FAQs
Q. When should I replace a garage door with a new one?
A. If your garage door does not operate, the door is a potential hazard. Do not try to fix on your own, instead contact GARAGE ESSENTIALS. Another reason to replace a garage door is to enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to the 2010 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement is the #2 remodeling project in regards to return on investment. The report states that replacing your garage door will return 84% of the cost at the time of home sale. Lastly, your current garage door may be fading, sagging and just in need of a replacement. If you have a wood garage door that needs re-painting, replacing it with a new pre-painted steel garage door may be a better value. Painting a garage door adds significant weight to a door which may affect the spring and the performance of the garage door and opener.
Q. What is the best garage door for me?
A. Each homeowner has unique needs for a new garage door based on the desired styling, the level of care & maintenance required, the energy efficiency and the location of the garage in one’s home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits you are:
1. Determine the material that best suits the care & maintenance that you desire. Amarr offers garage doors made from steel, wood composite, wood and aluminum.
2. Choose the door design that best complements your home, including window, color and decorative hardware options.
3. Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction that best suits your needs depending on if you have a room above or adjacent to your garage or have children that play in front of the garage. Most Amarr doors are available with insulation or no insulation options.
Q. What is a carriage house door?
A. A Carriage House door is a type of garage door that replicates the look of doors found on carriage houses in the early 19th and 20th Century. Amarr distributes a variety of striking carriage house designs made from steel and wood. These Amarr garage doors look like they swing open, but they actually move up and over your car.
We offer stamped-steel carriage house doors in the Amarr Classica collection and Amarr Oak Summit collection that eliminate a homeowner’s concern of misaligned trim overlays. In addition, the Amarr By Design collection offers beautiful, natural wood carriage house doors.
Q. Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.
A. Yes. Amarr offers residential doors in widths between 6′ and 20′ in two inch increments and in heights between 6’6″ and 12′.*
*Not all door models are available in this range of widths.
Q. My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
A. Standard headroom applications require 12″ to 18″ of space between the bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. However, Amarr specializes in custom-built applications. A variety of special track options is available and makes it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door with a garage door opener in an area that has as little as 9-1/2″ of headroom.
Other special track applications include:
1) Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
2) Follow-the-roofline track, which is used when the ceiling of the garage is pitched at the angle of the roof, making it desirable for the door to follow the same angle, thus providing additional overhead room.
3) Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.
Q. The glass and insert broke in one of my windows. How do I replace the glass and window insert?
A. The glass in the window frame of your Amarr steel garage door can be replaced. Please contact your GARAGE ESSENTIALS for glass and insert replacement.
Q. What type of spring is better…extension or torsion?
A. The two types of springs used on garage doors today are extension and torsion springs. Extension springs are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal track when the door is closed. Torsion springs are typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted to the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when the door is moved. Torsion springs are a better choice because they balance the weight of the door better than extension springs for smoother operation and safety. Watch the Amarr spring video to learn more.
Q. Are Amarr garage doors “Made in USA”?
A. Yes!
The following Amarr garage doors are compliant with the Federal Trade Commission “Made in USA” standards and with section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:
Commercial Sectional Steel Doors: Models 1000, 1380, 2000, 2400, 2500, 2720, 2700, and 1350
Commercial Sectional Aluminum Doors: Models 3500 and 3550
Commercial Rolling Steel Doors: Models 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, 4500, 5502, 5536, 5601, 5651, and 5652
Residential Steel Door Collections: Chatham, Classica®, Fimbel® Olympus, Fimbel® Designer’s Choice, Heritage™, Hillcrest, Lincoln, Oak Summit®, and Stratford®
Residential Aluminum Full View Vista Collection
Q. I want garage doors that are safe for my family. What garage doors are safe?
A. A garage door is the largest moving object in your home. Safety should be a concern when selecting a garage door. Practically all Amarr steel garage doors are built with the Safe Guard safety system to enhance overall safety for a homeowner. Safe Guard offers pinch protection sections and tamper resistant components. To further promote safety, please follow the garage door safety guidelines as outlined by the Door and Access Systems Manufacturer’s Association (DASMA).