If you’re frustrated by an uneven garage door, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you’re also not just stuck with it. Learn how you can level it so that it looks new.
You like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Classic XL, 9' x 7', American Walnut, Clear windows.
Your garage door covers a lot of your home. Therefore, if the garage door is off-kilter or not sitting level, it could impact the entire appearance of your home. When your door becomes uneven, you will notice a gap between the bottom of the door and the ground.
This may be present even when you close the door, preventing the space from sealing properly. Although a little gap might not seem like much, it could create big problems. Dirt and debris, water, and even rodents and insects can get into your garage and wreak havoc.
What went wrong?
You like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Vog, 9' x 7', Black, window layout: Left-side Harmony.
If you’re trying to figure out why your garage door is crooked, or notice that it’s not closing correctly, it might be time to level the door. However, you’ll also want to figure out what’s causing the issue. This way, you’ll be able to notice issues sooner in the future.
The most common cause of uneven doors?
It is all in the torsion springs. The majority of doors have overhead springs, known as torsion springs, while some have springs that run along the side of the door. Regardless of location, springs are a big issue. They’re made of metal that is under high tension to ensure a secure opening and closing.
The opening and closing process causes the springs to wind and unwind and pull the garage door on the track. If a spring has been damaged, the door may still open but it will be slow or crooked.
Do you really need to worry about leveling the door and track? Yes, absolutely. Otherwise, the situation could get much worse before it gets better.
Another consideration is that an extension spring has a limited weight capacity. Unlike torsion springs, they can only take so much strain and stress before they will snap or become damaged. If you don’t fix the problem, you could cause the door a lot of issues.
This is something you need to resolve immediately to prevent further issues from occurring. The longer you wait, the less likely the solution will be simple. Installing a new door might end up being your only choice and that could take a lot more time and money.
Tips for Balancing Your Uneven Door
You like this look? This garage door is a Princeton P-21, 18’ x 7', Chocolate Walnut door with Ice White overlays, 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows.
Now that you understand that the springs could be behind the issue with your garage door being uneven, you need to know how to fix it. Fortunately, it’s a fairly simple job.
However, it does take a little time and professional know-how, so you’ll want to bring a professional on board for the job.
First, you’ll check the balance of your garage door. After all, until you know what’s out of balance, you can’t very well fix the problem.
You’ll need to disconnect the opener from the garage door so that you can see what the door does on its own. Then, you’ll want to test the door to see what might be going on and whether you can catch issues as they happen.
Open and close the door multiple times so that you can be sure that it’s on track and that you don’t need to clean or repair the tracks at all. Then, let the door go about halfway up and stop, paying attention to whether it stays in place or it continues to move up or down.
If you notice excess movement, the door is definitely out of balance. The springs may have lost tension and resulted in the door to fail, too. You can even use this process to test overbalanced or under-balanced doors, giving you a chance to ensure that your garage door is level and properly balanced.
How to Fix a Misaligned Garage Door
To work well through the years, garage doors must be maintained properly. Image: Pixabay
Once the door has been tested, you can get back to work on repairs.
● Kill the power
Whenever you are working with an electric garage door opener, you will want to disengage the power to the system so that you don’t get shocked while performing work, as well.
● Inspect the cables on your garage door
The next thing on your list will be to inspect the garage door cables that are currently in place. You may find worn cables that need to be replaced, rusted cables, or other issues. It’s better to know ahead of time so that you can get things resolved.
● Get professional assistance
If you’re not comfortable with the garage door project and doing it on your own, you can always rely on professionals to help upgrade and restore your garage door to its natural beauty.
Tips for Creating a Better Seal
Don’t wait until it's too late to take care of your garage door! Image: Pixabay
Some people assume that if their doors are weak or just don’t close properly, it is probably something to do with the weatherstripping. However, this is rarely the case. Now if it has gone bad, now would be a good time to replace it. Once the weatherstripping is applied, you can use galvanized screws or nails to secure the weatherstripping.
Of course, you can take much better care of your garage if you keep up with maintenance like taking the time to clean and maintain the tracks, springs and rollers, hinges, and so forth.
What if It’s Beyond Leveling?
You like this look? This garage door is a Cambridge CM, 8’ x 7’, Ice White door and overlays, 4 lites Panoramic windows.
If your door has seen its better days, you’re going to find plenty of options available to upgrade.
Today, there are several styles of garage doors and they each have different features and amenities. You can even choose a door that fits your home and your lifestyle alike.
In the event you decide a new garage door is the way to go, you don’t have to worry about it at all. Professionals will make it easy for you to find the perfect new door and give you a space that you enjoy much more than your old garage. They’ll even make sure installation is quick and easy.
Is It Time for a New Garage Door?
Contact a dealer that specializes in garage doors, who can help you choose the ideal garage door for your needs.
Georgian Door & Gate keeps it simple and even offers an email quotation.
Explore the 3 styles of homes that are most common so that you can get the door that matches your home’s style.
You can call us at 705-733-1211, and we’ll be happy to help with new installations and any questions you have.
Love your apps?
Our Design Centre is a great app for designing your dream garage door. Check out all of the door styles, the option to upload a photo of your home and “try on” colors, and more. Plus, it’s all offered in an app.
Not sure what door suits you?
Many gorgeous residential garage doors are waiting for you here, so feel free to browse through them and see what you can find.
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