Homeowners use their garage doors daily, but most need help identifying their components. This is common, although it would be helpful to understand the essential parts. This information can come in handy when you need to make repairs to your existing door or want to choose a brand-new one.
Identifying the most important interior and exterior parts of a garage door can be helpful, and this guide will highlight all the different garage parts to help you better understand.
Exterior Parts of a Garage Door
- Decorative hardware. These parts elevate the appearance of your garage door and dress it up. Decorative hardware can set your garage door apart from the rest of the doors in your neighbourhood, and you can choose elements that match the rest of your home exterior. You can consider strap hinges and latches, and you can also choose to add things like pull handles and ring pulls.
- Door face. This part refers to the entire front of the garage door and includes components like panels, trim, windows, and decorative hardware. Garage door faces are made from different materials, such as wood, composite, vinyl, glass, and urethane, and you can select from various finishes, including prime, paint, stain, or even a faux stain.
- Door frame. This is the part the door face is mounted to. It provides reinforcement and helps keep the door sturdy and robust. Garage door frames are made from different materials, such as steel, aluminum, and engineered lumber.
- Doorstop. This part is often called a weather seal and attaches to the bottom of the garage door to seal out the elements. They are available in a variety of materials and colours.
- Door joint. This is where the door opens to allow entry into the garage. Depending on the door, the joint may be genuine or faux.
- Lites. This part is called a pane, an individual section of the garage door windows.
- Windows. Many garage doors have windows, which elevate the door’s aesthetic and offer a beautiful design. Windows will also allow natural light to enter your garage, making this space brighter. Most garage door windows are made from polycarbonate, although decorative glass is also available.
- Muntins. This refers to the dividers between the lites within a garage door window. They can be simulated or accurate, and this will depend on your individual preference.
- Panels. These are mounted onto the garage door face and are available in various styles, including V-groove, flat, raised, herringbone, tongue and groove and more. Swing doors have multiples of two panels, while trifold doors have multiples of three and bifolds have multiples of four.
- Trim. These parts are mounted on the panels to frame the door, divide it into parts, and separate windows from the rest of the door face. They are available in many styles, including cross bucks, V-bucks, Z-bucks, and rails.
Interior Parts of a Garage Door
- Hinges. These metal parts connect each garage door section and bend with the door as it opens and closes.
- Jamb. This frames the garage door opening and three sides and is built into the garage structure.
- Rollers. These small parts help the garage door move smoothly through the track as it goes up or down. They are usually made from nylon or steel.
- Sections. This refers to the horizontal pieces that roll up or down when operating an overhead door. The area where the sections meet is called the joint.
- Spring. This part counteracts the force of gravity on the garage door, allowing it to open by hand or with a garage door opener. In most cases, the garage door will have torsion springs located parallel to the top of the door.
- Stiles. These are vertical structures on the back of each garage door section. Depending on the door, center and end stiles exist for enhanced support.
- Track. This part refers to the metal components that house rollers that propel the garage door from a closed and vertical position to a horizontal position parallel to the garage floor. You will have several track options: standard, low headroom, vertical, high lift, and roof pitch.
Garage doors have dozens of interconnected parts, and while you don’t need to be able to name every single component, it can be helpful to have a basic understanding of the major parts and how they function. This will allow you to identify problems fast and more efficiently, and you will be able to find the right solutions to fix them.
Understanding the different parts of a garage door can be helpful to homeowners because as garage doors wear out, other components can start to cause functional issues. The more you know about parts and their functions, the better you can determine which parts are causing problems.
Garage doors are used several times daily and lowered and raised constantly. This kind of repeated use can cause parts to wear over time, and if you are familiar with some of the components, you will know which part needs to be fixed to get your garage door to work again. A homeowner can sometimes do minor repairs with the skills and experience, but it is highly recommended that you contact professional garage door repair specialists for this service.
Lack of experience can lead to further issues and dangerous consequences, and you can put yourself in danger. Professional garage door repair specialists will complete the job correctly, and safety will always be prioritized.
Trust AMS Garage Door for Garage Door Repair Services
Are you in need of professional garage door repair services? AMS Garage Door can help! Whether you need garage door spring or door opener repair, our team is ready to assist you. We serve clients in the Kitchener, Milton, Guelph, Waterloo, and Georgetown areas, and you can contact us anytime to learn more about our services!