Garage Door F A Q's

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding garage doors.  This is information from Amarr's website.  Amarr is one of our primary suppliers.

Before You Buy

Q. When to replace a garage door with a new one?

A. If your garage door does not operate, the door is a potential hazard. Do not try to fix on your own, instead contact a professionally trained garage door dealer. Another reason to replace a garage door is to enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to the 2010 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement is the #2 remodeling project in regards to return on investment. The report states that replacing your garage door will return 84% of the cost at the time of home sale. Lastly, your current garage door may be fading, sagging and just in need of a replacement. If you have a wood garage door that needs re-painting, replacing it with a new pre-painted steel garage door may be a better value. Painting a garage door adds significant weight to a door which may affect the spring and the performance of the garage door and opener.

Q. What is the best garage door for me?

A. Each homeowner has unique needs for a new garage door based on the desired styling, the level of care & maintenance required, the energy efficiency and the location of the garage in one’s home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits you are:

1. Determine the material that best suits the care & maintenance that you desire. Garage doors can be made from steel, wood composite, wood and aluminum.
2. Choose the door design that best complements your home, including window, color and decorative hardware options.
3. Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction that best suits your needs depending on if you have a room above or adjacent to your garage or have children that play in front of the garage. Most doors are available with insulation or no insulation options.

Q. What is a carriage house door?

A. A Carriage House door is a type of garage door that replicates the look of doors found on carriage houses in the early 19th and 20th Century. Belangers sels a variety of striking carriage house designs made from three different materials, steel, wood and wood composite. These  garage doors look like they swing open, but they actually move up and over your car.
Belangers offers stamped-steel carriage house doors in the Classica Collection and Oak Summit Collection and the that eliminate a homeowner's concern of misaligned trim overlays.  Lastly, Belangers  offers beautiful, natural wood carriage house doors under the Bob Timberlake™, Biltmore Estate For Your Home®, and Amarr By Design Collections.

Q. My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?

A. 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 is available and makes it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door with a garage door opener in an area that has as little as 9-1/2" of headroom.
Other special track applications include:
1) 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.
3) Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.

Q. What type of spring is better...extension or torsion?

A. The two types of springs used on garage doors today are extension and torsion springs. Extension springs are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal 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. Torsion springs are a better choice because they balance the weight of the door better than extension springs for smoother operation and safety. Watch the Amarr spring video to learn more.