Category: Blog

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Why Your Garage Door Material Is Important

Choosing the right garage door material is important for more reasons besides the aesthetic.

You can find garage doors in a number of different materials like wood, steel, fiberglass, and aluminum. Each option has it’s pros and cons, especially when it comes to your budget and climate. With Affina Door Company, we can give you valuable insight into which type of garage door material is right for your home. 

Wood

Wood garage doors are a great option if you’re interested in a more unique or rustic look. While beautiful, it’s also one of the pricier options and requires maintenance and upkeep in order to preserve the look. These types of garage doors are best for mild climates since severe temperature changes, rain, and humidity can warp or rot the wood. 

Steel

Steel garage doors are one of the most popular choices on the market. These doors are light-weight and durable, and one of the cheaper options available. You can find them in a number of design styles and work well in all climates. However the bottom of the door can rust over time and it’s not a good insulator. 

Fiberglass

Fiberglass garage doors are perfect if you want the look of a wooden door without the hassle of cost and upkeep. These types of doors won’t warp or rot like wood, so they’re a great option for warmer, humid climates, except for those with high winds.

Aluminum

Aluminum garage doors are very light-weight and fit best with more contemporary and modern homes when paired with glass. They work well in any climate, but aluminum isn’t the most durable option and can dent easily. It’s also low-maintenance but severe damage will require a specialist to fix it.

Our team at Affina Door Company has the knowledge and experience to help you understand the best garage door options for you. You can contact us for a free quote and consultation whenever you’re looking for garage door service and/or installation.

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4 Common Types of Commercial Garage Doors

If you’re looking to install a commercial garage door, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first step is knowing what the door’s primary function will be in order to determine what features you might need. Will the door be used for storing vehicles, or loading and unloading equipment?

You can find commercial garage doors in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials so working with a group of experts, like those from Affina Door Company, can help you determine the best options for your needs. Read on to learn more about the different types of commercial doors available.

Overhead doors

Overhead doors are one of the most popular types of commercial doors. They’re lifted by a track or rail and can either be operated manually or with a remote control. They’re made with a wide range of materials like aluminum, wood, and more. 

Roll-up doors

Roll up doors are attached to a wall and led by guides until it’s fully rolled up into a single coil. The slats are much thinner than on an overhead door which allows for more flexibility. These doors are good when  you can’t install rails overhead. 

Fire rated doors

Fire rated doors are made from durable stainless steel that’s fire resistant, noise resistant, and is insulated. While they work similar to roll-up garage doors, they provide greater protection. They can also be custom built and come with an auto closing feature if a fire is detected.

Scissor gates

Unlike the other garage doors, scissor gate doors move from left to right like a sliding door. You can also find them made with high-quality steel. These types of gates work well in conjunction with the other commercial garage doors for extra protection.

Our team at Affina Door Company is ready to help you find the best commercial garage door for your specific needs. Contact us today!

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What Causes Garage Door Damage?

Let’s face it. Home repairs are inconvenient and can get very expensive, very quickly. Damage to your home or garage door is last on the list of things you want to deal with. Here are some of the major culprits behind garage door damage you should look out for.

This list isn’t exhaustive though, so it’s important to stay in contact with a professional garage door company like Affina Door Company — we can evaluate and repair any issues you may be facing at an affordable rate. 

Aging equipment

Garage doors are machines made of different parts working together. Sometimes mechanical issues with lifting cables, rollers, or tension springs can cause problems when your garage door opens or closes. 

Power source

If your garage door operates with an electric current, a blown fuse might cause the door to break down and stop working. Likewise, if your garage door operates with batteries, it’s good to keep an eye out for their shelf life. 

Weather

Extreme weather conditions can also take its toll on your garage door. Even if the bottom of your door has been weatherized, it can still wear out over time. Rain, humidity, and the cold can also warp, bend, or crack your garage doors depending on the material.

Fixing garage door damage on your own runs the risk of making the damage even worse. It’s always a good idea to call in an expert to take care of any problems you may have. Our team at Affina Door Company is ready to help. Contact us today!

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Best Types of Garage Door Openers for Your Home

A quality garage door is essential for your home, but the door opener is just as important.

There are different types of garage door openers on the market and each comes with its own set of values and limitations. Whether you’re looking to renovate and remodel or simply keep your system maintained, you need to familiarize yourself with what’s available and who offers service around you — like the professionals at Affina Door Company.

Chain Drives

Chain drives are one of the most popular garage door openers on the market. These types of openers use a metal chain that connects the mechanisms and motor to move the door up and down. Since the parts are metal, a chain drive can be noisy, but they also tend to be the least expensive. Chain drives also work well for larger, heavier doors, so you’ll need to take the size of your garage into consideration.

Belt Drives

Belt drives are another popular type of garage door opener and work in a similar way to chain drives. Instead of using a metal chain, this opener uses a rubber belt, which makes it a much quieter option at a comparable price. However belt drives aren’t as sturdy so you’ll need to check the recommended weight capacity.

Screw Drives

While most houses use belt and chain drives, there are some home owners who opt for screw drives. These types of garage door openers have a more complex system, using a threaded rod on a track, and will require some maintenance throughout the year. Plus, keeping the rod lubricated will reduce any noise when opening and closing the garage door. A screw drive is also great for heavier doors or garages with one door for multiple cars.

Our dedicated team at Affina Door Company can assist you with any questions about our services and installation process. Contact us for a free consultation and quote.

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Maintaining Commercial Garage Doors for NJ Businesses

Commercial doors are the first step between you and your customers, right? Entryways are important and when something goes wrong with them, it can cause a huge headache, not to mention a loss of business. To make sure you don’t lose out on any potential customers, check out our guide to commercial door repairs and services.

Why Door Repairs and Services are Important for Businesses

Garage doors and main entryways are the literal in’s and out’s of your business. Whether it’s shipping out orders and receiving needed supplies, to having a functional and appealing entryway, you need doors that work. Not only do issues keep you from conducting business, but depending on the level of severity, they can be a danger to you, your employees, and your customers. And like with garage doors, your main entryways can degrade over time, making it harder, if not impossible, to get inside or out. Making sure these doors are working properly by making them a priority with regular preventative maintenance services.

Pay Extra Attention to Potential Issues

When it comes to garage doors, there are many components that might need a little extra attention. The last thing you want is to let a small problem turn into a larger one, costing more money and risking the safety of those in the vicinity.

Broken Springs – A broken spring can make opening the door nearly impossible.

Warped Tracks – Over time, tracks can warp out of alignment, causing the door to kink up as it is opening and closing.

Motor Burns Out – A commercial garage door’s motor can experience some real wear and tear over time, possibly causing the motor to stop working.

How to Avoid Repairs Before they Become Necessary

If you’ve had your garage doors and main doors for a couple of years, taking just a few minutes out of your day can help you keep track of any possible issues you should expect. Pay attention to any grinding that you don’t recognize. Even very light grinding should be accounted for because it could lead to a bigger issue down the road. Check the tracks and make sure there’s nothing to block the door. Also, make sure the automatic motor isn’t opening and closing the door too quickly or slowly. These are simple fixes you can take care of now before you have to open your wallet later.

Don’t Forget to Ask for Professional Commercial Door Help!

If you happen to find any issues along the way, be sure to come to Affina Door. We can help you with everything from broken springs to non-working automatic garage door operators. Don’t hesitate to contact us today at 888-923-3462!

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Top Benefits of Installing Automatic Barrier Gates

If you want to control the flow of traffic to a private area, then you might be wondering what solutions are available to you. Although many options are currently on the market, not all of them will make sense for you and your property. The good news is that an automatic barrier gate will get the job done in the most effective way possible.

You won’t need to worry about trespassers, and the system will do the hard part after you install it. No matter your location, having a gate in place will provide you with peace of mind, and the following information will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Reduce Overhead

Hiring a security guard to protect a property and control access is the option that many people pick, but doing so is expensive. Anyone who needs to limit the number of individuals who can access certain areas can use an automatic barrier gate instead of security guards. After the initial installation, running and maintaining your gate will not cost much, but it will protect restricted areas 24 hours a day.

When you consider the amount of money that you can save, the right choice will become clear. Quality access control technology is so affordable that anyone can benefit from it, and you can get started right away.

Earn Revenue

If you own or manage a parking garage that is near a popular location, then you can use an automatic barrier gate to generate income. You can set it up to charge people in exchange for granting them access. The amount that you charge will depend on the venue and the number of parking garages in your area.

If you want to enjoy the best possible results, then monitor your competition and try to match their prices. Offering discounts to loyal customers is a great way to encourage them to keep coming back.

Timed Access

Rather than hiring a guard, some people choose to use combination locks to protect certain areas, but doing so is not always effective. Once someone has the code, they can access the location whenever they want, but they can also give the combination to their friends.

Those problems create a security risk that you might want to avoid, and an automatic gate can help. Depending on the type of gate that you install, you can change each person’s code from a remote location, but you can also create codes that only work at certain times. Setting access limits will provide you with an additional layer of security.

Review Access Logs

If you are investigating an incident that has occurred on your property, then discovering which of your employees or customers were present can help you learn who is responsible. In addition to surveillance cameras, you can use an automatic gate that keeps track of access logs.

You can determine who was on your property based on which access codes were used to open the gate. The amount of time that you keep your records will depend on your needs, but many people prefer to save access logs for several months before deleting them from the system. When people know that you are monitoring them, they will be less likely to engage in illegal activities.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your property safe requires you to limit and control the flow of traffic, and using an automatic barrier gate will help you reach your goal. You will not need to worry about placing a security guard at the entrance of your facility, and your staff will have more time to focus on other responsibilities, helping you save time and money.

You can easily create and delete access codes, and you can use your gate to charge for parking when you want to offset your overhead expenses. If you think that an automatic gate is right for you, then we invite you to contact Affina Door Company today at 888-923-3462!