F.A.Q.s

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some commonly asked questions and answers about garage doors. If you have questions that are not answered on this page, please feel free to CONTACT US. 

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What type of spring is better... torsion or extension?

There are two types of springs used on garage doors today...extension and torsion. Most people are more familiar with extension springs. These are the springs that are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal part of the 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. 

Another type of spring is the Wayne Dalton torquemaster spring. This system is similar to torsion, but the spring is instead on the inside of the tube, allowing for a more pleasing look. Only a few Wayne Dalton Models come with this system.

Which  is  better, a steel or a wood garage door?

Although either door will accomplish the task, steel doors offer certain benefits that you may not find with wood doors. For Example:

• Steel doors are low maintenance. (Typically a wood door needs to be painted as frequently as the wood trim on your home due to weathering).
  
• Steel doors have longer warranties than wood doors.
  
• Steel doors can be insulated, making them far more energy efficient than wood.

When  I  replace my old door, can  I  reuse my old track?

We highly recommend replacing your track when you replace your door because each brand of garage door has been specially designed to work with a specific type of track. In addition, replacing your track is an inexpensive way to insure that your entire garage door system is as safe as possible. By replacing your track, you also ensure that your door warranty will apply, in the event that you have a problem. 

How do  I  dispose of my old door when  I  purchase a new one?

Homenik Door  will properly dispose of your old garage door when we install a new garage door for a small additional fee. Discuss this with your Homenik Sales Representative when you get your estimate for your new door. 

I  have a one piece door now, can  I  replace  it with a sectional door?

Yes. Your professional garage door installer can install a sectional door for you by installing track and springs to accommodate a sectional door. Depending on the construction of your garage, other modifications might be necessary. We would advise you to ask your installer to evaluate the job prior to installation, so that any modifications can be performed before installation. 

What should I consider in regards to safety when purchasing a Garage Door System? 

There are a few things to consider in regards to safety:

• The first is who is installing the system? Although you can install the door yourself, we do not recommend it. A garage door is the largest moving object in your home and because of the large number of small parts, its installation is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and proper installation is critical to the performance of your door. If you have not done it before you may want to let our professional installers do it for you. They are trained in the safe installation of your Garage Door System. Our installers can typically complete an installation within a few hours, doing it yourself may take longer. One other thing to consider is that improper installation can void certain warranties.   
  
• Does the Door have a pinch resistant design? You will find many of the doors have a pinch resistant design, which will push your fingers out of harms way. 

How do  I  know  if my door  is properly balanced?

  There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced:

• You should be able to raise your door in 1' increments and the door should stay in place where you stop it.
• When the door comes down, it lowers in a controlled manner and doesn't slam.
• When the door goes up, it is at a controlled pace.
• The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header when the door is in a raised position.

What options are available for the door I choose?

There are a number of options you can choose for your door:

• Quiet Glide Rollers
• Top Seals
• Windows
• and more...

      To find out what specific options are available for the door you choose, please ask your Homenik Sales Representative.

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.   However, Homenik Door Co. specializes in custom-built applications.   A variety of special track options are available and make it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with doors.   By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door in an area that has as little as 4 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 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. Newer electric openers 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. If you do not have an opener or you have an older opener that does not act as a lock, you should certainly have a lock installed.

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.