Listed below are the most commonly asked
questions and answers about garage doors. Everyone has unique
and specific needs, and if you have any questions that are
not addressed on this page, please feel free to
E-MAIL US with
your inquiries.
Why should I use a professional installer?
At Patterson Door Service, we firmly believe that the installation of a garage
door is not a do-it-yourself job. A garage door is the largest moving object
in your home and because of the large number of small parts, its installation
is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and
proper installation is critical to the performance of your door. One of the other
services a professional installer can provide is the disposal of your old door,
if you are replacing a door.
Professional installers can typically install a door in a few hours and are careful
to make sure safety requirements are met. Installations by most homeowners typically
span several days and cause much frustration. In addition, incorrect installation
can void certain warranties, so we recommend a professional handle the job for
you.
Is 25 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
No. When comparing strengths of steel, remember, the lower the gauge number,
the thicker (and stronger) the steel is.
Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage is uninsulated?
A garage door opening is a very large hole in your garage. Insulated doors will
help to reduce the amount of outside temperatures that enters your garage, thus
keeping it more comfortable for you. This is important for a number of reasons:
1) If your garage is attached to your home, any air in the garage can travel
through the doorway to your living area.
2) If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a top priority.
3) If your garage is below another room in your home, air can travel through
the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. An insulated door
will keep temperatures in the garage fairly stable to reduce the temperature
fluctuation in the room.
4) An insulated door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior
than an uninsulated door.
What are the benefits of a steel door over a wood door?
1) Steel doors are low maintenance. Typically, a wood door needs to be painted
as frequently as the wood trim on your home due to weathering.
2) Steel doors have longer warranties than wood doors.
3) Steel doors can be insulated, making them far more energy efficient than wood.
4) Steel doors are pre-painted and most are available in your choice of three
colors. Wood doors are unfinished or primed, both of which need to be finish
painted upon installation.
What is required for installing an electric operator?
In the event that an electric operator is installed, the top section must be
reinforced with a strut or 14-gauge angle iron spanning the length of the top
section.
When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
We recommend replacing your track when you replace your door because each brand
of garage door has been specially designed to work with a specific type of track.
In addition, replacing your track is an inexpensive way to insure that your entire
garage door system is as safe as possible. By replacing your track you also ensure
that your door warranty will apply, in the event that you have a problem.
I have a one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?
Yes. Your professional garage door installer can install a sectional door for
you by installing track and springs to accommodate a sectional door. Depending
on the construction of your garage, other modifications might be necessary. We
would advise you to ask your installer to evaluate the job prior to installation,
so that any modifications can be performed before installation.
I'd like to purchase a steel door, but need a color other than those you offer.
Can I paint the door once it's installed?
Yes. All steel doors are prepainted with a tough topcoat that is perfectly suited
for painting after installation if another color is desired. To repaint, use
a high-quality latex exterior house paint. Because the paint must be
thoroughly mixed before using, mechanical mixing is recommended to assure that
no settling on the bottom of the container remains.
The surface must be completely dry prior to painting. Painting should be done
in the early morning to reduce uneven drying from the sun. Avoid painting when
temperatures are below 50
°F. Apply a uniform coat at the manufacturer's recommended dry film thickness.
If the door has been installed for a long period of time it should be cleaned
and prepared prior to painting. First, wash your steel door with (a) One cup
of Tide (or other common detergents which contain less than 0.5% phosphate, dissolved
into five gallons of warm water, or (b) One cup of household ammonia dissolved
into five gallons of water (room temperature). NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS
WITH BLEACH.
The garage door may be washed with either solution and the use of a well-soaked
cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low pressure spray washer are
recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate
the possibility of residue. To prepare the door for painting, lightly sand or
buff surface imperfections such as minor scratches, which have not left the metal
substrate exposed in order to create a smoother surface. Care must be taken,
however, not to expose the substrate. Rusting is greatly increased when the metal
substrate is exposed.
Exposed metal must be treated to prevent rust from forming. To do so, sand the
general area lightly and use a primer* specifically designed to protect any exposed
galvanized steel from corrosion. After the door has been properly prepared, it
must be coated within 24 hours with a high-quality latex exterior house paint,
taking care to allow the surface to completely dry prior to painting.
*Glidden Galvanized Metal Primer® 5229, PPG Galvanized Steel Primer® #6-209,
or equivalent primers specifically designed for galvanized steel surfaces.
Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that
features an unusual size door.
My garage has very little space (headroom) above the
door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
Standard headroom applications require 12" to 18" of space between the bottom
of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. A variety of special track
options are available and make it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted
with doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door in
an area that has as little as 41/2" of headroom.
Other special track applications include:
- Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely
high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
2) Follow-the-roofline track, which is used when the ceiling of the garage
is
pitched at the angle of the roof, making it desirable for the door to follow
the
same angle, thus providing additional overhead room and
3) Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the
door
must still retract to a horizontal position.
How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced:
1) You should be able to raise your door in 1' increments and the door should
stay in place where you stop it.
2) When the door comes down, it lowers in a controlled manner and doesn't
slam.
3) When the door goes up, it is at a controlled pace.
4) The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header when
the
door is in a raised position.
Do I need a lock on my garage door?
-
If an electric garage door opener has been installed on
your door, it may not be necessary to have a lock. Newer electric openers
function as the lock, making it improbable that an intruder would be able
to lift your door from the outside. If you have an older opener, check
to see if your door can be lifted from the outside.
DASMA, the trade association for the garage door industry, discourages
homeowners from attaching a lock when an opener has been installed, because
too frequently, a child or other family member will accidentally lock the
door. If someone then tries to open the door using the electric opener,
the opener will pull against the lock causing the door to be damaged.
If no opener is installed on your door, you should certainly have a lock
installed.
What type of spring is better...extension or torsion?
There are two types of springs used on garage doors today...extension and
torsion. Most people are more familiar with extension springs. These are
the springs that are attached on either side of the door and stretch along
the horizontal part of the track when the door is closed. Torsion springs
are typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted
to the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when
the door is
moved.
A torsion spring is a superior spring, primarily because it offers more
safety to the homeowner and better balances the door to provide smoother
operation. Amarr single-car doors are equipped with extension springs as
part of the standard hardware, but torsion springs are available by request.
All double-car doors are equipped with torsion springs.
What type of care and maintenance is necessary for
my steel door and hardware?
We recommend that you wash your steel door a minimum of one (1) time per year
with: (a) One cup of Tide® (or other common detergents which contain less
than 0.5% phosphate), dissolved into five gallons of warm water, or (b) One cup
of household ammonia dissolved into five gallons of water (room temperature).
NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS WITH BLEACH.
The garage door may be washed with either solution and the use of a well-soaked
cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low pressure spray washer are
recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate
the possibility of residue.
In addition, lubrication is recommended on a yearly basis for the following hardware:
pulleys, rollers, hinges and springs. CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN LUBRICATING SPRINGS
AS THEY ARE UNDER HIGH TENSION. WHEN APPLYING LUBRICANT AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH
THE SPRING. Visually inspect springs and cable for wear and binding once each
year and contact Patterson Door immediatley if damage is suspected.
What is a carriage house door?
There are 3 types of carriage house doors:
1- All wood faced doors
2-Steel and vinyl faced doors
3-Steel faced doors
Amarr makes the wood faced doors under its Bob Timberlake™,
Biltmore Estate For Your Home®, and By Design brands.
These doors are beautiful and offer the most flexible design
options. However they are the highest priced type of door.
they must be painted or stained, and are typically heavier
than most doors.
Steel and Vinyl faced doors typically take a flush steel
door and use some combination of glue and screws to attach
vinyl overlays to the flush sections. While the price is
lower, the design combinations are fewer. The vinyl cannot
be painted dark colors, there can be fit and finish issues,
and fading may occur with the vinyl.
Steel faced doors- The Classica is an all steel door that
utilizes a unique stamping process to create its beautiful
looks without the hassles of painting, heavy weight or overlays
. It has no overlays like some steel carriage house pretenders
and comes in 32 different designs. All the doors come in
a prepainted white, but can be painted (see Question No.9
for paint instructions) to match a home's exterior.
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