Canadian Overhead Door Services

F.A.Q’s

Why use a professional garage door installation company?

The garage door is the largest moving object in your home, and several parts are under very high tension. Improper installation and repairs could cause serious injury, entrapment or even death. Here are just a few other benefits of choosing a professional:

• Employ technicians who have knowledge of safety requirements and regulations
• Possess liability and WCB insurance
• Dealer volume purchasing saves you money
• Support product and service warranties
• Provide information regarding safety features and precautions
• Years of experience with installations and preventative maintenance
• Removal and disposal of your old door

What is my ROI (return on Investment) on the new door I’m thinking of buying for my house?

In November, Remodeling Magazine released its 24th annual Cost vs. Value Report. The “garage door replacement” was included among the 35 home projects analyzed. A midrange garage door replacement ranked as the #2 project that recoups most of its cost when a home is sold at 83.9%. A new garage door ranked #4.

Can I replace only the sections and use my old hardware on a new garage door?

The hardware supplied with a new door is only a small percentage of the total cost of the package. It is a good idea and investment to ensure that the door operates correctly and safely. When your new track system is installed, all parts are balanced and aligned with respect to the new door. This can help prevent injury and damage caused by incompatible parts and also help maintain product warranties. Failure to use all supplied hardware will void the factory warranty.

How much does a new garage door cost?

When pricing a door, the main criteria are the type of door and size of door; however, many other factors and options can affect the pricing. Most dealers can give you a fairly accurate estimate over the phone but it’s best to provide as much detail as possible about measurements and site conditions.

What is the standard size for a residential garage door?

When dealing with garage doors, always refer to the width first. eg. Width x Height = 16’x7’ Most door styles are available in 8’, 9’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’ and 18’ widths with 9’ and 16’ being the most common sizes. Many of our doors styles can also be custom built in 1” increments. Residential doors are usually 7’ or 8’ in height but are available in other sizes as well. Please contact your local dealer for specific odd width and height enquiries.

How does the rough opening of my garage relate to the actual door size?

If you are building a garage, the rough opening should be the same size as the door you wish to install. The door will be placed on the inside of the opening and weather strip can be used to prevent rain and wind from penetrating any gaps. If you need to order a door for an existing opening, provide your dealer with the exact width and height of the opening, how much side room is available on each side, and how much headroom there is above the opening.

How much headroom is required to install a garage door?

Headroom varies with the type of hardware used. Most doors can typically be installed with 12” to 15” of headroom plus an extra 2” for an electric opener. Special low headroom hardware is also available which allows a door to be installed when there is as little as 5” of headroom.

What is R-value and how is it measured?

Many manufacturers use R-values to show the energy efficiency of their product. R-value can be listed in 2 different ways: Calculated R-value and Actual R-value. Calculated R-value is based on a calculation that only incorporates the type of insulation, the thickness and the outer steel sheet. This is a theoretical number based on 1 point in the middle of the section. Actual R-value is based on lab testing that incorporates section joints, thermal break efficiency and all areas of a door. This number is typically lower than the calculated value but represents the true R-value that your full door will provide.

What does increasing R-Value mean?

The fuel savings for a 16’x7′ garage door in the mid United States, calculated using standard heat transfer principals is as follows. If the low R-Value door is an R-8 and the other door is an R-16, the total savings with natural gas at $0.60 per therm would only be $4.72 per year. This is assuming that the garage is heated to 65 deg.F. If the space is unheated, the savings would be much smaller.

What are garage doors made of?

Doors are constructed of non-insulated steel, insulated steel, wood or aluminum. Insulations are CFC free and the steel contains a percentage of recycled material to ensure your garage door is environmentally sensitive.

What types of doors are available?

Designs range between flush panel, raised-panel, and carriage house style doors. Windows with single or double glazed glass are available with a large range of design inserts. If you don’t see something on our website, talk to your dealer about custom applications.

Can I paint the door once it’s installed?

With so many types of doors available today made with different materials and finishes it is best to contact the manufacturer for specific instructions. For instructions on painting your Therma-shield door please click here (PDF, 11kb).

Does my garage door require periodic maintenance?

Yes, all garage doors require maintenance. We recommend a brief monthly routine as well as a comprehensive yearly maintenance routine:

1. Each month give a visual inspection of all parts of your door. Ensure tracks, rollers and hinges are clean and lubricated.
2. All moving parts should be free of debris and all nuts and bolts should be at least finger tight.
3. Manually run your door through a complete cycle to make sure it runs smoothly.
4. Check the door balance by opening the door manually; the door should stay open by itself at about 3-4 feet off the ground. It should also stay open at the top, not dropping below the header.
5. If you suspect any excessive wear, damage or any other problem, contact a professional door dealer for servicing.
6. We recommend that your comprehensive annual maintenance check be done by a professional. They will do a complete check of your door system including the torsion spring balance.

What should I do if my torsion spring breaks?

Residential torsion springs provide the force needed to lift your garage door and they are designed to run through 10,000 cycles. The spring tension is greatest when the door is fully closed so this is usually when a spring will break. If your spring breaks you will likely hear a loud bang and your door will be very hard if not impossible to lift. When this happens, DO NOT attempt to remove or repair the spring yourself, call a professional technician in for repair as torsion springs can be extremely dangerous to work on without the proper tools and training. If you have two springs and only one breaks, it is wise to replace both at the same time. The second spring has likely exhausted its cycle life and will break soon as well.