Reinforce Garage Doors

[ndbwhunter]

After a few 70-110 mph gusts, my 18ft midland garage door has started to bow. The door is only 2 years old and came with 3 t-struts installed from the factory. The 110mph gust from this past summer pushed the door in enough to make some small dimples on the exterior side. The more recent 70mph gust seems like it finally finished the job, as the lower sections of the door appear to be bowed enough to prevent the bottom seal from making contact with the floor. From the original position, I'd guess that the door is bowed in around 4-6".

I really don't want to replace the panels, but is there anything else that can be done? I can probably only add one more strut to the door before I need to consider replacing the springs due to the increased weight.

Any other thoughts? Can the doors be bent back toward the exterior before placing another strut on?

 

[guywhofishes]

IF I was try to save a garage door I would install braces a few inches high - and attach small cables end to end. Then tighten the cables with turnbuckles until the door was straight - and just leave them there because they weigh so little.

In a fashion similar to what you see in the mechanisms pictured. Tension is a miracle worker for some things.

- - - Updated - - -

Of course this would not work if the doors are bent outward - ha ha.

 

[KDM]

Spray foam insulation on the inside of the panels may add enough rigidity to the panels to keep them from buckling without adding a lot of weight.

 

[Retired Educator]

What is pictured above is a pretty good idea if you have room between the cables you would install and the bar for the garage door opener. Another option is to take the panels off and place them on a couple saw horses, one at each end. This might allow them to sag enough to take most of the bend out. (Are the struts bent as well?) The struts could then be reattached, starting at each end to apply pressure in the middle. This would allow you to not add any struts. Sometimes it's too bad when the wind doesn't finish the job to the point where the only choice is to go new.

Best choice I think, dependent on your insurance and deductible, is a wind claim to pay for a new door. As far as adding struts and installing new springs, struts are not all that heavy and it might be possible to just tighten the spring some. If the springs are torsion bar then it doesn't take much of a turn to increase the lifting power.

 

[Kickemup]

Replace the old struts with new ones. Bow each panel about 1/2 inch the other way. You can usually get away with adding 1 strut before it will start to affect the balance of the door. When you attach the struts. Put the bolts on both ends first then work towards middle.

 

[Migrator Man]

After a few 70-110 mph gusts, my 18ft midland garage door has started to bow. The door is only 2 years old and came with 3 t-struts installed from the factory. The 110mph gust from this past summer pushed the door in enough to make some small dimples on the exterior side. The more recent 70mph gust seems like it finally finished the job, as the lower sections of the door appear to be bowed enough to prevent the bottom seal from making contact with the floor. From the original position, I'd guess that the door is bowed in around 4-6".

I really don't want to replace the panels, but is there anything else that can be done? I can probably only add one more strut to the door before I need to consider replacing the springs due to the increased weight.

Any other thoughts? Can the doors be bent back toward the exterior before placing another strut on?

Be careful to not add too much weight to the door or you could be risking that the door may fail when suspended above yourself or your vehicle. You may want to just invest in a quality garage door with a double steel sided insulated door. Wind should not be able to damage a quality door. Once the door is bent it is likely to get worse and have issues down the road as that’s how my last door failed.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Be careful to not add too much weight to the door or you could be risking that the door may fail when suspended above yourself or your vehicle. You may want to just invest in a quality garage door with a double steel sided insulated door. Wind should not be able to damage a quality door. Once the door is bent it is likely to get worse and have issues down the road as that’s how my last door failed.

Quality doors can, and will, bend under the right conditions. The doors that I have installed are 2" thick double steel insulated doors with 3 - 3" t-struts. The first high wind event reached sustained speeds of 110mph (as indicated by my neighbors weather station). I was pushing from the inside to keep the thing from coming in anymore, but it still managed to dimple in some spots on the exterior side.

 

[1bigfokker]

Close door and have the wife back up. Call insurance company.

 

[lunkerslayer]

There should be a self tapping lag bolt installed every 4 feet. Also was the t posts strut installed on bottom of the bottom panel and installed on the top of the top panel. If you wanted straighten the panels your best bet is to remove lay on flat surface with a heavy angle iron to use as a straight edge and use c clamps to pull the panel back flush with the angle iron then install a new t post strut if the one is bent already.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Just replace the panels and be done with the headache. Either file an insurance claim or pay out of pocket.

 

[eyexer]

my 18' door required a strut on every panel. I have had some enormous wind against it and not an ounce of trouble. The struts don't weigh much at all. You could have one on every panel and probably not even have to increase the torsion on your spring. If you do so be it.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

my 18' door required a strut on every panel. I have had some enormous wind against it and not an ounce of trouble. The struts don't weigh much at all. You could have one on every panel and probably not even have to increase the torsion on your spring. If you do so be it.

Our 4 on the farm, one in Bismarck, and all 3 in Payson have struts on every panel. The four on the farm they recommended have all the struts, the one in Bismarck and the three in Payson i insisted every panel have a strut. As stated they do not weigh much and you can tighten the spring if needed. Don't forget to spray your torsion springs twice a year with some sort of spray lubricant. They make sprays just for garage springs and if my memory serves me right it is just a silicone spray. When those get dry when the springs turns it binds and you will break a spring and can cause your door to fall and wrecking the door panels and it usually drops one side of the door.