Parts of a Garage Door Frame

Written by Posted On Tuesday, 20 August 2019 11:45

Your garage door is something you may find yourself using several times a day. If it breaks you may not be able to get your car in and out of the garage, so you will want to be able to get it fixed as quickly as possible if anything goes wrong with it. Having a basic knowledge of the parts of a garage door frame can help when you need to get it repaired, so here's a quick breakdown of the parts that make up the door.

Parts of a Garage Door Frame 

Some of the parts of a garage door frame include the door tracks, hanger kit, bottom rail, door rollers and many more. 

The Garage Door Frame

Any bits which are mostly stationary are part of the door frame.

Door Tracks

The door tracks form an upside down 'L' shape and act as a guide for the door as it is raised and lowered in addition to holding the door in place. The trolley track runs along the middle of the top door tracks and guides a chain which is used by the electric door opener to open and close the door. Flag and jamb brackets anchor the door tracks to the wall and ceiling.

Hanger Kit 

The hanger kit is placed at the top-back of the door tracks next to the far end of the trolley track. The hanger bracket is used to mount the electric door opener and is designed to be able to be anchored at different heights to suit different sized door opener mechanisms.

Bottom Rail 

The bottom rail runs along the bottom of the door and will usually include a seal designed to keep out water and weather as well as anchor points for the cables used to assist in opening the door. If it becomes warped or the seal becomes worn or broken then moisture can enter the garage and cause corrosion. This can also be a major issue in seaside areas where salt blowing into the garage can be a problem. A warped bottom rail may also prevent the door from moving up and down on the tracks.

The Moving Parts of the Door and Frame

There are many moving parts required to transition the door between its open and closed state, plus a few extra parts for other purposes. Here are the main moving parts.

Door Rollers

The door rollers are attached to the door and slide along the door tracks allowing the door to be smoothly opened and closed.

Door Hinges

For sectional doors, the door hinges allow each section of door to bend as the door slides between the vertical and horizontal door tracks.

Cables

The cables on either side of the door attach the bottom of the door to the cable pulleys at the top and allow the door to be easily and safely raised and lowered.

The curved door arm is a lever that connects the door to the chain used by the electric door opener to open it.

Torsion Spring

The torsion spring is used to store the energy that is utilized to help open the door and it connects to the cable drums which hold the cables used to raise the door when those cables are wound up.

Door Opener Chain

The door opener chain runs along the trolley track and is used by the electric door opener to open and close the door.

Emergency Release Cord 

Finally, the emergency release cord hangs down from the slider on the curved door arm and allows the door to be disconnected from the electric door opener in case the door needs to be opened manually.

The Electric Door Opener

This is usually mounted onto the hanger bracket at the top-back of the door tracks in the middle. It moves a chain running along the trolley track and is used to open and close the door automatically. Most of the energy required to open and close the door is actually stored in the door springs so the engine on this can be fairly small. If nothing else appears wrong with the door mechanics and the door still won't open this door opener is a likely culprit and you may have to install a new one.

Bottom Line 

Your garage door is a complex mechanism that you rely on to keep the contents of your garage safe and to make your life easier. Knowing the parts of a garage door frame should help you recognize any issues with the door and make fixing them a quicker process. The more information you have available the less trouble you will have when something goes wrong when you’re trying to open or close your garage door. In addition to these parts, you can even insulate your garage to regulate the temperature that it’s at.

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Rocky Degrenia

Small business owner; all types of flooring. #1 Rated Flooring Installer in Phoenix, AZ. Over 6 decades of experience and education. Residential and Commercial. Family man, father of three teenage girls.

www.knightflooringaz.com/

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