Fitting Automated Garage Doors

Do you find opening and closing your heavy metal up and over garage door a struggle? Are you always fed up of getting soaked to the skin when you are trying to find the keys and unlock the garage door on a dark rainy night?

Well if either of these scenarios seems very familiar then maybe it is time that you thought about buying an automated garage door opening kit. And if you think they are beyond your budget you can actually buy kits from around £150 to £200 depending on the size and type of door that you need to open. You will need to be careful to buy the right kit for your type of garage door as different kits fit different door types.

They are fairly easy to fit yourself and any you buy should come with complete fitting instructions, however if you have to adjust the springs in your door then you may wish to have the kit professionally fitted as adjusting the torsion of the springs can be very dangerous and has resulted in fatal accidents, so if in doubt get the kit professionally fitted.

They have a fully enclosed electric motor fitted to the garage roof that is operated by a remote control you keep in your car, and the system is fully automated so that you just press the remote once to fully retract or open the door. The electric motor opens or closes the door using a chain or belt drive mechanism, which is linked to a door via a metal track also fitted to the garage roof.

The chain links to a fixing on your door, just note that the way it fits to and operates the garage door will vary depending on whether it is a canopy door, retracting door, double swing doors or a roller shutter door, but automated door kits are available to fit all of these types of door.

Options to be fitted to automated garage door kits are items such as internal lights, and flash to open options, whereby the door opens when you flash your lights at it.

The last thing to remember is that sadly in the United Kingdom the law has changed with regards to fitting electrical items and whilst you can fit an automated garage door kit yourself, you will need a suitably qualified electrician (Qualified to part "P") to connect the electrics, sign them off and give you a certificate.

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The Key of the Lifetime Shed Success

A great deal of individuals are selecting plastic sheds instead of the more frequent wooden sheds. Among the favorite types of plastic sheds is the Lifetime shed from Lifetime Products. Instead of wood, these sheds use polyethylene plastic for the floor, roof, walls and doors. These sheds also incorporate steel reinforcements to provide strength where it is required. The high density polyethylene material has the benefit of getting resistant against cracking, peeling and chipping. A Lifetime shed is also protected against ultraviolet rays so the sheds remain stronger for much longer and colors are resistant to fading.

The roof of the Lifetime shed is created using durable trusses boasts a steep slope to permit snow and rain to drain off quickly and improve the longevity structure. The doors also reinforced with steel beams for added strength and on the majority of the styles are wide enough to supply sufficient space when moving in and out of the shed. The wide doors also help in storing large items inside the shed.

A Lifetime shed uses paneling for the construction to make the fundamental framework. This is among the key features that enable the users to customize their sheds. Clients are able to adjust the positioning of most panels, specifically the middle panels, to create their desired structure. But note: this is not possible using the front and back panels.

A Lifetime shed will usually have a minimum of one window to provide sufficient light for locating things in the shed. Most users of these sheds are searching for durable external storage that can maintain items secure from the components. They require their sheds to have shelves fitted so they can take advantage of using the available space and ensure their items are nicely organized so they can locate things when they require them.

The shelves should have uprights for stability and strength and require appropriate wall space, so just the one window is usually all that's required. Sheds could be specified with more windows if required and even the most fundamental sheds can be specified with a built in skylight to improve the level of natural light with out sacrificing valuable shelf space.

If you are more interested in having a workshop, not just a storage shed, more windows can usually be contained in the style so you can have more natural light inside the shed. No doubt thousands of Lifetime shed owners who regularly slip away to their shed with a hot drink to relax in an old beaten up armchair and gaze out of their shed windows!

Also, a Lifetime shed can contain screen vents that enables just the air to pass through for better ventilation but prevents pests from entering inside the shed. The vents help to prevent the shed becoming stuffy whenever you are spending a lot of time inside your shed working. Owners can improve the size of their shed for better storage. You will find customization alternatives to increase the space within the storage region (see the manufacturer's website for additional information).

Each Lifetime shed provides a 10 years warranty which includes free service direct from the company. While there is an unlimited shed size for the outdoor sheds with the paneling alternative, the company puts warranty constraints for their items. These constraints relate to the size of the sheds and are related to its structural integrity. The sheds can lose structural stability if they are extended beyond the size specified by the manufacturer. There is also a constraint concerning the use the shed is put to. Some clients will use their Lifetime shed for purposes other than what it was created for, and this might invalidate the warranty.

Hopefully this article has given you a better idea of why some people have chosen a Lifetime shed and why they are a popular choice for those trying to find good quality, robust plastic garden storage.

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Europe's Self Storage Industry Expands

Around the world today, the self storage industry plays an important role in providing a safe place for safekeeping of valuable items. Families and businesses are taking advantage of this facility and their number is growing.

The U.S. remains to be a leader in self storage. An estimated 50,000 facilities are in place there as of the moment while some 10,000 are located in other countries.

In Europe, data gathered in 2007 showed the continent had 1,270. A big chunk of self storage facilities in Europe are located in the U.K. considered to be a mature market when it comes to self storage. The growth rate there is estimated at 10 to 15 percent every year and the industry is generating a revenue of 360 million sterling pounds.

Currently, some 250 companies are operating facilities in the country. The biggest storage chains in the United Kingdom are Safestore and Big Yellow while two thirds of customers are private individuals including business people and those who are in the process of moving.

Shurgard Europe is also in the list of major players with 149 facilities in seven European countries. These are in the U.K., Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and The Netherlands.

Other countries where self storage is thriving are Spain and Germany. The facilities are concentrated in the capital cities such as Paris and Madrid. As of 2005, France had 112 storage facilities, Spain had 57 as of 2002 and Germany had 33 as of 2007.

The storage industry in Europe is worth $550 million as of 2010. Many companies are also selling insurance, packing materials and other accessories to customers as a way to increase their sales.

Another country in the continent that has showed recent development is Hungary in the eastern part. Euro Mini Storage is planning more expansion projects in other locations including Bucharest. This provider is currently the largest in Romania and Hungary. It also recently spent 150,000 Euros to expand existing facilities.

Experts have observed that the economy in Eastern Europe might be improving the reason for this expansion project. In the early years of the self storage facilities in Romania and Hungary, occupancy was not high compared to the situation in the U.S.

However, the companies involved including Euro Mini Storage have been doing their marketing well and have even gone online uploading videos and sharing them to raise awareness about the business. In fact, Euro Mini Storage in Hungary had already won the 2009 CIJ Best Warehouse/Logistics Award. It has ventured as well in environment friendly campaigns and charitable acts.

The Federation of European Self Storage Associations (FEDESSA) covers the national associations in 13 European countries. It helps each member country set up its own organization of operators and provides them with a common voice to important legislative bodies to include the European Commission, European Parliament and Council.

The FEDESSA is looking forward to the growth of Europe's self storage industry. Together with its member associations, the umbrella organization is positive that more operators will venture into this field.

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Garage Door Opener Repair: To Call or Not to Call

Whenever something breaks around the house, most of us go through a series of rationalizations about how easy it would be to fix it ourselves. It's really no secret why this is-dealing with repairmen can be a fairly ridiculous strain on our wallets, our time, and our sanity. Between whatever the bill winds up being, having to take a day off of work so we can be home when they come, and the unease of having anyone in our home to touch our expensive appliances and possibly muck them up further, it's no wonder that we need a running start to convince ourselves to call them. Sometimes we're only willing to call a repairman after we irreparably screw up the repair ourselves, making the process even more costly; that being said, there's a number of projects a methodical handyman can work out with minimal chance of wrecking anything too badly. Garage door opener repair is one such field.

This seems somewhat counterintuitive; between receivers, safety lasers, transmitters, and other such intangibles, this seems like one of the last things an un-experienced do-it-yourselfer would want to tackle. It's not like fixing a doorknob where you can see how all the pieces fit together and work out the mechanics of it by yourself. Lots of facets of garage door opener repair are invisible to the naked eye; despite this, all of these mechanisms, however complex they may seem, work on fairly simple principles that can be trouble shot to help make that all important decision of whether or not to call in a professional. By way of example, one common ailment faced by garage door owners is that their door will not close. It will move as though it's closing, but about halfway down the door will simply halt and start rising again. Some "handymen" will reach right for the toolbox and start amateurishly trying to test spring tension and the ilk. This is the wrong move. A quiet minute of thinking will help here-what causes the door to go back up when it's trying to close? The infra-red sensors that keep the door from closing on things and people of course. Sometimes all that is required is a quick dusting of these sensors to get them back in proper working order, and there are many guides to trouble shooting this simple problem on the internet.

The best advice I can offer to those thinking of trying garage door opener repair themselves is the same advice I have for people thinking of doing any home repairs-properly assess your skills. Figure out what working knowledge you really have of the apparatus in question, and don't get in too deep until you know that you'll be able to rectify any slip-ups you might make. Either way you might wind up calling the repair man anyways, but this way at least you can't blame yourself for the bill.

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How To Manage Things More Efficiently In Self-Storage?

Your storage place is the one of the most important components of your business activity, and to manage operations in a smooth manner, you need to have an effective and speedy storage system.

With the right kind of planning, you can manage everything as efficiently as possible. Managing space is very vital for your business, if not done properly it will affect your operations and will add to the cost. Many small businesses are opting more and more for self-storage facilities for the handling of their inventory and items.

Storage facilities provide you with all the necessary equipment and expertise that you need for your business. You need to store all your things in an organized manner, utilizing every corner of the storeroom and placing items in such an order that they are easily accessible and are not difficult to find.

To get the most of your storage area, you need to keep a number of tips in mind before you move ahead with it.

Planning Is The Key To Success:

In order to achieve your set goals, you must chart out what needs to be done and make a list of things that are required to implement the plan. No planning always leads to a disaster. Therefore make sure that you dedicate the right amount of time while planning a task.

Identify the items that will need boxes and those items that will require simple plastic bags. Then make a list of items in order of their use, those items that are more frequently used should be placed in easy to reach places in the storage area. See what kind of boxes you will need. For an item that requires extra protection use boxes that will give more protection against drops.

Determine The Size Of The Boxes-invest In The Right Size.

Once you know the items that will make up your storage area, you need to determine the size of the boxes that will carry all the items. By selecting a precise size for each item you would be able to use the maximum space in your storage area.

Buy The Right Kind of Boxes.

Don't compromise on the quality of the boxes, buying cheap boxes will go easy on your pocket in the short run only, but once the boxes tore away, you'll have to invest again and this time you'll buy better than the last one. So why not buy sturdy boxes that will give you long-term benefits? Buy boxes that will be able to tolerate the weight of the items for a number of years and protects the products against the normal wear and tear.

Pack Your Items In The Right Manner.

Stack the boxes on top of each other and for added protection, use packing peanuts or foam.

When putting the item in the box, make sure you distribute the weight properly in the box. For fragile items properly wrap it up and clearly label on the box 'Fragile'. Label your boxes with the item description so that you'll know what the box contains for future references. The way you pack your items depend upon the nature of the item itself too. Different items will need different way of packing. For instance you are packing mirrors you can use bubble wrap, you can also purchase cardboard corners and place on the edge of the mirrors to prevent any breakage. For packing clothes and garments it best suited that you go for wardrobe box which are easily available in the market.

In short, make sure that the box and the way you pack things are in line with the item you are using for packing.

Labelling And Instructing Employees.

Your storage area will be the most visited place by your employees; they will need supplies and items for carrying out the operations. And to make things easy for them you should issue proper instructions to them so that they know that how things are placed in the storage area. More and more people are opting for self-storage facilities these days and those people who manage things well are able to carry out their business smoothly. Maintain an inventory sheet so that it is easy for you to keep track of the number of items in the storage place. If possible label the items with specific colours so that people know coloured box they are looking for.

Make your storage space as clean as possible, dirt and dust damages the items and the boxes itself too. Maintain a steady temperature in the room depending on the items. Place a stool in the room in order to reach items on the shelves. In order to keep everything in its right place, you should beforehand place all the items by the frequency of their use. Else, your storage area will give a messy look after some time and it will become difficult for other people to access and find things.

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Top 4 - List Of Things To Check If The Storage Cost Is Right

There are so many self storage companies nowadays and many a time customers are left to wonder why storage rates differ among each company. Many customers think that all self storage is the same, there are no special services provided and it's simply "store and leave". Many considerations run through the mind of potential customers. Considerations are those such as location, security, convenience, reputation of the company and cost. However, cost is often the last to be taken into consideration.

Good Location

One of the most important things to check is the location of the storage company. Is the location convenient? Are there ample parking spaces and is it near any public transport facilities? Is it located centrally or is it located at the end of the island? Often, the more central the location is, the higher the rental charges.

Convenient

How easy is it to self store with the company? Are you able to access your item anytime you want at anytime of the day? Are there workers around to assist you when you need them? Is there a minimum duration you need to store with them or can you stop storing with them whenever you want? Does the company provide after business hour support?

Customer relation service

Does the company provide a good customer relation service? When you have any enquiries, does the staff serve you genuinely and know their product well or are they just trying to brush you off? Does the company provide after sales follow up service or they simply ignore you after the contract is signed?

Security

Security around the self storage facility as well as inside it is important. The things you wish to store may be an expensive one and may also be a priceless one in terms of sentimental value. You want to know that your item is there when you open it. Does the storage facility have a security fence surrounding it? Do they have security cameras installed and what are the locks used? How do you access your items? Do they have a PIN system?

Many factors contribute to the price of the self storage facility. A cheap one may provide you with the most basic amenities and are located in an isolated part of the city. It may also not provide good security features. On the other hand, an expensive one may be centrally located in town, with good customer service and good security features. Look for a place with the best overall value for money.

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