Garage Door Service & Repair FAQs

While we have been experts in the Garage Door Industry for over 70 years, we understand that not everyone has the knowledge that we have come to acquire. Because of this we have dedicated ourselves to answering any questions or concerns customers may have. We also understand that sometimes you have a simple, straightforward question, and don’t want to talk with someone over the phone about it. For this reason we have created a detailed FAQ page.

Here you will be able to find answers to many of the commonly asked questions about our many different products. Of course if you don’t find the answers you need, you can always give our office a call!

Garage Doors

What materials are garage doors made of?

Garage doors have been made from wood, steel, aluminum, and fiberglass. Each of these materials has its benefits, though wood and steel doors are by far the most popular homeowner choices. Today Joe Wilde Company strictly sells steel garage doors.

Steel doors are much stronger and more secure than wood, aluminum, or fiberglass models. Steel doors have many design options ranging from standard raised panel to unique carriage style designs. Today's steel doors can rival the look of wood doors without the need for regular maintenance.

What are the different types of garage door construction?

Steel doors are made in several ways. The simplest, least expensive includes a single sheet or panel of steel that forms the door. These doors also tend to be flimsier than their more solid counterparts. The other types of steel doors are made with a front and back panel for greater rigidity. An option with these doors is the availability of insulation that can be installed between the two door skins.

The steel used to make garage doors comes in several thicknesses referred to as “gauge thickness” and ranges from 20 to 28 gauge. The smaller the number, the thicker the steel which means a 24 gauge door has thicker skins than a door with 28 gauge steel.

When you shop for garage doors you might see reference to the quantity of “layers” with regard to a door’s construction. For example, a 4-layer door might consist of a composite overlay on top of a steel front panel. The back is made up of another steel panel and in between is an insulated core.

Similarly, a door with a steel front, polystyrene insulation and no back panel would have 2-layer construction.

How important is insulation in a garage door?

Insulation is important in a garage door for many reasons. Insulated doors help control the temperature of the garage allowing less heat to escape in the winter and less heat to get in in the summer. This reduces the amount of energy required to cool or heat your home which saves money! Insulated doors also reduce noise from the exterior of your home. In addition to helping control the temperature, insulation adds strength to your door while reducing exterior noise.

The amount of insulation a garage door provides is represented in its R-value, which represents its resistance to heat flow. It is important to select a garage door with an R-value that is consistent with your local climate and lifestyle. Ask yourself these questions when deciding the R-value that best fits your needs:

Is my garage climate controlled? If you heat or cool your garage, insulation is very important. Having a well-insulated garage door will keep your heating or cooling costs down by reducing the heat flow through the door.
What climate do I live in? Someone living in an extreme hot or cold climate would likely require a garage door with a high insulation value. Even in milder climates, having an insulated door can still affect the temperature in your garage by a noticeable amount, as well as provide additional benefits.
Is my garage attached to my house? If your garage is attached to your house, the insulation value of your garage door affects the insulation of your whole house. The R-value of your walls affects how much heat escapes from your house into your garage, and the R-value of your garage door affects how much heat then escapes into the environment. Insulating your garage well will help keep down the heating and cooling costs of your home. In addition, Insulation helps reduce the noise of your garage door as it opens and closes.
Do I spend a great deal of time in my garage? People who like to work on their cars or who have workshops in their garages may want their garage to be more insulated, especially if in a colder climate.
Is there a bedroom or other interior room above my garage? Many houses are built with rooms over the garage. Whether this room is a part of the house or is a separate apartment-style room above an unattached garage, the insulation value of the garage can greatly affect the insulation of the room. And, again, a higher insulation R-value can equal lower heating and cooling bills. In addition, insulation helps reduce noise.

How do I clean my pre-finished steel garage door?

To clean the surface of your pre-finished steel garage door, simply follow these easy steps annually:

Remove dirt, chalk, and mildew by the use of a diluted solution of mild detergent (with less than .5% phosphate) at a concentration of one cup in five gallons of warm water. Be sure to clean behind weather stripping on both sides and top of door.
Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely.
For added protection of a pre-painted steel door, apply wax suitable for automotive use.
You can wipe the inner surface clean like you would a range or refrigerator.
Note: Do not use a pressure washer on your garage door!

How do I clean my wood garage door?

Yearly cleaning and inspecting your wood garage door is easy. If the finish appears to be in good condition, cleaning and touch-up work is often adequate.

Remove dirt, chalk, and mildew by washing your wood door with a diluted solution of mild household detergent at a concentration of one cup in five gallons of warm water.
Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely.
If the finish is badly eroded and thin, clean the areas where the wood substrate is showing through as described above and prime those areas using an oil/alkyd primer.
Follow the cleaning and priming with a complete priming and finish coating.
If there is no bare wood showing through, finish coating only may be required.

How do I paint my pre-finished steel garage door if I want to match my home’s color?

To prepare your pre-finished steel garage door for painting, it is important to give it a good cleaning, but do not wax.

Remove surface wax to prevent the paint from peeling or flaking. Lightly scuff the surface with a fine steel wool pad saturated with soapy water. A final wipe and rinse should be done with clean water only to remove any loose particles and any soapy film residue.
Remove surface scratches which have not exposed the metal substrate by lightly buffing or sanding with 0000 steel wool or No. 400 sand paper to create a smoother surface for painting. Do not over buff or sand the garage door, because paint will not adhere to the door if the surface is too smooth.
Do not attempt to remove scratches if your steel door surface has a finish painted texture representing wood grain, stucco, etc. because of the increased danger of exposing the metal substrate. Simply paint them with a high quality metal primer. Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.
To prevent rust from forming, treat any scratches that have exposed the substrate by sanding the exposed area lightly and then painting with a high quality metal primer specifically intended for galvanized surfaces to protect the area from corrosion. Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.
After properly preparing the surface according to the above instructions and allowing it to dry thoroughly, coat the door with a premium quality latex house paint. Follow the paint label directions explicitly.
Oil base paint is not recommended.
Note that if substrate is exposed, painting with latex paint may cause accelerated rusting of steel. Follow previous instructions on priming the door for painting.
Re-painting of a finish painted steel voids any pre-finished surface warranty.

How often should my overhead garage door be serviced?

Your overhead garage door is the largest piece of moving equipment in your home. Most families use their garage door more than their front door. In order to ensure a properly working door and operator, you should have your overhead garage door and operator serviced every year.

The noises your door or operator make are your initial “warnings” that something is not quite right. The longer you put off the necessary service, the more damage may result. Regular service can extend the life of your door and operator.

How long should my garage door springs last?

The most common torsion springs have an expected life of about 10,000 “cycles”. A cycle is one opening and one closing of the garage door. The steel spring experiences tremendous force each time the door opens or closes. Gradually, the steel fatigues with each flex, and eventually cracks and breaks, usually releasing its stored energy in an instant with a loud noise or bang. In garage door repairs, most accidents occur during the replacement of the springs. While many door companies quote a flat fee for spring replacement, we prefer to quote a range and charge our customers for the actual cost of the spring that is on their own door. (Springs can vary in price by more than $30/spring.) Also, if one spring breaks and they were installed at the same time, it is likely that the other will not be far behind since they both have the same wear and tear. For this reason, we suggest changing both springs at once (we always replace both if they are extension type) to save you the expense of a second service trip.

How do I release the door from the operator so that I can open the garage door by hand?

With the garage door fully closed, simply pull the red release cord down toward the floor. Always take special caution whenever you release the garage door opener if the door is not in the fully closed position, since the door may want to slam closed when released. If at all possible do not release the garage door when open, except for emergency or security purposes and close the door with caution. Some older openers may not have a red release cord and may need to be released by pulling down a handle, a spring loaded clip, or even possibly unbolting the arm from the door and opener. If you do have an older door that is difficult to disconnect you may want to replace the opener with a new garage door opener that has an easy pull red release cord.

How do I tell if the garage door spring is balanced properly?

Disconnect the operator by pulling the red release cord with the door fully closed. Open the door halfway by hand and let go of the door. The door should pretty much stay in the same position, although some slight drifting may occur. If the door wants to drop or if it opens on its own, the garage door springs should be adjusted by trained and experienced garage door service technicians.

My garage door goes down some and then goes back up, whats the issue?

If your garage door is having an issue going down and seems to reverse itself, keep an eye out for your operator lights to blink when this happens. This is usually a sign that your safety beams the the bottom of both sides of your garage door are having issues. Sometimes they just need to be cleaned off or have slight adjustments.

What maintenance can I do on my garage door and opener?

Because a garage door is a very large, heavy, moving part, it’s prone to fall out of adjustment with daily use. When this happens, the door becomes harder and harder to lift and lower. The best way to lengthen a garage door’s life span is to perform the following maintenance on at least an annual basis.

How do I select the right garage door dealer?

There are a variety of sources you can turn to to purchase or obtain garage door products, the most popular of which is the door dealer professional, such as an International Door Association (IDA) Dealer. IDA Garage door dealers are often the most reliable and dependable source for several reasons. These include experience, knowledge and- most importantly- the fact that IDA Dealers make their living by selling, installing, and servicing door systems.

Safety: A Primary Concern

A garage door is often the largest moving object in home or commercial business facility. An improperly installed door and operator system can exert tremendous force when the door closes. This could lead to the entrapment of children or adults and subsequent injury - or worse. Therefore, selecting the right person to install and service your door and/or operator is an extremely serious decision. It is not one that should be taken lightly!

There are thousands of door dealers in business today. What can you do to assure yourself of selecting the right one? We've provided this list for you to use:

Experience

Of all the five checkpoints, this is perhaps the easiest to validate. How long has the company been in business? If a new company, do the principals have experience in the door and operator industry? How much?

Emergency Service

You have no control over when something may go wrong with your garage door or opener. The door dealer should be available for 24-hour emergency service to be able to promptly take care of your emergency service needs.

Workmanship

This may be the most important checkpoint. And it is also easy to verify. Does the door dealer have satisfied customers? If so, do they have letters of recommendation from their customers? Depending on the project, you may want to talk to a customer or two.

Code and Regulatory Complianc

There are numerous requirements pertaining to safety and the installation of a garage door system. Federal, state, and local codes and regulations must be followed. Ask the dealer you select about how they comply with the codes in your city.

Insurance Coverage

It is important to you that the door dealer carry proper insurance on their business and employees. One checkpoint is to ask for a copy of the company's Certificate of Insurance. If they don't have one or hesitate to comply with your request, it could be a negative signal.

Financial Integrity

Depending on the size of your project, the financial integrity of a door dealer can be very important. Although this is a sensitive issue, a dependable, honest door dealer won't mind telling you about the basic financial integrity of their company.

Selecting the right door dealer is as simple as asking a few questions. The most important deals with the issue of reliability. Is the dealer dependable, trustworthy, and safety-conscious? These questions take only moments to answer, and yet they can help you avoid tremendous problems in the future.

Garage Door Openers

How do I select the right garage door opener?

Before selecting an opener, you will need to determine:

The size (height, width, thickness) and construction (steel, insulated, wood) of your garage door. This will help to determine the size of the motor and type of drive needed to lift the door.
The clearances above and on the sides of the door opening, which will help determine where to mount the opener.
The living spaces that are near or above the garage, which may affect how quiet an opener you’ll want.
The safety devices, features and accessories that you want so that your new garage door system fits your needs and preferences.

What safety features are important in a garage door opener?

Your garage door is the largest, and probably, the heaviest moving object in your home. So the safety features of the device that lifts and closes the door are all-important.

For the opener to work, certain safety devices must be installed. This is true regardless of the type, size or brand of opener you choose. These safety devices are built into the garage door system to prevent the door from closing when an obstruction is in the door’s path. Most openers auto-reverse the door when an infrared beam detects any obstruction in the door’s path. The U.S. government mandated the use of non-contact safety protections on all residential, motor-operated garage doors in 1993. Other safety features are:

Rolling-code technology selects a new, non-repeating access code from among billions of possibilities every time the remote control is operated.
A keypad or touchpad outside the garage allows entry via a programmable code. If this feature doesn't come standard with the unit you choose, it can be added as an option.
Many units have a simple doorbell-style button for opening and closing the door. Others have a more complex control panel with keypad programming and vacation lock to prevent the door from being opened while you’re away.
Most openers include a light, which should stay on for a few minutes after the unit is activated to allow time to get into the house.
Battery Backup feature that continues to operate the garage door opener even when the power is out, helping residents, homeowners and property managers through unforeseen, inconvenient outages. These units often supply power for up to two days, so even after 24 hours of standby time (i.e., full-day power outage), garage door opener will still perform 20 full “up and down” cycles.

What’s the difference between chain drive, screw drive, and belt drive?

All make for an effective garage door opener, but each has its advantages.

Chain-drive openers are the oldest style, and they continue to be very popular and a good value. They can be noisy, though, and may not be a good choice if the garage is under a bedroom or adjacent to a room where quiet is appreciated. On the other hand, some people appreciate being warned (through the garage door opening) that someone is about to walk into the house.

Screw drives feature a solid-steel direct drive for increased strength. Direct drives have unmatched reliability, too. They have no belts, chains or gears to wear out. And their simplistic design - the motor shaft connects to the drive screw with a coupler - allows power to be transmitted in a straight line to maximize motor efficiency with minimal loss of torque or power.

Belt-drive openers are identical to chain-drive openers except that they operate with a rubber belt. They don’t use chains, so there is no noise from metal-on-metal contact so they are ultra-quiet

What does rolling code technology mean and how does it work?

Prior to 1993, garage door openers used dip switches on the receiver and transmitter. While these switches provided garage door systems with 256 different codes they were not designed with high security in mind; the main intent was to avoid interference with similar systems nearby.

Today’s garage door openers use rolling code technology, whereby a new code (from billions of possibilities) is generated each time the transmitter is used. This approach prevents perpetrators from recording a code and replaying it to open a garage door. This virtually eliminates the possibility of hacking, and helps to prevent unauthorized entry to your home through the garage.

How long does a door opener last?

The average life span of a door opener can vary from 10 to 20 years depending on the model and usage. If the door and door opener are maintained properly, some openers will last more than 25 years. New features, safety devices, etc will continually be made available, so when an existing operator breaks down, the repair cost and age must be taken into account to determine value of repair versus replacement.

How often should my operator be serviced?

The noises your door or operator makes are your initial warnings that something is not quite right. The longer you put off the necessary service, the more damage may result. Regular service can extend the life of your door and operator.

How do safety beams work?

Safety beams are actually an invisible, continual, infrared electronic beam that stretches across the door at its installation point. This beam scans the garage door opening at all times and if interrupted by a person, animal or object, it automatically stops the door from traveling. To work properly, beams should be located at least 5 inches but not more than 6 inches from the floor.

How do I open the garage door when there is a power outage?

It depends on the model so always refer to the owner’s manual for further instructions. You can open the door from the inside using the red emergency release cord, which hangs from the mounted overhead opener. With the garage door fully closed, simply pulling the emergency cord straight down should release the door from the carriage, allowing you to operate the door manually. If at all possible, do not release the garage door when open, except for emergency or security purposes and close the door with caution. Opening the door from the outside requires installation of an emergency release lock.

Why does the garage door reverse and open when I try to close it?

The likely culprit is an obstruction in the path of the door. Check for and clear any obstruction in the path of the door. If the problem persists, check to see if the safety beam LED indicator is blinking. If it is, check to be sure that the lenses are mounted 6″ from the floor on either side of the garage door opening. If the safety beam lenses appear to be installed properly, refer to the troubleshooting section of the owner’s manual for additional causes and solutions.

Why is the opener running but the door isn’t moving?

The door may be disengaged. Check to be sure that the red emergency release cord hasn’t been pulled. If this is the culprit, re-engage the carriage. How to re-engage the carriage depends on the model. See your owner’s manual for more details.

Why won’t my garage door open when I press the button?

Does the opener have electric power? Plug a lamp into the outlet the opener is plugged into. If it doesn't light, check the fuse box or the circuit breaker. Keep in mind that a wall switch may control some outlets. If there is power to the operator then there is some type of mechanical or electrical problem within the garage door opener itself and may need to be diagnosed by a qualified service technician. Have you disabled all locks on the garage door? Is there a build-up of ice or snow under the door? The door may be frozen to the ground.

Pull the emergency release cable and try to manually lift the door. If the garage door does not lift, the door springs may be broken. Call us to replace or adjust the springs. NOTE: Repeated operation may have tripped the overload protector in the motor. Wait 15 minutes and try again.

Why do I have to hold the wall button in to get the opener to close?

It sounds like the photo-cell safety beams are blocked, misaligned, or malfunctioning. Move any objects that may be interfering with the signal and verify that the photo-cell LED lights are illuminated as per the manufacturer's instructions. If the infrared beams are not blocked and the photo-cells appear that they are aligned, you will want to have an experience service technician diagnose and repair the problem. You will not be able to close the door with the remote control transmitter until the photo-cells are in proper working order.

Awnings

What are the benefits of awnings?

Protect windows and doors from rain and snow
Prevent fading of drapes, carpets, and furniture from direct rays of sun
Eliminates direct sun glare
Reduces cooling costs
Adds beauty and character to any home

How are awnings energy efficient?

Window awnings can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows. The reason? Because awnings result in cooling energy savings by “reducing solar gain through windows.” You can use an awning to shade one window or have an awning custom-made to shade the entire side of your house.

Will awnings reduce my air-conditioning costs?

Yes. Awnings conserve energy by shading windows and reducing indoor temperatures. Studies by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRE) have shown that awnings on windows and patio doors can reduce inside temperatures by as much as 8-15 degrees, depending on the exposure of the window, the color of the fabric and the style and method of attaching the awning.

What are the factors I should consider when purchasing an awning?

A few questions to keep in mind include: What area or outdoor space are you looking to shade? How large of an awning will you require, including width and projection? How will the awning be attached to your home - roof, soffit or wall mount? What color or pattern are you interested in? Are you looking for a stationary or retractable awning? What type of warranty comes with the awning model you select? What is the timeline from the time you place the order to the time of the install?

When would I need a protective hood for my retractable awning?

Protective hoods, available at an additional cost, have been designed to provide adequate unit protection when structural protection is not available. Hoods are recommended when the retractable awning is being roof or wall-mounted and when not located directly under a soffit or overhang.

Why would I want my retractable awning motorized?

Nothing could be more convenient than simply flipping a switch and watching your awning roll out on its own. Once fully extended or retracted, the unit will stop automatically. You may also stop the retractable in any position by flipping a wall-mounted switch or pushing a button on a remote. Research has shown that a motorized awning is used four times as much as a manual unit

If my retractable awning is motorized, how can I adjust it if my power goes out?

All motorized awnings we sell have a manual override crank that will allow you to retract your awning by hand in case of power failure or malfunction.

How is the fabric treated on a Sunesta fabric awning?

All fabrics featured in the exclusive Sunesta collection are 100% solution-dyed, acrylic fabric. The colors in the fabric are dyed into the fibers so that they can't fade or run. In addition to their inherent long-lasting durability, all Sunesta fabrics are covered by a 10 year warranty.

How many fabric options are available in the Sunesta fabric line?

In the current fabric selection, Sunesta offers 193 exclusive fabric patterns for homeowners to choose from, encompassing both solid and striped patterns. In addition, there are 22 binding choices and numerous choices for the SmartDrop valance fabrics. All of these patterns are stocked at their facility plus they can acquire hundreds of other acrylic fabric brands on a special order basis.

How do I care for and clean my Sunesta retractable awning?

Sunesta awnings are not only easy to operate, but they're also easy to maintain. To start with, the location of your awning determines the frequency we recommend cleaning it. If your home is located inland, you should clean your awning twice a year. If you are on or near the ocean, you should clean your awning once a month due to salt exposure.

To clean your awning, spray off loose debris and dirt with a water hose. For bird droppings and other attached residue, use warm water and a soft-bristled scrub brush on the spot requiring attention before rinsing with your hose. After you have removed any loose dirt and/or residue, allow your awning to dry completely before coating with a rain repellent such as Scotch Guard.

If your awning fabric has tougher stains such as mildew, you can attempt to remove the stains with a mild soap, such as Ivory Snow or Woolite, with warm water and a soft-bristled scrub brush. Avoid using any product with the word “detergent” in it. Again, only use a mild soap. After using the soap, rinse the awning thoroughly with water from your hose. Allow the awning to dry completely before coating the fabric with a rain repellent as mentioned previously.

Proper care for the frame of your awning includes rinsing it with water from your hose, wiping it down with a soft cloth, and using a 100 percent silicone lubricant on all moving parts of the lateral awning. Again, the lubricant must be 100 percent silicone. Avoid using lubricants such as WD-40 as they will leave a residue and may stain your awning's fabric. By following these simple recommendations, you will extend the life of your awning and your enjoyment of it.

Railings

What are the key benefits of an aluminum railing system over traditional wood railings?

Aluminum railings will not rot or blister with age. A poorly maintained wood railing will eventually rot, and may cause injury.

A properly baked on finish will ensure your aluminum railing will be truly maintenance free and offer years of enjoyment. Traditional wood railings require annual maintenance which is both time consuming and costly.

What are the key benefits of an aluminum railing system over vinyl railings?

Due to its structural characteristics, aluminum railings offer smaller, lower profiles that minimize congestion on your porch or balcony. Vinyl railings are traditionally much larger in profile and reinforced with steel in order to compensate for their inferior structural short-comings.

Aluminum railings are available in a number of colors and finishes. Most vinyl designs are available in a limited number of colors.

Aluminum is much more difficult to scratch, gouge, or dent. Vinyl railings have a tendency to scratch much easier and may be more subjective to damage in high wind areas.