Guide to Installing Roller Garage Doors

There is a wide range of choice when it comes to styles and colours for your new roller garage doors. You may prefer a traditional timber or classic colour effect or want something chic and up to the minute to make an attractive feature to the kerb appeal of your home. Sizes up to 5 m wide and 3 m are stocked by most retailers.

By following the simple step by step guide to installing your new roller garage door you will have a smart, secure and safe closure for your garage which will stand the test of time and keep your valuables protected from weather and loss.

Step 1 Preparation

Roller Doors garage doors are easy to fit and come with step by step instructions which are clear and easy to follow.

Be sure to follow the detailed installation guide which takes you through the necessary measuring points and advises on positioning your new garage door for best results.

Step 2 Affixing brackets

You will be provided with a measured diagram for detailed directions where to affix mounting brackets. This is vital to ensure you get the correct location first time and thus eliminate any frustration and time wasting should you later realise you had misread something and carried out the installation incorrectly. We can all be a little bit guilty of not reading instructions thoroughly enough so play smart and check these very carefully.

Step 3 Positioning the door

The correct positioning of the roller door is the key to smooth running of your door once it is installed. Take a little time to ensure you are familiar with the instructions before you start to carry them out so the positioning and securing the axle to the mounted brackets are all correct.

Step 4 Safety instructions

Read these carefully to prevent injury both during installation and whilst the garage door is subsequently in use. Unroll the door carefully and make particular note of any special instructions relating to insulated roller doors if you have chosen this option.

Step 5 Fixing the side tracks

The side tracks ensure your new garage door rolls up evenly and is centred with the opening. A snug fit keeps out the weather and provides stability and efficiency for the door to ensure a long effective life.

Step 6   Final adjustments

Perform those final adjustments to fine tune the smooth and effortless operation of your new roller garage door. Whether you choose the manual or automated version there is less wear and tear on the garage door and fittings when these are correctly installed, balanced and smooth running.

And finally

The last set of guidelines explains how to fit the locking bar to give the most efficient weather seal. A rattling door resulting from a badly fitted bar is both annoying and damaging.

Follow the installation instructions properly and your garage door will provide peace of mind and durability for many years.

Home and Garage Security

The weakest points in the security of your home may not be immediately obvious to law-abiding home owners but you can be sure opportunist thieves know these only too well.

Unlocked windows, open garden gates, overgrown bushes, ladders left out and fragile patio doors all delight the burglar who is looking for a quick and easy target. Taking some steps to make access to your property is time well spent. The harder you make it for someone to break in the more likely he is to go and find an easier prospect.

The knowledge that an intruder has been in your home is horrendous not to mention the anger , distress ,outrage and even fear that remains with the victims long after the event. Even if nothing much is taken it is the violation of somebody else helping themselves to your valued and treasures possessions that is justifiably enraging.
An often overlooked weakness can be the garage so here are a few guidelines that might help you avoid being just another case number in the official burglary statistics in your neighbourhood.

·         Make sure that garage doors are sturdy and always kept locked. Seems obvious but how often do you see doors left open and valuables on open show. It only takes a few minutes for an opportunist to make off with bikes, tools, equipment etc.

·         Ensure the garage door openers are not worn, weak or corroded through lack of maintenance. If all the burglar needs is a strong crowbar then he will make easy work of that. Fitting a new roller garage door and reliable remote operating system is a surer way of beating him.

·         Fit an electrically operated opening system from a reliable supplier.

·         Modern roller garage doors can be supplied with a security code which only allows you or your family to open it. It has been known for older systems to be capable of being operated by unauthorised persons. Some systems even allow for a change of security codes such as those used in hotels . It’s not much use having a code if it is easily overridden. Make sure the security code isn’t passed to other people unless you can keep tabs on exactly who they are.

·         Don’t leave the remote in your car. If your car is stolen then that’s a clear invitation for a thief to turn his criminal intentions to your home as well. Obtain a key chain remote to keep with your keys. That way it will not be out of your possession.

·         If there is direct access between the garage and the rest of your house ensure the connecting door is solid and has a suitably sturdy locking system.

·         If you are going away on holiday think about a secondary locking system for the garage door. One that can only be operated from inside the garage is a good idea and worth the inconvenience. It would only add a few moments to your final security check and ensure you peace of mind.

   

·         Finally consider fitting an alarm system to your garage. Not all insurance companies provide cover for the contents of garages so providing your own extra security will be money well spent and give you peace of mind.

Secure your business with roller shutters

Just look around you the next time you are in a town or travelling by road or train at the number of business premises which are protected b­y roller shutters doors when the business is closed.  Some areas look as if they have been shut down and abandoned. But come daylight and the streets are transformed. They become vibrant busy retail centres once again.

These shutters don’t have to be dull and boring as they are available in many colours and styles already but  how about enlisting a local sign writer and put your business brand on your roller shutters and take advantage of the evening hours for some striking sidewalk advertising. No extra advertising charges to pay for! Your logo will stand out above your competitors. Add your telephone number and website and who knows what passing attention you might pick up during the night or weekend when your premises are closed. Anyone in business should be available 24/7 even if not actually on site.

It is a requirement of many insurance companies that premises are secured when staff are absent. But when morning comes and the shops and premises open their roller shutters it heralds the sign of a new business day when window displays and activity springs back into life.

Besides the security and safety aspect of shop owners using roller shutters they also provide private time when the window display can be changed. Window dressing is a valuable marketing tool for the modern merchandiser and the ceremonial raising of the roller doors can herald maybe a hectic sales period or tempting offer period. Far more dramatic to do this and raise the roller shutters in a dramatic manner than merely change a window display in the open view of all passers bye.

Heating in shops and premises is becoming a big expense and energy conservation is on all our minds. Not only do these costs add to overheads but the carbon footprint for businesses can be contained by identifying and rationalising all use of energy. Low energy lighting, careful monitoring of the temperature of business areas and shops all helps.

Closing roller shutters immediately business is over for the day means energy savings and ensures the heat that has built up during the day is not released into the atmosphere but helps to maintain an ambient temperature during the night.

Insulated roller shutters add much more. Install insulated roller shutters and see the energy savings your business will achieve. Cold staff are not happy staff!

The Value of Roller Shutters for Security

There are many benefits to going with roller shutters as improvements to your business or home, among them are their value as insulation, and the efficiency of having shutters that roll up. The most important aspect of having roller shutters for most people, however, will be the security aspect. The fact that shutters are good at protecting property is evidenced by the fact that they are popular for use in commercial settings, by business people who use them to protect their inventory. The more a person has to lose, the greater importance they place on security. The fact that people with a lot to lose have faith in these shutters should indicate a lot about their usefulness.

It should be noted that in many cases burglars choose their victims based on which business or home looks more vulnerable. They prefer easy entry to the place they intend to rob. Shutters present a considerable obstacle and they are fairly easy to spot for the would-be burglar. Because they are such a difficult obstacle, shutters work as a deterrent to criminals.

The security value of roller shutters

Roller shutters can be customized to work with a variety of security systems, making them easy to retrofit into a home or other property. Roller shutters can also be made to work by remote control. This is particularly important if the roller shutter doors are been installed on a garage. It will not be necessary for the driver to leave the safety of their car to enter their property.

The basic design of most security roller shutters involves tightly interlocking slats which are very difficult for intruders to break with the use of such common intrusion tools as crowbars. The interlocking slats form a sheet that opens and closes an entrance or window by being raised or lowered on guide-rails. Roller shutters can be made from several materials, like steel, aluminium or plastic all of which will be resistant to breakage. The interlocking design also effectively distributes force so that the shutters can withstand a lot of direct pressure without allowing intruders inside the building. The roller shutter is wound on a drum over a doorway or window. Shutters can also be locked from the inside with locking bolts.

One more security benefit that may not be immediately obvious is the speed of installation. The speed with which roller shutter doors can be installed means that there will be less time during which a property will be vulnerable to theft. A roller shutter can be installed in such a way that it will completely hide items from view, discouraging impulse-thieves from breaking in.