concealed outside garage door button?

[metalmagpie]

I have a self-opening garage door. It has a button inside and remotes for our cars. It isn't used as a garage; rather it's my shop. Sometimes I'm outside, on foot, and want to open the garage door. But I can't - no button. Have to walk to the car and dig out the remote or walk inside and push the button. I could simply put a doorbell button on the outside but then any schmoe could walk up and open my shop door. Not good.

What I'd like is a remote button that doesn't look like a button.

Ideas? Solutions?

metalmagpie

 

[AndyL]

Keyless entry...

What they're designed for...

 

[M17715]

Right!! Get the opener that has a four digit code on the box. The box is mounted to the outside of the garage on the wall. Then only you can open it.

 

[crf731]

Get one of these

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Chamberlain-Clicker-Universal-Keyless-Entry-KLIK2U/100609178/

 

[Playwme]

A hubcap on the wall with the button behind it. Make a mechanism wher you need to rotate the hubcap 90 degrees and then press.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I think the word concealed says it all.

 

[imnutz]

two stainless finish nails somewhere, driven just shy of flush, close enough to touch both with something metal like a key or watchband, wires to the nails on the inside, viola

 

[Always_Thinkin]

I don't know if this would work in your situation. If you have vinyl siding on your garage, pull up a piece so you can get to the OSB. Where the geometry of the siding is such that there is normally a space between the OSB and the siding mount a standard button under the siding. There are endless possibilities as to where or how high you mount the button. Snap the siding back in and you are ready to go. Just lightly push in on the siding where the button is located to open the garage door. Now with this you will want to keep your siding clean or not have greasy fingers so it isn't obvious where the button is under the siding.

 

[nehog]

I think the word concealed says it all.

Yep, it is concealed until the first time someone undesirable sees you open the door then it is a quick way for them to get in.

As others say, get a keyless entry box. You don't say what kind of opener it is, but the Sears boxes will work with a lot of different openers.

 

[91FE]

I saw this one episode of Scooby Doo onetime where Fred rigged up this contraption that was triggered by pulling on an unsuspecting pitch fork, that then pulled on a rope, that sent a bowling ball rolling, that knocked over a potted plant and pushed a button that sprang a trap on the villain.

You could...... oh never mind. Just get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...s&field-keywords=universal+garage+door+keypad

 

[djjsr]

Want something cool? Master Lock has a fingerprint scanner to open garage doors. I've been looking at them. $140 on Amazon.

 

[CNGsaves]

Where is the man door on this garage?? Or only have garage doors for access??

Schlage makes a keyless entry lockset that works on man door. This is on my wish list of improvements.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NJDRMQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[east_tn_emc]

I have one of these...works with C/Liftmaster and Sears Craftsman doors....
Works GREAT!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LGFJE4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JakeKohl]

Want something cool? Master Lock has a fingerprint scanner to open garage doors. I've been looking at them. $140 on Amazon.

I've got a liftmaster version of the finger scanner and I have to say that I wouldn't buy another one. It's got a particular speed that it expects your finger to swipe at that my wife just can't figure out...that has spurred two arguments while I'm trying to walk her through programming her finger that usually starts with something like "why do you always have to have this Star Trek $hit?". It also won't work if you finger is wet - like from the rain....as in; when you really need the garage door to open. So...no, no more finger print scanners for me, thanks.

 

[04fivefour]

I have one of these...works with C/Liftmaster and Sears Craftsman doors....
Works GREAT!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LGFJE4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

they are cool for the first week you have it then it gets to be a pain in the ****. if your finger doesnt swipe perfectly it wont open. on average i have to swipe my finger 3 or 4 times to get it to open. You will be much happier with just a 4 digit keypad.

 

[allinon72]

I'd take a pass on anything Master Lock these days, they are junk slingers.

 

[my68spit]

I saw this one episode of Scooby Doo onetime where Fred rigged up this contraption that was triggered by pulling on an unsuspecting pitch fork, that then pulled on a rope, that sent a bowling ball rolling, that knocked over a potted plant and pushed a button that sprang a trap on the villain.
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Are you confusing Scooby-Doo with the kids opening a gate in the movie 'Goonies'?

 

[joe_padavano]

Any real thief already has a keyless entry system for your garage. It's called a rock through the window.

 

[kbs2244]

I have seen the 2 finish nails about ½ inch apart and shorted with a coin for years.

I like the idea of a push switch behind some flexible siding.

But the push pad wireless remotes are the current way to go.
You don’t have to put them on door frame like everybody does.
Think about on a fence post, a tree, or something a little bit away from the door.

Maybe a key fob tucked into a bird house?

 

[porschedude996TT]

You stated that you have the remote controls for your shop in your car, which is how thieves in my area are getting in people’s houses. If the car is left out overnight and the remote is hanging off the sun visor, it doesn’t take much of a thief to open the car and then your house.

 

[aka Larry]

The keypad is the way to go. You can change the code at will and it also has "one time only" codes in case you need to give a friend or neighbor access without giving them "your" code.

 

[JakeKohl]

You could also get an opener that has some of that new fangled wifi stuff and a phone app and use your phone (handy also when you need to let someone else have access without giving them full time access).

 

[rlitman]

You stated that you have the remote controls for your shop in your car, which is how thieves in my area are getting in people’s houses. If the car is left out overnight and the remote is hanging off the sun visor, it doesn’t take much of a thief to open the car and then your house.

True. Or, you do what I did for my Wrangler with a soft top (which can just be unzipped). Put one of the combination keypad remotes on your visor instead of the one with just a pushbutton.

 

[gandyj]

I flush mounted a round button like those used for doorbells outside my garage low enough nobody would look for it but then I had vinyl siding installed and couldn't reach/find the button anymore. I then installed one of the four button combination keypads and it works great.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Where is the man door on this garage?? Or only have garage doors for access??

Schlage makes a keyless entry lockset that works on man door. This is on my wish list of improvements.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NJDRMQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

We have a few of these at the FD on the doors. They are nice.

 

[bimmerZ5]

you can also install a module that connects to your garage door opening which can be triggered by an app on your iphone or android phone. provided you're the type that keeps your mobile phone with you at all times, then this would be a good solution.

the other solution might be a key fob remote... my garage door opener came with one which i hook to my house key chain and use it when i go out the garage for a walk with my kids.

someone else also mentioned the 4-digit code remote you can mount outside. i have one, but i personally don't like it. over time, it can become obvious which 4 digits are used due to wear on the buttons, then it's a matter of finding the right combination of those 4 digits. there are other ways to compromise those as well... i have one that came with my garage door too... didn't use it for a long time. when we finally decided to mount it somewhere, we found a place by the side of the house where it is somewhat concealed and certainly out of sight from the street.

 

[2012 LML]

Retinal Scanner, so when you walk towards the garage, scans your iris, then opens the door.

Or get what I got and others have suggested.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...+entry+garage&rh=i:aps,k:keyless+entry+garage

 

[Twiggss]

My dad did the low tech thing some of you guys are suggesting when I was a kid. Just installed a push button switch and covered it with a piece of plastic and painted over it matching the wall. Just had to know the right spot to push.

 

[BigAl62]

I have one of these...works with C/Liftmaster and Sears Craftsman doors....
Works GREAT!

Chamberlain, Liftmaster and Craftsman are all made by the same company (my wife used to work for them). If it works on one, it will work on any of the 3 listed.

 

[nehog]

Where is the man door on this garage?? Or only have garage doors for access??

Schlage makes a keyless entry lockset that works on man door. This is on my wish list of improvements.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NJDRMQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is what I've got on my garage/shop man door. I love it, great solution to not wanting to carry keys.