Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pertaining to garage doors and openers

Below is a list of frequently asked questions or common problems pertaining to our products and services:

Question or Problem Answer
1. What are common sizes of residential garage doors? Most doors fall into two common categories - single-care and double-car. The two most common single-car doors sizes are 8'x7' and 9'x7 (width x height) and the most common double-car door is 16'x7'. Some homes built in the last ten years have 8' high doors to accomodate larger trucks and SUVs.
2. I heard a loud noise in my garage and now my door isn't working. What is the problem? More than likely, the problem is a broken spring. The torsion or extension springs on garage doors act as a counterbalance to lift the heavy doors. Springs break after extended usage and when they do a very loud noise can be heard.
3. The door comes up halfway and gets stuck The force of the opener may need adjustment or the opener may need lubrication. Also, the springs may be out of balance putting undo stress on the opener.
4. My door is hard to lift or seems heavy The springs probably need balancing and have the amount of tension adjusted.
5. My door will not close at certain times of the day but not others. What is the problem? Sunlight is probably interfering with the photocell system with your garage door opener. The sending and receiving eyes need to be swapped.
6. Do you ship your custom wood doors outside of the Austin/Central Texas area?

We sell, install and service garage doors throughout the Austin metro area and surrounding cities in central Texas. If you’re looking for a custom wood sectional garage door or a specialty steel garage door, we can arrange for shipping to your address, at an additional cost. You would need to arrange to have the garage door installed by a professional garage door installer in your area. Also, custom wood doors are heavier than a standard steel door, and normally require a fork lift or a crew large enough to manually unload the garage door. When shipping doors, the doors are packaged in a wood crate for added protection, thus adding to the overall weight of the door.

If this is something that you would like to discuss further, please call us at 512-977-7200.
7. My door is making loud noises when it operates We've found that our fifteen point inspection will solve most noise-related issues. We will makes adjustments to the door and opener to solve the problems causing the noise.
8. Are new rollers necessary when servicing a garage door? It depends on the amount of wear they've undergone. The entire weight of the garage door must move along the tracks via the load bearing points, the rollers. If the rollers are in poor condition, they can cause bigger problems if the wheels come off the door. Please call us to schedule an inspection. If we find them to be worn they will need to be replaced. We will replace them with 10-ball bearing rollers that are superior to what is typically installed with your door. We can give you the cost over the phone.
9. What is the difference between the garage door openers you sell versus the ones I could buy from Home Depot or Lowes? The openers we sell are Liftmaster professional brand openers that are constructed with solid beam rail rather than a three-piece, butted together rail unit made for retail stores. The three-piece rail flexes and has a tendency to make a lot of noise and have many problems in the future. If you have a problem with an opener you buy at a retail outlet you will have to take it down and return it for the warranty. You will typically save $80 purchasing from a retail store, but it is not worth the headache and aggravation we have heard from our customers. We can furnish and install a professional grade opener for as low as $339 in about one hour and it will be warranteed for one year.
10. Are replacement sections available for garage doors? Replacement sections are available for some steel and wood doors if the model of the door is still manufactured. Exposure to the elements over time will alter the color of the sections therefore, a replacement may not be a perfect match to your existing sections.
11. What sets Hill Country Garage Doors apart from other companies in the Austin area? Please read our Why Choose Us section.
12. Can I fix the door myself? A garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. The springs, cables and bottom fixtures are under extreme loads and if not balanced and calibrated properly can cause property damage and potentially dangerous or even deadly consequences. Incorrect installation or repair can also void warranties. Don’t fix it yourself! A professional can handle the job for you quickly and the cost difference is minimal.
13. Does a garage door require maintenance? Your garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home. We recommend that the door be serviced every two years. Please call our service department at 512-977-7200 to schedule a service call.
14. Can I paint my garage door? Steel doors can be painted with any high quality exterior latex paint. Wood doors must be painted or stained prior to or immediately following installation. Most steel garage door models are available primed from the factory. Hill Country Garage Doors recommends that wood doors be repainted/restained every 2 to 3 years.
15. How should a garage door's opening be framed? Please see our "How to Measure" document on measuring and preparing the opening for a garage door.
16. What payment methods do you accept? Cash, local check, VISA, Mastercard, Discover and Debit cards