If you go digging around the Internet, you can find information on how to install your own garage door. 

Many property owners think this kind of instruction is enough to let them do the installation themselves. The fact is that a DIY garage door installation is not as easy as it sounds or looks.

What is so difficult about installing a garage door? For one thing, it can be dangerous. Secondly, you could void your garage door warranty.

Why Should You Not Install A Garage Door Yourself?

Installing a garage door is more than just putting some panels into a track. The garage door itself is part of a larger system that you have to set-up correctly for it to work properly. You need the garage door opener to work when you hit the clicker. You need the door to rise and fall smoothly and evenly. You need the springs to do their job in controlling the door's rise and fall.

The garage door is the largest moving object in your home and maybe even your business. It has many parts which makes installation highly technical. Connecting the springs is very dangerous if not done by a trained professional.

What Are The Advantages of Hiring a Professional Garage Door Installer?

When you hire a professional door installer to do the job, you will see the advantages they bring to your project:

- Getting the job done in a timely manner. Even working with a partner, many property owners cannot install a new garage door in a few days or weeks. The professional installer will handle it in less than a day.

- Ensuring the safety requirements are met. Garage doors can be dangerous. It is important to have working sensors and tension checks to make sure everyone, including children and pets, are safe.

- Providing the kind of installation that will not void the warranty. Many DIY door installations actually void the warranty because it does not meet the manufacturer's standards.

-Offer a lot less stress and frustration to the property owner. Trying to install a garage door can be very frustrating for anyone who doesn't have experience. Getting a professional to do it is much less stressful.

- Handling the disposal of old garage door. Sure, a DIY'er can haul the old door to the dump and pay the tipping fee. But, the contractor gets better rates and this means no trip for the property owner.

Who Can install Garage Doors in the Texas Panhandle?

If you need a residential garage or commercial overhead door installed at your home or business, contact us here at Willow Creek Overhead Door. We carry a full line of garage doors from Raynor and Midland and offer full installation services. Owner Tony Hall, who handles all repairs and installations himself, can help you find a style and design you can fit into your budget. Contact Willow Creek Overhead Door today for a free installation quote. 

If you live in the Texas Panhandle, you have likely seen a Quonset building. Often situated on ranches and farms, this building design has been around for centuries. If you are looking to update your Quonset building, you are probably in need of a new garage or commercial overhead door. In most cases, this will require a custom garage or overhead door.

What Is A Quonset Building?

Quonset buildings are lightweight, prefabricated structures made of steel. They have a semicircular cross-section, a design that was borrowed from what was known as Nissen huts which the British came up with during first world war. Quonset is a name that was derived from the place where the first structure was put up which was Quonset Point in Rhode Island, USA.

The first Quonset buildings were very simple in design. The sides were made using corrugated steel sheets and the ends were covered with plywood. They had windows and doors, sometimes an insulated interior and a wooden floor. The structures stood on wooden or concrete floors.

Today's Quonset buildings which are alternatively known as arch buildings for their shape have improved greatly. Modern ones are made of steel alloy and they combine the design of centuries ago with modern construction technology. They can stand up to the harshest weather conditions like hurricanes and blizzards and the interiors can be made as comfortable as you like depending on that the structure is to be used for.

What Kind Of Overhead Door Does A Quonset Building Need?

The uses of Quonset buildings have also changed. While they started as military structures, they are now used for extra storage, as living space and as garages among other uses.

If a Quonset building is to be used as a garage, it is important that is has a well-fitted door that opens and closes smoothly and that keeps the car and other items in it secure. The structures can also hold RVs, boats, trailers and other large-sized equipment. They can be custom-made to be large enough for the intended use.

The buildings are best fitted with overhead doors. For the garage door to open and close smoothly, the dimensions of the door have to be just right. For standard size Quonset garages, at least 13 inches of headroom above the door opening is required. It is possible to install a low headroom door if there is a limitation of space but this is not recommended.

The best way to be sure you will have a garage door that will fit and work perfectly is to have it custom made. Once your Quonset building arrives, you should call in garage door experts to take measurements and custom make the door for you.

If you have had your structure for some time, you would do well to have the door checked and changed if necessary. Most of the older types of Quonset buildings came with sliding rather than overhead doors. In most cases, the buildings had no insulation so weather extremes like high temperatures and the freezing lows of winter had an effect on the doors which would eventually not open and close as they should.

Overhead doors remain in place because of the position in which they are installed and the way they are installed with springs. If the building is insulated, they are not affected by weather conditions. The fact that the door is made to measure also ensures that it closes securely and presents no problems with opening and closing.

Who Can Install An Overhead Door For Your Quonset Building?

Amarillo garage door company Willow Creek Overhead Door has custom made and fitted more than 50 overhead commercial doors for Quonset buildings in western Kansas, eastern Colorado and Amarillo, Texas. Call owner Tony Hall today for a free installation estimate. 

Amarillo garage door company Willow Creek Overhead Door has been in business for nearly 15 years. In those 15 years, owner Tony Hall has never come across such as endeavor as he recently did. 

When Tony was asked if he could install an overhead door for Texas Northwestern Railway, a door that would measure 27 feet wide and 20 feet tall, he was hesitant. The door would be for a new building to house the company’s locomotives. After a few moments of thinking, Tony quickly decided to accept the challenge.

Tony was able to complete the job in just a few days. The three-inch insulated, steel commercial door ended up weighing more than 2,000 pounds. It required a dual trolley opener and a heavy-duty, 1 horsepower gear reduced operator to lift the door. It has six torsion springs, 15 hinges for each of the 10 door sections. A standard commercial overhead door has seven sections, with six hinges apiece, and two torsion springs.

What Other Unique Garage And Overhead Door Can Willow Creek Overhead Door Install?

Willow Creek Overhead Door has experience repairing and installing a variety of residential and commercial garage doors. Tony uses top manufactures, Raynor and Midland Garage Doors, for his projects. From rolling, fire and traffic doors for industrial facilities, to classic, French, carriage house and long-panel doors for the home, Tony has the expertise to install the right garage door for your needs and budget. He has installed countless doors for farms and ranches, quonset buildings and commercial buildings as well as doors for older homes and new construction. 


What Style of Doors Does Willow Creek Overhead Door Install?

He sells steel, wood and aluminum garage and overhead doors in a variety of colors and textures. If you do not see the door you are looking for on Willow Creek Overhead Door’s website, inquire with Tony and he will help you find a design, color and style to meet your specific needs.

Contact Amarillo garage door installer Tony Hall today for a free installation estimate for your commercial building or house. 

You’ve probably never taken notice that sometimes you don’t close your garage door all the way. Whether you are cleaning out your garage or leaving it open for the cat, it’s important to not leave it cracked open all the time. Why? A garage door may develop problems and fail to open or close as it should if left partially open on a regular basis. 

Why Do People Leave Their Garage Doors Partially Open?

It is usually pet owners who leave the door to their garage partially opened. This is so that pets can get in and out without their having to let them out and back in again throughout the day and night. The door may also be left partially open to air out the garage if you are working on your car, for example.

How Does This Damage The Garage Door?

Springs on garage doors come in two types. They may have extension springs that float above the roller track at the top or they may have torsion springs that are mounted on the header above the door.

Whether a garage door opens upwards singularly or it roll ups bit by bit, it operates on spring tension. The door opens and closes because of metal tracks on the garage wall and one heavy spring or a series of them. When you don't always close it completely, you risk damaging the springs. Leaving the door partially opened will keep damaging the springs over time and may cause the springs to break. If this happens, the door can come down unexpectedly and any person or pet that is in its path can be seriously injured.

My Garage Door Won’t Open Or Close All The Way

Can you imagine a scenario where you need to back out of the garage and go to work, school or another place, but you can't because you can't get your garage door to open?

Your only option would be to call in an expert to repair the door. In most cases, insurance will not cover the cost of negligence and by their definition, that includes closing the door only partially. So this job may cost a pretty penny, depending on the amount of damage and the type of overhead door you have.

How Can You Repair The Garage Door?

If you must leave room for your pets to go in and out, you can have a pet door installed in the door. However, it’s important to note that any opening in a garage door may make it easier for burglars to break in. 

When you need your garage door repaired, contact Amarillo garage door company Willow Door Overhead Door. Owner Tony Hall can advise you on the best garage door for your style preferences, needs and budget. Willow Creek Overhead Door sells a variety of garage doors, including ones with pet doors. 

Tony can also install a pet door in the door you already have. If your springs need to be repaired or replaced, Willow Creek Overhead Door sells discounted springs. You can install them yourself or hire Tony to come out and do the job for you. Contact this leading Amarillo garage door company today for installation prices.

When you need to replace your garage or overhead door, you need to know about headroom, backroom and sideroom. Precise measurements of these areas are critical for the correct fitting and smooth operation of your garage door if you are looking to purchase a garage door or install one yourself. 

What is headroom?

Headroom refers to the distance from the top of the garage door going down to the lowermost point of either the ceiling or obstruction. Obstructions include ducts, pipes, rails and the garage door opener.

The headroom needed depends on which type of spring system is to be installed with the garage door if this is what you are taking measurements for. If it is extension springs that will be used, at least 10" will be needed for the garage door to operate smoothly. If it is torsion springs, a minimum of 12" will b needed.  

Keep in mind that these measurements are ideal if they are being taken for the installation of a garage door. If a garage door opener is also being installed, more headroom will be needed. Again, it is best to bring in the experts to take additional headroom requirements.

What about backroom?

Backroom is the distance starting from the garage door up to the back wall of the garage. When it comes to backroom, the height of the door and an additional 18" in needed. If an automatic garage door opener is to be installed, more backroom may be needed to accommodate it for the smooth operation of the garage door.

How is sideroom measured?

Sideroom is the measurement from either side of the garage door opening going outwards to the closest wall or obstruction in the garage. The  distance is measured by starting from the the clearance to the left and the right of the jamb of the garage door. Starting from the outside edge of the jamb, measure the clearance from the left and the right jamb going up to the wall or the nearest obstruction. This will give you the left sideroom and right sideroom dimensions.

Typically, the minimum distance that most garage doors require is between 3 1/2 and 4 feet. If your measurements are less than this, bring in an expert. It may still be possible to have your door installed but it is advisable to take the precaution of having an expert take a look beforehand.

Should You Call A Professional Garage Door Installer To Measure?

If you would rather leave taking accurate sideroom, headroom and backroom measurements for the installation of a new garage door or other part to the experts, pick up your phone and call Amarillo garage door company, Willow Creek Overhead Door. 

Owner Tony Hall will be glad to assist you over the phone or pay you a visit, assess your needs and advise you accordingly. You can also leave the installation of a garage door or replacement of other parts to him. Contact Willow Creek Overhead Door today to find out more abouts its range of products, great customer service and affordable pricing. 

How secure is your garage? With recent break-ins in the Amarillo area, and burglars entering the garage, you may wondering this. The way most homes are built today, the garage is part of the house that has entry into the house rather than a detached building. It is therefore very important that the garage is well secured. If not, it can be the route that burglars use to gain entry into the house. We recently discussed garage door security, and today we’d like to expand on that topic by talking about locks for your garage door.

What kind of garage door lock do I need?

There are different types of garage door locks. Most of them secure the garage door from overhead. Every type of lock works differently.

Slide or sliding locks are most commonly used to secure overhead garage doors. Also known as a latch, the lock has a latch that slides from the garage door into a vertical track with a hole that is cut to fit it. 

This ensures that the door cannot go up when the lock is on. This kind of lock is not recommended for automatic garage door openers. It is common for homeowners to forget that the lock is engaged and run their opener. This burns the motor and can bend the upper section of the garage door.

What other garage door locks are there?

T Handle keyed lock

This is the second most  common type of garage door lock. It has a handle that is shaped like the letter T which is installed on the outside. The inside is made up of a cable system that are affixed with bolts. The bolts are fastened into the track and they can only be released when the T handle lock is turned.

The handle can only be turned using a key. Like the slide lock, this key is also not ideal for use on garage doors that have an automatic opener. Forgetting that the T handle keyed lock is on and running the opener while the lock is still engaged will leave your garage door operator damaged.

Electronic locks

There are garage door openers that use electronic locks. An example is the LiftMaster side mount Jackshaft 3800. These kind of doors have motors that engage and release the lock automatically before the door is operated. This works like a slide lock with the difference that the lock is automatically operated. This eliminates the problem of damaging the door by operating it while the lock is still engaged.

Others

Every modern automatic garage door comes with a lock built into it. The lock is usually on the operator arm on the trolley will lock into place when the garage door is closed. This makes it impossible  for the garage door to manually be lifted up. Different brands have different names for their locks. An example is the Chamberlain LiftMaster PosiLock.

How can you ensure maximum security?

You have to play your part in maintaining the security of your garage door and home. The different parts work together and the failing of one part can cause problems with the whole door, and give a thief or burglar ample opportunity to break into your house or business.

How can you do your part? Maintain your garage door. Lubricate the parts as they need it, check for any problems with the track and pay attention to a squeaky garage door. Make sure the door is sealed properly.

For more garage door safety and maintenance tips, call Tony Hall, owner of Amarillo garage door company, Willow Creek Overhead Door. Willow Creek Overhead Door is one the premier garage and overhead door companies in the Texas Panhandle. In addition to repairs and installations, Willow Creek Overhead Door offers great bargains on garage door parts.  

Your garage door spring broke. You think you can save a bit of money by doing the replacement yourself. You saw some guys on a YouTube video doing it and it looks simple. Don't do it. Do not try to install garage door springs yourself. It is potentially very dangerous, so it is best to have a professional garage door installer deal with your springs. While you can make some garage or overhead door repairs yourself, there are some that are best left to professionals with ample training and experience. 

Why is it a bad idea to try to install garage door springs yourself?

Garage door can have two kinds of springs: torsion and extension. Torsion springs sit just above your garage door. Their job is to carry most of the door's weight when you open and close it. Extension springs are the ones that sit along the tracks. They help pull the door along the tracks evenly.

Those springs need a large amount of tension to do their jobs properly. The tension is what makes replacing the spring dangerous. When a spring breaks, it releases all the built-up tension at one time. If you had a garage door spring break, you probably found destruction in its wake. You are lucky if it is just a dent in the wall. Some people have had extensive damage to a vehicle after a spring broke.

When putting up a new spring, the installer must use a special winding bar to get the spring to the proper tension level. The amateur online videos show doing it with two screwdrivers. Those are not the proper tools. One slip of a screwdriver and all the built-up tension in the spring will release. If you are in the path of the spring when it uncoils, you will get injured.

A broken hand is quite common. If you are on a ladder when this happens, you may end up falling off it and sustaining other injuries. That could make your low-cost fix into a costly trip to the hospital.

What should you do if you have to replace garage or overhead door springs?

Leave it to the professionals. Bring in a licensed, bonded and insured garage door company to handle the replacement. They have the training and experience to install the new one without anyone being injured. They can get the job done in a fraction of the time it would take you. Plus, you will likely get a warranty on the work they do.

If you need a garage door spring replaced, give us a call here at Willow Creek Overhead Door. Our Amarillo overhead door company offers a range of springs at affordable prices. We offer great deals as well for those living in the Amarillo, Texas area. Delivery and installation packages include a free garage door lubrication, which is valued at $50. 

All mechanical parts need to be well-oiled for them to move well, including your garage door. There are two things you need to know when lubricating your garage door. 1) Never use all-purpose grease; and 2) How to apply lubricant correctly.

Why Can’t I Use Grease On My Garage Door?

Most people reach for anything that's available to lubricate their garage door if it is making a terrible noise. They will use motorcycle chain lube, axle grease or any kind of oil, even vegetable oil. The fact is that every lubricant is meant for a specific purpose. It is therefore best to use the right lubricant for the right job.

The reason grease is such as bad idea is that in cold weather, it can become gummy, and therefore won’t do the job you thought it would. It also attracts dirt and dust, and a build-up of this stuff will prevent your garage door from operating smoothly and efficiently.

It is also best to avoid all-purpose grease because it may be one of those that are nuclear options. These are lubricants that have a chemical level that is so high that they are not good for the environment. They may also have components like rust inhibitor that you may not need.

Why Does My Garage Door Need Lube?

The main purpose of a lubricant is to reduce the heat, wear and friction on moving parts of machinery and mechanical equipment, such as garage door tracks. Others prevent or dissolve rust, displace the water that can cause rust or simply remove dirt. To choose the best lubricant for your overhead door, consider what the door is made of and the kind of maintenance that it needs.

The main element of every lubricant is the base oil, which can be mineral or it can be a vegetable oil made from lanolin, soy or synthetic polymer. Lubricants are then modified with additives that make one suitable for one job rather than another.

Is penetration oil best for a garage door?

It is best to use a lubricant that is made specifically for your garage door. Penetration oil is ideal because it will keep the parts well lubricated so that the door will open and close with no problems. It is quite thin and has rust-killing properties. Its thin consistency means that it will get into every nook and cranny of your garage door. 

Penetration oil also works very well if you need to loosen a bolt that is stuck or a spark plug that is frozen. It works on rust by softening it and will also free heat-seized threads. There are different brands of it.  Good brands come as a solid, microscopic synthetic lubricant rather than a graphite particles with Cerflon. Silicone-based lubricant is also good for garage door tracks and springs.

Willow Creek Overhead Door is a leading overhead door company in Amarillo, Texas. If you have a question about your garage or overhead door, owner Tony Hall can point you in the right direction if you wish to fix the problem yourself. Or he can do it for you at an affordable price. Contact Willow Creek Overhead Door today for any of your garage door needs.