The use of home garages is no longer confined to simple car parking or storage of unused items. They are now essential additions to houses and serve multiple purposes. Because of their increased value, garages now require more careful maintenance. One of the most common aspects of this maintenance is garage door repair. This is particularly true not only because garages are prone to damage but also because owners cannot afford these parts of the garage to remain broken. While garage repair is an essential maintenance procedure, there are some steps that need to precede it. In particular, there are preparations that you should take before engaging in the repair. Here are some of them.
Learning the Mechanics
Repairing a garage door cannot be possible if you do not fully understand its parts and mechanism. This is why the first step in preparing for this repair is to learn the fundamentals. You must learn the different parts of the door, which can be generally classified as either a moving or a non-moving part. In broad terms, though, the door can be broken down into two major parts: the opener and the actual door. Aside from this, you must also be familiar with the mechanics of the door, which involve the rolling of the door on metal tracks through the aid of heavy springs. Understanding the specific details of this mechanism may be necessary for some cases of garage repair.
Examining the Tracks
After getting to know the fundamental concepts of the garage door, the next step is to check the door for issues. To begin, you should examine the tracks to which the actual door rolls on. One important aspect to evaluate is the condition of the mounting brackets. If these brackets are only loosely holding the tracks in place, then there is a need to tighten certain bolts. The tracks must then be checked for malformations and dents. In addition, you need to determine if the tracks are leveled and perfectly aligned. You should also look for dirt, grease, and any debris that may cause an obstruction along the tracks. Finally, the lubrication of the tracks must be examined. If closing or opening the garage door causes a creaking sound, then that is an indication that the tracks need to be lubricated.
Checking the Hardware
Once the condition of the tracks has been evaluated, it is time to check the other mechanical parts of the garage door. In particular, you need to pay attention to the springs and hinges. You need to check whether or not these parts are tightly wound. If either side of the door is sagging, then that is a sign that the hinges are loose. The springs are meanwhile loose if the garage door does not open or close completely. On the other hand, enlarged screw holes are an indication that the bolts are not tightly fitted to their respective places. This issue can be remedied by replacing the old screws with larger ones so that the enlarged space can be filled appropriately.
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