Frequently Asked Questions

Q). What should I look for in a door company?

A). There are many door companies currently in business throughout the capital region. A number of these companies have been recently started. In selecting a door company we recommend that your choice meet the following criteria:

• A commercial office location.
• Companies with an actual physical address have credibility and are serious about their business. They are not a fly by night operation.
• Experienced servicemen: Large doors contain breakable parts, many of which are under extreme tension. Skilled workers are aware of potential hazards both to themselves and to you the customer. They know what to look for and what preventive maintenance needs to be done to ensure customer safety.
• Fully Insured A reputable company will be fully insured if the unexpected were to occur despite the best professional efforts. This is important to protect you the homeowner from possible liability.
• Locally owned. When your door has you under house arrest you should get to speak with an actual person! You shouldn’t have to deal with an 800 number telling you to press this button and that button only to have your efforts rewarded with a recording telling you how important your call is.
• Credibility. The best choice for a door company is one that has been in the business for a considerable length of time. The ideal company should have a positive reputation in your locality as well as employ veteran professionals.
• 24/7: Emergency service. Problems can occur at any time, not at your convenience. Reliable companies are prepared to repair your door at YOUR convenience.

Q). My opener begins to come down, then it reverses direction and returns to the full up position. What is going on?

A). A law passed in 1993 requires photo eyes to be installed on garage doors that have electric openers. These are little boxes located at the base of the door on either side of the opening. These boxes have electric eyes that transmit an invisible beam across the door opening to a receiving eye at the other side. For this to work, the eyes must be aligned correctly. Typically something knocks the eyes out of alignment or some object happens to block the beam. When this occurs, the safety feature is activated causing the door not to close. Check to ensure that this is not the problem before calling for service.

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

A). A typical sectional door can be installed with special track with as little as 6.5” of head room. We can custom install a door with less headroom in many instances.

Q). How do I know if my door is properly balanced?

A). Disconnect the opener, manually raise the door 2.5 feet off the ground, and stop it. If the door stays in this position it is balanced. A balanced door prevents future and more costly problems.

Q). When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?

A). It is not advisable. Each track is designed for a particular door and must support hundreds of pounds above your car. The new track will be guaranteed to be corrosion free and structurally sound.

Q). Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage isn't insulated?

A). An insulated door is a more substantial door. The small additional cost is outweighed by the increase in value to your home.

Q). Should I repair or install the door myself?

A). An overhead door is the heaviest moving part in your home. It operates under great tension to springs, cables and hardware. Having the appropriate parts installed correctly is crucial for the door’s safe operation. An experienced serviceman eliminates the guess work and gets the door working properly.

Q). Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.

A). Yes. Custom overhead door sizes are available as short as 6 feet wide and 6 feet high. Additional width options are available in 2 inch increments, and additional height options increase in 3 inch increments.

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

A). Torsion springs are better because they are on a bar and this makes them safer and more adjustable to your particular door. However, extension springs if installed properly and with safety cables are safe if used with door not exceeding 10 feet wide by 7 feet high.

Q). What should I do to help my door last? Is preventative service beneficial?

A). Homeowners can lubricate rollers, torsion springs, hinges and bearings. This must be done with lubricant specifically made for this purpose. Homeowners can conduct their own inspection looking for the following: frayed cables, loose bolts, and unbalanced doors, brackets coming out of the wall, or bearing collapsing. If any of these conditions are found, it is wise to call for professional preventative maintenance. It is not recommended to replace springs, or cables yourself.

Q). How do I know when it is time to replace my door/opener? How do I know whether to replace or repair my door?

A). Life expectancy of an electric opener is 10 years. Repairing an opener older than this is not recommended. The lifetime of a door depends upon its quality and its usage. If the door is falling apart and there is not much left of the solid structure then it should be replaced. If the door is sound than usually a repair would be suggested If one section of the door needing replacing, replacement is recommended over replacing the whole door. However, if more than one section is damaged, it is better to replace the door.