Is your garage door getting stuck or reversing part way up or down? This is a common problem & it may be a bent garage door panel. A close look may revile that the top or bottom of one or more panels that has been broken. See the pic with the cracks below.
If you think your door is totally messed up with no hope read on. I have some solutions for you.
What Exactly Is The Issue?
A properly operating garage door will travel up/down & traverse the turn at the top normally. A panel that has a break at the top or bottom will sag & bind at the turn. The two ends are on one geometric plane & the middle on another or is flat. This will bind.
How To Repair Bent & Sagging Garage Doors
Minor repairs are easy for us. We can use a reinforcing strut such as you will see such at the top of all double wide doors. BTW a single wide doors do not come with one unless ordered. That is fine unless you add a garage door opener. If not trouble is on the way – contact a reliable garage door contractor or at least put a piece of 1×1 punched angle at the top of the door.
When Is It Time To Throw In The Towel With Your Garage Door?
Is it possible to add enough struts to a very damaged door to make it work? Yes, kinda sorta. But is it worth it? Here are a few things to consider.
- Each strut adds about 20 lbs to a double wide door & this makes a BIG difference to the counterbalance spring & the garage door opener will also be exceeding it’s work load.
- I don’t recommend more than one or maybe two struts especially on a double wide. Be advised it can be made to work but the operational limits are changed. Adding some spring tension may cheat this. Then the life of the spring is less. The stress on the opener is more.
- Are you wasting money on a service call & the price of reinforcing struts? If you are going to have to buy a new door later this money will be wasted. I understand temporary hardships & having to put off an expensive door.
Your door is damaged beyond repair? If your needing to buying a new garage door then possibly you may consider to buy new panels only & reuse the existing track & hardware. It will surprise you how much money this will save you! Read my post on this & you will be fully informed.
What Garage Door Is Strongest?
Let me go quickly into a few practical matters with garage doors & explain some garage door speak. And what is strongest & why.
- Garage doors are referred to as one, two or three layer.
- One layer is an non-insulated “pan door.”
- Two layer has a layer of steel on the outside & open bare vinyl surfaced insulation on the inside.
- A three layer is the strongest – steel/insulation/steel.
- If you can afford the extra money when buying a new door a three layer door will last longer because it will withstand the abuse that will inevitably happen. BTW there are two types of insulation & they are very different. Polystyrene & polyurethane that is very strong & 2″ has the R-value of a 2×6 wall with fiberglass insulation. Clopay Door has branded polyurethane intellicore. It is injected into the panels & is very, very strong.
- FYI a two or a three layer door will also be quieter. The reason being the panels wont vibrate like a drum when your opener goes up & down.
Remember I am always here for you to answer any questions, even if they are regarding you repairing your door yourself.