Frequently Asked Questions...
Q: Why should I use a professional installer?
At JR Windows and Doors, we firmly 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, its installation is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and proper installation is critical to the performance of your door. One of the other services a professional installer can provide is the disposal of your old door, if you are replacing a door.
Professional 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.
Q: Is 25 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
No. When comparing strengths of steel, remember, the lower the gauge number, the thicker (and stronger) the steel is.
Q: What are the benefits of a steel garage door over a wood garage door?
- Steel doors are low maintenance. (Typically a wood door needs to be painted as frequently as the wood trim on your home due to weathering).
- Steel doors have longer warranties than wood doors.
- Steel doors can be insulated, making them far more energy efficient than wood.
- We at JR Windows and Doors have steel doors that are pre-painted and most are available in your choice of four colors. (Wood doors are unfinished or primed, both of which need to be finish painted upon installation).
Q: How do I dispose of my old garage door if I replace it with a new one?
JR Windows and Doors. will properly dispose of your old garage door when we install a new garage door for no additional fee.
Q: When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
We recommend replacing your track when you replace your 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. By replacing your track you also ensure that your door warranty will apply, in the event that you have a problem. Please ask the sales rep about this for further information on your particular situation.
Q: Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.
Yes. JR Windows and Doors makes custom residential doors.
Q: My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
Standard headroom applications require 12" to 18" of space between the bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. However, JR Windows and Doors 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" of headroom.
Other special track applications include:
- Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
- 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.
- Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.
Q: I've been comparing R-values of various doors and am surprised at the variance among them. Can you explain this?
Many manufacturers use R-values to show the energy efficiency of their product. This number is arrived at through a calculation that looks at the thickness of the insulation and its chemical properties. Therefore, most of the R-value numbers you see, reflect only the R-value of the section...not of the installed door. A door's insulating capabilities can be greatly affected by the door's construction. Polyurethane is a much better and more efficient insulator than polystyrene.
Q: How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced:
- You should be able to raise your door in 1' increments and the door should stay in place where you stop it.
- When the door comes down, it lowers in a controlled manner and doesn't slam.
- When the door goes up, it is at a controlled pace.
- The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header when the door is in a raised position.
Q: Do I need a lock on my garage door?
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 door, you should certainly have a lock installed.
Do not hesitate to call with any other questions or concerns you may have....