Overhead garage doors operate with spring tension whether they roll up section by section or swing up as a single piece. They then move along metal tracks along the walls. The power of movement is provided by heavy springs. Garage door repair should be fairly simple, as there are not too many components involved.

The first thing that should be checked when a door malfunctions is its metal tracks. Inspect the mounting brackets that keep the tracks in place along the wall. If loose, make sure to tighten any screws or bolts. From the inside of the garage, while the door remains closed, examine for any abnormal deformities in the tracks. Any flattened spots, crimps, or dents need fixing. Find a rubber mallet and pound out any bent or misshapen areas. Another option if a rubber mallet is not handy is a hammer and a block of wood. However, if tracks are very badly bent out of shape, they may need to be replaced.

After the smoothness of tracks has been confirmed check for proper alignment. Horizontal running tracks should slope down slightly as they run towards the back of the garage. Tracks on both sides need to be at the exact same height along the walls. If tracks are misaligned in any way, loosen the screws or bolts holding the mounting brackets in place. However, do not completely remove them. After loosening, tap the tracks into position. Recheck work to make sure that the problems are fixed. Only after they have been double checked to be identical, re-tighten the bolts or screws for the mounting brackets.

Check that tracks appear clean. Also check the status of the rollers that hold the hinges in the garage door. If either seem dirty purchase a household cleaner and remove any built up grime. It is important to remove hardened grease deposits or dirt for smooth and easy functioning. After cleaning wipe everything dry.

After drying, lubrication is a recommended step for both tracks and rollers. This can be done using several different supplies. For the tracks either garage door lubricating spray or some powdered graphite work well. For the rollers a household oil or a bottle of silicone spray are ideal. If pulleys are present they can also easily be lubricated with the same substance used for the rollers.

Check everywhere for any loose equipment and tighten everything as is needed. In swing-up models, check the area where the springs are held to make sure the screws are properly tightened. For roll-up doors inspect the hinges holding its sections together. Damaged hinges need replacing and loose screws require tightening. If one end of the door sags it is often a problem related to the hinges.

When the hole holding a screw is too large replace the screw with a longer one. If wood is cracked at hinges remove the hinge and use wood filler for the cracks and screw holes. The filler should be given sufficient time to dry before the hinge is replaced. It is ideal to find a more solid place to attach the hinge if this is possible.

When it comes to garage door repair most problems are fairly easy to fix. With a close inspection and the tightening and cleaning of equipment, several problems are solved. Some pieces may need replacement, but most can be fixed with a few minor adjustments.

Author Bio: When residents have broken garage doors Mississauga they trust the professionals at First Choice Garage Doors to provide the highest quality garage door repair services available.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home,home improvement,garage,garage doors,door repair,home repair,construction, family, safety