 | Keith Bomholt
has been installing and servicing residential garage doors since 1971. He is president and owner of Cheney Door Company, Inc. headquartered in Wichita with a second location in Hutchinson. Cheney Door offers several products for the home including replacement windows, entry, storm and patio doors and central vacuum systems. Commercially Cheney Door sells and installs overhead doors and dock equipment in Kansas and surrounding states.
Keith, who is a member of the Wichita Area Builders Association and the Wichita and Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce may be contacted by e-mail at keith@cheneydoor.com or by phone at (316) 262-2098. |
Home Improvement
2003-02-01 15:30:00
Replacing a garage door?
: Our garage door is over 10 years old and we need to replace it. What do we need to consider before purchasing a new garage door? Do we really need to use a professional installer?
ANSWER: As you shop for a garage door an important point to remember is to select a manufacturer that has a long standing reputation. So if replacement parts are needed in the next 10 years your service provider can find them. And yes, you will need a professional installer. It is very important to note that the installation of a garage door is not a do-it-yourself job. It is the largest moving object in your home and, because of the large number of small parts, its installation is quite technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous, and proper installation is critical to the performance and balance of your door. Incorrect installation can also void certain warranties. Don't take a chance. Use a professional installer to be safe. Other components to consider when shopping for a garage door are the opener, springs, photoelectric eyes, sections, hinges, rollers, and the track.1) Openers are available in belt-drive, screw-drive and chain-drive models in both 1/2 or 1/3 horsepower.2) Springs. Garage doors are balanced by torsion or extension springs. Most people are familiar with extension springs which are mounted just above the horizontal track and perpendicular to the closed garage door. Extension springs get their lifting power by stretching. Torsion springs, mounted above the closed door, parallel and horizontal to the top section of the door, are superior primarily because they offer more safety to the homeowner and better balance the door to provide a smoother operation. Torsion springs wind and unwind to provide the lifting power.3) Photoelectric Eyes are mounted five to six inches off the floor on either side of the door. Working in conjunction with the garage door opener, photo eyes send an invisible beam across the door opening. If the beam is broken while the door is operating, the door will reverse direction and return to the open position.4) Sections are the primary visual part of your door. The quality of the sections are important because of their weight.5) Hinges should be made of high-quality steel because they bear the weight of the door in the upright (closed) position. Some premium models use hinges that are powdercoated for maximum protection against moisture and rust.6) Rollers. Steel wheel ball-bearing rollers provide for a smoother, quieter operation. Nylon rollers with steel ball bearings allow superior noise reduction - a plus when living space is used above or in close proximity to the garage.7) Track. We recommend replacing your track when you replace your garage 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. Heavy gauge steel ensures stability and long life of the track and can be custom fitted for the garage door you order.
