FAQ
What should my rough opening size be?
The same size as your door. The door fits against the opening from the inside. The opening should be finished with an exterior perimeter seal or stop molding to seal against the elements.
What should I use to clean my door?
Any product with tri-sodium-phosphate (TSP) such as diluted Spic-n-Span. In areas where there are TSP restrictions, use a mild household cleaner. All products should first be tested on a small interior surface to ensure color fastness.
What do you recommend for painting my garage door?
Steel doors should be painted with a high quality exterior latex (water base) paint. The surface must be cleaned prior to application of paint to the steel. On new doors, the surface just needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth. Doors which have been installed for a while should be cleaned with a tri-sodium-phosphate based product (such as Soilax„ or diluted Spic-n-Span or a mild household cleaner). Doors do not require a coat of primer unless the finish has been damaged down to the silver galvanizing.
What horsepower garage door opener do I need with my door?
Generally a 1/3 horsepower opener is sufficient for any single car doors and a 1/2 horsepower for some of the heavier double car doors. The door must be reinforced prior to attachment of a garage door opener (please refer to the manufacturer’s instruction for more information).
How much headroom do I need to install my door?
Doors with torsion springs require 12″ of headroom. If installing a garage door opener, you will need an additional 2″-3″ headroom dependent upon the manufacturer of the opener. Low headroom hardware is available that can reduce the headroom requirement to as low as 4″.
Are special size doors available?
Yes. Our residential garage doors are available in sizes ranging in width from 4’2″ up to 20’ in 2″ increments (our commercial door line offers widths in excess of 20′). Door heights are available beginning at 6’ up to 8’ in 3″ increments (excluding a 7’3″ – heights in excess of 8’ are available in our commercial line). Not all models are available in all sizes.
Does my steel garage door require maintenance?
We recommend the following maintenance be performed on an annual basis (please refer to the installation manual for a detailed description of the maintenance requirements):
Clean door surface with a mild household detergent and rinse with clear water (best if done twice a year)
Lubricate all moving parts of the door with light household oil (e.g. WD 40)
Check for bent or loose hinges
Check rollers for broken wheels, bent shafts or worn out bearings
Check the door and track supports for loose or missing bolts, screws, etc. and tighten.
Check the extension spring lift cables for proper operation (are they running properly in the pulleys, is the cable rubbing at the bottom bracket button location?)
Check for bent track