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Garage Door Weight Calculator
Door weights given are approximations and should be relied upon as such.
Adding Weight To A Garage Door Assembly
Residential and commercial garage doors are engineered and tested
as complete systems by their manufacturers to operate properly and safely. These garage door systems are not
designed to function as structural wall or ceiling components, and they are not designed to accommodate additional
weight that may be added afterwards.
DASMA strongly advises against untrained individuals attaching
materials to or hanging materials from any part of a garage door assembly without explicit instructions from the
original manufacturer of the door system.
All door components, including but not limited to sections,
struts, track, hinges, rollers, cables, cable drums, bottom brackets, torsion spring shafts, rear track hangers, and
fasteners, are designed to work together as an assembly under defined conditions such as door weight, wind load
and cycle life. The safety of a garage door is directly attributed to the design of these components working
together without any other added material. Attaching weight that has not been considered during design to any
component of a garage door can result in one or more of the following consequences:
1. Interference with proper operation. For example,
door springs are designed to accommodate the original intended weight of the door. If additional weight is
added to the door sections after the original door installation, the door could become unbalanced such that
operation is not smooth, possibly even resulting in damaged or broken springs. Also, the function of any
opener on the door could be adversely affected such that a motor could become overworked or cease
functioning.
2. Potentially
dangerous failure. For example,
adding weight, including hanging large objects, to any part of the door or track can obstruct the pathway of the door and can cause the horizontal track to twist, buckle or deform. This has the potential to allow the door to fall
out of the horizontal track. Because doors are large, heavy moving objects that can weigh anywhere from
90 pounds to over 500 pounds, a door falling out of its tracks is dangerous to persons, and
hazardous to property, under the door or in the area. Therefore, aftermarket accessories designed to allow
consumers to hang objects from garage door track should be avoided.
3. Voiding of the door warranty.Garage door manufacturers typically include certain exclusions and limitations in their warranties, particularly regarding
alterations to a door.
If an individual is interested in obtaining information relating
to a specific garage door, it is always best to contact the garage door manufacturer.
To determine the weight of your garage door, lift to the fully open position and attach clamp to track below the bottom rollers to prevent it from lowering. Carefully remove tension completely from springs. With the help of an assistant, carefully lower the door onto a bathroom scale to obtain doors weight. If the weight exceeds the capacity of your bathroom scale. Use two or more scales, then add the reading of each scale to obtain garage door's weight. Purchase replacement door spring needed and install.
Optional:
- Furnish wire size
- Measure the inside diameter to the nearest 1/32"
- Furnish Springs length (Do not include loops in this
measurement)
- Specify type of door (Sectional or one piece)
EXAMPLE: .177 - 1 9/32" ID -
25"
- Furnish Garage Springs length.
- Amount of stretch (Amount of stretch is half of the door height)
- Furnish how much the door weighs and we can help you obtain the correct spring.
EXAMPLE 25"- 42"- 150#
Proper Handling of
Garage Door Springs:- It is important when handling springs to prevent any nicks or
scrapes to the wire. Any small scrape or nick in the wire could result in premature spring failure.
- Springs that are used in areas of high humidity should have a coating of oil or rust inhibitor.
- Lift door completely and securely attach clamp to track below bottom rollers to prevent door from lowering, then remove spring tension before attempting to service extension spring. Failure to remove tension before servicing springs may result in injury or death.
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