Is a strut needed on a single bay garage door?

[71cutty455]

Hey guys, I recently moved into a brand new home with a 3 car garage. I have already installed an opener on the 16' x 7' double bay garage door and I'm now ready to install one for the 8' x 7' single bay door. The 16' x 7' has a reinforcing strut across the top but the 8' x 7' does not. When I asked the builder why it didn't have one installed he stated single bay doors are light enough to not need one.

So my question is does the door really need one? Is the builder full of **** and just wanted to save money by not installing one? And if it does need one where the heck can I find one cheap? It doesn't look like the big box stores carry them and they also don't have 8' lengths of slotted angle iron...

 

[Train]

Well if he didn't install one, the door probably didn't come with one. I just bought a 14 x 14 and it has no strut either. I called the dealer to ask about it, and he said they only come on doors over 14 feet for the brand I bought.

 

[jstroede]

Yes it needs one. Get ahold of a real door place and they will hook you up.

John

 

[71cutty455]

Thanks for the responses. John, what's an approx. price for an 8' strut? I found out that Menard's actually sells struts but the shortest they have is a 9' but it's only $11! For that price would it be ok for me to just cut a foot off of it and drill new mounting holes?

 

[jstroede]

Price is fair, and absolutely you can do that.

John

 

[71cutty455]

Ok, that's the plan then, thanks!