FAQ

The 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 dealer/installers can typically install a door in a few hours and are careful to make sure safety requirements are met. We also recommend a dealer/installer that is a member of The International Door Association (IDA). 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 door.

If your garage door does not operate, the door is a potential hazard. Do not try to fix on your own, instead contact a professionally trained, IDA member garage door dealer. Another reason to replace a garage door is to enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to the 2010… Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement is the #2 remodeling project in regards to return on investment. The report states that replacing your garage door will return 84% of the cost at the time of home sale. Lastly, your current garage door may be fading, sagging and just in need of a replacement. If you have a wood garage door that needs re-painting, replacing it with a new pre-painted steel garage door may be a better value. Painting a garage door adds significant weight to a door which may affect the spring and the performance of the garage door and opener.

1. What is the steel gauge of the door skin?
   Is that full or nominal?
2. What is the steel gauge of the hinges?
3. Do the rollers have ball bearings in them?
4. What is the paint finish thickness?
   Is that a baked on finish?
5. What does the panel joint look like? Tongue-n-groove? Shiplap? Does it have seals?

Yes. Monterey Shop offers residential or commercial doors in widths between 6’ and 30’ in one inch increments and in heights, in three inch increments, between 6’6” and 16’. *

*Not all door models are available in this range of widths and heights.

That depends on each individual situation.

Yes, you can replace just one section for most garage doors, depending if the model of garage door that 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.

We recommend twice a year or annually by a professional.

We can depending on the type of door that you have. Please contact us for more information.

We recommend getting a professional.

We recommend twice a year (at the same time you change your smoke detector batteries).

Yes. We will do repairs on any make or model door or opener. Although we do not guarantee that we will be able to solve your problem we will guarantee that we will do our absolute best.

A Carriage House door is a type of garage door that replicates the look of doors found on carriage houses in the early 19th and 20th Century. Monterey Shop sells a variety of striking carriage house designs made from different materials, steel, wood, wood composite and vinyl. These garage doors look like they swing open, but they actually move up and over your car.

Standard headroom applications require 12” to 18” of space between the bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. However, Monterey Shop specializes in custom-built applications. A variety of special track options are available and make it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with 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 6-1/2” of headroom depending on the door size and model. Other special track applications include:
• Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
• Follow-the-roofline track, which is used when the ceiling of the garage is pitched at the angle of the roof, making it desirable for the door to follow the same angle, thus providing additional overhead room.
• Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.

The glass in the window frame of your garage door can be replaced. Please contact Monterey Shop for glass and insert replacement.

If an electric garage door opener has been installed on your door, it may not be necessary to have a lock. Properly installed, electric openers can function as the lock, making it improbable that an intruder would be able to lift your door from the outside. If you have an older opener, check to see if your door can be lifted from the outside.DASMA, the trade association for the garage door industry, discourages homeowners from attaching a lock when an opener has been installed, because too frequently, a child or other family member will accidentally lock the door. If someone then tries to open the door using the electric opener, the opener will pull against the lock causing the door to be damaged. If no opener is installed on your garage door, a lock is highly recommended.

The two types of springs used on garage doors today are extension and torsion springs. Extension springs are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal track when the door is closed. Torsion springs are typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted to the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when the door is moved. Torsion springs are a better choice because they balance the weight of the door better than extension springs for smoother operation and safety.

One big problem is the fact that R-value can be measured in different parts of the door which will make major differences in the number even on the same door.
R-value Explained:
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-value of 16 does not offer twice as much thermal resistance or twice the energy savings of an R-value of 8. An R-value of 16 offers a 5 percent reduction in heat flow and 5 percent improvement in energy efficiency over an R-value of 8, not 50 percent. No matter the R-Value, an insulated garage door will reduce the amount of heat flow and improve energy efficiency of a home.

Yes. All our steel doors are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating that is suitable to be repainted. Our doors will accept a wide variety of commercially available exterior paints, when applied in accordance with the paint manufacturer’s recommendations. We also have custom colors available.

The 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.

Monterey Shop recommends replacing your track when you replace your 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 insure that your entire garage door system is as safe as possible. By replacing your track you also ensure that your door warranty will apply, in the event that you have a problem.