Helpful Tools & Tips
FAQs About New Garage Doors
When should I replace a garage door with a new one?
If your garage door does not operate, the door is a potential hazard. Do not try to fix on your own, instead contact a professionally trained garage door dealer. Another reason to replace a garage door is to enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to the 2010 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement is the #2 remodeling project in regards to return on investment. The report states that replacing your garage door will return 84% of the cost at the time of home sale. Lastly, your current garage door may be fading, sagging and just in need of a replacement. If you have a wood garage door that needs re-painting, replacing it with a new pre-painted steel garage door may be a better value. Painting a garage door adds significant weight to a door which may affect the spring and the performance of the garage door and opener.
What is the best garage door for me?
Each homeowner has unique needs for a new garage door based on the desired styling, the level of care & maintenance required, the energy efficiency and the location of the garage in one’s home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits you are:
- Determine the material that best suits the care & maintenance that you desire.
- Choose the door design that best complements your home, including window, color and decorative hardware options.
- Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction that best suits your needs depending on if you have a room above or adjacent to your garage or have children that play in front of the garage.
Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.
Yes. Residential doors are available in widths between 6′ and 20′ in two inch increments and in heights between 6’6″ and 12′ (not all door models are available in this range of widths).
My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
Standard headroom applications require 12″ to 18″ of space between the bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. A variety of special track options is available and makes it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door with a garage door opener in an area that has as little as 9-1/2″ of headroom. Other special track applications include:
- Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
- Follow-the-roofline track, which is used when the ceiling of the garage is pitched at the angle of the roof, making it desirable for the door to follow the same angle, thus providing additional overhead room.
- Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.
Do I need to have the windows at the top of the door?
Windows can be placed in any section of the door layout.
I'd like windows in my garage door, but I'm concerned about security.
Amarr has designed DecraGlass™ to be safe, secure windows for your garage doors. DecraGlass™ windows are tempered, translucent windows that feature beautiful designs to compliment the style of your home.
Do I need a lock on my garage door?
If an electric garage door opener has been installed on your door, it may not be necessary to have a lock. Properly installed, electric openers can function as the lock, making it improbable that an intruder would be able to lift your door from the outside. If you have an older opener, check to see if your door can be lifted from the outside. DASMA, the trade association for the garage door industry, discourages homeowners from attaching a lock when an opener has been installed, because too frequently, a child or other family member will accidentally lock the door. If someone then tries to open the door using the electric opener, the opener will pull against the lock causing the door to be damaged. If no opener is installed on your garage door, a lock is highly recommended.
What type of spring is better...extension or torsion?
The two types of springs used on garage doors today are extension and torsion springs. Extension springs are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal track when the door is closed. Torsion springs are typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted to the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when the door is moved. Torsion springs are a better choice because they balance the weight of the door better than extension springs for smoother operation and safety.
Why should I choose an insulated door?
A garage door opening is very large. Insulated doors will help to reduce the transfer of heat or cold air into your garage. This is important for a number of reasons:
- If your garage is attached to your home, air in the garage can travel through the doorway to your living area. An insulated garage door will reduce the transfer of air from the outside to the inside.
- If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a top priority. An insulated garage door will help keep the temperature in the garage within a narrower temperature range as compared to the extreme range of the outside temperature.
- If your garage is below another room in your home, air can travel through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. An insulated door will keep temperatures in the garage fairly stable to reduce the temperature fluctuation in the room above.
- An insulated garage door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior than a non-insulated door.
I've been comparing R-values of various doors and am surprised at the variance among them. Can you explain this?
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. Specifically, R-value is thermal resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value number, the better the insulating properties of the material. However, an R-16 value is not twice as good as an R-8 Value. R-16 does not offer twice as much thermal resistance or twice the energy savings of an R-8 value. A value of R-16 offers a 5% reduction in heat flow and a 5% improvement energy efficiency than a value of R-8, not 50%. No matter the R-Value, an insulated garage door will reduce the amount of heat flow and improve energy efficiency of a home.
Why would I choose a steel garage door?
Steel garage doors offer strength, security, energy efficiency and the best value. Due to advanced manufacturing, steel garage doors are less costly than other types of garage doors and are offered in a variety of designs and colors to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Amarr steel garage doors are pre-painted in a variety of colors, providing homeowners peace of mind protection with multi-year to lifetime paint finish warranties.
