The garage door industry is complex and always evolving. Since commercial doors and residential garage doors have so many moving parts, several things can impact how they operate. Amarr’s insightful troubleshooting guide can help you navigate the questions or problems you’re having with your garage doors.
The best way to determine if you should repair or replace a garage door is to call a local professionally trained garage door dealer. Depending on the problem, a garage door may just need servicing (like an oil change for your car), a few new parts, a new section or a door replacement. Many times, the issue is not the garage door, but the garage door opener that needs replacement or service. Learn More
Each application has unique needs for a new garage door based on the project requirements, specs and budget, level of care & maintenance required, energy efficiency and the location of the garage in a home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits you are:
Determine the material that best suits the care & maintenance that you desire. Amarr offers garage doors made from steel, wood composite, wood and aluminum.
Choose the door design that best complements your home, including windows, colors, and decorative hardware options.
Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction that best suits your needs depending on if you have a room above or adjacent to your garage or have children that play in front of the garage. Most Amarr doors are available with insulation or no insulation options.
Commercial needs for a new garage door are determined mostly by project specifications and budget. An auto dealership might specify a more expensive Aluminum Full View Door to show off the cars in the building while an industrial manufacturing facility might want an extra-heavy duty 20-gauge pan door to handle heavy usage and potential for damage.
Specifications requiring energy efficiency, air infiltration, wind load, daylighting or views can greatly affect and limit product options in the budget available for the project. Amarr has a wide variety of products to meet these specifications at your budget needs.
Yes!
Amarr offers residential doors in widths between 6' and 20' in two inch increments and in heights between 6'6" and 12’*.
Commercial doors are available in widths up to 40’2' and in heights up to 30’1”*.
*Not all door models are available in this range of widths and heights.
Standard headroom applications require 12" to 18" of clear space between the bottom of the door opening header and the ceiling or any obstruction. However, Amarr specializes in custom-built applications. Special track options are available and make it possible for garages with low headroom to be fitted with garage doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door with a garage door opener in an area that has as little as 9-1/2" of headroom.
Other special track applications include:
Find more information on lift options.
Windows can be placed in any section of the door layout. For residential garage doors, Amarr recommends window placement in the top or second to the top door section for the most natural lighting and security. For commercial doors, windows typically start in the 3rd section from bottom when in just one section, or all intermediate sections when used for natural lighting.
No. Amarr only sells to the wholesale channel of garage door dealers and to on-line and in-store retailers. A home or business owner can buy an Amarr garage door through any of those outlets.
Yes! The following Amarr garage doors are compliant with the Federal Trade Commission "Made in USA" standards and with section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
View our simple how to measure video to learn more.
Your garage door should open smoothly for ease of access to your home and close effectively so you can have privacy. If your garage door gives you trouble when you move it, you need to inspect it to find out what’s causing the issue.
Here are some common garage door problems which could explain why your door might not be opening and closing.
This may be due to the lack of maintenance of the garage door or the garage door opener. Consult a garage door dealer for a service check-up.
A remote that fails to operate the door could be caused by several issues. The most common is that your garage door remote may need the batteries replaced. The safety photo eyes on your garage door opener may be out of alignment. Or your spring(s) may be broken. Please consult your local Amarr Garage Door Dealer for help.
Check the photo eye sensors for your garage door opener. An object may be blocking the path of the sensors, or the opener photo eye sensors may be misaligned.
Springs, rollers and hinges can squeak and be noisy. This is caused by normal use and does not necessarily indicate a problem. Before calling a professional service technician, use a spray-on lubricant (recommended specifically for garage doors).
If the noise persists, call a professional Amarr garage door installer. After inspecting your door the dealer may recommend service or the installation of noise dampening roller sleeves like the Amarr Quiet Door system.
For safety reasons, do not attempt to operate the door where the cable has jumped off the drum. Call a qualified garage door technician to repair the door.
A garage door is the largest moving object in your home. Safety should be a concern when selecting a garage door. Practically all Amarr steel garage doors are built with the Safe Guard safety system to enhance overall safety for a homeowner. Safe Guard offers pinch protection sections and tamper resistant components. To further promote safety, please follow the garage door safety guidelines as outlined by the Door and Access Systems Manufacturer’s Association (DASMA).
A garage door typically covers the largest opening on a home or commercial building. Insulated doors will help to reduce the transfer of heat or cold air into your garage. Here are some situations where an insulated door is especially important:
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. Specifically, R-value is thermal resistance to heat flow.
The higher the R-value number, the better the insulating properties of the material. However, an R-16 value is not twice as good as an R-8 Value. R-16 does not offer twice as much thermal resistance or twice the energy savings of an R-8 value. A value of R-16 offers a 5% reduction in heat flow and a 5% improvement in energy efficiency compared to a value of R-8.
No matter the R-Value, an insulated garage door will reduce the amount of heat flow and improve energy efficiency of a home or business.
Steel garage doors offer strength, security, energy efficiency and the best value. Due to advanced manufacturing, steel garage doors are less costly than other types of garage doors and are offered in a variety of designs and colors to enhance your home or business. Amarr steel garage doors are pre-painted in a variety of colors, providing home and business owners peace of mind protection with multi-year to lifetime paint finish warranties.
No. The lower the gauge number, the thicker (and stronger) the steel.
Each Amarr commercial collection of steel doors has its unique color palette. Commercial color offering is: Commercial White, Sandtone, Commercial Brown, Commercial Black, Commercial Gray.
Amarr Color Zone is a custom paint program that allows you to choose from more than 700 Sherwin-Williams SnapDry™ colors for our steel doors. Your chosen color is factory-applied as a top-coat to give the door one more layer of protection from the elements. Color Zone doors carry the same warranty as any standard color Amarr door.
Doors can also be painted after installation. All Amarr steel doors are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating that is suitable for repainting. Amarr doors will accept a wide variety of commercially available latex exterior paints, when applied in accordance with the paint manufacturer's recommendations. Do not use oil-based paints. Painting of an Amarr steel door voids the Paint Finish Warranty.
The interior of all single-, double- and triple-layer doors is white, regardless of the exterior color.
With garage doors taking up approximately 1/3 of a home’s front elevation, the desire to have more design in the garage door has become more important to homeowners, builders, remodelers and architects. The result is the increasing popularity of carriage house garage doors and the garage door becoming a design element of the home, rather than just a commodity.
First to market with this innovative garage door, Amarr introduced the Classica Carriage House garage door in 1995. Made with 3-sections, rather than the traditional 4-section garage door, Classica garage doors convey a more vertical, authentic carriage house look with larger windows. Also, the 100+ Classica door designs are all priced the same unlike competitors' carriage house doors made with plastic or composite overlays. Additionally, there’s no worry of the overlays shifting, warping, or falling off with a Classica design. Available in a variety of colors, door designs and window options, there is a Classica door design to match your home's architecture and enhance your home’s curb appeal.
Classica offers over 100 unique carriage house garage door designs that are all made with 3 sections for a standard 7’ or 8’ tall door, creating a more vertical, authentic carriage house look with larger windows.
Yes! The Amarr Vista (residential) and Amarr 3552 (commercial) aluminum full view doors and Horizon (residential) and Amarr 3582 MultiView doors are available with anodize, powder coat or high-performance PVDF finish options. The Amarr 3502 commercial door is only available with a Clear anodize finish.
Amarr high-performance polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coating (commonly referred to as Kynar®) is well known in the architectural community and highly regarded for its resistance to color fade and corrosion. We can match and produce almost any custom or RAL PVDF color in-house in shorter lead times vs powder coat.
PVDF coatings offer the flexibility to select nearly any color, while shielding against aging, weathering, and pollution. It also has good coating hardness while providing impact and abrasion resistance, making it a good choice for homes, storefront, docks, or other high-traffic areas.
Powder coating is a dry film process using finely ground particles of pigment and resin which are electrostatically charged and sprayed onto the surface to be coated. The charged powder particles adhere to the surface and are held there until melted and fused into a uniformly flowing coating in a cure oven. All powder coat paints are formulated and created by the manufacturer at their facility which does not allow for custom in-house blending of powder coatings limiting color options and increasing price and lead time compared to liquid PVDF paint matches.
Powder Coat finishes have excellent hardness and provide impact and abrasion resistance, making it a good choice for homes, storefront, docks, or other high-traffic areas.
Anodizing is the process of electrochemically accelerating and controlling the oxidation of an aluminum substrate, creating an extremely hard, durable, and aesthetically pleasing coating on the aluminum surface. Anodized material has an extremely hard surface that is colorfast and mar resistant.
We use architectural Class I anodize coating which is a high performance anodize finish used primarily for exterior building products and other products that must withstand continuous outdoor exposure.
Yes! Many PVDF and powder coat finishes are available on Amarr Aluminum Full View garage doors. Custom color matches are available in PVDF. There are also 26 PVDF and 20 powder coat stock colors available at our finisher. RAL classic colors are available in both PVDF and Powder with powder having a slightly longer lead time. Contact your local garage door dealer for details.
Yes! Amarr commercial 3552 and 3582 and residential Amarr Vista VI1000 and Horizon HO1000 Aluminum garage doors are approved for certain wind load pressures. The ClearView strut system is the wind load reinforcement system used for these doors and does not limit any visibility through the full view windows. Please contact your local garage door dealer to confirm that wind load approval applies to your local area.
Yes! An Amarr residential Vista and commercial 3552 aluminum full view door is a great way to add visibility and privacy between rooms inside your home. Contact your local dealer for garage door hardware that would best suit your application.
Since garage doors were first built, garage doors have been made of wood because they offer the most personalized and decorative options. Wood doors provide security and insulation; but tend to be higher priced due to its individual customization in manufacturing. Wood garage doors can be painted or stained to match the exact look you desire. The challenge with wood garage doors is their tendency to expand and contract with changes in temperature. Wood garage doors are an excellent choice when you want the natural, warmth and beauty of wood to match your entry door and home.
Amarr manufactured wood garage doors have natural wood variations. Wood doors require special finishing prior to installation. To finish, preserve and protect your beautiful Amarr wooden garage door, all six (6) sides of each garage door section must be finished within two (2) days of receipt of door and prior to installation to validate the warranty.
Wind affects all homes and businesses. If you are in an area prone to strong winds, especially hurricanes and windstorms, you will need a garage door that is engineered to meet building code requirements. Your local professional garage door dealer installer can determine the appropriate Wind Load door for your area.
Amarr distributes Wind Load approved garage doors for practically every garage door we offer. A Wind Load door is simply an upgraded version of a door that has been structurally reinforced to meet the specific building codes in your area.
Amarr wind load garage doors are engineered and approved to meet vigorous wind load requirements across the United States. A correctly installed Amarr wind load rated garage door is installed in accordance with Amarr installation instructions and the specific wind load speed drawing the door was designed and tested to meet. Any installations that deviate from Amarr’s wind load drawing would be non-compliant and may fail the intended wind load test pressures the door was designed to withstand.
Yes!
Amarr offers impact windows in the residential Heritage, Lincoln, Hillcrest and Classica steel garage door collections.
Amarr offers impact windows in the commercial Amarr 2432.
Amarr provides a Dealer Locator on amarr.com to find garage door dealers or installers in your area. Proximity, 24-hour service, or dealer showroom available may be a factor in determining the right dealer for you. Other factors to consider may be insurance, lead safety certification, warranties, professionalism, references, as well as dealer service and support.
A garage door is the largest moving object in your home, and because of the large number of parts, installation of a garage door is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous, and proper installation is critical to the performance of your door.
Professional garage door dealers and installers can typically install a garage 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 trained garage door installer to handle the job for you. One of the other services a professional garage door dealer can provide is the disposal of your old garage door if you are replacing a garage door.
There are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced. Before testing your garage door, disengage your electronic opener.
The best way to determine if a garage door can be repaired through service or needs replacement is to call a professionally trained garage door dealer near you. Depending on the issues, a door may just need servicing (e.g. - 3,000-mile car oil service), a few new parts, a new section, or a door replacement. Many times, the issue is not the garage door, but the garage door opener needs replacement or servicing.
Yes! You can replace just one section for most garage doors, depending on if the model of the garage door you are replacing is still in production and is not a custom design. Also, paint matching may be an issue as color variations can occur over time.
You need to replace your garage door if an accident, a storm, or vandalism has damaged it severely. Here are some types of damage that a professional would need to replace.
A garage door raises and lowers with the assistance of springs. Broken and or worn springs will cause the door to be heavy and thus cause an extra load on the garage door opener. The extra load can be dangerous for reversing mechanisms and cause premature failure of the garage door opener. Having a technician check the garage door springs, rollers and garage door opener is good preventative maintenance for your garage door.
The average garage door opens thousands of times each year. If you’ve had your garage door for ten years, it has done a lot of work over its lifespan. Without proper maintenance, a garage door will have damage due to wear and tear. Here are some of the reasons why garage doors lose their strength and functionality over time.
We recommend 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. Never blend cleansers or detergents with bleach.
The use of a well-soaked cloth, sponge or brush (with very soft bristles) is recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue.
In addition, lubrication of springs, rollers and hinges is recommended on a yearly basis with Amarr Super Lube or similar non-silicone-based lubricant (e.g.- 10W-30 motor oil). Visually inspect springs and cable for wear and binding once each year and contact a professional garage door dealer or installer if damage is suspected. Do not attempt to remove, repair, or adjust springs. Do not attempt to remove or loosen any red fasteners found in high torsion areas, such as bottom brackets or spring plates. High spring tension can cause serious injury or death.
Re-finishing of a wooden garage door may be required each year to maintain its natural beauty.
Downloadable instructions can be accessed via the QR code on the label of the hardware box that came with your door, or by going here. Garage door installation is an advanced project and can be extremely dangerous. Installation by a trained garage door technician is highly recommended.
Amarr recommends replacing your track when you replace your garage door because each brand of garage door has been specifically designed to work with a specific type of track. In addition, replacing your track is an inexpensive way to ensure your entire garage door system is as safe as possible. By replacing your track, you also ensure that your garage door warranty will apply if you have a problem.
Most garage door dealers will take down and haul away your old door, after the new garage door is installed for a small fee. Be sure your estimate from your dealer includes taking down and removal of the old door and reconnection of your garage door opener.
Professional garage door dealers and installers can typically install a garage door in a few hours and are careful to make sure safety requirements are met. Installations by most homeowners or business owners typically span several days and cause much frustration. In addition, incorrect installation can void certain warranties, so we recommend a trained garage door installer to handle the job for you. One of the other services a professional garage door dealer can provide is the disposal of your old garage door if you are replacing a door.
When installing a drawbar type electric garage door opener, the top section of the garage door must be reinforced with a strut and/or angle iron spanning the length of the top section.
Check the spring chart in the installation instructions for your garage door. You will find the correct number of turns for doors up to 8’ tall with standard track installation. If you have a door over 8’ tall or a non-standard track configuration, (e.g. - low headroom), please contact a local Amarr Dealer.
To solve the problem of a garage door that folds inward, loosen the top portion of each hinge along a section joint and pull in on the door while retightening the hinge screws.
Many garage door openers can be repaired and may be a less expensive option. However, there are times when opener replacement is recommended.
When installing a drawbar type electric garage door opener, the top section of the garage must be reinforced with a strut and/or angle iron spanning the length of the top section.
Garage door openers have different systems that open a garage door. A chain drive uses a chain as the mechanism to help open and close a garage door; a belt drive uses a belt mechanism; a screw drive a corkscrew rod; and a direct drive attached directly to the torsion bar to help open and close a garage door. Belt drive openers tend to be quieter than chain drive openers. Screw drive openers are known to require less adjustment over time. Direct drives take up less space in your garage.
DC stands for direct current. This allows the opener to only run when it is in use opening and closing a garage door, resulting in additional energy efficiency for the home or business. Additionally, DC openers have soft start and stop features to help smooth the travel of the door and cut down on noise.
Contact your local garage door dealer to purchase a new remote.
Depending on the type of garage door opener and the year purchased, a keypad entry should be available for your garage door opener. Contact your local garage door dealer for purchase.
Please contact your local Amarr Garage Door Dealer to make a warranty claim. No product registration is required. For faster processing, please include all contact information and product details, including pictures, as recommended in the Warranty Guidance section.
Typically, yes. Your professional garage door dealer/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 dealer to evaluate the job prior to installation, so that any required modifications can be performed.
You can manually lock your garage door with slide bolt locks (available through your local garage door dealer). However, be aware that you must not operate your garage door opener when the slide bolts are engaged, as this will damage your garage door. Amarr recommends unplugging your garage door opener, if you engage your slide bolt locks. Many garage door openers have a vacation switch that can be engaged when you are away.
Contact a professional garage door dealer/installer. Do not attempt to remove, repair, or adjust garage door springs or cable. HIGH SPRING TENSION CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
These marks are caused by the oil-coating that is on torsion springs. Care for your garage door with an annual washing of the door to remove these marks.
Rust spots may be caused by salt used during the winter to melt ice and snow or chemical splatter from a driveway cleaner. Make sure to clean your garage door with water and soap to remove any debris that may remain on the exterior of your garage door.
Yes! Most garage door bottom seals can be replaced. Please contact a local garage door dealer for help.
A broken spring is a safety hazard. Do not attempt to operate the door. Call a qualified garage door technician to replace the spring(s).
Cracks can form in the top section of a garage door due to incorrect installation of the door or the operator. Here are just a few of the reasons you may see a crack forming in the top section of your door.
Please contact your door installer to have the problem corrected.
Crushing damage to only the top section of a door is usually related to incorrect door/opener installation, or the door hit an obstacle while closing.
There could be dirt or debris causing wear between sections. Open your garage door to where the section joint can be cleaned according the cleaning instructions to remove anything that could be causing wear.
Most modern garage door window frames have seals and there are seals around the door itself to deter the infiltration of wind driven rain. However, windows, sections and the bottom seal of the garage door may not be 100% leak-proof.
Because a garage door is not permanently fixed in position but moves up and down and is subject to wind loads, perimeter window seals can be breached by vibration of the door or deflection of the door in the closed or open position.
The materials used in the construction of your home contain moisture and will expel water over the course of a season. Basement garages exhibit more condensation as a result of ground water moisture. Or in some cases freezers, washing machines, dryers and water heaters put warm air that contains moisture into the garage.
Creating more ventilation or using a dehumidifier in the garage may help with water condensation. Upgrading your door from a non-insulated door to an insulated door may also reduce the amount of condensation.