Garage Door FAQs
From defining industry terms to explaining your door customization options, Albuquerque Over The Top Garage Doors is here to help. And if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact us to talk to one of our experts.
Garage Door FAQs
The garage door industry is complex and constantly evolving. Residential garage doors have so many moving parts; several things can impact how they operate. Some insightful Garage Door FAQs can help you navigate the questions or problems you’re having with your garage doors.
We know you have questions, and we have the answers. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions about Amarr and Wayne Dalton’s Garage Doors and Genie and LiftMaster Openers.
Follow these guidelines for cleaning your pre-finished steel garage door:
DO’s
- Clean the door with a mild detergent solution consisting of one cup of detergent (with less than 0.5% phosphate) dissolved into five gallons of warm water will aid in the removal of most dirt.
- Clean behind weather strips on both sides and on top of the door
- Use your bare hands to feel and dislodge any caked-on particles
- Use a soft, grit-free cloth, sponge, or chamois to wipe the surface
- Dry with a clean damp chamois
DON’Ts
- DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER ON YOUR DOOR!
- DO NOT Use detergents containing greater than 0.5% phosphate
- NEVER mix cleansers or soaps with bleach
- DO NOT use hard or rough cloths that will scratch the acrylic glazing
- DO NOT use any window cleaning fluids, scouring compounds, gritty materials, or solvent-based cleaners of any kind
Garage doors can last several decades without needing replacement if properly maintained. Some garage doors can be repaired, while others must be completely replaced. The best way to determine if you need a garage door repaired or replaced is to schedule annual preventative maintenance with us. We will give your garage door a tune-up and give you options for the future.
According to the 2023 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement is the #3 remodeling project regarding return on investment. The report states that replacing your garage door will return 99% of the cost at the time of home sale. Lastly, your current garage door may be fading, sagging, and needing 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.
Cosmetic Damages
Visible yet simple garage door cosmetic damages can often be repaired. Items like decorative hardware, weatherstripping, and eye sensors are easy garage door repairs. If no structural damages or rust are evident, a nice paint job will sometimes breathe life back into your garage doors.
Replace Older Garage Doors
If your garage doors are over 15 years old and are not operating properly, now may be the time to replace your garage doors. Garage door repairs on older garage doors often cost more than installing new ones. This is due to the limited availability of parts and upgraded garage door opener designs. New garage doors provide quieter operation, more efficient functionality and increased curb appeal.
Replace Garage Doors for Improved Efficiency
Choosing a stylish yet energy-efficient garage door improves curb appeal and energy savings. Over time, garage doors can lose insulation, resulting in higher energy bills for homes with attached garages. Since there is no easy garage door repair solution for replacing insulation, replacing your old garage doors with new insulated ones makes sense. With insulated garage doors, homeowners can enjoy comfortable garage temperatures all year.
Yearly cleaning and inspection of your wood garage door are easy. If the finish appears to be in good condition, cleaning and touch-up work are often adequate.
- Remove dirt, chalk, and mildew by washing your wood door with a diluted solution of mild household detergent at a concentration of one (1) cup in five (5) gallons of warm water.
- Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely.
- If the finish is severely eroded and thin, clean the areas where the wood substrate is showing through as described above and prime those areas using an oil/alkyd primer. Follow the cleaning and priming with complete priming and finish coating.
- If there is no bare wood showing through, only a finish coat may be required. Review your Maintenance Brochure for detailed instructions and information on cleaning and maintenance of your wood door; improper finishing may void your warranty.
How to prepare your pre-finished steel garage door for painting, it is essential to give it a good cleaning, but do not wax. Remove surface wax to prevent the paint from peeling or flaking.
Remove surface scratches that have not exposed the metal substrate by lightly buffing or sanding with 0000 steel wool or No. 400 sandpaper to create a smoother surface for painting. Do not over buff or sand the garage door, because the paint will not adhere to the door if the surface is too soft. Do not attempt to remove scratches if your steel door surface that has a finish texture representing wood grain or stucco. As you may increase the danger of exposing the metal substrate. Paint them with a high-quality metal primer. Following drying time on primer can label before applying a topcoat. To prevent rust from forming, treat any scratches that have exposed the substrate by sanding the exposed area lightly and then painting with a high-quality metal primer. Following drying time on primer can label before applying a topcoat.
After properly preparing the surface according to the above instructions and allowing it to dry thoroughly, coat the door with premium latex house paint. Follow the paint label directions explicitly.
Oil-based paint is not recommended. Note that if the substrate is exposed, painting with latex paint may cause accelerated rusting of steel. Follow previous instructions on priming the door for painting. Review your Maintenance Brochure for more detailed instructions and information on cleaning and maintenance of your steel door; improper finishing may void your warranty.
You must contact the company where you purchased your garage door for warranty determination. View our warranty page to view warranties on Wayne Dalton Garage Doors.
Contact us if you have any questions, (505) 450-9456.
Insulation is important in a garage door for many reasons. In addition to helping control the temperature, Wayne Dalton’s patented design and foamed-in-place insulation add strength to your door while reducing noise.
The amount of insulation a garage door provides is represented in its R-value, which is its resistance to heat flow. It is important to select a garage door with an R-value that is consistent with your local climate and lifestyle. Also, insulation helps reduce the noise of your garage door as it opens and closes.
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 your home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits you are:
Determine the material that best suits the care & maintenance that you desire. We offer garage doors made from steel, wood composite, vinyl, wood, and modern glass aluminum.
Choose the door design that best complements your home, including windows, color, and decorative hardware options.
Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction that best suits your needs.
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 Centuries. Wayne Dalton provides striking old-world designs made from steel and wood: View our Carriage House Steel collection or Carriage Wood Collection.
The best way to find out if your garage door meets wind load requirements is to do the following:
- Check with a local architect, engineer, or building official to verify what the requirements are for your home.
- Verify with your Insurance Company to see if they have any additional requirements or to receive appropriate discounts.
- Contact us if you have any questions, (505) 450-9456.
Garage Door Service and Repair FAQs
You can perform several tests to tell if your door is balanced. Before testing your door, disengage your automatic opener.
- Raise your door in 1′ increments, and the door should stay in place.
- Lower the door, the door lowers in a controlled manner and doesn’t slam down.
- Raise the door, the door rises at a controlled pace.
- When the door is fully raised in the open position, the bottom of the door should be aligned with the bottom of the header of the door opening.
The best way to determine if a garage door can be repaired through service or needs replacement is to call a professionally trained garage door company near you.
Depending on the issues, a door may need servicing (like a 3,000-mile car oil service), a few new parts, a new section or a door replacement.
The issue is often not the garage door, but the garage door opener needs replacement or servicing.
Yes, you can replace just one section for most garage doors, depending on if the model and if the model is still in production and is not a custom design. Also, paint matching may be an issue as color variations can occur over time.
Your garage door raises and lowers with the assistance of springs. Broken and or worn springs will cause the door to be heavy and thus create an extra load on the garage door opener. The excess weight can be dangerous for reversing mechanisms and cause premature failure of the garage door opener.
Having a technician check the garage door springs, rollers, and garage door opener is proper preventative maintenance for your garage door.
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Call us Today at (505) 450-9456
Over The Top Garage Doors – Albuquerque, NM 87114
Contractor’s License – NM GS14 # 391674