Dents and Dings.
Steel garage doors can accumulate dents and small dings over time, which greatly detracts from the door's appearance. To help minimize unsightly dents, Clopay® garage doors are constructed with true 24, 25, or 27-gauge steel. Thicker steel lasts longer and dents less. The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. However, a "sandwich" constructed steel garage door with two 27-gauge steel skins and a bonded insulating core will be stronger than a "steel frame" door with a single layer of 24-gauge steel.
With non-insulated garage doors you may be able to push out the dings from the inside of the doors. If you are unable to do this, you may need to replace the dented sections or the entire garage door. Clopay sells replacement sections for most models, including panel sections with windows. View this post for more information on replacing garage door panels.
Garage Door Feels Heavy or is Hard to Open and Close
Garage doors have a lot of moving parts, and if your door is opened and closed frequently, many of those parts will wear out. If your garage door feels very heavy and is difficult to open, it can be the result of a broken or improperly tensioned spring. Garage doors use two main types of spring systems - torsion springs or extension springs - and a spring issue on either of these systems can make them difficult to open, while also putting additional stress on your automatic opener.
This can often be fixed by your local Clopay Dealer. We strongly advise against DIY spring repair or replacement, as attempting to repair springs on your own can cause severe injury.
FIND LOCAL SPRING REPAIR
Door Opens Unevenly
If your door is opening and closing unevenly, it is likely an issue with only one side of your garage door. This could be a worn spring or another problem with your track or rollers. When this occurs, it can create additional wear and tear on your opener's motor, compounding the problem.
As with the spring issue mentioned above, it is best to call a dealer for your safety and to avoid doing further damage to your garage door. If you are concerned that your door's problem could be dangerous, or cause additional damage to your door and opener, many Clopay Dealers offer emergency service to provide peace of mind.
FIX MY UNEVEN DOOR
Signs That It May Be Time to Replace Your Garage Door
Peeling or Cracked Paint on Wood Doors
Wood garage doors will need to be refinished periodically in order to protect them from the elements. The painted or stained finish can break down over time, which causes the wood to rot. The finish can also discolor or fade due to UV exposure from the sun. If you find the wood has cracked, there are holes in your door or moisture has wicked up from the bottom, it is time to replace it.