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Automatic Opener – Quick opening mechanism that does not use an electric motor/operator

Aladdin Connect – Opener accessory manufactured by Genie Company that allows you to open, close and

check the open/close position of your door from a computer, tablet or smart phone.

Ball Bearing Roller – A garage door roller that runs in the garage door track that is manufactured with ball

bearings for smoother operation.

Battery Backup – A small ,typically 12 volt, battery that provides power for an electric garage door opener

to work in the event of an electrical outage.

Belt Drive – A type of garage door opener that utilizes a belt that is driven by an electric motor to

automatically open/close a garage door.

Bracket- Also called jamb brackets, used to attach the garage door vertical tracks to the framing on

either side of the garage door opening.

Bottom Bracket- Fixture that attaches to the bottom of the bottom panel and carries the door roller,

typically has a stud that the garage door cables attach to.

Cable- Wires twisted together to form strands with the strands then being twisted to other strands to

create cables. Cables are used to actually lift a garage door as it opens.

Car2U –  Product manufactured by Lear to provide a Home Automation system. This system will allow you

to program your car control buttons to open your garage door and or gate opener.

Chain Drive – a type of garage door opener that utilizes a chain driven by an electric motor to

automatically open/close a garage door.

C.H.I. – Garage door manufacturer  made in Arthur, IL

Clearance – Head clearance is the amount of space from the top edge of the garage door opening to the

ceiling of the garage. Side clearance is the amount of space from the sides of the garage door opening to

the side walls of the structure.

Clopay – Nationwide Garage door manufacturer base out of Ohio.

Commercial Door – a garage or overhead door used in commercial apllications.

Counterbalance – to balance with equal weight or force.

Craftsman – garage door opener system manufactured by Chamberlain, labeled for and sold at Sears.

Drum – mount to the ends of the spring bar and provide the winding and unwinding point for the cables

as the garage door opens and closes.

Door Balance – counter weight or force applied to a garage door allowing for easy opening and closing.

Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA): North America’s trade association for

manufacturers of garage doors, rolling doors, vehicular gate operators and access control products.

Double Car Garage – garages designed for two cars to be parked side by side typically at minimum 20×20

or larger. Could have one large overhead door or two small overhead doors.

Direct Drive: opener system that utilizes a stationary chain in a steel rail with a traveling motor carriage,

as opposed to a stationary motor that turns the moving chain.

Emergency Lock – An exterior lock to open the garage door from the outside. 

Extension – extension springs mount above the horizontal tracks, older style spring system.

EZ-Set –  torsion spring system manufactured by Clopay that utilizes a gear box that winds the springs

using a socket attached to a drill.

Full Vertical Lift – a type of track set up that allows a sectional door to ride up the wall vertically without

the use of horizontal tracks. Requires headroom of the height of the door plus 12” inches at minimum.

Full View Section: sectional garage door panels that are full view clear panels on each section.

Guardian: a garage door product company that is well known in Australia and New Zealand that opened

a North American headquarters in Santa Fe Springs California in 2011. Manufactures openers and other

garage door components.

Gauge – the measured weight of steel used in the production of garage doors and garage door

components including springs.

Gear –  component in a garage door opener usually made off plastic that is round with teeth. The gear is

driven by the motor and turns the chain, belt or screw as the garage door opens and closes.

Genie: company that manufactures garage door openers and garage door opener accessories under the

same name along with Overhead Door Openers and Legacy Openers.

High Cycle Spring: most standard garage door springs have a life cycle rating of 10,000. A High Cycle

Spring can be 20,000 or more life cycles. The High Cycle springs are designed with the same “IPPT” rating

(inch pounds per turn) but is a larger spring in wire gauge and length. This longer heavier spring has less

stress on the spring when fully wound, thus leading to more life cycles and longer life expectancy.

High Lift – garage door track system that allows the garage door to open to the highest level possible,

allowing for maximum head room in the garage when the door is fully open.

Hinge –  garage door hinges allow the garage door to pivot at each section as the door opens and closes.

Hinges are made of different gauge metals for different weight doors and are numbered for their

position on the door. The hinges help maintain the proper gap between the garage door and the frame

work for the garage door opening as well.

Horman – a German based company that manufactures garage doors, garage door components and

garage door openers.

Home Link – Mobile home automation system that allows you to open and close your garage door and

entry gate along with arming and disarming alarm systems and turning lights and household appliances

on and off from three buttons integrated inside your automobile.

Idrive – Wayne Dalton garage door opener system now under the name of Home Run Holdings, no longer

manufactured by Wayne Dalton.

International Door Association (IDA) – provides programs and services to door and access system dealers,

formed in 1995 when the Door and Operator Dealers Association and the Far Western Garage Door

Association merged.

Insulated Door – a door that has been insulated to help with energy loss. The R rating depends on the

product used to insulate the door and the thickness of the insulation.

Injected foam: foam that is sprayed between the panels of a garage door section to provide insulating

properties with a high “R” rating.

Inside Lock – a garage door locking system that can only be locked and unlocked from inside the garage.

Jack Shaft – a garage door opener system that eliminates the need for an overhead carrier rail system as

the garage door is opened by way of a motor attached to the spring bar, only used with torsion spring

system.

J-Bar –  A “J” shaped bar (Looks like Hockey Stick) that attaches the garage door to the garage door

opener carrier.

Keypad – wireless keypad that allows opening and closing of the garage door by entering a selected code

on the keypad.

LiftMaster – manufacturer of garage door and gate openers for residential and commercial uses.

Linear – manufacturer of residential and commercial garage door and gate openers as well as radio

control and access control systems.

Lubricant – oils and grease used to lubricate garage door systems.

Lock: garage door locks come in many styles from slide bars to keyed locks for controlling access to your

garage.

Logic Board: electronic circuit board built into a garage door opener that communicates the commands

from transmitters and other devices to open and close the garage door. Similar to circuit boards within a

computer that recognize commands and prompts to perform certain tasks.

Low Headroom Track: this system is a double track design that allows garage doors to open and close in

a situation where head clearance is a problem using standard garage door tracks.

Long-Stem Rollers: rollers with stems longer than 4” inches used mostly for commercial doors or very

large heavy residential garage doors.

Manufacturers: companies that produce and make garage door and opener products.

Marantec: German based company that manufactures garage door openers and accessories. Opened an

America based plant in 1997 in Gurnee, Il.

Metal Rollers: garage door rollers with metal wheels, can be with or without ball bearings.

MyQ –  home automation product manufactured by Chamberlain and LiftMaster that allows you to open

and close your garage door and turn lights on and off via a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Nylon Roller – Garage door roller with wheels made of nylon material.

Overhead Door – term used to describe a garage door, but also a company that manufactures and sales

garage doors, garage door accessories, garage door openers and garage door opener accessories.

Plastic Rollers – garage door rollers with wheels made of plastic material.

Rail: the rail is the part of the garage door opener that attaches to the motor and the header of the

garage door. The rail also houses the screw, belt, or chain that actually opens and closes the garage

door.

Roller – the component of the garage door that helps hold the door in place and travels in the tracks as

the garage door opens and closes. Rollers can be made of metal, plastic and nylon and can be with or

without ball bearings.

Roll Up Door: usually used for commercial applications, the door does not utilize horizontal tracks as the

doors rolls around a cylindrical coil spring.

R Value – the value of thermal resistance use in the building and construction industry.

Residential – term use to describe uses for homes as opposed to commercial applications.

Screw Drive – a type of garage door opener that utilizes a screw attached to the opener motor that drives

the garage door when opening and closing.

Short Stem Roller: a garage door roller that has a 4” inch long shaft. Used for most standard residential

garage doors.

Single Car Garage – a garage designed and built to accommodate only one vehicle.

Spring – typical garage door springs are either extension or torsion springs that provide the

counterbalance for the weight of the garage door, making the door easy to open and close.

Steel Back – this refers to a door with steel panels on both sides with foam insulation between the two

panels.

Stile – metal brackets that provide structural support for the garage door and mounting locations for

hardware.

Strut – metal reinforcement pieces that attach horizontally across the inside of garage door to add

strength to the garage door. Prevents sagging and bowing to wide heavy garage doors.

Smartphone Control: home automation programs available that allow you to open and close your

garage door from a smartphone or tablet.

Torque master – counterbalance spring system designed by Wayne Dalton where the spring(s) are

contained inside a steel tube that is mounted above the garage door opening.

Torsion Bar – steel bar mounted above the garage door opening that holds the torsion spring(s) with a

drum mounted at each end of the torsion bar.

Track: garage door tracks are made of steel and help support the weight of the door as the door opens

and closes and hold the door in place. The tracks also carry the rollers as the door travels.

Transmitter – transmits a radio signal that opens and closes the garage door, the garage door remote is

the transmitter with a receiver located within the garage door motor housing.

Trim: wood or vinyl molding around the garage door opening that helps to create a seal between the

garage door and the garage door opening frame.

Two Car Garage: a garage designed for two vehicles at minimum 16’x20’ but can be larger.

U-Value: measure of heat flow through insulation or building material: the lower the value, the better

the insulating ability.

Universal Remote: a garage door remote that can be programmed to work with many different garage

door openers and even different brands of openers.

Weather-strip: rubber seal or gasket that helps prevent wind and moisture from entering through an

opening, like a garage door or window.

Wind Load –  the ability of a product, garage door, to withstand high speed winds, such as hurricanes and

tornadoes.

Vertical Track: the section of track that runs vertically beside the sides of the garage door opening.

Vault Lock: lock system that allows you to enter through the garage door if the opener or remote stops

working. Lock and cable system that attaches to the garage door opener emergency release cord

allowing the door to be disconnected from the opener trolley from outside the door with the door

closed.

Z-Bearing Roller – rollers with ball bearings that are sealed to prevent dirt, moisture and other

contaminants from harming the ball bearings.

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Your garage door is probably the largest open in your home, and requires the largest door in your home. 

The garage door works with many components all working together to form one system. The garage 

door  not only helps seal your home from the elements, but provides security for the items in your 

garage and house.

The first thing in the system is the door itself. The size, shape and weight of the Garage door will 

determine what is needed for the other parts of the garage door system. For your door you can choose 

many different materials from wood to metal to vinyl. The styles range from very modern smooth panel 

doors to carriage style, decorative doors. The garage door can have windows or no windows and you 

can choose to have your door built with or without insulation. Depending on where you live you can 

even choose to have a wind rated garage door. Check your local building code and homeowners 

association for requirements in your area. The choice of material and styles is up to you and your 

Once you know the style of door you want, what material you want it constructed with and what other 

features you desire, then the proper hardware can be determined. The next component you need to 

decide on is the spring system. In all cases we recommend a torsion spring system although you could 

choose to use extension springs. You must know the weight of the garage door to determine what 

spring(s) you will need and the number of springs your garage door will require.

The weight of the door will also help you decide on the gauge of steel needed for the garage door tracks 

and even the hinges. The heavier the garage door the stronger steel you will need for the tracks and 

hinges. If the steel is too light weight it will lead to premature failure.

There are also a selection of cables and drums designed for larger heavier garage doors. It is important 

with large heavy doors to use larger drums and heavier gauge cables. Remember the springs provide the 

strength to counter balance the weight of the garage door while the cables and drums do the lifting. 

Finally are the rollers that help the door travel smoothly up and down in the garage door tracks. The 

choices are start with plastic rollers with no ball bearings, steel rollers with or without ball bearings and 

then nylon rollers with different numbers of ball bearings and even sealed ball bearing designs. For large 

heavy doors we recommend nylon sealed bearing rollers (z-bearing) while with lighter doors  other 

rollers will work as well. Much of the noise from a garage door system come from the rollers, so you 

have choices in quality that will affect the noise the rollers produce.

The final component is the garage door opener. There are many choices and manufacturers to choose 

from. The first decision is whether you want a screw drive, chain drive , belt drive and even a jack shaft 

garage door opener. 

First  let’s consider the screw drive opener. This opener utilizes a motor that turns the screw that opens 

and closes the garage door. This system utilizes a slider that the screw drives when opening and closing 

The chain drive and belt drive utilize a similar system. The opener motor is attached to a gear and 

sprocket. The sprocket driven by the gear moves the chain or belt to open and close the garage door. A 

chain is very strong, but can be noisy while the belt made of Kevlar is almost as strong as the chain and 

much quieter than either the chain or the screw drive. The chain or belt pushes the slider up and down 

as the garage door opens and closes.

Finally is the jack shaft designed garage door opener. The jack shaft opener does not utilize overhead 

rails like the screw, chain and belt drive. This system utilizes a motor that turns the torsion tube/spring 

bar to open and close the garage door. This system is very strong and quite, but is more expensive than 

the other systems available. This system will only work with a torsion spring system, but will also work if 

head clearance is an issue with the other openers. This system does require enough clearance on the 

sides of the garage door as the opener motor mounts to the side of the garage door as opposed to being 

mounted in the center of the garage.

Next think about the difference between garage door openers you buy at your local home improvement 

store and professional models. The biggest difference is in the rails, professional models utilize one 

piece rails while the models you buy at your local home improvement store use sectional rails that must 

be bolted together. The single piece rails in professional models are much stronger and easier to install 

than sectional rails. There are also differences in the some of the gears and electrical components inside 

the motor of the professional  model making them stronger than the ones you buy at a local home 

improvement store.

These components along with the associated hardware all make the garage door system work efficiently 

in opening and closing the garage door. Your personal style and budget will determine what type and 

style of door you will choose to install at your home. 

Remember the more decorative and features you want on your garage door the more you will have to 

pay for those features. Do not skimp on the components you install on your door as they directly affect 

the way the door functions. The same is true for electric garage door openers. Make sure you choose a 

model with enough horse power to open and close your garage door. The heavier the door the stronger 

the garage door opener should be. If a quiet door is important I recommend the belt drive or jack-shaft, 

but again you have many options to fit your desires and budget.

Prices will vary widely depending on what style and design door you choose and what type of electric 

garage door opener you choose. 

Remember: Always check your local building codes and homeowners association guidelines to make 

sure the garage door you choose meets the guidelines in your area.

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Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring system is a system that was developed in an attempt to improve on

the torsion spring system. Torquemaster systems use a spring system that is enclosed inside a hollow

torque tube that mounts on the header above the garage door opening.  It is similar to a standard

torsion spring system in that it uses cables and drums to do the lifting with the spring(s) providing the

force to balance the weight of the garage door.

Torquemaster systems are sold exclusively by Wayne Dalton and several changes have occurred over

the past few years  to the Torquemaster system in an attempt to improve its function. The

Torquemaster system utilize smaller springs that are inside the torque tube rather than the larger higher

rated springs in standard torsion springs. It is very difficult to tell if a Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring

has broken because the spring is not visible. The only way to diagnose this is if the door is difficult to

open. In standard torsion spring systems you can visibly see that the spring is broken.

The Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system utilizes parts similar to a standard torsion spring system, but

also use more moving parts that can fail. First there is a torque tube that holds the spring(s) inside it

along with a plastic spacer tube to prevent the spring(s) from rattling as the garage door opens and

closes. There can be one or two springs in this system, but the only way to know is to look for the

adjustment cone and gear at each end. In one spring systems the adjustment cone will be only on the

right side and in two spring systems there will be an adjustment cone and gear on each end. 

These gears, whether made of metal or plastic, are another point of failure not present on standard torsion

spring systems.  Torquemaster utilizes a center support bracket, but it is only to support the weight of

the torque tube. The end plates are also different. Torquemaster end brackets are designed to hold the

adjustment cone and gears. Then there are the drums and cables. The drums are made of plastic and are

only about 2 inches in diameter as opposed to the 4 inches or larger for standard torsion spring systems.

The smaller drums require longer cables. The smaller drums also require winding the springs more,

which causes the spring(s) to fail sooner.

Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring systems as we have already discussed  uses springs that are hidden

inside the torque tube. This, at first, seems like a reasonable idea as if the spring is inside the torque

tube it will be protected from dirt and rust that cause premature failure.  The problem is that the springs

are made with a much smaller gauge wire that has to be wound more. This additional winding leads to a

shorter life for the springs. Another problem with the Torquemaster design is that it uses a gear box at

the ends. These gear boxes whether made of plastic or metal are subject to breakage and failure. The

Torquemaster system also utilizes smaller drums which in turn calls for more winds of the spring. The

more you wind a spring the shorter the life span of the spring. These factors lead me to the opinion that

the Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system is far inferior to a standard torsion spring system.

If you have a Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system and the spring(s) have failed, it is possible to replace

the springs, although we recommend converting to a standard torsion spring system.

If you choose to repair the Torquemaster system it will require quite a bit of time and labor. First you

must release any tension on the spring(s). To do this you will have to loosen the retainer bolts at the

ends by the adjustment cones and gears. Depending on what model system you have you will use a drill

with a socket adapter or wrench to unwind the tension on the spring(s). The adjustment cone has

numbers from 0-20. When the spring is completely unwound it should have the zero lined up with the

hash mark. Once the spring is unwound you will have to disassemble the winding cone and gears. It is

important to inspect the gears for damage and replace if necessary. Start on the right side of the garage

door and then proceed to the left side. There will only be an adjustment cone and gears on the left side

if the system has two springs. Once the left side is disassembled , the center support bracket tab must

be bent to allow the torque tube to be removed. Next you will have to remove the torque tube and

place it on the ground. Next you will need to remove the spring from the right side and then from the

left side if two springs are present. Removing the springs can be difficult as the plastic spacer must also

be removed from the tube along with the spring(s). Once the old springs are removed you will need to

install the new springs and plastic spacers into the torque tube. When installing the new springs it is

normal for a small portion of the spring as well as the shaft to extend out past the end of the torque

tube. You will need to use vice grips to hold the springs in place while you raise the torque tube and

reinstall the adjustment cones and gears. Start reinstallation on the right side and then proceed to the

left side. Once you have reinstalled the adjustment cones and gears you will need to rewind the

spring(s) using either an electric drill or wrench depending on the system you have. Start with the right

side and then proceed to the left side. The number of winds required is dependent on the height of the

garage door. Before you begin you will need to get accurate measurements of size and weight of the

garage door so that proper replacement springs are ordered. You will also have to order appropriate

replacement gears and adjustment cones if needed for your Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system.

As I stated earlier we recommend converting Wayne Dalton Torquemaster systems to standard torsion

spring systems. The standard torsion spring system parts are more reliable and more readily available. I

also like being able to visually inspect the spring(s) and to perform periodic oiling of the standard torsion

springs. Keeping the torsion springs lubricated helps prolong the life of the spring(s) and helps reduce

stress on other components of the garage door system.

The post What is the Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster springs system? appeared first on Veteran Garage Door Repair Dallas - Fort Worth | No Drive Up Fee.

The EZ-Spring system is a spring system that was designed by Ideal Door and is now sold under the Ideal

Door name and Clopay name. The EZ-Spring system was designed to make installing both extension

springs and torsion springs easier and safer. Both systems work very similarly to standard extension

springs and torsion springs.

EZ-Set Extension Springs:

Extension springs are mounted above the horizontal tracks on both sides of the garage door. The

extension springs attach at the top end to the garage door track support brackets . The other end of the

spring is attached to a pulley using a fork. A cable that attaches to the bottom bracket on the bottom

panel of each side of the garage door travels up the height of the garage door around one pulley and

then around the spring pulley. The cable then attaches to an adjustment bracket that connects to the

track braces. The springs are then adjusted by feeding the cable through the adjustment clip. The

springs counter balance the weight of the garage door making it possible to open and close the garage

The EZ-Set  extension spring system uses a spring stretching mechanism that is secured to the track near

the front fixed pulley. A cable in the stretching mechanism runs through a pulley attached to the

extension spring then around the front fixed pulley  and down the door to the bottom bracket where it

attaches on each side of the door. A standard drill is then attached to the spring stretching mechanism

and the cable is shortened which in turn stretches the spring, counter balancing the weight of the

garage door. If both extension springs are properly stretched, then the door will be balanced.

In all extension spring systems, standard or EZ-Set, it is highly recommended that a safety cable/ spring

containment cable be used to prevent the spring from flying loose causing serious damage to property

and serious damage even death to people and animals. The safety cable/spring containment cable is a

cable that is attached at each end to the garage door track brackets and runs through the entire length

of the extensions spring. This cable controls the spring if it breaks preventing the spring from becoming

Torsion springs are the standard in the garage door industry today. Torsion springs are a system of

springs that counter balance the weight of the garage using a spring bar/torsion tube mounted above

the header of the garage door opening on the inside of the opening. This system utilizes a center bracket

and bearing along with end bearing plates and drums and cable on each end of the spring bar/torsion

tube. This system works because the spring(s) are wound, the spring(s) provide the force to counter

balance the weight of the door. Cables are attached to the bottom brackets on the bottom of the

bottom panel/section on each side of the garage door. The cables run up the height of the garage door

and the attach to the drums that are on both ends of the spring bar/torsion tube. The cables wind

around the drums as the garage door opens, and unwind as the garage door closes. The cables and

drums do the lifting while the spring(s) provide the force. The center bracket in the system secures the

spring(s) to be wound. The spring bar/torsion tube runs through the center bracket and each end of the

spring bar/torsion tube goes through the end bearing plates, securing the spring bar/torsion tube at the

ends. The drums mount on the spring bar/torsion tube at each end and are mounted to the inside of the

end bearing plates. In regular torsion spring systems the springs are mounted at or near the center of

the garage door and can utilize one spring, two springs or multiple springs. If more than two springs are

used, then extra center brackets and bearings must also be used. The number of springs needed to

counter balance the garage door is based on the weight of the garage door and its components.

The EZ-Set torsion springs work the same way as standard torsion springs, but the application and parts

are different. The EZ-Set torsion springs do not utilize a center bracket and bearing, but do utilize a

center support for wide and or heavy garage doors. In the EZ-Set system the spring(s) do not mount in

the center of the garage door, but to the sides. They still utilize end bearing plates, but these plates are

different than the ones used in standard torsion spring systems. The EZ-Set torsion spring system uses a

different winding system. Standard torsion springs are hand wound using winding bars. EZ-Set torsion

springs are wound using a standard electric drill. The EZ-Set system uses a different type of torsion

spring as well. EZ-Set springs have a cone at one end that attaches to the spring bar/torsion tube on one

end of the spring and the other end uses a cone that is attached to spring winder. The EZ-Set also utilizes

drums and cables that attach at both ends of the spring bar/torsion tube to the inside of the end bearing

plates. Rather than hand winding the spring(s), in the EZ-Set system a standard electric drill is attached

to the spring winder. The drill is then used to wind the springs to counter balance the weight of the

garage door. The EZ-Set system typically only uses one spring that is mounted on the left side of the

garage door, but you can order and install a second spring and spring winder that can be mounted on

the right side of the garage door as well.

The EZ-Set systems do provide an alternative to standard extension and torsion spring systems, but they

do have their own set of problems and limitations. In the extension spring system, you are depending on

an additional moving part to stretch the spring. The spring stretching mechanism can fail as well as the

spring, and using a drill to stretch the spring provides the added possibility of over stretching the spring.

The EZ-Set torsion spring system has limitations in the amount of weight the springs can lift and do not

provide options for more than two spring being used. There is also the added spring winder that can fail

as well as the spring. This spring winder is another moving part that will require maintenance and

eventual replacement. The use of an electric drill also brings up the issue of over winding the spring that

can cause premature failure and make the door too hot when opening.

It is my opinion that the EZ-Set system will work on smaller lighter doors, but a standard torsion spring

system is still a better choice. Installation of either system should only be done by a trained garage door

technician, and I believe the additional moving parts and limitations to weight on the EZ-Set systems

make it a less desirable choice. There will be added expense to an EZ-Set system as it requires the spring

stretching mechanism on extension springs and the spring winder on torsion springs.

The post What is the EZ-Set spring system? appeared first on Veteran Garage Door Repair Dallas - Fort Worth | No Drive Up Fee.

Garage doors have become statements and design elements in many home designs today. While function should still be the primary goal, garage door styles, designs and colors are proving to be equally important. Early garage doors were hinged on the sides and swung open, these doors function very well, but require a great deal of space. One piece garage doors swing open and closed on a pivot point. these function, but do not allow for a good seal between garage door and the frame and are often times very heavy. Sectional garage doors are the most common type of garage doors we see today. Sectional garage doors are made of separate panels that hinge together, and open and close using tracks, wheels, pulleys, cables and springs. Sectional garage doors can be made of many types of products like steel, aluminum, vinyl and wood. There are also rollup doors that rollup and wrap around in a cylindrical fashion, these are most often seen in commercial applications. In the UK they have developed Round the Corner garage doors. These type doors are similar to sectional doors that run in an over head and floor mounted track and are a interesting option if you have low clearance or minimal space in your garage.

Carriage Doors

Carriage doors are doors that hinge on the sides and swing open. In design they look like carriage house doors from Southern Plantation style homes. This style of door has become a design preference for many people, but they require lots of room to swing open and closed. Since look has become so important, sectional doors are now being made that look like carriage doors, but since they are sectional they open up and down using sectional door technology. This is a great design option to attain the carriage door look without space requirements of true carriage doors.

One Piece Garage Doors

As described earlier one piece garage doors are made of one continuous panel that pivots open and closed using extension springs. These doors can be made of wood, steel, aluminum and many other products. While One Piece Garage doors were the norm many years ago, today you will find them mostly on older homes. Many older homes today have had their garage doors changed out to sectional doors. One piece garage doors are still available on the market today, but there are few styles to choose from compared to sectional garage doors.

Sectional Garage Doors

This is the most common type of door seen in the residential market today. Sectional garage doors come in many styles, colors, sizes, and shapes including the carriage style we discussed earlier. Sectional doors can be customized with windows and decorative hardware to fit your design choices.

Roll Up Garage Doors

This style of door is most often seen in commercial applications, but could be used in residential construction as well. These doors roll up around a coil above the garage door opening. There are limited styles and colors for this type of door.

When looking at the types of garage doors available, you will also want to consider the gauge of metal you want the garage door to be made from and whether you wanted an insulated door or not. If you live on the coast or in a part of the country that experiences high winds or frequent tornados, you might also consider a door that is reinforced to help protect from high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes.

When choosing the gauge of metal used for your garage door remember the smaller the number, the thicker or heavier/stronger the metal is. I would recommend 24 or 25 gauge as opposed to the thinner/weaker 27 or 28 gauge metal. You might also consider fiberglass, vinyl or wood panels as well. The benefits of vinyl or fiber glass is dent resistance, but the risk is the panels break or crack if impacted by some objects. The benefit of wood is the strength and repair ability, but the draw backs are wood rot, the weight of the door and maintenance required on wooden doors.

Design Elements

In today’s garage door industry, beauty is almost as important as function in garage doors. Garage door manufacturers now offer many different design elements. These design elements range from color choices to windows to textures to stampings in the garage door panels. You may want a classic carriage house design or you may want a contemporary look or one of many options in between. Most residential garage doors today have a wood grain look and feel, but you can choose panels that are smooth with no texture at all. You can also choose what design is stamped into the door be it small panels, large panels or again smooth with no stamped panels at all. Garage doors come in many sizes and shapes. The most common residential garage door sizes are 16X7, 16X8, 14X7, 14X8, 12X7, 12X8, 9X7, 9X8, 8X7 and8X8. However, there are garage doors that arch and that tapper at the top, with styles to fit those designs as well.

Hollow Back Garage Doors

A hollow back garage door refers to the inside of the door being hollow meaning there is a layer of covering on the outside of the garage door only. Inside the garage door spines and support structures are visible.

Insulated Garage Doors

Insulated garage doors are just that, insulation is applied to the inside of the garage door and can help keep your garage color in the summer and warmer in the winter. Insulated garage doors can have a major impact on your homes energy usage as the garage door is typically the largest opening in your home.

There are many design options for you to consider for your garage door. There is also a wide range of pricing dependent on the design choices you make. There are garage door options to fit every budget.

You will need to research the different manufacturers to find the style that fits your needs.

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The Homelink system is preinstalled in most newer model vehicles or may only be available as part of an upgraded equipment package. The Homelink system allows you to control items such as garage door openers, gate openers, lights, RF frequency locks and other RF frequency small appliances. The Homelink works on RF frequency between 288-433.

To program Homelink the remote for the device must be present and will have to be placed within 2-3 inches of the Homelink controls in the vehicle for programming purposes.

The beauty of the Homelink system is that the controls are always in the same location and are attached to the vehicle, so a remote would not be needed in Homelink equipped vehicles. The Homelink system is compatible with multiple devices allowing you to program different button on your Homelink for different purposes,

for example one button could be programmed to open a gate at your home or community while another button can be programmed to open your garage door and a third to unlock your house, all done safely from the inside of your Homelink equipped vehicle. This again eliminates the need for one or more remotes in your Homelink equipped vehicle.

Compatibility:

The Homelink system is compatible with the following Garage Door Opener Systems:

Allstar                                                Guardian                   Overhead Door

Chamberlain                         Horman                      Sommer Home Automations

Craftsman                              Lift Master                 Wayne Dalton

DKS DoorKing                                    Linear

Genie                                     Marantec

Gate Openers:

Allstar            Chamberlain             DKS DoorKing

Chamberlain Elite               Linear                         Chamberlain Sentex

You may purchase a Homelink Compatibility Bridge Kit that is designed to allow compatibility between a newer Chamberlain, Sears Craftsman, or LiftMaster garage door opener fitted with a yellow antenna wire and the HomeLink system in your vehicle. These openers were made in 2011 or later.

To program your Homelink System you will need to look up the programming instructions for particular vehicle as well as for your particular brand and model number openers. These instructions can be found at the Homelink website.

*Note: Before you begin programming your Homelink System, make sure you have fresh strong batteries in your remote. Weak batteries may not put out enough signal strength to allow the Homelink System to learn the remote frequency code. You may also need to locate and press the learn button on the back of your garage door opener. This requires the use of a step ladder, always use caution while using a ladder to prevent accidental falls. Be sure to read and follow the programming instructions found on the Homelink Website for both your vehicle and your brand and model number opener or other device to be programmed.

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On the earliest garage door openers, the door could only be opened by a keypad mounted outside the garage door and hardwired in or a push button inside the garage. As technology improved the remote was invented and originally one remote would open your garage door, but it would also up any other garage door it was in range of.

Next came the invention of the DIP pin system (Also called DIP switch) were each opener and remote had 12 DIP pins. The DIP pins on the opener unit would be set identical to the DIP pins on the remote. This allowed each opener to have its own preset code.

Then came the changing DIP pins that would allow the owner to program one or more remotes to their opener. This was accomplished by sliding each of the nine DIP pins into matching position on the opener and the remotes. These DIP pin settings would set the frequency the opener and remote operated on. These DIP pins frequencies operated in the 300-400 MHZ range. This system worked fine until security became an issue because remotes were developed to quickly run through all frequencies in the 300-400 MHZ range thus finding the correct frequency to open a given garage door. Criminals also found they could make code grabbers that could record and retransmit a signal to open a garage door.

The next stage of remotes operated in the 390 MHZ frequency, but new technology provided for rolling codes. This system automatically recoded both the transmitter(remote) and the receiver(opener) to a new but common code each time the remote was used to open or close the garage door. This system made it virtually impossible for a criminal to record and duplicate the code used to open and close the garage door.

The next stage still used rolling codes, but switched to the 315MHZ to get away from the Land Mobile Radio System (LMRS) used by the U.S. Military. This change helped decrease interference since most things operate on 390 MHZ. Most modern remotes operate on a rolling code type system and dependant on the brand operate on 310, 315 and 390 MHZ.

The need for security has brought about most of these changes and as technology improves and changes we are sure more changes will come for garage door openers and remotes.

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Garage Door Cables Are strands of wire twisted together and then bundled and twisted to form cables that are strong enough to lift the garage door. Garage Door cables are the component that actually carry the load of the door when opening and closing. Many things go Into the strength rating for garage door cables. First are the wires themselves typically made of aircraft aluminum or stainless steel to reduce corrosion to the wires. Next are the number of individual wires in each strand and finally the number of strands in each bundle. The heavier the garage door, the stronger the cable should be. Garage door cables have a loop at one end that attaches to the bottom bracket of the garage door and at the opposite end there will be a stop and sometimes a slide stop that attach to the drums(for torsion spring systems). The loops can be simple open loops, loops with spools, or loops with a thimble.

In a torsion spring system the loop of the cable attaches to a stud on the bottom bracket on either side of the garage door. The cable is then run up the height of the garage door and the stop or slide stop if present attaches to the drum. As the door goes up the cable winds itself around the drum and as the door closes the cable unwinds from the drum. The drum is attached to the torsion tube at the top of the garage door opening. In this type of system the torsion spring/s provide the force via the torsion tube through the drums to the cables to open and close the garage door.

In an extension spring system the loop attaches to the stud on the bottom bracket on either side of the garage door and threads up the height of the garage door and through a pulley system that attaches to the extension spring. The cable attaches at the open end back to the garage door track. The other end of the extension spring attaches via a hook to the track support bracket near the ceiling. In this type system the cable running through a series of pulleys and attaching to the extension springs provides the force to open and close the garage door.

Safety cables are only used in extension spring systems. The safety cable run through the extension springs and attach at each end. These safety cables prevent the extension spring from exploding if it breaks or comes loose causing damage to property and or life. Extensions springs can be very dangerous.

*Note: Safety cables are only needed in an extension spring set up.

Garage door cables come in varying lengths depending on the height of the garage door, but as a rule the cables should be 18″ inches longer than the height of the garage door. The easiest way is to purchase cables premade for your garage door height, but you can purchase the parts and make your own cables.

Standard Garage Door Cable Strengths

As stated earlier the strength of garage door cables are based on the number of wires twisted together to form an strand and the number of strands twisted together to form a cable.

A 7X7 cable would have seven wires twisted together to form a strand and seven strands twisted together to form a cable.

A 7X19 cable would have 19 wires twisted together to form a strand and seven strands twisted together to form a cable.

The diameter of the cable is the total size of the cable with all strands twisted together.

The following list gives standard cable sizes and weight ratings:

3/32nd inch 7X7   920 pounds1/8th inch 7X7       1700 pounds

1/8th inch 7X7       2000 pounds

5/32nd inch 7X19   2800 pounds

3/16th inch 7X19   4200 pounds

All of these cables have the strength needed to lift most standard garage doors, but if your door is custom or heavier be sure the cables used are rated to carry the load they are being asked to carry.

When inspecting and servicing your garage door, remember to check your cables for fraying or kinking and replace as necessary. It is also a good idea to apply a thin coat of lubricant to the cables as needed to prolong the life of the cables.

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Designed to house as well as guide the rollers, garage door tracks help to oversee the smooth travel of the garage door. To fend off corrosion and rust, tracks are galvanized. Vertical tracks are available in various lengths, but most commonly range from six feet, four inches to 14 feet, four inches. They are most often found in graduations of 12 inches.

Tracks are available in three different widths, one, two and three inches. Standard residential and commercial doors most often require a two-inch track. Heavy duty industrial and commercial garage doors sometimes require a three-inch track. The smaller one-inch tracks are found in semi-truck trailer doors. Tracks play an important role in the proper operation of the garage door.

If you select the wrong size track for your garage door, you won’t have proper operation. It is important to make sure you choose the tracks that are the right size for your project so you can ensure optimal results.

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