What Are Garage Door Springs Made Of?

There are two basic materials that garage door springs are made out of: galvanized wire and oil tempered wire. There is a debate about which material is better and why. As a company that supplies garage door springs in Mendota Heights, we have heard both sides of this debate.

Both of these garage door springs materials are made out of the same basic raw material – a steel rod that is high in carbon and “drawn” down to a wire diameter that is very specific.

Galvanized Wire

The process of applying and bonding zinc coating to the surface of a wire is called galvanizing. For garage door springs, this is done before the drawing process. Sivaco, a company that manufactures galvanized wire, has a lead-patented galvanized wire and thanks to this, galvanized wire is great for garage door springs.

Oil Tempered Wire

Oil tempering is an additional step in the process. Oil is used to heat-treat the wire and that gives it certain properties. After being heated to a temperature exceeding 1500 degrees Fahrenheit and then quenched in oil, it is then reheated to a high temperature.

The garage door industry usually used oil tempered wire because it is excellent for performance as garage door torsion springs. These types of wires have oil on them left over from the tempering process, so anyone who is installing these has to be careful after the installation is complete to not leave oily handprints on walls and doors. These types of springs are also known to rust relatively easily.

In the end, though, oil tempered wire wins. Galvanized wire’s raw material inventory was tough to manage and the company that sold them could not convince enough of its customers to make a move to galvanized wire over oil tempered.

For more information on garage door springs in Mendota Heights, call Premium Garage Door Service at (952) 513-4849 (South Metro), (612) 234-4812 (Minneapolis), (651) 344-0489 (St. Paul) or (763) 607-3402 (North Metro) or contact us and Request Service.

Fun Facts about Garage Doors

Who knew that garages could be so interesting? We here at Premium Garage Door Service did! We install garage doors in New Brighton and the surrounding areas, and we know plenty about them. Here are a few of our favorites.

  • If you get new garage doors installed, it could increase the value of your home by 1 to 4 percent.
  • A photoelectric eye, which most garage doors have, is a great safety feature. They help protect against injury from closing garage doors.
  • According to the 2007 Perfect Home Survey, seventy-one percent of homeowners use their garage doors as the main entrance to their homes.
  • Garage doors are the largest moving part of your home. And because of that, proper repairs and maintenance are essential to keep it running smoothly.
  • If your garage door is broken, it is a bad idea to try to open or close it. This can cause even more damage.
  • Garage door springs should never be a do-it-yourself fix. They should always be replaced by professionals like the ones at Premium Garage Door Service.
  • Getting a new garage door installed can give your home a unique appearance and help your house stand out. And if you are thinking of selling your home, it can also add curb appeal.
  • Garage doors can help you save money on energy costs thanks to new insulation options.
  • Garage doors come in a variety of materials, such as wood, aluminum and steel.
  • Garage doors are raised and lowered by a system of springs, rollers, bearings and hinges.
  • Make sure you close your garage doors! About fifty percent of all residential burglaries are a result of an open or unsecured garage door.

For more information on garage doors in New Brighton, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or contact us and Request Service.

Popular Garage Doors Materials

When you are in the process of having new garage doors installed, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is what material the garage doors will be made out of. Because we’ve installed many garage doors in Vadnais Heights and the surrounding areas, we have a few suggestions on what materials you should consider.

Steel

Steel is an excellent choice for garage doors. Not only can it be painted, it also comes in textures that look like wood. This material is usually pretty inexpensive, low maintenance and durable, which means it should last for a good while. However, steel is not known as being very insulated, so if you’re worried about saving energy or reducing noise, these may not be your best bet.

Wood

Wood is a great choice if you are looking for a traditional garage door material. Wood is great because it comes in a wide variety of styles and it can be painted to match your home’s exterior décor. Wood is a great way to spruce up the look of your home’s exterior and it can add great curb appeal. But wood can also be high maintenance, so they need to be refinished on a regular basis.

Aluminum

This material that garage doors can be made out of is very similar to steel. Aluminum is usually long lasting and can also be painted or faux finished, but it is also prone to denting.

So when it comes to choosing the best garage doors, there are definitely some things you should think about before coming to a final decision. If you still aren’t sure or have more questions, we here at Premium Garage Door Service can help! We can answer any questions you have, and we will point you in the right direction.

When you need garage doors in Vadnais Heights, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or contact us and Request Service.

Garage Door Spring: Repair and Type

There are two different types of garage door springs: extension and torsion. We here at Premium Garage Door Service can repair and install both. Garage door spring repair in Roseville is one of our specialties, so we’re going to discuss the two different kinds of garage door springs and what goes into repairing them.

Extension

Extension springs are aptly named because these springs store energy through either extending or stretching. More weight adds tension to these springs as the garage door closes. The springs stretch as this happens. Each garage door will have two extension springs: one on each side of the door that runs parallel to the horizontal tracks. This garage door spring repair is somewhat easy, especially compared to repairing torsion springs, but if you have any doubt about what you’re doing, you should call in the experts like the ones at Premium Garage Door Service. Generally speaking, if one spring breaks and needs to be replaced, the other spring should be replaced as well by garage door spring repair experts like us.

Torsion

Torsion springs are installed above the door opening and over a metal shaft that goes over the entire width of the door. After these springs are installed, the installer will place aluminum drums on each end of the shaft. Then the cable length and drums are set and after that, the springs are wound and each piece is screwed into each other. That way, all of the force is equally distributed across the entire torsion shaft. Garage door spring repair on these types of springs is very dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. We do not recommend trying to repair or replace these on your own! They can snap unexpectedly and cause injury, damage or worse.

For garage door spring repair in Roseville, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or contact us and Request Service.

Common Garage Door Problems: A Garage Door Company’s Perspective

We here at Premium Garage Door Service have seen just about every problem a garage door or garage door opener can have. We’re a garage door company serving Lake Elmo that’s been in this line of business for more than 20 years, so it’s safe to say we’ve been around the block a few times.

One of the most frequent problems we encounter as a garage door company is when people’s garage doors won’t open. The first thing we’ll ask is if the keypad is working (if your garage door has an electric opener). If it’s not, we’ll send one of our technicians to your home to reprogram the keypad. Usually that will solve the problem. If not, we’ll look into it further and get it fixed for you ASAP.

Another frequent problem we see a lot in our experience as a garage door company is when the garage door sticks as it opens or closes. This can be a really frustrating problem! But no worries – one of our technicians will just have to lubricate the rollers and hinges. We do not recommend trying this by yourself. Oftentimes, people aren’t quite sure what parts should be oiled, and if you oil the wrong parts, you can do more harm than good. We’d much rather you call a trusted garage door company like us so you know it’s done right and so it won’t cost you even more money in the long run!

One of the most dangerous and commonplace problems we see is when the garage door falling when it’s released. This garage door company knows the usual cause of that issue – the extension springs are too worn out. Springs are definitely something that should be repaired by the experts. They are particularly dangerous because of the tension. If they accidentally snap or break, that could be big trouble for someone who is inexperienced at repairing them!

So when you need a garage door company near Lake Elmo that you can rely on, call Premium Garage Door Service at 651-344-0489 or Contact Us.