424 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-852-8485
Recent Blog Posts
3 Examples of Top-Notch Custom Garages
Whether your garage is used for storing your car, as a zone for family activities, or as a man cave, you are likely to customize the space in one way or another. However, those who have a little extra dough are able to take garage customization to another level. If you are interested in creating a custom garage, then here are three garages which might offer you a little bit of inspiration:
The Mayor's Garage
A little known fact about New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio is that he collects custom cars and has built a custom garage to hold them. His garage, which he spent 10 years developing and completing, contains about 800 square feet of flooring. He boasts that it is very durable and waterproof, allowing messes from things such as oil spills to be easily cleaned up. Inside, he stores his 1995 black Chevy Impala SS, a '69 blue Chevy Camaro, and a '57 Chevy Bel Air. In addition to the cars, he has a collection of around 500 license plates which he has gathered since childhood.
What Is the Best Garage Door Opener for iPhone Users?
Garage door openers have entered into the new digital space of the Internet of Things (IoT). As we have previously mentioned on this blog, there are many different kinds of electric garage door openers that can connect to your home's Wi-Fi and allow your garage door to be operated wirelessly by a mobile device. However, when deciding which kind of equipment to use for your garage, it is important to consider whether it will work with your preferred mobile operating system. Many people are surprised to learn how different an Android phone can be from an iPhone, and they may be even more surprised to learn that different mobile operating systems interact differently with various IoT devices. If you are an iPhone user and are considering getting an IoT garage door opener, then one option that can provide benefits is the Insignia Wi-Fi remote controller.
What Is the Insignia Wi-Fi Remote Controller?
The Insignia Wi-Fi remote controller is an inexpensive option to consider when modernizing your garage. It consists of two separate devices, the first being the controller which commands your garage door opener to open or close. The second is a sensor which confirms whether this action has occurred and releases a beeping noise that alerts everyone in the vicinity that the garage door is about to open or close. The Insignia works in sync with Siri on an iPhone or any other Apple device, and it can be controlled through voice commands, such as "Siri, open the garage door."
Should I Install Low-e Glass Windows in My Garage?
During the summer, we are all trying to find a way to keep our homes and garages cool. In the hotter months of the year, this usually means keeping the air conditioning on 24/7, which can really increase the amount of electric bills. Thus, we all try to search for alternative means of keeping the summer heat at bay. One such way is through using low-e glass windows. If you are planning to replace the windows in your home or garage, then you may want to consider using low-e glass windows to make your home an oasis of cool during the summer.
What Are Low-e Glass Windows?
Low-e glass is a relatively new advancement in window technology. Low-e stands for low emissivity, and emissivity refers to the amount of energy released from an object. In a nutshell, low-e windows contain a small filament in the glass which reflects heat from the sun's rays. This filament is invisible to the human eye and is designed to block UV rays while allowing natural light into your home. During the summer, as the sun is beating down, these windows keep hot and humid temperatures outside where they belong. In addition, a similar process will take place during the winter, and low-e windows will reflect heat generated in your home back inside. In a way, low-e glass is like a natural thermostat that helps keep your home fresh during the summer and warm during the winter.
Should I Get a Keyless Lock for My House and/or Garage?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the area where technology and home appliances meet. As we have mentioned in previous blogs, many new wireless features are available with traditional home features, including new kinds of electric garage door openers and mobile apps that allow homeowners to monitor their home while they are away. But one of the newer and more revolutionary areas where home appliances have intersected with IoT is in wireless, or keyless, locks for entry doors.
What Is a Keyless Lock?
A keyless lock is exactly as it sounds: a lock which does not require a key to be opened. If you consider the number of times you may have had to rush out of the home to make a meeting or event and forgot your house keys, the appeal of a lock that does not need a key becomes evident. By avoiding the potential for lost keys, this type of lock could put the possibility of locking yourself out of your residence into the distant past.
When Should I Lubricate My Garage Door?
Summer is upon us, and that means your garage door is likely to see a lot more activity. Garage doors are used significantly less during the winter months, since they are only opened and closed when the family car is needed. However, in the summer, a garage often becomes the home's most used entrance and exit. It may be opened or closed each time your children fetch their bikes and toys, when you and your spouse retrieve your lawnmower or gardening equipment, or for hundreds of other different reasons. This extra work that your garage door performs can create the potential for wear and tear. To keep your garage door functional and avoid causing problems during the summer, you need to make sure that it is well lubricated.
The Purpose of Lubrication
Lubrication has been employed by builders for thousands of years. When two rough surfaces meet, this causes friction that can lead to damage over time. A lubricant provides a slick filling that coats the spots where hard surfaces meet, allowing for better mobility and reducing the potential for damage. Your garage door is no different. Each time you open and close your garage door, its tough metal and plastic components scrape against each other. Without that smooth coating of lubrication, the garage door will quickly degrade and cease to function.
How to Test your Garage Door Spring for Damage
Your garage door has a set life span. Parts will eventually degrade due to use, wear, and tear, and they will need to be replaced. However, few parts of a garage door system will typically degrade as quickly as the garage door spring. The spring is the most important part in helping your garage door to function. It allows your garage door to open and close without damage being done to the structure of your garage, but each time you open and close your door, the spring gradually gets weaker and weaker. This means that it is essential to regularly inspect the spring and ensure that it is able to function correctly. When checking your garage door spring, there are few things to look for:
- A good test to determine whether your garage door spring is beginning to falter is to open your garage door manually. Disengage your automatic garage door opener and manually raise the garage door to a variety of heights, including the very top and the midway point. If the door is able to stay in those positions by itself, then the spring is still usable. However, if the door moves or falls back down to the ground, then the spring needs to be replaced.
The Best Garage Door Openers of 2019…So Far
The garage door opener industry is like almost every other industry in that it has been dramatically affected by the influx of new smart technologies. In previous blogs, we have discussed how electric garage door openers can now be connected to your smart devices, such as smartphones, Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc. to allow you to open and monitor your garage more efficiently. Smart technology keeps on evolving, and so do garage door openers. Here is a short list of some of the most advanced garage door openers available at this point in 2019:
- Chamberlain Group B550 Smartphone-Controlled Ultra-Quiet & Strong Belt Drive Garage Door Opener. The garage door works with the myQ App, which can be installed on your smart device, allowing you access to your garage door remotely. This opener allows Amazon Prime members to give Amazon delivery people the ability to enter your garage and deliver packages safely while you are away. Additionally, the B550 uses a steel-reinforced belt drive system which is both sturdy and silent. No longer will a noisy garage door disturb the quiet in your home.
How to Perform Maintenance on Your Garage Door Remote
Recently, some people in North Olmsted, Ohio began to experience problems with their electric garage door openers. Their garage door opener remotes and similar devices began to behave sporadically, and many people had difficulty opening and closing their garage doors. A variety of fixes were attempted, but typical maintenance, such as changing the batteries in key fobs, was not effective.
As the issue progressed, it was determined that the problem was being caused by a much stronger radio signal operating on the same frequency used by garage door remotes. After an investigation was conducted, it was discovered that the cause of the issue was a device created by a local inventor. This person was using the device to alert him when people were at his front door while he was in his basement, and the machine operated on the same frequency used by most garage door remotes but was so strong that it blocked their signal. Correcting this issue resolved the problem for residents of the neighborhood.
How In-Garage Delivery Options Can Improve Security and Convenience
The world of garage door installation has gotten much more exciting in recent years. Most of us are used to being able to open our garage doors through a short-range wireless remote that operates an electric garage door opener. However, many garage door openers are now able to connect with smartphones and home wifi systems, allowing you to open and close your garage door remotely. This technology has now taken another step forward by allowing some home delivery services to have temporary access to open your garage door and store your deliveries safely inside your garage when you are away.
About This New Service
Many garage door brands, such as Liftmaster, have begun a partnership with Amazon. Together they have created a new service available to Amazon Prime members. Using the Amazon Key app and MyQ technology, Amazon Prime members will be able to have greater control and awareness over who enters their garage and when. The Amazon Key app allows you to know when your garage door opens through smartphone notification, and it allows wireless streaming from security cameras, so you can see who is entering into your home.
What Are the Latest and Best Garage Door Opener Features in 2019?
The busy season has begun for home improvement and building contractors. If you plan to replace your garage door and/or garage door opener this year, now is the time to research options and engage a contractor. To help you get started, we have compiled some information on the latest options in garage door openers from LiftMaster, the brand of garage door openers that we at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. recommend and have been installing for our customers for many years.
Battery Backups for Electric Garage Door Openers
If you have had an electric garage door opener for many years, you probably take it for granted that the door will open whenever you press the button. But what happens if your electricity goes out due to a summer storm? Make sure your family knows how to use the red-handled cord that hangs down from the garage door track. When you pull that emergency release cord, it disconnects the garage door from the electric opener, allowing you to raise the garage door by hand. Do a test run to make sure you can get that door open manually. See your owner's manual or this online video for instructions on how to use the emergency release and how to reconnect the door back to the electric opener.
Call 630-852-8485 for a Free Estimate
Services listed are not a guarantee or indication of future work.
