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GARAGE DOOR PREPARATION: FRAMING AND MORE

This page contains all the information you would need to get your project started as soon as possible. Feel free to call into our office if there are any questions.

Consult owner’s manuals for additional recommended model descriptions for your garage door.


GARAGE DOOR PREPARATION TIPS

  • 1.Measure width of daylight opening…Inside of jamb to inside of jamb
  • 2.Measure height of the daylight opening…Cement to bottom of header
  • 3.Measure the headroom above your opening
  • 4.Measure right and left of the opening for side clearance

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On the inside of the garage, the door opening should be framed with wood jambs, 2x6’s. The jambs should extend 12 inches above the header. If you have just removed an old door, the jambs should be inspected for the condition of the wood. If the wood is rotten, it should be replaced now. The jambs should be plumb and the header level. If there are any bolts fastening the jambs to the wall, the heads should be flush, so they don’t interfere with the installation of the new door.

WARNING TORSION SPRINGS

YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE TORSION SPRING ANCHOR BRACKET WILL BE SECURELY FASTENED TO THE GARAGE WALL. Anchor into wood stud or structurally sound member. Failure to securely fasten the anchor bracket could allow the spring to break loose from the garage wall and cause severe personal injury.


Check Headroom

  • • Headroom is the space needed above the top of the door opening for the door, the overhead tracks, and the springs. Measure to check that there are no obstructions in your garage within that space. The minimum headroom space requirement is 12 inches. If the door overlaps the top of the opening, then measure the door to ceiling clearance. This should be a minimum of 12 inches.
  • • The back backroom distance is measured from the back of the door into the garage and should be at least 18 inches more than the height of the door.
  • • A minimum side room of 6 inches (maybe less depending on opening size) should be available on each side of the door.

Note: About three inches of additional headroom height at the center plus additional backroom is needed to install an automatic garage door opener.
Low Headroom: If you have restricted headroom, several remedies are available. For the correct product contact us.

The image below is for concrete framing


The image below is for steel framing


The image below is for wood framing

Garage door torsion springs are rated by cycle life, with 10,000 cycles ( a cycle being one opening and one closing action) the industry standard minimum. The average spring breaks about every 7 to 12 years. If a garage door has two or more springs and one breaks, all springs should be replaced to maintain proper balance.

The leading causes of garage door failure and/or replacement include lack of maintenance and being hit by vehicles. A proper maintenance schedule for a garage door includes lubrication of the rollers, bearings, pulleys, and springs once a year; washing painted steel surfaces several times a year; painting or refinishing wood surfaces as necessary; and making proper adjustments to the counter balance system as necessary to maintain door balance. A properly balanced garage door should be able to be stopped mid-travel without drifting down or up when operated manually.

Do not let children (or adults) play “beat the door”. It is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example. Know how to use the emergency release, in case someone is pinned by the door.
Do not let children play with or use the transmitters or remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children.
The pushbutton wall control should be out of the reach of children (at least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door.

A new garage door adds an extra element of protection against storm and wind damage. It also provides one more point of protection against break-ins. If you or your neighborhood has been victim of burglaries, a garage door may be just the protection you need.

Over the last few years, the technology behind garage doors has changed dramatically. Our new insulated doors are actually triple layer insulated. What does that mean? It means you basically have 2 layers of steel wrapped around a layer of insulation. What is the big deal? Well, it provides many benefits including the following:

  • 1. Extremely durable and can handle abuse that most garage doors of the past would fail against
  • 2. Provide extremely quiet operation along with a noise barrier from the exterior of the home
  • 3. In the summer time, if you are facing direct sun exposure, you will notice a huge temperature difference in the garage with an insulated garage door
  • 4. Your garage door will be MUCH warmer in the winter time. You will be shocked at the difference.

Many new garage doors offer safety features that simply didn’t exist with older models. Most of our residential model garage doors come with pinch resistant panels which all but eliminates the possibility of getting your finger smashed between panels. Our garage door openers are all state of the art providing both safety sensor protection along with auto reverse in the case of the door slamming down on someone or something.

Advances in garage door materials and construction have enhanced the ease of maintenance and longlasting beauty of today’s garage doors. Amarr’s steel door models, in particular, offer an easy-to-clean surface. We upgrade all of our residential garage doors with 11 ball bearing nylon rollers which provide for quieter and smoother operation. We also provide all belt drive garage door motors helping to keep noise down and reduce the number of times you need to do maintenance on the motor.

A garage door is one of the most prominent features of your home. Shouldn’t it enhance the quality of your exterior? With a broad selection of finishes, colors and themes to choose from, Acadiana Garage Doors has what you’re looking for—including customization options. A visit to either of our showrooms in Lafayette LA or Baton Rouge LA will be a step in the right direction. Call or visit us and let one of our experts help you find the right door to fit your home’s needs.