How to Repair Your Garage Door Track!
Garage doors are an essential part of every home. These doors keep your vehicle safe from the scorching heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. Your garage door is built to last, but overtime, its components may begin to malfunction and require repair. One of the critical parts of a functioning garage door is the track, so it is important to understand how they work. This will not only help you assess if the track is damaged, but also ensure that your garage door is in good working order.
What is a garage door track assembly?
Garage door tracks are metal bars in the shape of a channel that house and guide the roller wheels on sectional garage doors. They come in three basic types of garage door track lift: standard lift, vertical lift, and high lift. Your garage door most likely has standard lift tracks, as they are found in most residential applications. The vertical track is the assembly that guides and supports the garage door vertically in the closed position and is mounted to the jambs on each side of the garage door opening using brackets. The horizontal track consists of a section of track that has been reinforced with an angle in order to guide and support the garage door as it hangs horizontally. The radius is the curved end part of the horizontal track that transitions the track from horizontal to vertical.
Vertical track repairs
Garage door tracks that are bent out of shape are a regular issue, and it is important to address the root cause of the vertical track malfunction if applicable. You can repair the track by inserting a big screwdriver behind the bent section, pulling in toward the center of the garage door opening until the track is straightened. If your garage door is damaged while partially open and you see that the curved part of the vertical track bends over, you can use a hammer or a monkey wrench/adjustable wrench to straighten the track. The rollers will be able to travel smoothly again once the tracks are repaired.
Severe damage will require a replacement, such as when steel channels and welding on the tracks are compromised resulting from a vehicle colliding with the exterior concrete of the garage. If the track difficulties are caused by structural displacement and subsequent misalignment, track reinstallation will be required to fix the spacing. This type of repair is frequently required because the initial track installation was excessively tight or too loose, causing the rollers to dislocate prematurely.
Horizontal track repairs
Bent horizontal tracks are often seen in large commercial door tracks, and are usually fixed by pulling the affected portion of the track toward the center to straighten. To fix a bent horizontal track bottom, you place a 5/8″ rod on the inside of the track and vise-grip the ends of it. After some careful hammering around the rod (serving as the mold), the track will regain its proper shape.
Sometimes, the bolt that holds the back of the horizontal track in place loosens. Opening the door will cause the door weight to transfer to the horizontal track and can cause the track radius to bend. When this happens, the horizontal track will have to be replaced.
Garage door track repair services from Palms Garage Doors
Overhead garage door track problems can be stressful. If you do not have the time nor know-how to fix the track, Palms Garage Doors is the best place to call for repair services. We are serving the Greater Bay Area from San Francisco to San Jose and up to Oakland, and our technicians are experts at garage door track repair and replacement. We also offer the best garage door installation and garage door replacement services at affordable costs. Call today for Free Estimates!
