Garage door help please!

[mv213]

This evening. i just noticed a tear in the inner skin of my garage door, where the opener attaches. Any repair suggestions? I thought maybe I could attach the opener bracket to the galvanized brace across the top of the door? Or use some angle iron to make a reinforcement behind the bracket. Whatever I do, it had better be soon!

Thanks for any good ideas.

 

[The Cobbler]

I'd probably put a pc of plywood between the windows to beef up the aluminum skin . rabbet it a bit to sit over the top rail, extend it down to lay over the first hinge leaf .

 

[whateg01]

Are your springs adjusted correctly?

 

[jstroede]

it looks like at some point the opener pushed down on the section entirely too hard.

I would look to add an operator reinforcement bracket. One sort of like this:

Xadnitu Garage Door Reinforcement Bracket, Operator Repair Hookup Brackets with Clevis Pin for Repairing Attach to The Garage Opener (18 inch) - Amazon.com

Xadnitu Garage Door Reinforcement Bracket, Operator Repair Hookup Brackets with Clevis Pin for Repairing Attach to The Garage Opener (18 inch) - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

John

 

[PoorUB]

I have seen door companies repair this with a long 2x2 angle, stuck under the reinforcement rail above with the screw through it and ran down and screwed over the hinge bellow with the same holes the hinge uses..

 

[Stuart in MN]

it looks like at some point the opener pushed down on the section entirely too hard.

I would look to add an operator reinforcement bracket. One sort of like this:

Xadnitu Garage Door Reinforcement Bracket, Operator Repair Hookup Brackets with Clevis Pin for Repairing Attach to The Garage Opener (18 inch) - Amazon.com

Xadnitu Garage Door Reinforcement Bracket, Operator Repair Hookup Brackets with Clevis Pin for Repairing Attach to The Garage Opener (18 inch) - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

John

You can see the crease in the material next to the window on the right, it probably did push down too hard or maybe there was something under the door that it ran into. The opener can be adjusted to stop sooner, if it's slamming down into the floor every time.

I assume the lift bracket is bolted clear through the door? Is there any sign of damage on the outside?

 

[BillK]

Mine has a bracket like the one shown above. The door is not strong enough to take the force of the opener.

 

[WisJim]

The installation instructions for my garage door mentioned a reinforcing bar or angle to avoid this problem, but they weren't at all clear or detailed about what would work, so I installed an angle across the panel as reinforcement.

 

[CraigStu]

There is also a 'force' adjustment on most door motors. You could adjust that lighter so less chance of a reoccurrence.

 

[Tchicken]

I have seen door companies repair this with a long 2x2 angle, stuck under the reinforcement rail above with the screw through it and ran down and screwed over the hinge bellow with the same holes the hinge uses..

Like so -

 

[mv213]

it looks like at some point the opener pushed down on the section entirely too hard.

I would look to add an operator reinforcement bracket. One sort of like this:

Xadnitu Garage Door Reinforcement Bracket, Operator Repair Hookup Brackets with Clevis Pin for Repairing Attach to The Garage Opener (18 inch) - Amazon.com

Xadnitu Garage Door Reinforcement Bracket, Operator Repair Hookup Brackets with Clevis Pin for Repairing Attach to The Garage Opener (18 inch) - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

John

Thanks John, I think that's exactly what I need!

 

[mv213]

Mine has a bracket like the one shown above. The door is not strong enough to take the force of the opener.

I agree, I don't know why it was installed like this.

 

[mv213]

Like so -

Like so -

Great suggestion!

 

[mv213]

You can see the crease in the material next to the window on the right, it probably did push down too hard or maybe there was something under the door that it ran into. The opener can be adjusted to stop sooner, if it's slamming down into the floor every time.

I assume the lift bracket is bolted clear through the door? Is there any sign of damage on the outside?

It isn't bolted through the door. The outside looks fine (so far).

 

[Steve W.]

Mine has a bracket like the one shown above. The door is not strong enough to take the force of the opener.

If the opener needs to apply a lot of force, try adjusting the springs. The door should be pretty much balanced, and should only require about a 2-finger effort to move it. Properly adjusted, sprung and counterbalanced, even the largest doors should be capable of being opened by a 1/4hp opener.

.

 

[mv213]

Thanks everyone! I have a reinforcing bracket on the way. Should solve the problem. I 'll also check the adjustment of the opener.

 

[BillK]

Thanks everyone! I have a reinforcing bracket on the way. Should solve the problem. I 'll also check the adjustment of the opener.

I wouldn't worry so much about the adjustment on the opener as I would about the door. Disconnect the opener and see how hard it is to open the door by hand. If it does not open easily the opener will have to apply more force to open it.

 

[JohnX14]

Like so -

This is exactly what I've seen. I'm surprised at the original attachment of just self tappers through the thin skin of the door.

 

[mv213]

This is exactly what I've seen. I'm surprised at the original attachment of just self tappers through the thin skin of the door.

Mine was not done correctly, that's for sure. My brackets should arrive today so I hope to tackle this tomorrow. Hopefully will end up like the one in your pic.

 

[jstroede]

Some of it depends on the design of the door. Some doors have backing material that runs the full height of the section at those hinge locations. If that door is what I think it is, it should have. It can work in those instance how it is attached. It is never a bad idea to use the operator bracket though.

That being said, that door is probably 20 years old if it is what I think it is.

John

 

[pima67]

Goodness, the advice you are getting is not up to GJ standards. Spend money for a jack shaft opener!

 

[M Fan]

I don't think you really have anything to worry about other than cosmetics. It looks like your door is insulated but there "should" be a vertical steel piece running in line with your garage door opener bracket...which is what the hinge is fastened to directly below. Now if the screws have stripped out from that vertical piece, or like myself, wanted more piece of mind, you could use one of these reinforced brackets. I have this style installed on my doors.



https://www.homedepot.com/p/Clopay-21-in-Opener-Reinforcement-Bracket-Kit-4125479/100069364

 

[mv213]

Goodness, the advice you are getting is not up to GJ standards. Spend money for a jack shaft opener!

LOL! They must be having an off day!