El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Tag: extension springs

  • Tilt-Up Garage Doors and Mid-Century Suburbs

    Tilt-up garage doors were once prevalent on residences during the 1960s and 1970s. They characterized the era of burgeoning designer suburbs. These single-panel overhead doors gained popularity due to their simplicity. Then enabled mass garage door production and installation. Their manufacturing perfectly aligned with the rapid expansion of suburban neighborhoods.

    With the evolution of garage door technology and advancements in safety standards, newer trends have shifted away from tilt-up overhead doors. Contemporary insights from garage door repair companies predominantly lean toward sectional doors. They’re generally considered the superior choice for overhead garage solutions.

    While tilt-up garage doors evoke nostalgia for mid-century suburban aesthetics, they have phased out of favor. This is mainly due to their operational limitations and safety concerns. Today, sectional doors offer enhanced safety features, smoother functionality, and improved insulation. They’re a more efficient and secure option for modern homeowners. Here’s a breakdown for you on where tilt-up garage doors falls short:

    All the Iffy Features of Tilt-Up Doors

    • First of all- safety is an issue with this type of door. The garage door springs on tilt-ups are extension springs (sectionals typically use torsion), and if one becomes loose or breaks, the entire door will come crashing down.
    • The fact that the door is kind of pulled back and then lifted by the opener means it takes up way more overhead space than a sectional door.
    • You need a driveway with a decent amount of length, since the door will stick out while it’s lifting and closing. It can hit your car if you’re pulled in too close.
    • There’s no way to insulate or effectively weather-seal these doors because of their build and design.

    Now, this doesn’t mean that if you have an older home and you need the garage door replaced or that you should never use a tilt-up door. Depending on the construction of your garage, it might take really expensive renovations you don’t want or need in order to retrofit for a sectional door installation. Regardless, you should really consult with a company that sells and repairs overhead garage doors before you make any decisions on your new installation or replacement.

  • What’s the Difference Between Torsion and Extension Springs?

    Your average garage door is made up of dozens of parts that work in unison so you don’t have to manually lift it. One of the most important parts of your door – and most dangerous – is the spring. Without it, your automatic overhead door opener would be rendered useless. If you’re interested in learning more about your door, it’s important to pay strict attention to the garage door springs. 

    Garage Torsion vs. Extension Springs

    The majority of overhead garage doors use a counterbalance system with a spring. Without a spring, your door would be incredibly heavy and difficult to operate. The two types of springs used are torsion and extension.

    Extension springs are the oldest design and typically 2 of them are required to the balance the door. They work by contracting and expanding during operation.

    Torsion springs are a superior design and usually, only 1 is needed to operate your door. Instead of expanding, garage door torsion springs actually turn.

    When it comes down to it, torsion springs are superior in every possible way. There’s little reason to choose extension nowadays. Torsion is better because:

    1) They last much longer. Extension springs tend to last about 10,000 cycles whereas high-end torsion springs can last up to 100,000 cycles. The longer torsion springs last for your door, the less likely you’ll end up spending on repairs. Repairs involving garage door springs can get quite costly, so It’s prudent to take the step in upgrading your extension springs. 

    2) In the event of a broken garage door spring, torsion is much safer. There have been reports of extension springs launching through walls, windshields, and even injuring bystanders.

    3) The sudden jerking motions caused by extension can lead to a garage door off track, which is another costly repair. Torsion stabilizes the operation of your door so you don’t have to worry about your door veering off track. 

    We recommend everyone consider switching to torsion style springs for their garages. It’s a small upgrade that could potentially save you money and your life. 

    A Reminder on Spring Safety

    At EDH-Serrano, when we discuss springs, we always like to remind everyone that they can be extremely dangerous. Never place body parts in or around springs. They’re under heavy tension and should they be recklessly tampered with, it’s extremely like that your door could break or crash, resulting in a pricey garage door repair. Also, springs have been known to cause death and dismemberment, so be extra cautious if you’re a novice. Should you want to upgrade your door’s springs, it’s key to contact a company that specializes in spring repair. They’ll walk you through the necessary info needed to purchase torsion springs for your door and will install it swiftly.