A Much Better Overview for Repairing Tampa Garage Doors
Just as a preface this article is for anyone who wants to understand more about garage door repairs. We are trying to offer just an introduction to garage door repair. We don’t suggest you do any of these repairs if you have never tried it before as it is dangerous to repair a garage door on your own. This will benefit you by making you understand the mechanics behind a garage door as well as we have links for a more in depth look.
A garage door is made up of two systems; the lift system or the garage door opener and the door mechanism. In the case of a manual garage door, it only has the door mechanism which includes tracks with rollers on the sides that allows the garage door to roll open. The torsion springs of the garage door help to open the door in both door opener and manual applications and this assists in providing an effortless transition during the opening and closing on the garage door.
Repairing The Garage Door
Whether they swing up in a single piece or roll up in separate pieces, overhead garage doors are operated on spring tension. On the walls of the garage are metal tracks on which the door moves and the power is provided by heavy springs. In the majority of cases, whenever the door does not function normally, the repairs needed are fairly simple. Below are a few helpful guidelines as to how to carry out garage door repair:
Step 1
Scrutinize the metal tracks that are inside of the garage as well as the mounting brackets which secure the tracks to the walls. In the event that they are loose, make the screws or bolts tighter at the brackets. From the inside of the garage while the door is closed, inspect the tracks for crimps, flat spots or dents. In the event that there are any spots that are damaged, use a block of wood and a hammer or a rubber mallet to pound them out. The tracks should be replaced in the event that they are badly damaged.
Tutorial Link: There is a more in depth video of how to replace your garage door rollers here. If you are a serious DIY person it is worth checking out that video as well as their site and tutorials.
Step 2
Ensure that the tracks are properly aligned by checking them with a level. The horizontal tracks are supposed to slightly slant down toward the rear of the garage; as it relates to roll-up garage doors, the vertical tracks should be precisely plumb. The two tracks have to be placed at the same elevation on the walls of the garage. In case the tracks are not aligned properly, loosen the bolts or screws but do not take out the ones that are holding the mounting brackets; carefully tap the tracks into position. Use the level to recheck the tracks to ensure that they are in the correct position, then on the mounting brackets tighten the bolts or screws.
Tutorial Link: If you are having a leveling issue with your garage and you are noticing some gaps that go beyond our hints then please check out this tutorial with a more in depth look at leveling here
Step 3
Use concentrated household cleaner to clean the tracks to get rid of hardened grease and dirt. Thoroughly clean the rollers and wipe both the rollers and the tracks dry.
Step 4
Look for loosened hardware and tighten them as required. On swing-up garage doors, examine the plates on which the spring is mounted in order to ensure that the screws are rigid and tighten the screws if they are loose. As it relates to roll-up doors, scrutinize the hinges which hold the door sections together; tighten the screws if they are loose and swap out any damaged hinges. Servicing the hinges can often correct the sagging at one side of the garage door. In case a screw hole has gotten bigger, change the screw for a longer one which has the same diameter, dip a hollow fiber plug in carpenters’ glue and use it with the new screw. In the event that the wood is split at one of the hinges, take off that hinge and use wood filler to fill the screw holes and the cracks. Allow the filler to dry and then put the hinge back on.
There are a number of different types and manufacturers of garage door systems and as such, it is very important to know when garage door repair is a do-it-yourself project and when it is time to call in a professional. Safety is paramount when repairing your garage door, so make sure that you will not be putting yourself or anybody else in danger when you attempt to carry out the repair.
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Who we are:
We are a tampa garage door repair company by the name of Bayside Garage Doors. We love the garage repair community as well as run a business on repairing garage doors in Tampa, Florida. What sets us apart is the fact we will come straight to you to make it more convienient as well as try and repair it with the upmostquality. If you would like to call us and you find your repair is too difficult please do at our toll-free number 1 (813) 433-7395.