Lars Niit is President of The Door Systems Garage Door Group, responsible for the management and growth of 75 employees, eight retail locations and four wholesale distribution centers throughout New England.
We recently asked Lars for his insight on garage doors and what professional home inspectors should keep an eye out for when inspecting garages. Here’s what he shared:
What should homeowners be looking for when it comes to a quality garage door?
A Garaga Door. Garaga makes the best product in the industry. Their track and hardware are second to none in terms of quality and durability. Their sections use a galvanization factor 50 percent greater than the competition. The steel has no drip lines and is finished with two coats of baked on paint. The polyurethane core is dense for strength and rigidity and it never collapses over time. The R-value is high but more importantly, they have a thermal break that eliminates air infiltration and wood end blocks built into the door to eliminate a thermal bridging effect.
What are the most common mistakes you see homeowners making when selecting a garage door?
Assuming all doors are equal and buying simply based on price. A garage door purchase is not something that happens too often during your life so take the time to understand differences and make a good investment. Curb Appeal, thermal properties, quality and functionality are all factors.
How can homeowners take better care of their garage doors and garage door openers? What regular maintenance do they require to extend their lives?
Garage doors are like cars. They are exposed to the elements and need to be washed periodically. The inside mechanics should be serviced annually and the operators should be safety tested bi-annually and service annually. Ideally, hire a professional to perform the annual maintenance and do a 26-point inspection. The cost for this should average less than $150. It is the largest moving object in a home so keep it functioning safely.
What are some tell-tale signs that a garage door/garage door opener need to be serviced and/or replaced?
Noise is one factor. If the door or opener make loud grinding or chaffing noises, service is in order. Disconnect the door from the opener when the door is closed. You should be able to lift it manually with ease and if you lift it half way, it should stay there. If the springs are not functioning properly the door can be very dangerous. If you have extension springs, be sure safety cables are installed. Openers should have photo eyes so that when the beam is broken the door will reverse. The openers should also reverse when they come in contact with a 2”x4” set on the floor. If the door does not reverse, please schedule a service call.
What are the risks of not properly maintaining garage doors systems?
Thousands of injuries occur every year involving garage doors. Some are severe and some tragically end in death. These are large moving objects and they are a very heavy apparatus hanging overhead. Make sure they are safe, secure and functioning properly.
From a home inspection perspective, what areas of the garage do you believe inspectors should focus their inspections on? What areas tend to do be problematic?
The functionality of the springs, the opener reversing features, safety cables and the condition of the track and back hangs.
Aside from the garage door, what other areas of the garage do you think offer opportunities for improvement and/or renovation? How can homeowners invest smartly in this part of their home?
Many opportunities exist. From Garage flooring to cabinets and/or organization systems to even the entry doors that often get neglected. Owning a home is an investment and like any investment, homes require maintenance, upkeep and should be kept up to date for future re-sale value. Garage Doors and Entry doors are the No. 1 and No. 2 home improvement projects in terms of ROI Nationally when it comes to re-sale and are No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in New England.
Can you tell us about Door Systems? What services do you offer? What sets you apart from your competitors?
Door Systems is a family-owned business that dates back to 1951 founded by Heimar “Ed” Niit a few years after immigrating from his native country of Estonia. Currently we have 75 employees at 12 locations throughout New England and also deliver to New York and New Jersey. Our business mix is split between wholesale distribution and retail service and installations. We have over 40 vehicles on the road equipped to sell, service, install and deliver in a timely fashion. Our IT systems are state-of-the-art which allows us to operate efficiently and provide value add services to our customers.
Door Systems is the only garage door company in New England that is Bonded, Licensed, Insured, Accredited, DCAMM Certified, A+ rated by BBB and Angie’s List and independently reviewed and approved by EBSCO research. We take great pride in making Service our leading product. We work tirelessly to measure ourselves, manage the results and employ Best Practices in an effort to continually be better. With more than 2,000 doors and 3,000 openers in stock, we can provide immediate installation at a budget point to meet any customers’ needs.
Are you a professional home inspector looking to fulfill your home inspection reporting needs? Download home inspection checklist for Word.