent the door from properly shutting or opening if they get misaligned as well.

Look for a few common signs to determine if you need to align your garage sensors:

• Your garage door won’t close at all or only closes part of the way.
• The light on your receiving sensor is flashing on and off.
• Your sensors are visibly bent, crooked or otherwise not pointing directly at each other.

How to Line up Your Garage Door Sensors

When you know how to line up your garage door safety sensors, you can address issues that come up with them more easily. Remember as you work, however, that safety is your top priority. Be sure to call a professional if the situation turns out to be more complex than you expected.

If you suspect that aligning your garage door sensors will fix your door issues, follow these easy steps to try to identify and resolve the problem.

1. Clear Any Obstructions

Sometimes sensors can be particularly sensitive to potential obstacles in the vicinity, so make sure you clear the area all around the garage door. Whether it’s a large toolbox, your child’s lost glove or any number of other items that might have ended up in the garage, be sure everything is completely out of the way of the door.

2. Clean the Sensors

One quick potential solution for garage door sensor malfunctions is to clean them. Sometimes dirt, dust, rust or other debris obstructs the sensor so that it can’t receive the infrared beam effectively. With a damp cloth, gently clean the sensor to ensure it can clearly detect the opposite sensor’s ray.

3. Check the Sensor Positions

Make sure your sensors are completely straight and pointing at each other. You can check their angle by tying a string to each end and using a leveler to see if the line is straight. If it’s not, loosen their screws and reposition them until the string is level. Then screw them tightly back into place in their new positions, ensuring they remain level with each other.

4. Check Your Wiring System

If the other sensor adjustments you’ve made haven’t been effective, you might need to check on the electrical wiring for your garage door. Wear and tear, the elements or even pests like rodents might have broken or otherwise compromised the wiring system, so make sure it’s in good repair.

Turn to Overlay Collection
for Your Garage Door Service Needs

If you’ve carefully checked and lined up your sensors and they still don’t work, or you’ve discovered that your garage door requires more serious repairs, call a trusted repair company like Overlay Collection
for further assistance. When you need professional services and repairs for your garage door, give us a call at (763) 786-4730 or fill out our online service request form to get prompt, reliable help.

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