Even though garage doors are made out of some strong materials, they can still have strength and stability issues. Whether by impact, wind or some other force or reason, garage doors can get damaged. That is why garage doors some garage doors should be reinforced. That reinforcement is called a strut brace. So, when do you need garage door strut braces exactly and what are they?
What Are Garage Door Strut Braces?
Garage door struts are long steel bars that are installed horizontally on the interior of your garage door. Screwed into the exposed interior of your garage door, they provide support and reinforcement. These steel bars keep your garage door from bending or bowing under the door’s weight over time.
When To Use a Garage Door Strut Brace
When the Garage Door is Bowing or Sagging
At times, an impact or just time will cause a garage door to bow or sag. A garage door strut can be installed to straighten and support the damaged garage door section. With the strut installed properly the garage door will function smoothly without any sagging or binding.
Hurricane Protection
In California, they get earthquakes. Here in Houston, we get hurricanes. Hurricanes can throw a lot of debris around and slam it into your garage door. A garage door strut brace can help your garage door survive the hard impacts that hurricanes can throw at your garage door.
High Wind
High wind can come from hurricanes or even other non-tropical storms here in Houston. A 60mph gust of wind is something that, without anything else, can cause damage to your door. Garage door strut braces can provide your door with the support it needs to survive the high winds. Without them, high winds could potentially damage the interior of the garage and even possibly your home.
Are There Drawbacks to Strut Braces?
Weight.
Whenever you are thinking of adding a garage door strut brace, you do need to be mindful that you are adding weight to your garage door. It will be important to check the garage door balance. It is possible that you will either have to adjust your current garage door springs or go with a more heavy-duty spring.
Not Always the Right Fix
Though a garage door that is sagging from a broken panel can be fixed by using a strut brace, it is possible that either the damage is too extensive or too many panels are damaged for this to be an ideal solution. In that case, it is best to replace the garage door panels instead.
If your garage door is sagging or the panel is damaged, or you are just generally want to add garage door strut braces to your door, you can contact Spectrum Overhead Door if you are in the Houston area. We have repaired garage doors in Houston since 2006 with award-winning service. Call us at 281-748-9542 to schedule your appointment.