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Q.
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Why should I
use a professional installer?
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A.
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At Amarr, we firmly
believe that the installation of a garage door is not a do-it-yourself job.
A garage door is the largest moving object in your home and because of the
large number of small parts, its installation is highly technical.
Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and proper
installation is critical to the performance of your door. One of the other
services a professional installer can provide is the disposal of your old
door, if you are replacing a door.
Professional installers can typically install a door in a few
hours and are careful to make sure safety requirements are met.
Installations by most homeowners typically span several days and cause much
frustration. In addition, incorrect installation can void certain
warranties, so we recommend a professional handle the job for you.
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Q.
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Is 25 gauge
steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
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A.
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No. When
comparing strengths of steel, remember, the lower the gauge number, the
thicker (and stronger) the steel is.
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Q.
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Why should I
choose an insulated door if my garage is uninsulated?
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A.
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A garage door
opening is a very large hole in your garage. Insulated doors will help to
reduce the amount of outside temperatures that enters your garage, thus
keeping it more comfortable for you. This is important for a number of
reasons:
1) If your garage is attached to your home, any air in the garage can
travel through the doorway to your living area.
2) If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a top
priority.
3) If your garage is below another room in your home, air can travel
through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. An
insulated door will keep temperatures in the garage fairly stable to reduce
the temperature fluctuation in the room.
4) An insulated door is generally quieter and has a more attractive
interior than an uninsulated door.
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Q.
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What are the
benefits of a steel door over a wood door?
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A.
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1) Steel
doors are low maintenance. Typically a wood door needs to be painted as
frequently as the wood trim on your home due to weathering.
2) Amarr steel doors have longer warranties than wood doors.
3) Steel doors can be insulated, making them far more energy efficient
than wood.
4) Amarr steel doors are pre-painted and most are available in your
choice of three colors. Wood doors are unfinished or primed, both of which
need to be finish painted upon installation.
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Q.
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What is
required for installing an electric operator?
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A.
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In the event
that an electric operator is installed, the top section must be reinforced
with a strut or 14-gauge angle iron spanning the length of the top section.
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Q.
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I want to
replace my old door, but don't know how to dispose of my old one. Will my
Amarr dealer take care of that?
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A.
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Most dealers
will haul your old door away after the new door is installed for a small
additional fee. Discuss this with the salesperson when you get your
estimate on your new door.
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Q.
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When I
replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
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A.
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We recommend
replacing your track when you replace your door because each brand of
garage door has been specially designed to work with a specific type of
track. In addition, replacing your track is an inexpensive way to insure
that your entire garage door system is as safe as possible. By replacing
your track you also ensure that your door warranty will apply, in the event
that you have a problem.
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Q.
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I have a
one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?
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A.
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Yes. Your
professional garage door installer can install a sectional door for you by
installing track and springs to accommodate a sectional door. Depending on
the construction of your garage, other modifications might be necessary. We
would advise you to ask your installer to evaluate the job prior to
installation, so that any modifications can be performed before
installation.
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Q.
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I'd like to
purchase an Amarr steel door, but need a color other than those you offer.
Can I paint the door once it's installed?
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A.
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Yes. All Amarr steel
doors are prepainted with a tough topcoat that is perfectly suited for
painting after installation if another color is desired. To repaint, use a
high-quality latex exterior house paint. Because the paint must be
thoroughly mixed before using, mechanical mixing is recommended to assure
that no settling on the bottom of the container remains.
The surface must be completely dry prior to painting. Painting
should be done in the early morning to reduce uneven drying from the sun.
Avoid painting when temperatures are below 50°F. Apply a uniform coat at
the manufacturer's recommended dry film thickness.
If the door has been installed for a long period of time it
should be cleaned and prepared prior to painting. First, wash your steel
door with (a) One cup of Tide (or other common detergents which contain
less than 0.5% phosphate, dissolved into five gallons of warm water, or (b)
One cup of household ammonia dissolved into five gallons of water (room
temperature). NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS WITH BLEACH.
The garage door may be washed with either solution and the use
of a well-soaked cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low
pressure spray washer are recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly
rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue. To prepare
the door for painting, lightly sand or buff surface imperfections such as
minor scratches, which have not left the metal substrate exposed in order
to create a smoother surface. Care must be taken, however, not to expose
the substrate. Rusting is greatly increased when the metal substrate is
exposed.
Exposed metal must be treated to prevent rust from forming. To
do so, sand the general area lightly and use a primer* specifically
designed to protect any exposed galvanized steel from corrosion. After the
door has been properly prepared, it must be coated within 24 hours with a
high-quality latex exterior house paint, taking care to allow the surface
to completely dry prior to painting.
*Glidden Galvanized Metal Primer® 5229, PPG Galvanized
Steel Primer® #6-209, or equivalent primers specifically designed for
galvanized steel surfaces.
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Q.
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Are special
size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual
size door.
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A.
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Yes. Amarr makes
residential doors in widths beginning at 6' wide and continuing to 20'*. We
can make any width between 6' and 20' in two inch increments. In addition,
virtually any height between 6'6" and 12' is available in three inch
increments. The only height that is unavailable is 7'3".
*not all models are available in this range of widths
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Q.
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My garage has
very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom
required to operate a sectional door?
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A.
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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 are
available and make it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with
doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door in an
area that has as little as 41/2" 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
and
3) Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but
the door must still retract to a horizontal position.
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Q.
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I'd like
windows, but I'm concerned about security?
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A.
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There are
many parts of our country where security is a large concern. Because of
this, Amarr has designed DecraGlass™- safe, secure windows for your garage
doors. DecraGlass™ windows are tempered, translucent windows that feature
beautiful etched designs to compliment the style of your home. In addition,
they offer more security than standard garage door windows because they
feature baked-in translucent ink. This allows light into your garage, but
masks the contents from potential intruders.
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Q.
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What's the
difference between expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane?
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A.
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Insulated garage doors
typically contain either expanded polystyrene (EPS) or polyurethane. All
Amarr insulated garage doors contain CFC-free EPS as opposed to
foamed-in-place polyurethane.
When comparing only R-values, it might be easy for one to be
persuaded to purchase a door insulated with polyurethane. After all, they
have a higher efficiency rating. However, polyurethane has some inherent
disadvantages that you should be aware of.
1) Degradation: polyurethane has been known to degrade over time. This
causes the R-value to actually decrease, sometimes by as much as 25%, as
the door ages. Polystyrene insulation is permanent because the cellular
structure of it contains only stabilized air. Its value does not decrease
as it ages.
2) Environmental concerns: polyurethane contains harmful CFCs that can
adversely affect the environment. Polystyrene is not only CFC-free, but is
recyclable, therefore reducing the amount of non-biodegradable waste.
3) Delamination: some manufacturers of doors injected with polyurethane
have experienced delamination of the insulation from the door. Amarr's
state-of-the art adhesive assures that the polystyrene in our doors will stay
bonded to the steel door. Our delamination warranty is your protection
against delamination.
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Q.
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I've been
comparing R-values of various doors and am surprised at the variance among
them. Can you explain this?
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A.
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Many manufacturers use
R-values to show the energy efficiency of their product. This number is
arrived at through a calculation that looks at the thickness of the
insulation and its chemical properties. Therefore, most of the R-value
numbers you see, reflect only the R-value of the section...not of the
installed door. A door's insulating capabilities can be greatly affected by
the door's construction.
For that reason, Amarr's insulated doors have a 5-step system
that works together to maximize energy efficiency. Our double thermal break
and tongue and groove construction are critical parts of that system and
help to keep your garage as comfortable as possible.
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Q.
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How do I know
if my door is properly balanced?
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A.
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There are
several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced:
1) You should be able to raise your door in 1' increments and the door
should stay in place where you stop it.
2) When the door comes down, it lowers in a controlled manner and
doesn't slam.
3) When the door goes up, it is at a controlled pace.
4) The bottom of the door should align with the bottom of the header
when the door is in a raised position.
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Q.
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Do I need a
lock on my garage door?
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A.
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If an electric garage
door opener has been installed on your door, it may not be necessary to
have a lock. Newer electric openers function as the lock, making it
improbable that an intruder would be able to lift your door from the
outside. If you have an older opener, check to see if your door can be
lifted from the outside.
DASMA, the trade association for the garage door industry,
discourages homeowners from attaching a lock when an opener has been
installed, because too frequently, a child or other family member will
accidentally lock the door. If someone then tries to open the door using
the electric opener, the opener will pull against the lock causing the door
to be damaged.
If no opener is installed on your door, you should certainly
have a lock installed.
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Q.
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What type of
spring is better...extension or torsion?
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A.
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There are two types of
springs used on garage doors today...extension and torsion. Most people are
more familiar with extension springs. These are the springs that are
attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal part
of the 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.
A torsion spring is a superior spring, primarily because it
offers more safety to the homeowner and better balances the door to provide
smoother operation. Amarr single-car doors are equipped with extension
springs as part of the standard hardware, but torsion springs are available
by request. All double-car doors are equipped with torsion springs.
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Q.
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How do I
paint a wood door?
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A.
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Many homeowners feel that
they have thrown their money away when their wooden garage doors rot or
break-up because of moisture problems. Amarr guarantees its wood doors for
one year, but a properly maintained wood door should provide a
"reasonable" length of service to the homeowner.
The following information on proper painting of wood doors
comes from the American Hardboard Association. These guidelines were
established by the hardboard manufacturers and do not replace Amarr's
instructions or warranty. For further details on painting, you may refer to
Step 22 in our Homeowners Instruction Manual and warranty in the Homeowners
Information Packet that comes with every Amarr door.
FINISH SELECTIONS Quality: Purchase a good quality exterior
paint that is recommended for use on hardboard. "Bargain paints are
rarely genuine bargains because they are usually harder to apply, do not
cover well and do not last as long as good quality materials. Follow the
advice of your paint dealer for the products specified for coating
hardboard.
Finish Type: Select finishing systems intended for exterior
use on hardboard as follows:
1) Primer: Use a solvent based oil/alkyd or waterborne primer which
will seal the face, back and edges of the entire door and is compatible
with the top coat to be used.
2) Top Coat Paint: Use either latex or oil exterior top coat paints.
The oil paint should be semi or full gloss paint.
NOTE: All paints used should be those recommended by the paint
manufacturer for use on hardboard. Stain products are not recommended.
SURFACE PREPARATION The surface of the hardboard skin/panel
must be clean, free of dust and dirt, mildew and other contamination.
Unprimed hardboard doors should be finished immediately after installation.
Primed hardboard doors should be finished within 7 days after installation.
APPLICATION Method of Application: Follow the directions on
the finish label paying particular attention to special primer
requirements, hardboard surface temperature, rate of spread and recommended
application procedures. In general, the finish can be applied by either
spray, roll or brush as long as the resultant film is the recommended
thickness, is uniform in coverage and properly cured. Avoid application of
finish when rain or dew is expected. Avoid painting with latex formulations
if temperature is likely to drop below 50°F before the paint fully hardens.
Number of Coats/Coating Thickness: A total film thickness of 4
dry mils (.004") minimum for all surfaces face, back and edges is
recommended. This is best achieved by a uniform application of unthinned
finish at a spread rate recommended on the label. Therefore, apply the
following number of coats to the OUTSIDE, INSIDE and ALL EDGES of the door
before installation:
Unprimed Doors: Primer followed by 2 unthinned finish coats.
Primed Doors: Spot prime any areas of damage to the factory primer using an
alkyd/oil primer. After the primer has dried, apply 2 finish coats. Follow
the manufacturer's recommendations relative to the use of a primer and the
finish coats or the 2 finish coats.
MAINTENANCE AND REFINISHING Yearly inspection of the exterior
of the garage door will pay dividends when re-finishing eventually becomes
necessary. If the finish appears in good condition, cleaning and touch up
is often adequate. When the finish becomes badly eroded and thin, clean and
prime the areas where the substrate is showing through, followed by
complete priming and finish coating. If there is no substrate showing
through, the finish coating only may be adequate.
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Q.
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What type of
care and maintenance is necessary for my Amarr steel door and hardware?
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A.
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We recommend that you
wash your steel door a minimum of one (1) time per year with: (a) One cup
of Tide® (or other common detergents which contain less than 0.5%
phosphate), dissolved into five gallons of warm water, or (b) One cup of
household ammonia dissolved into five gallons of water (room temperature).
NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS WITH BLEACH.
The garage door may be washed with either solution and the use
of a well-soaked cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low
pressure spray washer are recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly
rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue.
In addition, lubrication is recommended on a yearly basis for
the following hardware: pulleys, rollers, hinges and springs. CARE SHOULD
BE TAKEN WHEN LUBRICATING SPRINGS AS THEY ARE UNDER HIGH TENSION. WHEN
APPLYING LUBRICANT AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH THE SPRING. Visually inspect
springs and cable for wear and binding once each year and contact a
professional garage door repairman if damage is suspected.
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