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How To Replace Garage Door Hinges

Do I need to replace my garage door hinges?

Given the hard work they do moving a garage door up and down, they can wear out over time. If your door is making strange sounds when opening and closing, it could be a sign that your hinges need replacement. And this can cause damage to other components of your door and even make it hazardous to use.

Why did my garage door hinges break?

Garage door hinges can often wear or become broken as a result of being damaged — for example, by a car impact or improper maintenance. Once you suspect your hinge is wearing out, or if the hinge has already broken, it’s best to go ahead and replace the hinge with a newer, sturdier, heavy steel option.

How do I identify garage door hinges?

Garage door hinges are identified by engraved numbers on their face. Usually, the hinges in the center of the door are stamped #1 and have a single sleeve. The hinges between the 2nd and 3rd panels will be #2 hinges. Those between the 3rd and 4th panels will be #3 hinges, and so on.

Why are garage door hinges numbered?

Garage door hinge numbers When looking at the face of the garage door hinge, you’ll notice an engraved number. The number indicates where the hinge should go on the garage door. #1 hinges usually go in the center, #2 hinges go between the second and third panels, and #3 hinges go between the third and fourth panels.

How long do garage door hinges last?

The best garage door hinges are made of heavy steel, which should last about 10 to 15 years of normal use. Though thin hinges are more affordable, they will not hold up as long.

Do door hinges wear out?

The hinges support the weight of the door and give it a way to swing in and out of an opening. They are the main moving part of a door and do all the hard work. Hinges can wear out and will need attention.

Why is my garage door breaking?

The springs on your garage door system are responsible for the heavy lifting. When the garage door is lowered, the springs gain tension. When raising the garage door, tension is released and the spring assists with the lifting. As a result, most garage door springs break when the door is down.

What kind of garage door hinge do I need?

Hinges typically come in two popular gauge sizes and widths. Residential garage doors require 14-gauge wide bodied hinges while commercial garage doors need a heavier duty 11-gauge wide bodied hinge. Numerical hinge size is counter-intuitive since lower gauge numbers are actually thicker than higher numbered hinges.

What is hinge gauge?

A hinge gauge, which is also called hinge “weight,” is the thickness of a hinge leaf. The heavier the door and the greater the traffic passing through the door, the larger hinge gauges you should use. Hinges with larger gauge measurements are useful for heavier doors that have heavier traffic.

What is a #2 garage door hinge?

Garage Door # 2 Hinge 14GA. Most hinges are numbered according to their placement on the door. The lower the number, the closer the hinge is to the bottom of the door. For instance; The # 2 hinge would typically be found in between the second and third panels on the left, and right sides of the door.

Why are garage door hinges different?

You need to remember that the lower the gauge number, the thicker and thus stronger the hinge is. And so the heavier the garage door, the lower-gauge hinge you need. Take commercial garage doors. They are usually very heavy and large and so it is wise to operate with 11-gauge hinges.

What is a tilt up garage door?

Tilt-up garage doors are a type of door that is built as one piece. In order to open and close the garage, the door is pulled back on a pivot before being lifted onto a track in the ceiling of the garage. These are most commonly ordered when someone wants to match a door on an older property.

Why does my garage door jerk when closing?

Common causes for this are bent tracks, bad rollers, or even problems with your garage door opener. Don’t ignore these issues as they put a strain on the opener and if left to fester can burn out your garage door opener’s motor.

Why does my garage door not close all the way?

If your garage door won’t close all the way, it’s probably an issue with your sensors. The lenses on these sensors can get dirty, causing them to send a false signal to the opener’s control board. Often, wiping them clean with a soft cloth will take care of the issue.