How to Repair Garage Door

There are two main features of the garage door: the door itself and the opening.

Repair Garage Door

Extra garage doors, whether folded in sections or rolled up by one piece, work with spring tension. The door runs on metal tracks on the walls of the garage, and the heavy spring or springs provide power. In most cases where the door does not work easily, the repair is easy. Here are some helpful remedial tips.

Step 1: Check the metal tracks inside the garage. Look at the rising brackets that keep tracks on the walls. If they are open, tighten the bolts or screws on the brackets. To work inside the garage with the garage door closed, check tracks for dents, crimps, or flat areas.

If there are any damaged areas, remove them with a rubber hammer, or with a hammer and residue block. If the tracks are badly damaged, they should be replaced.

Step 2: Check the tracks at a level to make sure they are aligned properly. Horizontal tracks should be slightly tilted back to the garage; with folding doors, the straight parts of the track should be plumb exactly. Both tracks should have the same height on the garage walls.

If the tracks are not aligned, loosen or remove the screws or bolts holding the mounting brackets, and then tap the tracks carefully in place. Re-inspect the tracks by level to make sure they are in good condition, then tighten the screws or bolts on the mounting brackets.

Step 3: Clean the tracks by thoroughly cleaning the house to remove dirt and solid oils. Clean the rollers thoroughly, then wipe both tracks and dry rollers.

Step 4: Check for open hardware, and tighten when needed. For swing-up doors, check the plates where the spring is installed to make sure the screws are tight and tighten any loose screws. For folding doors, check the hinges that hold the parts of the door together, tighten any loose screws, and replace any damaged hinges.

Loosening on one side of the door can be repaired by providing hinges. Once the screw hole has been enlarged, replace the screw with another length, and use a blank fiber plug, embedded in the carpenter’s glue, with a new screw.

If the wood is cracked on the hinge, remove the hinge and fill in the cracks and holes in the screw by filling the wood. Allow the filling to dry and change the hinge. If possible, move the hinge to solid wood.

Warning: If the folding door has a spring break, in the middle of the door, do not try to fix it. The situation is so intense that spring can hurt you. For doors with this type of spring, call a proper repair service.

Is it safe to fix the garage door yourself?

If you have never done it before, then it would be dangerous to do it alone. That is why it is recommended to call a specialist. However, if you know what you are doing, then it can save you some money.

Call: (602) 335–1077