
Safety first, then convenience, then looks. That is the order we think about garage doors, and it is the order these articles follow. Start with the sensor test; it takes a minute.
- Bulletin 1Photo-Eye Sensor Alignment or Replacement: reading the quoteVery often, yes. A blinking bulb after a close command is the opener reporting that its sensor circuit is unhappy, and the count of blinks is the message: one common family uses ten flashes for the sensors, while a…Read
- Bulletin 2Garage Door Panel Replacement: what the visit coversExpect two visits. On the first, the technician makes the door safe to use or safe to leave closed, identifies the manufacturer and model, measures the section, photographs the damage and its neighbours, and checks the…Read
- Bulletin 3Garage Door Hinge Replacement: preparing for the visitThe car nudged the door on the way in. There is a dent low on one end, and above it the hinge that carries the roller is bent so the panel edges rub together and squeal as the door lifts.Read
Your questions, answered

Repair & Maintenance
How should I prepare for the appointment?
Move the car out if you can and clear a metre or so in front of the door and along both tracks so the technician can reach the hinges and brackets. Find the door and opener manuals and any earlier repair paperwork. Have every remote and the keypad code to hand. If something has changed lately, be ready to say when and what you noticed first. If the door looks wrong, leave it where it is. Garage Door Safety Inspection
Which lubricant is right for a garage door?
A silicone-based or white lithium garage door lubricant, sold for the purpose. Penetrating oils and general sprays are thin, attract dust and are gone in weeks; heavy grease traps grit. For the rubber bottom seal and weatherstrip, use only a silicone spray, since petroleum products attack rubber and make it brittle. Nylon rollers with sealed bearings need no lubricant, while ones with an exposed bearing can need a touch where their own maker calls for it. A small amount on each point, worked in by moving the door, is enough. Garage Door Tune-Up
Why did the door come off its track in the first place?
The usual causes are an impact from a vehicle, a lifting cable that broke or slipped off its drum, ice holding the door to the floor while the opener pulled, an obstruction under the door, worn rollers that no longer hold in the rail, or track brackets that have loosened from the wall. Finding which one applies is the first part of the visit, because the reset is only durable once the cause is corrected. Off-Track Garage Door Reset
Can a dent be repaired instead of replacing the section?
Sometimes. A shallow dent in the middle of a steel skin, away from joints and hinge points, can often be eased out or filled, sanded and painted. Damage that creases the metal, reaches a joint or an end stile, bends a hinge point, or kinks a strut affects how the section carries load as the door moves, and a new section is the sound repair there. The technician tells you which category your dent falls into. Garage Door Panel Replacement

Springs & Hardware
What lubricant is right for a garage door?
A lubricant made for garage doors, applied lightly to hinge knuckles, roller stems and the springs, following the door maker's own recommendation, since the right product and whether bearings are included varies by manufacturer. General-purpose penetrating oils are thin and wash away, and heavy grease attracts grit. Nothing goes on the track raceway or on a nylon or plastic wheel. The opener's chain or screw rail may take a lithium grease according to its manual, and the manual for your door names what its maker prefers. Garage Door Roller Replacement
Is the bracket at the bottom corner a hinge too?
No, and it is the one piece of hardware on the door that stays untouched during hinge work. The bottom bracket in each lower corner holds the bottom roller and anchors the lift cable, so it carries spring tension whenever the springs are wound. Many manufacturers fit tamper-resistant fasteners there. Changing a bottom bracket means unloading the springs first, which is a separate job with its own method. Garage Door Hinge Replacement
My door rubs the frame on one side. Is that a track problem?
Often, yes. The vertical track is meant to stand a fraction further from the jamb at the top than the bottom, so the closed door seals on its stop and swings clear as it rises. If a bracket has loosened or the track was set flat to the wood, the door drags along the stop moulding every trip. Resetting the spacing and taper, and tightening the brackets into sound wood, usually ends the rub. Garage Door Track Repair or Replacement
What should I do while waiting for the visit?
Leave the door in the position it is in and stop using the opener. Move the car and anything else you need out of the garage by another door if you can, and clear the floor near the door so the technician has room to work. If a cable jumped because the door closed on something, leave the object where it was; it helps explain what happened. Garage Door Cable Replacement

Openers & Access
Should I lubricate the chain, the rail or the track?
Rollers, hinges, bearings and springs benefit from a garage door lubricant once or twice a year. The chain, belt or screw-drive rail is a separate question, since each drive type calls for its own product and schedule from the opener's manual rather than one rule for every unit. The track itself should stay clean and dry, because lubricant there collects grit and makes rollers slide instead of turning. The technician can point out the spots on your door at the end of the visit. Garage Door Opener Diagnosis and Repair
What does the sprocket do, and how does it wear?
The sprocket is the toothed wheel on top of the motor head that pulls the chain. Every cycle drags the chain over its teeth, and over years the teeth wear thin and hooked, letting the chain ride up and skip under load, often at the same point on the rail each time. A sprocket that has loosened on its shaft lags behind the motor. Worn sprockets are replaced as part of the gear and sprocket assembly. Chain-Drive Opener Repair
Will my remotes and keypad still work afterwards?
Yes. Belt, trolley and pulley work happens on the rail and leaves the operator's memory untouched. Replacing the gear at the motor head means opening the head unit, and on some models that is a good moment to confirm every remote, the keypad and any in-car buttons afterwards. The technician tests each before leaving and re-teaches any that need it. Belt-Drive Opener Repair
Is battery backup worth having?
For many households it is the feature they value most, especially where ice storms and winter outages are part of life. A backup battery inside or beside the head unit runs the door for a number of cycles when the power is off, so you can get the car out or put it away without heaving the door up by hand in the dark. The head unit chirps or lights an indicator when the battery needs renewing, which is every few years. Garage Door Opener Replacement

Installation & Upgrades
How do you determine the correct replacement size?
The technician measures the finished opening at several points and also records floor level, jamb alignment, headroom, sideroom and backroom. Those dimensions are checked against the selected door system and track arrangement. The nominal width and height are only the starting description; actual site measurements shape the order. Sectional Garage Door Replacement
How should painted steel sections be cleaned?
Use the care method provided for the selected finish. Common guidance involves mild soap, clean water and a soft cloth or sponge, followed by a thorough rinse. Work on a cool surface and avoid abrasive pads that can mark the coating. Seasonal washing removes road film and winter residue while giving you a chance to notice scratches, seal wear or developing corrosion. Insulated Steel Garage Door Installation
Why keep the labels and installation documents?
They connect the visible door to its configuration, size, components, reinforcement, and attachment details. That record helps future technicians identify suitable replacement parts and understand why particular hardware is present. It also supports later renovation discussions by giving designers or building officials a reliable description of what was installed at the garage opening. Wind-Rated Garage Door Replacement
Are the decorative handles and strap hinges functional?
On most sectional carriage designs, they are visual accents rather than working swing-door hinges. Their placement still requires care. They must attach where the section construction permits, align evenly across the face and clear trim and joints throughout travel. Some handles can also provide a suitable gripping point for manual movement when their product instructions identify that use. Carriage-House Garage Door Installation