Unlocking Peace of Mind: Why Every Homeowner Needs a Garage Security Door Installation

Most homeowners probably don’t think too hard about their garage doors until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, garage doors can create something of a security risk for thieves and burglars, so you want to make sure your garage door security is up to par. With that in mind, the team at R&S Erection Vallejo created this post to talk about the incredible garage security door options homeowners can choose from.

Are Garage Door Break-Ins Common?

Garage doors prove relatively easy to get inside with the right tools and a bit of patience. With older doors, burglars can often just force their way in due to poor locking or closing mechanisms. Sources estimate that over 200,000 home break-ins in the U.S. annually happen through the garage entry door—nearly 10% of all home break-ins.

Fortunately, you can significantly reduce the chances of a break-in occurring through your garage by investing in modern garage security door features. Features like the door material, type of door, and the presence of additional locking bolts can deter theft and keep your possessions and home safe.

Garage Door Security Features

Continue reading for some common types of garage door security features.

Multi-Point Locks

Garage doors that lock at one single point can become vulnerable because the thief can get in if they just overcome the lock at that one point. Multi-point garage door locks lock at various points, so bypassing one lock will not immediately grant access. Thieves usually give up if they get through one lock but find they still can’t open the door.

Keypad Locks

Keypads provide another kind of electronic security system that has become very popular in recent years. With a keypad, you can open, close, and lock the garage door using a numerical code on an indoor or outdoor keypad. Keypads prevent intruders from manually opening your door, and you can give the code to anyone allowed in your house.

Motion Sensing Lights

Although they don’t secure the door itself, motion sensor lights on a garage door can deter thieves. These types of lights turn on in reaction to movement, so if someone messs around with your garage door, they won’t be able to hide in the shadows. Even the simple presence of a flood light can cause criminals to get nervous and pass your home by.

Garage Door Type

The specific type and material of garage doors also matter for security purposes.

Roller doors work particularly effectively because they have a smooth facade and no obvious leverage points the thief can use to force the door open. Roller doors also often consist of tough materials, like aluminum and steel, which are hard to break down without significant time and effort.
Side-hinge doors not only give you access but also provide good security. The main reason stems from it being harder for thieves to get leverage side to side than from the ground like they would with a typical overhead garage door.
Similarly, thieves often find it harder to get a grip on sectional garage doors to force them open. Sectional doors are also heavy and tough to lift by yourself.

Automated Garage Doors Provide More Security

If you want to update your garage security, many professionals recommend installing an automated garage door system. These systems work well because they limit how you and others can open the door. For example, with garage door opener key fobs, you can’t open the door manually, and the openers only operate using a handful of frequencies.

Automated doors also contain special features, like a vacation mode that lets you keep the door shut and locked while away from home. You can also choose a garage door with a keycode that frequently changes to keep security up to date.

Smart Technology

Smart garage doors include the newest advancements in the industry and allow you to integrate garage door operations with your cell phone or tablet. Smart versions of fridges, TVs, and lights already exist, so why not smart garage doors too? Smart garage doors connect to a cell phone app that can keep track of the door’s current state.

For example, a smart garage door can send you a notification every time it opens. It might keep a record of all the times it opened so you can review door usage. Most smart garage door openers let you program automatic opens/closes depending on the time, and you can also activate smart garage door openers remotely to let guests in when you are not home.

How To Keep Your Garage Door Safe

Aside from garage security door features, homeowners can do several small things to boost security and ensure their garage door’s integrity.

Consider tinting garage door windows if you have them. Reducing visibility in your garage can deter theft. It also makes it harder for someone to break through glass windows.
Change your keypad security code once every few months. That way, someone can’t find your code and use it to get in your garage without you knowing.
Thieves can get into garages by slipping a coat hanger through the door and pulling the emergency release cord. Manufacturers sell devices to cover emergency pull cords so thieves can’t access them.
If you have a programmable opener, program it to automatically close shortly before you leave for work each day. That way, it will shut the door if you accidentally forget to close it when you leave.
Don’t keep valuables out in the open in your garage. Thieves will often do a quick visual inspection to see if anything is out and ready to take. If they can’t see anything out, they will more than likely move on.

Read our blog to learn about the benefits of an access control system. If you would like to discuss garage security door installation, contact R&S Erection of Vallejo online or call today at (707) 644-5537 to schedule an appointment!

How Important Are Garage Door Safety Sensors

Garage Door Safety Sensors

Garage door safety sensors are one of the most important components in your automatic garage door system. It is the sensors’ job to detect whether a person, pet, or thing is in the way, and ensures the garage door doesn’t strike it.

It’s the Law

Since 1993, garage door manufacturers have been required by law to include safety sensors on all doors. This law was created as the result of numerous injuries and fatalities that occurred as the result of a garage door closing on a human.

An article published in the Los Angeles Times back in 1990 states that between 1982 and 1990, 46 children were killed by garage doors that struck them on the way down. The NYT reported that at least 85 children died or suffered permanent brain damage as a result of garage doors between the years of 1974 and 1995. And, these reports aren’t counting the millions of miscellaneous garage door-related injuries that occur each year, largely the result of ignoring basic garage door safety practices.

While garage door manufacturers continued to make doors lighter, and invent safety features such as the “auto-reverse” feature, most of these safety “innovations” still required contact with an object or person before the door stopped or reversed. This still left children others vulnerable to contact with a garage door.

As a result, safety standards experts called for garage door manufacturers to come up with something better, and that led to the invention of laser-sensors that could detect motion or interruption in the laser beam’s path from side-to-side and stop the door’s descent.

In fact, the federal and state residential garage door opener legislation states:

Residential GDO’s manufactured on and after January 1, 1993 must:

Have an automatic inherent reverse feature that reverses after 2 seconds upon sensing an obstruction

Have a 30 second reverse timer that moves the door upward 30 seconds after sensing the door has not reached the fully closed position

Have a secondary entrapment protection system, which may be either an attached and working external device (example: edge sensor or photoelectric eye) or an inherent secondary system (example: combination sectional door and operator system with the entire door system acting as a force sensing device) and,

Close the door using the manufacturer’s suggested devices (either a wall switch or a push button remote control).

Have a Manual Garage Door? Upgrade to One With a Sensor

In fact, not having a garage door safety sensor is the #1 reason we recommend those with older, manual doors go ahead and upgrade their doors to automatic options.

In addition to being heavier than most contemporary garage doors, manual doors have no way of “knowing” if your little one is trying to slip through the remaining opening before the door closes or whether a beloved kitty is trying to run back in. Your precious bike or another toy/treasure may be out of its normal alignment and about ready to get smushed before the door crashes down.

Keep Your Family, Children, and Pets Safe

Even with all of these features in place, garage injuries are still a reality. In addition to installing an automated garage door with safety sensors, there are several things you can do to help keep your family and children free from potential injury.

The garage door opener(s) is not a toy

It’s imperative that your family create a safety culture around the garage door and it’s automatic mechanisms. Children are naturally drawn to the ability to push a button and make something open and close.

They are intrigued by the thrill of ducking into or out of the diminishing gap between the door and the ground (action hero style), and some are drawn to the sounds or rhythmic motion created by pushing the button over and over and watching the door respond. Remote control power is also compelling.

Read our post How to Childproof Your Garage Door for more specific instructions on how to keep the younger members of your family safe and accident free.

Honor the manufacturer’s annual maintenance recommendations

The better maintained your garage door is, the less likely it is to cause an accident. Above and beyond impact with a garage door, fingers can get pinched, electric currents can cause shocks or electrocution, and powerful springs can snap if they aren’t repaired by professionals.

Always honor the manufacturer’s recommendations for annual maintenance. Some of these can be performed by you, such as lubrication of moving parts, but others should be taken care of by professionals to avoid unnecessary accidents, injuries or malfunctions. Another benefit to hiring a garage door technician to perform maintenance chores is that licensed professionals are more likely to notice smaller red flags that indicate a repair or parts replacement is on the horizon.

Ultimately, garage door safety sensors are the best gift you can give to your garage door – and your building occupants, to keep them safe. Visit Garage Door Safety Tips For an Accident Free Home for more suggestions on how to prevent garage-door related injuries.

Are you on the hunt for an honest, trustworthy, and affordable garage door company to install your garage door? Contact us here at R&S of Vallejo. We never upsell products, and our competitively priced maintenance appointments are designed to ensure your garage door safety sensors work day in and day out.

The Benefits Of An Access Control System

the benefits of an access control system

At the root level, access control systems for gates, entrances, or doorways are all about safety and security. However, they also offer additional benefits, not the least of which is never having to replace lost or stolen keys again.

In case you are new to the idea of an access control system, here’s a brief explanation of what they do – and how they work.

Access control systems work via a secure, designated network. Most often, they utilize keypads and user-specific codes that track movement (time/date stamped entrances, exits, and/or access) at desired locations in and around a property and its buildings.

Systems are custom-designed to fit your business’s needs. Access control panels can be installed at:

Entrance gates
Front/side doors
Delivery doors
Private offices housing sensitive information
Designated rooms or areas
Labs
Storage areas
Etc.

While keypad/PIN or card scan models are the standards, upgraded, higher-security access control systems utilize biometric data, like fingerprints, before allowing access. The systems can also include other functions such as communication through speakers, timecard tracking sent directly to payroll, audio/video recording, etc.

7 Benefits of a High-Quality Access Control System

The combination of digital and smart technology, have made today’s access control systems more accurate and secure than ever before. Over the past decades of installing automatic gates and commercial doors, we’ve converted hundreds of customers into access control systems fans.

Here are some of the benefits these customers appreciate the most:

Accountable security

Stating your building is secure is one thing; holding yourself accountable to that promise is another. From clients or patients trusting you with their sensitive data to residents who demand security in residential or commercial spaces, your access control system appeals to the public’s desire for safety and security. They allow you to stand by your word.

No more lost keys (or costly re-keying)

Relying on keys is a nightmare for any business or mixed-use building where occupants’ safety – as well as the security of products and merchandise –depends on employees’ being responsible with their keys.

How many times have you had to re–key a building – or certain areas of a building – as the result of an employee’s lost or stolen key(s)? If employees or residents are unwilling to admit or report a lost/stolen key, are you willing to put the rest of the building at risk? What about when you have to fire an employee or s/he quits without notice – and without returning the key? All of these scenarios compromise the safety of your building and its occupants and can require the expensive rekeying of the entire building or premises.

Access control systems put an end to that because employee/occupant/user-specific codes can be programmed and canceled in an instant. An access card and the reissuing of new codes take just a few minutes – and it doesn’t cost your company a dime.

Real-time tracking of others’ access and movements

The combination of user-specific codes and date/time stamping means you have an accurate, trackable record of who was where – when – and for how long. Doctors’ offices, laboratories, pharmacies, warehouses, or other commercial businesses whose products are at risk for theft appreciate the level of trackability access control systems offer.

Should a theft occur, odds are the access control records – along with the security systems video footage – will be the invaluable links to solving the crime.

No strangers allowed with an access control system

The combination of your access control system, a routine security protocol, and the right, well-maintained commercial or personnel doors means only one person can access the building or designated area at a time. This bars strangers from the ability to slip in behind a security-cleared employee or vendor.

Streamline shift changes

Shift changes present the ideal opportunity for nefarious employees or their associates to plan a theft. The chaos that exists as multiple employees come in and out between shifts makes it challenging to track their movement.

Access control systems and security doors can be specifically designed to organize the process around shift-change times, keeping things more streamlined.

Leveled and time-tiered access

Are there certain areas of your building or premises that are off-limits at certain times of the day or evening? Access control panels are easily programmed – and reprogrammed via secure software and user accounts – to provide day- or time-specific access. You can ensure some employees have access to general areas only, while others have full-access privileges, and so on.

Employee safety and security

Employers operating 24/7 businesses, or whose buildings are located in a less desirable area of town, feel more confident about their employee safety after access control panels are up and running.

Keypad or card access is far swifter than fumbling around for a key or dropping one, which means employees can enter and exit the building more quickly.

Let Us Give You Peace Of Mind

Are you interested in designing a customized access control system for your Bay Area business or home? Contact us here at R&S Erection of Vallejo and schedule a free, on-site consultation.

What Is A Personnel Door And Why Does My Business Need One?

what is a personnel door and why does my business need one

Did you hear about the guy who first invented door-knockers?

Apparently, he won the no-bell prize.

…Sorry. Enough with the bad door-jokes.

Indeed, the entryways to businesses are no laughing matter. They’re of huge importance for a host of reasons. For instance, take security. A burglary happens every 18 seconds in the United States. And, according to the same source, 34% of burglars get in through the front door.

Clearly, for businesses with valuable equipment, materials, and products onsite, it pays to get the right door for the job. But which do you choose? Of all your options, personnel doors won’t let you down. Indeed, these particular doors offer a wide range of benefits to any business.

But what are they, and why do you need one?

Keep reading to find out.

What Is A Personnel Door?

First, let’s take a look at what a personnel door actually is.

At their core, they’re simply another form of a commercial door. However, what sets them apart is their primary purpose. They don’t cater exclusively to the needs of customers or the public. Instead, they’re intended to withstand the rigors of employee usage too.

In essence, personnel doors are those used most commonly by the employees in the building.

Think about the classic sales line of ‘I’ll go check out back’. The doors they pass through are a prime example of a personnel door. Likewise, think waiters and waitresses passing in and out of a restaurant kitchen. That swing door is another personnel door.

They have a different function to the average door. Whether the public uses them as well or not, they’re in near-constant use. Compare that to the average household door, which might open a handful of times each day.

The requirements are just different. As such, the materials, hinges, styles, and features vary accordingly to match the specific needs of the business.

Why Your Business Needs One

Now we know what a personnel door actually is, let’s turn to the advantages they offer your business.

Separate Employee Areas

Some businesses demand areas that are off-limits to the public.

Personnel doors are exactly that. Regardless of the type (whether it’s a rotating, sliding, swinging, automatic, or standard door), they help designate areas that are specific to staff members.

They can be fitted with locking mechanisms too. Codes, key cards, fingerprints and so can all be used to open them, in relation to your business’ requirements.

In so doing, the working area becomes private, secured and separated from the outside spaces. No unwanted visitors can gain unexpected entry.

Greater Security

As a result, these doors offer far greater security.

It all depends on the use and requirements of the building. But businesses that demand added security will usually opt for heavier-duty doors with specific locking mechanisms. Banks, prisons and forensic hospitals are all examples of premises that would require security from their doors.

The specific features included are customizable depending on the need. Strong, hardy materials such as steel can be used, any glass can be reinforced, and the frames and hinges would be impervious to movement.

It’s worth mentioning fire-security too. After all, not all dangers come from intruders. In most public buildings the doors must be able to protect against fires. Personnel doors are what’s required.

Need security? Get a fit-for-purpose personnel door.

Aesthetic Appeal

These doors offer a nice blend of the functional and aesthetic.

Simply, they look good as well as performing to a high standard. That’s important for all sorts of businesses that must combine style and practicality. Take the example of banks again.

The front entranceway is key to attracting people into the building. But it must be strong and easily secured in case of an emergency too. Corporate offices and major hotels are two further examples.

It’s easily done with personnel doors. There’s no real limit to the aesthetics you can find. All manner of materials and designs are available.

Different Styles

By style, we mean type.

And the type of door places a big part in its aesthetic and functionality. Personnel doors come in a wide range of different styles. As we’ve already noted, you can opt for sliding, swinging, revolving, and traditional doors.

You can also find corrosion resistant doors that mitigate particular environmental hazards. There are materials designed to be weather-resistant too (to protect against the elements). Then you have double-door systems and more.

Anything you need for your specific business, you can usually find a door to match.

More Durable And Long-Lasting

Durability is a foundational part of a proper personnel door.

Think of the rigors they’ll have to put up with each day. For security and fire purposes you may need to keep them shut. You can’t prop them open. That means people may pass in and out hundreds of times on a daily basis.

Ordinary doors would wear out in no time. The hinges would deteriorate and the frame would suffer. By contrast, personnel doors are intended to withstand such use.

Adhere To Regulations

A final advantage derives from your responsibility to adhere to regulations.

As you know, your business premises must provide a safe working environment for employees. That extends from the general (such as fire safety) to the specific (for instance, panic hardware). Personnel doors can cater to all regulations you’re required to meet.

Time To Wrap Up

There you have it: exactly what we mean by a personnel door and the main advantages they offer your business.

Doorway and entranceway consideration may seem like an unnecessary bore to keep in mind. After all, there are much more important business tasks to do.

However, the doors in your buildings shouldn’t be forgotten. Among other things, a proper door can be the difference between a successful and failed burglary attempt. Personnel doors are a vital inclusion on your premises.

Hopefully, this post has highlighted and convinced you of their many virtues!

Like this piece? Click here to get a free estimate for how much personnel doors will cost in your premises.

Choosing The Perfect Automatic Gate System For Your Home

choosing the perfect automatic gate system for your home

While only 17% of homes in the US have a security system, every home has a secure entrance system whether a locking gate or a deadbolt on the door. Having a secure home gives people peace of mind against intruder and burglars. One of the best ways to ensure that no one gets on your property without your say-so is to have an automatic gate system.

Before you run out and install a gate, you need to learn about the different types of gates so that you can choose the perfect one for your home. Here are the main categories of features to look for.

Which Automatic Gate System Is Right For You?

Slide Gates

The description of a slide gate is pretty much in the name. They can be installed in just about any kind of terrain and require a track to set up. You need to have a space that is wide enough to accommodate the gates moving laterally as they’re opened.

A slide gate usually entails two gates that are opened at the center and move along a track in order to let you into the home. Other slide gates can latch at one point as the entire gate slides laterally away from the latch point to open.

These gates can be installed on driveways, along fences, at the perimeter of your property or close to the entrance to your house.

Swing Gates

A swinging automatic gate system will be attached to hinges on either side of your driveway or entrance to your estate. When opened, the gates can be made to swing out toward the entrance or inward, toward your property. The best idea is to make them swing toward your property so they don’t hit the entering vehicle and aren’t struck by oncoming traffic.

Swing gates come in single or double gates, depending on the width of your driveway. Single gates are adequate for your standard sedan-width driveway, however, double gates lend an air of opulence to your driveway.

If you have a driveway that’s on a steep grade, they will typically open toward the downward slope. Be aware of this standard if you have to climb a hill toward your property and would prefer not to have that look. You might prefer a slide gate in that instance.

Automatic Gates With Keypad Entry

Without an automatic opening mechanism, you may have to leave your vehicle just to open your gate. Automatic gates allow you the convenience of hanging an interface that’s accessible through your window in order to get them open. One of the most popular types of gate entry systems is a system with keypad entry.

With any keypad system, you can set your own private code in order to gain access. The system will keep anyone from opening your gate without the password. This is a highly preferred system because it allows you to get access to your home and property without needing to carry a key or a card.

If you have guests visiting, you can give them the keycode to enter. You can know that they’ll have no problem making themselves at home when you can’t be there to swap physical keys with them.

Card-Based Entry Systems

A keycard automatic gate system is popular because they keep you from having to memorize a code but give you a lighter key than your standard metal one. Card entry systems require just a swipe to get you onto the property.

There’s something undoubtedly cool about being able to swipe a card to open the gate to your home. They lend a cool aesthetic appeal that makes your home seem extra modern.

You can have as many cards as you want to be printed and handed out to anyone who you want to have access to your property. It’s simpler and faster than entering a code while being just as secure.

If you’re looking for a fun and modern entry system, cards are the way to go. Now all that’s left is to decide what kind of material you want your gate to built out of.

Wrought Iron Gates

Your choice of material only depends on the style of home that you want to have. Your gate is sure to be secure and sturdy no matter what material you choose.

Wrought iron gates lend a classic type of look to a modern security gate. Wrought iron is a strong material that won’t need to be repainted very often. It doesn’t break down or corrode the way other metals do.

Wrought iron gates are strong and secure but often leave a little bit of space between the bars. If security is more important than intense privacy, there are many lovely styles available in wrought iron.

Wooden Gates

Modern wooden gates provide a secure way of keeping intruders out while allowing you a lot of aesthetic flexibility. You can build a facade that’s rustic and vintage over a modern metal frame that secures just like any other automatic gate. You can build something that looks more high-end and contemporary out of wood as well.

The planks that you use can be of any material and spaced out however you please. A tightly ordered set of planks will provide you with lots of property and keep the line of visibility from the street to a minimum. A wooden gate can be made to match any type of fence you already have built around your property.

An Automatic Gate System To Suit Your Needs

Talk to your fencing provider and see what kind of automatic gate material they would recommend. An automatic gate system should feel both secure and comfortable, looking like a welcoming home to anyone with the keycode. There are plenty of options and a professional installer can help you decide which is right for your situation.

If you want to know what types of automatic gates are available in your region, check out what we have to offer.

Garage Door Security Tips

Securing your garage is an excellent idea. This goes without saying, but many people don’t choose to secure their garage for a variety of reasons, and this just ends up leading to problems down the road.

In our garage, we often store our bikes and cars and a variety of other things that we use regularly. Some of us store lawn mowers and power tools and a wide variety of other valuable items. If this happens to be the case, then it is even more essential that you secure your garage and garage door; making certain that no one can break in easily and take off with your valuable possessions.

To make sure that your garage door is safe and secure, we’ve compiled tips that we will go into detail about. Each one can be applied with just a little effort, and it would be wise to do so.

Use Motion Detecting Lights

The light fixtures that are in and around your garage are very nice and all, but for upgraded security, it is wise to have these things called motion detecting lights. You can probably guess what these are, but basically, these lights emit infrared waves that detect things like body temperature and any motion or movement. When these things are detected, the light turns on. This light stays on for a specific period and then it shuts off. If motion is detected again, the light turns back on.

Keep Your Opener with You Or In A Safe Place

This is only logical, but make sure to keep the garage door opener – the key, really – with you at all times to make sure that no one can access it or open your garage door without you knowing about it. Too many people make poor attempts to “hide” the garage door opener that they own, but these attempts are often futile since they can easily be found and used. Therefore, try to keep your opener with you or in a safe place.

Purchase and Use A Garage Door Sensor

This is a very simple tool that you attach to your garage. Once that is done, you’ll take the second part of the kit which includes a little monitor that flashes a light telling you if your garage door is closed or open. Most burglaries come from the fact that people accidentally leave the door open. So make sure that your garage door is closed and that no one can actually get in.

Purchase an Automatic Garage Door Closer

You can easily find one of these at your local Home Depot or hardware store, and installation is generally quite simple. It does require a bit of wiring, but it’s not too complicated. If you look up “how to install an automatic garage door closer” on Google, you can find some excellent and quite simple tutorials that will allow you to do this almost effortlessly. One of the biggest benefits of having an automatic garage door closer is the fact that you can set a timer which will shut your garage door after it has been open for a certain amount of time. It’s best to set it for a rather short period.

Cover the Windows of Your Garage

Some good curtains that you are unable to see through should do the trick. The darker the better. Just make sure that, while walking by, you can’t see inside. If you can’t, then that means no one else can.

Add Extra Precautions for The Service Door

In any garage, the biggest weak spot is the service door. This is the door that you can find outside of the garage; it’s the entry door. Just like any other exterior door in and around your home, it should have a standard deadbolt, along with a heavy-duty strike plate. That way, if someone chooses to break in, they will find themselves having to put quite a bit of effort into that endeavor.

Be Sure to Close the Door

I know this is common sense but make sure to close the door after you use it. Many people forget to do this, and while it is understandable, it is best to check and make sure that the door is closed properly.

In the end, just use common sense and make sure that you have the right locks and your door is shut.