A garage door is typically a large, heavy door above a garage which opens via an electrical motor or manually. Garage doors are often quite large enough to comfortably accommodate cars and several other vehicles. Occasionally, smaller garage doors can be constructed from a single panel that tilts up and away from the garage roof. This is referred to as tilt-up garage doorways. Tilt-up garage doors can be useful in homes where the garage is small and there is not much room for installation of overhead garage doors.
The majority of garage doors are controlled by tension springs that lift the entire door upwards and out of the way to open it. There are also tension spring assemblies that help lower the door when closed. The springs wear out over time and need to be replaced. However, it is possible for you to extend the life of your garage doors by maintaining and cleaning them on a regular basis. In addition to removing dirt, grease, and dust from the springs, oil the moving parts using transmission grease.
Torsion Springs One of the more common methods of operating a garage door is through the use of torsion springs. A torsion spring is a wire coil wound tightly around a shaft. The torsion spring helps to lift the door smoothly as well as smoothly pull it down. Garage doors that use torsion springs generally have roller tracks along with overhead hinges. Garage door springs can be installed using double-sided tape or nail.
Rollers One of the more complex operations required to operate a garage door is the operation of the rollers. The rollers are typically made from either steel or nylon and feature groove systems as well as tapered rollers. Rollers may also contain springs that are wound tightly on both sides. Many garage door companies offer a variety of different styles of rollers and you should inquire about the different types available before purchasing a roller if you are not familiar with the features.
If you are purchasing rollers for your new garage door, you should know that the larger the opening the more expensive the rollers will be. Rollers range in size from two-thirds inch all the way up to three-eighths of an inch. The price of rollers will also depend upon the type of steel that they are made from as well as the design of the rollers. The most popular materials for rollers include brass, steel, and aluminum.
Garage door openers usually come equipped with torsion springs. You should make sure that your rollers are strong enough to support the weight of your garage door before installing the springs. The springs must be installed using a qualified professional because the torsion spring must be connected to a shaft that is properly supported. There are two types of springs used for the purpose of mounting rollers, the extension spring and the torsion spring. Extension springs are usually installed in pairs, while torsion springs are installed singly. Extension springs have the advantage of being able to provide additional support when the door begins to open, while torsion springs are more reliable for extra support only.