As a homeowner, it’s important to ensure that you have the most secure garage door possible. This starts with knowing how to reinforce your existing garage door.
By taking steps to reinforce your garage door, you can ensure that it is as safe and secure as possible and prevent potential break-ins. Read on to learn how to reinforce garage door and keep your home secure.
Summary: Garage door reinforcement is an important step in ensuring that your home is secure. By reinforcing the garage door’s structure, you can protect yourself and your property from intruders. You can also reinforce the door by adding wiring to the door. This can be done by running wires through the edges of the door and using electrical tape or clips to secure them in place.
Can You Reinforce the Garage Door?
Having a broken garage door is more than just an inconvenience; it can be a real safety hazard. Along with leaving your home vulnerable to theft and vandalism, a weak garage door could easily trap you or something else inside the garage.
Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to reinforce the door and restore its security quickly. Reinforcing the garage door requires ensuring that all door system components, such as frames, brackets, cables, and spring mechanisms, are stable and undamaged.
If any part of the system needs replacing or adjustment, consult with a professional service so they can help you fix it properly. Not only will this make your home safe again, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that your family is no longer at risk!
Why Should You Reinforce the Garage Door?
The garage door provides you with access to the home and is your family’s first line of defense against burglars and intruders. That’s why it’s so important that you reinforce your garage door regularly.
By fortifying your entryway, you can harden its defenses and improve energy efficiency, save money on heating and cooling costs, add value to your residence, reduce noise levels from the street and outside, and improve peace of mind for those living inside the house.
Taking the time to ensure the safety of your garage door will pay dividends today and tomorrow.
13 Steps to Follow on How to Reinforce Garage Door
Step 1: Assess the Current Condition of Your Garage Door
Before reinforcing your garage door, inspect its current condition. Check for signs of damage, wear, or weakness. Look for dents, cracks, rust, or warped panels. If you find any significant issues, it may be best to replace the garage door entirely rather than reinforcing it. Additionally, make sure the garage door is properly balanced and that the tracks, rollers, and springs are in good working order.
Step 2: Choose the Right Reinforcement Materials
Depending on the type and material of your garage door, you may need to use different reinforcement materials. Common materials used for reinforcing garage doors include steel struts, aluminum braces, and horizontal support beams. Research the best reinforcement materials for your specific garage door type and material. Consult your garage door manufacturer or a professional for guidance if needed.
Step 3: Gather the Necessary Tools and Equipment
To reinforce your garage door, you will need the following tools and equipment:
- Reinforcement materials (e.g., steel struts, aluminum braces, or horizontal support beams)
- Drill and drill bits
- Screws, nuts, and bolts
- Tape measure
- Level
- Wrenches
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
Step 4: Measure and Mark the Garage Door
Using a tape measure, determine the appropriate spacing for the reinforcement materials on your garage door. Generally, reinforcement materials should be evenly spaced and aligned with the door’s horizontal sections. Mark the locations on the garage door where the reinforcement materials will be installed using a pencil or marker.
Step 5: Attach the Reinforcement Materials
Align the reinforcement materials with the marked locations on the garage door. Ensure that they are level and evenly spaced. Using a drill, create pilot holes through the reinforcement materials and into the garage door. Secure the reinforcement materials to the garage door using screws, nuts, and bolts. Tighten the hardware using wrenches, ensuring a secure connection between the reinforcement materials and the garage door.
Step 6: Check the Garage Door Balance
After installing the reinforcement materials, it’s essential to check the balance of the garage door. An improperly balanced door can cause strain on the garage door opener and other components, leading to premature wear and potential damage.
To check the balance, disconnect the garage door opener by pulling the emergency release cord. Manually lift the garage door halfway up and release it. If the door stays in place, it is properly balanced. If the door falls or rises, the springs may need to be adjusted to accommodate the added weight of the reinforcement materials. Consult a garage door professional if you are unsure how to adjust the springs safely.
Step 7: Reinforce the Garage Door Opener Bracket
The garage door opener bracket connects the opener arm to the garage door. Reinforcing this bracket can help distribute the force of the opener more evenly across the door, reducing stress on the door’s panels.
To reinforce the bracket, purchase a bracket reinforcement kit compatible with your garage door opener. Attach the reinforcement plate to the existing bracket using the provided hardware. Make sure the reinforcement plate is level and securely fastened.
Step 8: Reinforce the Garage Door Tracks
Reinforcing the garage door tracks can help prevent them from bending or becoming damaged under the added weight of the reinforcement materials. To reinforce the tracks, purchase track reinforcement kits compatible with your garage door system. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the reinforcement brackets to the tracks.
Step 9: Test the Garage Door Operation
After reinforcing your garage door, test its operation to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Reconnect the garage door opener by engaging the emergency release cord. Open and close the door using the opener, checking for any unusual sounds, vibrations, or signs of strain. If you encounter any issues, address them promptly. Consult a garage door professional if you are unsure how to resolve any problems that arise during testing.
Step 10: Inspect Weatherstripping and Insulation
While reinforcing the garage door, it’s also a good time to inspect the weatherstripping and insulation. These components help maintain energy efficiency and protect your garage from the elements. Check for damaged or worn weatherstripping around the door’s perimeter and replace it if necessary. Inspect the insulation on the door’s panels for any signs of damage or wear and replace or upgrade the insulation as needed.
Step 11: Perform Regular Maintenance
Proper maintenance is essential for the longevity and safety of your reinforced garage door. Regularly inspect the door, tracks, rollers, springs, and reinforcement materials for signs of wear or damage. Lubricate moving parts as needed and tighten any loose hardware. Periodically test the door’s balance and adjust the springs if necessary. By performing routine maintenance, you can ensure that your reinforced garage door remains in good working order for years to come.
Step 12: Consider Additional Security Measures
Reinforcing your garage door not only strengthens the door itself but can also enhance the overall security of your garage. Consider implementing additional security measures, such as upgrading your garage door opener to a model with rolling code technology, installing a garage door deadbolt lock, or adding a security camera system to monitor the area around your garage.
Step 13: Consult a Professional if Necessary
If you are unsure about any aspect of reinforcing your garage door, consult a professional garage door technician. They can assess your garage door’s condition, recommend the most appropriate reinforcement materials and methods, and perform the installation for you. Hiring a professional can help ensure the job is done correctly and safely, providing you with peace of mind and a more secure garage door.
By following these steps and performing regular maintenance, you can successfully reinforce your garage door, enhancing its strength, durability, and security. A reinforced garage door not only offers increased protection against harsh weather conditions and potential intruders but also contributes to the overall stability and longevity of your garage door system. Investing in garage door reinforcement can be a valuable addition to your home, providing both practical and safety benefits for years to come.
Things You Need to Know Before Reinforce Garage Door
Before attempting to reinforce your garage door, you need to consider a few important things. The first is the material of the door. Depending on the type, it may require more extensive reinforcement than others.
Furthermore, consider the door’s age and condition; if it is already showing signs of wear and tear, then reinforcing it could be a waste of time and effort.
Also, ensure that whatever materials you use are appropriate for the job. You want to ensure they are durable enough to secure the door effectively yet still lightweight enough not to cause any damage or awkwardness when opening and closing it. Finally, if in doubt, consult with a professional familiar with how to reinforce garage doors safely and securely properly.
Benefits of Reinforce Garage Door
Garage doors, especially automatic ones, boost overall security for residential and commercial spaces. A reinforced garage door made from steel is ideal for this purpose, as it provides maximum flexibility and protection.
A reinforced garage door offers superior strength that can help keep intruders from easily breaking through, and it also helps preserve energy while ensuring minimal air leaks thanks to its material composition.
Additionally, a reinforced garage door can be easily customized to fit any existing frame’s size and shape and accommodate various exterior/interior designs. Choosing a reinforced garage door can be a great way to secure your space and elevate the aesthetics of one’s home.
4 Common Mistakes People Make When Trying to Reinforce Garage Door
1. Not Lubricating the Tracks
One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to reinforce their garage door is not lubricating the tracks. The tracks are what the door rolls on, and if they are not lubricated, the door will not be able to open and close smoothly. You can purchase a lubricant specifically for garage door tracks at most hardware stores.
2. Not Checking the Balance
Another mistake people make is not checking the balance of their garage door. The door should be balanced so that it opens and closes easily. You can check the balance by disconnecting the opener from the door and then manually opening and closing the door. If it is difficult to open or close, then the door is not balanced correctly.
3. Not Tightening the Bolts
Over time, these bolts can become loose, which can cause the door to become unbalanced and difficult to open and close. You should check all of the bolts on your garage door regularly and tighten them if necessary.
4. Not Inspecting the Door Regularly
The last mistake people make is not inspecting their garage door regularly for signs of wear and tear. It is important to inspect your garage door at least once a year to ensure that all parts are in good working condition. If you notice any damage, you should have it repaired as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
Conclusion
Reinforcing your existing garage doors is an essential part of home security, especially if you live in an area with a higher risk of burglaries or other crimes against property.
By taking steps such as adding locks, installing metal strips along the bottom edge of the door, and reinforcing your jamb with screws instead of nails, you can greatly increase both the strength and security of your garage doors without breaking the bank in terms of the cost or time investment required.
Homeowners who take measures such as these can rest assured that their garages are well protected from potential intruders looking for easy targets to which they can gain access quickly and easily without being detected or heard by neighbors or passersby in the area around their homes. Thanks for reading our post about how to reinforce garage door.
