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Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Doors
Listed below are the most commonly asked questions and answers about garage doors. Everyone has unique and specific needs, and if you have a question that is not addressed on this page, click here to contact us.
Why should I use a professional garage door dealer/installer?
Is 25 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage is not insulated?
What are the benefits of a steel door versus a wood door?
What is required for installing an electric opener?
I want to replace my old door, but don't know how to dispose of my old one. Will my Amarr dealer take care of that?
When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
I have a one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?
I'd like to purchase an Amarr steel door, but need a color other than those you offer. Can I paint the door once it's installed?
Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.
My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
I'd like windows, but I'm concerned about security?
I've been comparing R-values of various doors and am surprised at the variance among them. Can you explain this?
How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
Do I need a lock on my garage door?
What type of spring is better, extension or torsion?
How do I paint a wood door?
What type of care and maintenance is necessary for my Amarr steel door and hardware?
What is a carriage house door?
What is Wind Load? And how do I know if my garage door needs to be a wind load door?
Does Amarr have product that qualifies for the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005?
What qualifies a garage door for this tax credit?
Under this policy, how much credit may a homeowner receive?
What does a homeowner need to do to obtain the tax credit if the garage door that meets all the qualifications?
How do I learn more about the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005?
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Q. Why should I use a professional garage door dealer/installer?
A. At Amarr, we believe that the installation of a garage door is not a do-it-yourself job. A garage door is the largest moving object in your home and because of the large number of small parts, installation of a garage door is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and proper installation is critical to the performance of your door.
Professional garage door dealer/installers can typically install a door in a few hours and are careful to make sure safety requirements are met. Installations by most homeowners typically span several days and cause much frustration. In addition, incorrect installation can void certain warranties, so we recommend a professional handle the job for you. One of the other services a professional garage door dealer/installer can provide is the disposal of your old door, if you are replacing a door.
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Q. Is 25 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
A. No. When comparing strengths of steel, remember, the lower the gauge number, the thicker (and stronger) the steel.
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Q. Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage is not insulated?
A. 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:
1) If your garage is attached to your home, air in the garage can travel through the doorway to your living area.
2) If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a top priority.
3) 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.
4) An insulated door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior than a non-insulated door.
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Q. What are the benefits of a steel door versus a wood door?
A. Steel doors may require less maintenance than a wood door. Amarr steel doors are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating. Amarr recommends an annual cleaning of the exterior of the door with a common household detergent and warm water at least one time per year. Amarr wood doors are unfinished and need to be primed and painted or stained on all six sides of the door upon delivery. Amarr recommends visual inspection of the paint or stain finish on wood doors one time per year to confirm if another finish application is necessary.
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Q. What is required for installing an electric operator?
A. In the event that an electric opener is installed, the top section of the garage must be reinforced with a strut or angle iron spanning the length of the top section.
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Q. I want to replace my old door, but don't know how to dispose of my old one. Will my Amarr dealer take care of that?
A. Most garage door dealers will haul your old door away after the new door is installed for a small fee. Discuss this with your local dealer when you get an estimate on your new door.
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Q. When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
A. Amarr recommends replacing your track when you replace your door because each brand of garage door has been specifically 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.
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Q. I have a one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?
A. Yes. Your professional garage door dealer/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 dealer to evaluate the job prior to installation, so that any required modifications can be performed.
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Q. I'd like to purchase an Amarr steel door, but need a color other than those you offer. Can I paint the door once it's installed?
A. Yes. All Amarr steel doors are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating that is suitable to be repainted. Amarr doors will accept a wide variety of commercially available latex exterior paints, when applied in accordance with the paint manufacturer's recommendations. Do not use oil-based paints. Please click here for detailed paint instructions on Amarr steel doors.
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Q. Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.
A. Yes. Amarr offers residential doors 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.
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Q. My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
A. Standard headroom applications require 12" to 18" of space between the bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. However, Amarr 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 6 1/2" of headroom.
Other special track applications include:
1) Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
2) 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.
3) Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.
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Q. I'd like windows, but I'm concerned about security?
A. Amarr has designed DecraGlass™- safe, secure windows for your garage doors. DecraGlass™ windows are tempered, translucent windows that feature beautiful etched designs to compliment the style of your home.
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Q. I've been comparing R-values of various doors and am surprised at the variance among them. Can you explain this?
A. Many manufacturers use R-values to show the energy efficiency of their product. This number is calculated based on the thickness of the insulation and its chemical properties. Therefore, most of the published R-value numbers, reflect only the R-value of a section, not of the installed door. A door's insulating capabilities can be greatly affected by the door's construction.
For that reason, Amarr's insulated doors are built to maximize energy efficiency. Our thermal break, door section construction and insulation help keep your garage as comfortable as possible.
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Q. How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
A. There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced. Before testing your door, disengage you electronic opener.
1) Raise your door in 1' increments, and the door should stay in place.
2) When you lower the door, the door lowers in a controlled manner and doesn't slam down.
3) When you raise the door, the door rises at a controlled pace.
4) When the door is fully-raised in the open position, the bottom of the door should be aligned with the bottom of the header of the door opening.
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Q. Do I need a lock on my garage door?
A. 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.
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.
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Q. What type of spring is better...extension or torsion?
A. 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.
Some homeowners prefer torsion springs because these springs offer more safety and provide better balance to the door for smoother operation.
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Q. How do I paint a wood door?
A. Amarr manufactured wood doors are specialty wood products and have natural wood variations. Wood doors require special finishing prior to installation. To finish, preserve and protect your beautiful Amarr wood door, all six (6) sides of each garage door section must be finished within two (2) days of receipt of door and prior to installation to validate the warranty.
Preparation
Lightly buff or sand any natural surface imperfections.
Painting or Staining
Prior to installation, all six (6) sides of each garage door section must be painted (or sealed) with one (1) coat of exterior grade primer (or stain) and two (2) coats of high quality exterior grade paint (or sealer, if stained), in accordance with the finish manufacturer’s instructions. Dark shades are not recommended for stain grade wood doors on southern or western exposures. Dark shades may requires additional maintenance.
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Q. What type of care and maintenance is necessary for my Amarr steel door and hardware?
A. We recommend that you wash your steel door a minimum of one (1) time per year with: (a) One cup of Tide® (or other common detergents which contain less than 0.5% phosphate), dissolved into five gallons of warm water. NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS WITH BLEACH.
The use of a well-soaked cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low pressure spray washer is recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue.
In addition, lubrication of rollers and hinges is recommended on a yearly basis. Visually inspect springs and cable for wear and binding once each year and contact a professional garage door dealer/installer if damage is suspected. Do not attempt to remove, repair or adjust springs. HIGH SPRING TENSION CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
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Q. What is a carriage house door?
A. A Carriage House door is a type of garage door that replicates the look of doors found on carriage houses in the early 19th and 20th Century. Amarr distributes a variety of striking carriage house designs made from three different materials, steel, wood and wood composite. All Amarr Carriage house doors have the look of authentic carriage house doors with the remarkable up-and-down function of today's modern garage door.
Amarr offers stamped-steel carriage house doors in the Classica Collection and Oak Summit Collection that eliminate a homeowner's concern of misaligned trim overlays. JELD-WEN carriage house doors in the Estate and Carriage House Collections are made from environmentally friendly, recycled wood fibers that are virtually impervious to climate changes and resistant to cracks, splits, rot and will not rust. Lastly, Amarr offers beautiful, natural wood carriage house doors under the Bob Timberlake™, Biltmore Estate For Your Home®, and Amarr By Design Collections.
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Q. What is Wind Load? And how do I know if my garage door needs to be a Wind Load door?
A. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes and windstorms, you may need a garage door that is engineered to meet strict building code requirements for high winds. Your local professional garage door dealer/installer can determine the appropriate Wind Load door for your area.
Amarr distributes Wind Load approved garage doors for practically every door that we offer, under the WindPro name. A WindPro door is simply an upgraded version of a door that has been reinforced specifically to meet the building codes in your area. Click here to learn more about Amarr WindPro® doors.
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Q. Does Amarr have product that qualifies for the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005?
A. Amarr is pursuing the testing of complete Amarr doors and expects completion by July 2007. Amarr fully expects the test results to qualify Amarr insulated residential garage doors for this consumer tax credit.
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Q. What qualifies a garage door for this tax credit?
A. Residential garage doors that have a U-factor of equal to or less than 0.35 qualify for this tax credit. Additional requirements are:
1) The garage door must be installed on an insulated garage (conditioned space).
2) The garage door must be part of the customer’s principal residence.
3) The garage door perimeter must have a means to control air infiltration.
4) The garage door must be installed in the years 2006 or 2007.
5) The garage door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years.
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Q. Under this policy, how much credit may a homeowner receive?
A. Taxpayers receive a tax credit of 10 percent of the qualified energy-efficiency improvements installed during 2006 and 2007, up to $500. Cost of installation does not qualify.
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Q. What does a homeowner need to do to obtain the tax credit if the garage door that meets all the qualifications?
A. A Manufacturer Certification provided by the dealer or found on the manufacturer’s website and the dealer’s breakdown of the door cost and the cost of labor should be obtained by the homeowner. Copies should be kept for records, but do not need to be submitted with tax return.
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Q. How do I learn more about the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005?
A. Visit www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm, www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=153397,00.html.
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