A: All our residential steel doors are already finish painted and ready for years of maintenance-free beauty. However, if you want to apply another color, clean the surface with a powder cleanser like Comet. Rinse the surface thoroughly and allow it to dry. Use an acrylic latex exterior paint and apply it with a brush. Before you start this project, call for a complete set of manufacturers painting instructions.
Q: What does your warranty cover?
A: Good question! Since a garage door should serve you for a lifetime, we encourage you to compare warranties. A better warranty can save you a lot of money and a lot of hassle in the long run.
Q: How many colors of doors does Childers Door Service of Central Illinois offer?
A: Some of our Raynor® doors are available in White, Brown, Hunter Green, Almond, Bronze Tone, Grey Tone and Clay Tone. Our some of our Clopay® models are available in White, Brown, and Almond and Forest Green.
Q: If I paint the door, does it void the warranty?
A: Since some paints can damage the factory-applied paint, we don't warrant the door against peeling when you apply your own coat of paint. For the best results when you paint your door, follow painting instructions and apply the new coat according to the paint manufacturer's instructions.
Q: Are two-inch-thick doors better than thinner doors?
A: Yes, that's generally true. A two-inch-thick door with strong end-stiles (like in Raynor® doors) is more structurally sound than a thinner door. That extra thickness keeps an open door from sagging, and it helps your garage door sections stand up to strong winds and jolts from your car, garage-kept equipment, or rough sports activity.
Q: What kind of routine maintenance will extend the life of my overhead garage door?
A: All new Raynor® and Clopay® doors are virtually maintenance free. But here are a few easy maintenance tips that will keep your door looking great and operating dependably for many years.
Twice a year, oil the torsion springs with a lightweight motor oil (the same motor oil you use in your car). Apply a small "pencil" line of oil lengthwise across the top of the springs, but don't apply any oil within two inches of the plugs on both ends. (If your door has extension springs, no oil is needed.)
Also, oil the tracks twice a year by placing a line of oil in the radius (the 18-24 inch curved portion) of the track. Then operate the door up and down; the oil in the tracks will lubricate the rollers. Don't use grease; it just collects dirt. (Your hinges shouldn't need lubrication, but if one is squeaking, apply a small amount of the same motor oil to the squeak area.)
Occasionally wash the door's exterior with soapy water. Washing keeps your door looking new, and it helps to prevent corrosive substances (like salt) from seeping into micro-cracks that develop in the steel surface.
Q: How do I program my garage door remote control?
A: Depending on the type of garage door opener, your remote control will be programmed differently. Contact Childers Door Service of Central Illinois, for help in programming your remote control at 309-827-3222 and a representative will be happy to assist you.
Q: How can I program my garage door opener to work with my Homelink® system in my car?
A: Homelink® provides detailed instructions and even video to assist you in programming. Follow this link to get more details. www.homelink.com
Q: Should I lubricate my garage door?
A: Yes. A good quality lubricant specifically designed for garage doors is the best way to prevent squeaks. Typical household lubricants such as WD40 use an oil-based chemical, which attracts dust and build-up. A good quality garage door lubricant can be purchased from Childers Door Service of Central Illinois, at 309-827-3222.
Q: Can I install the door myself?
A: Here are three good reasons to avoid this task.
Injury: Installing a garage door is dangerous. Because of the extreme spring tension involved, many novices have been seriously injured or even killed by garage door accidents.
Accuracy: Precision installation helps your door perform better and last longer.
Time: It's not uncommon for a novice to spend all day installing a door, while a professional can do it correctly and safely in two or three hours
Improper installation could void your warranty.
For these reasons, we urge you to have a qualified door mechanic install your door, and call him again when your door needs repairs or adjustments. It's money well spent.
Q: Why don't you have any prices on your website?
A: We have not posted pricing on our website for these reasons.
The prices of our doors will vary from dealer to dealer, depending on the local economy, shipping costs, and other market conditions.
Each door model comes with dozens of possible sizes and options, each with a different price. If we posted prices, we would need to post hundreds of prices for all the possible options and sizes.
With garage doors and other large, important purchases, it's a mistake to focus your attention on the price only. Of critical importance is the long-term value of your investment. You don't save any money when you buy a cheap door that gives you problems and must be replaced in a couple of years.
Instead, we encourage you to contact us for pricing of a specific door model and size, with the options you want for your door.
Q: Where can I buy replacement garage door parts like rollers, hinges and remotes?
A: We have a wide variety of garage door parts in stock or can be shipped in a matter of days.
Q: Can I have literature sent to me?
A: Sure! The fastest way to get literature is to call 309-827-3222, and they can mail it to you. We will also offer literature at our main office 102 E Walnut. You can call and request a brochure or e-mail us and tell us (1) the literature you need (residential or commercial) and (2) your mailing address. We'll send it out via email or US postal service within the next business day.
Q: I need a new garage door, but my track seems fine. Do I need new track or can I buy just sections?
A: It's possible to put a new door on old track, but we don't recommend it. As one of our dealers says, "Would you buy a new car with used tires?" You may save a few dollars now, but it may cause headaches and more expense later.
Here are some reasons to avoid the old track:
Your old track may not fit with your new door, depending on the thickness of your sections, the weight of the door, the headroom required, the location of the garage door opener, and other considerations. Making adjustments to old track can end up costing you more money in extra installation time.
The track and sections work together as a system. For maximum performance and long life, you should use the track that is designed for your specific door.
If you end up replacing the track later, it will cost you much more to buy the track as a special part and pay for another service call.
Q: What do you do to make a tight weather seal around the garage door?
A: Your overhead door is usually installed with a complete weather seal around the perimeter of the door. For the jambs and header, we provide our dealers with climate seal that matches the color of the door. Along the bottom of the door, we supply a factory-installed vinyl weather seal. Often overlooked, this complete weather sealing system provides an attractive squared trim for the door and helps seal out wind, rain, dirt, and snow.
Q: If I order a garage door today, how much time will it take before it can be installed on my garage?
A: That question is best answered by your salesperson. If your door is a common model and size, your dealer might have it in stock. If so, you could have it installed in a few days, depending on your dealer's appointment schedule.
But if your door is not in stock, your dealer will order it from Raynor® or Clopay®. The manufacture and delivery process takes about two weeks. If your dealer's appointment schedule is busy, you might need to wait a couple more weeks before installation. Delivery and installation are dependent on manufacturers availability, however we promise to provide you with your order in a timely manner to the best of our ability.
Q: My door is hard to open. Do you have an opener that will lift it?
A: If your door feels heavy or requires two hands to open it, the door is out of balance and needs adjustment. A variety of problems can cause this, and if you try to fix it yourself, you could get hurt. We strongly recommend that you call your to diagnose the problem and offer a solution.
The answer is not a garage door opener. Openers are designed to open doors that are properly balanced.
Q: How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
A: It's a good idea to occasionally test the balance of your door. Here's how:
Close your door.
If you have an opener, pull the emergency disconnect rope/handle so you can operate the door by hand.
Lift the door manually. You should be able to lift it with one hand, smoothly, and with little resistance.
The door should stay open by itself around three to four feet above the floor.
If you have a hard time lifting the door, or if the door does not stay open by its self, the door is probably out of balance and needs adjustment.
A variety of problems can cause this, and if you try to fix it yourself, you could get hurt. We strongly recommend that you call your dealer to diagnose the problem and offer a solution. For more garage door safety information contact Childers Door Of Central Illinois.
WINDOW FAQ's
Q: I saw an ad for any size window for $199 installed...Can you match that?
A: No, not with the quality of window Childers Door Service of Central Illinois, LLC provides. Do you really want to trade one cheap window for another? Most builders chose the low price leader to begin with … your family deserves better this time. Our objective is to offer a window, which will require no service call issues. This objective cannot be met while offering a product reflecting a cheap price. When was the last time you were happy with your decision to go with the cheaper price? You may have even wished, or said, “I should have spent the extra money to get the better product”. We promise that you will be proud of your decision to buy from Childers Door Service of Central Illinois, LLC many years down the road. Childers Door Service of Central Illinois, LLC prides itself on being competitively priced when compared to comparable windows.
Q: What difference does it make if a window manufacturer builds in the South or in the North?
A: How well do you think the heaviest coat (bought in North Texas) would perform for you in sub-zero temperatures in Illinois? The issue we have to be concerned with here is the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Think of the clear coat, which protects your automobile or the color on your nails. The clear coat hardens and protects the finished product. Choosing a window manufacturer in the your related region is one of the most important decisions to make. Our window and door products are manufactured by Gerkin® Window & Door, Sioux City, Iowa and installed throughout North America by professional building material distributors and dealers. Gerkin® has have taken the initiative to continue company growth with innovative new designs and quality new products.
Q: Why is it so important for me to have my windows installed by a company-employed installer instead of a sub-contractor?
A: The use of the sub-contractor could possibly be the root of our industries problems. A sub-contractor is paid by what and how much he gets done, the faster he completes each job -- the more money he gets to put into his pocket. The finished product will almost always look better when it is completed with love and care. You have to think about the service issues as well. If you ever have to call us for a service issue we schedule it during THAT phone call. We don't have to tell you we will call you back after we try to locate the sub-contractor who did your job. That is because our installers are actually employed by us. They are clean cut, professionally dressed and in a company vehicle.
Q: Why do I need Argon gas?
A: An improvement that can be made to the thermal performance of insulating glazing units is to reduce the conductance of the air space between the layers. Originally, the space was filled with air or flushed with dry nitrogen just prior to sealing. In a sealed glass-insulating unit, air currents between the two panes of glazing carry heat to the top of the unit and settle into cold pools at the bottom. Filling the space with a less conductive, more viscous, or slow-moving gas minimizes the convection currents within the space, conduction through the gas is reduced, and the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside is reduced.
Q: Do I need to remove bricks?
A: No. There is a great deal of expertise and experience required to install a vinyl frame window, but the removal of bricks may never be necessary if the window is measured and ordered correctly.
Q: What kind of damage can I expect from the replacement of my windows?
A: Since our installers are paid by the hour they do take care of your home while working there. Our installers do protect the floors with drop cloths. They carry their own brooms and vacuum cleaners. We take every step necessary to insure proper care of your investment. Remember, Childers Door Service of Central Illinois, LLC is responsible for any damage we cause.
Q: How do I need to prepare for the installation?
A: You simply need to open the door for the installer when he arrives. The installer will assist you with the furniture, drapes, and blinds. If you have any sentimental or fragile items we suggest that you place them is a safe area away from the work zone.
