FAQ

Garage Door Springs

A “cycle” is one full opening and closing of your overhead door. Garage door torsion springs are rated by cycle life, with 10,000 cycles as the industry standard minimum. Based on these cycles, the average spring breaks about every 7 to 12 years with average usage. If a garage door has two or more springs and one of them breaks, all springs should be replaced to maintain proper balance.

Garage Door Failure

The leading causes of garage door failure include lack of maintenance and being hit by vehicles. That’s why we recommend a proper maintenance schedule for a garage door, including lubrication of the rollers, bearings, pulleys, and springs once a year; washing painted steel surfaces several times a year; painting or refinishing wood surfaces as necessary; and making proper adjustments to the counterbalance system as necessary to maintain door balance. 

We do! Our team is trained to repair any brand of garage door and opener. We specialize in a few specific brands, but we are able to repair any of them.

Sometimes one section of a garage door can be replaced. But we will have to evaluate any damage and condition of the door to determine if a garage door panel replacement or a whole new door is necessary.

Yes! There are many different ways to customize your garage door. Check out our Garage Door Installation Page to learn more about it.

R-Value is the rating that shows how energy-efficient your garage door is. The higher the R-Value, the better insulated your garage door is.

A garage door opening represents a large gap in your home’s thermal barrier. An insulated garage door will help to reduce the amount of outside temperature that enters your garage, thus reducing the amount of energy required to cool or heat your home. Insulation also reduces the noise of your door’s operation, which is a perk if you have living areas near the garage.

With proper maintenance, your garage door opener should last 15 to 20 years. There are tons of new technology and safety features in newer models, so there’s a lot to consider when it comes time to replace your garage door opener.

• Chain drive openers are the most popular type of garage door opener. They operate on a chain and can be quite noisy sometimes.
• Screw drive openers have a motor shaft instead of a chain, making them a lot stronger and more durable.
• Belt drive openers operate just like chain drives, except they have a rubber belt instead of a chain one. This makes them much quieter.

This may be due to something blocking your garage door sensors. These sensors are located at the base of your garage door. If the sensors can’t see each other, the door won’t close. Try clearing away any dust or dirt from the sensors and make sure they’re aligned properly and that nothing’s in the way. If this still doesn’t work, give us a call and we’ll inspect your garage door and opener.

DO NOT let children (or adults) play “beat the door.” It is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example. Know how to use the emergency release, in case someone is pinned by the door.

DO NOT let children play with or use the transmitters or remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children. The push-button wall control should be out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door.

(provided by the International Door Association)

While we suggest a certified professional undertake any major garage repairs, there are some steps you can take to maintain your door, including:

• Periodically lubricate your garage or overhead door track. Give us a call to help you determine the best methods for lubricating your specific door.
• Clean the frame’s weather stripping with vinyl cleaner and lubricate it once every other month with an appropriate product to keep the stripping pliable.
• Inspect the rollers every six months and replace any that are worn or broken, or call us and have us replace them.
• If you have a painted door, periodically paint the exterior to help protect it from the elements.

Standard for Safety Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems

To protect your family, pets, visitors, and property, we use only UL 325-compliant products and follow the installation safety standards set forth in the Underwriters Laboratories 325 2010.