The garage door tracks are the components that don’t attract attention as much as they should when considering garage doors. They make your door operate smoothly and safely. Garage door tracks are metal guides made to run the door rollers along as the door moves up or down. The tracks of the garage door are just as important as the lift mechanism itself. One problem in the tracks can cause the entire garage door to malfunction, get stuck, or, in the worst-case scenario, crash. Here we will discuss all the significant details of garage door rails, including their types, and things to consider when buying these tracks.
What are Garage Door Tracks?
The garage door track serves as the metal guide upon which a garage door moves either up or down. firstly, they are responsible for determining garage door directions, they should make the door move uniformly and its alignment placed properly with the garage structure every time it is used. Built from strong heavy steel, the tracks have a thick armor to be able to withstand the door’s weight and prolonged wear out.
Three Common Types of Garage Door Tracks
Garage door tracks come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate different door styles, weights, and opening mechanisms. The primary types include:
- Standard Radius Track
Mainly adopted by residential garage setup, this is the most popular kind of track used. It contains a curve that assists the door change from the vertical to the horizontal, and from the horizontal to the vertical when it opens or closes. The common dimension is universal as for most garage doors and it gives a balance of efficiency and space usage.
- Vertical Lift Track
The Vertical Lift systems are often employed in commercial and industrial spaces where maximum space reduction becomes the priority. Instead of curving into a horizontal position, these tracks allow the door to go straight up parallel to the wall. This fitting comes in handy if garages have high ceilings or overhead space is limited.
- High Lift Track
A combination of the standard radius and the vertical lift track design, the high lift track allows the door to move up to the furthest height before it turns up into the horizontally swiveling position. This type is usually found in garages where the natural ceiling has higher dimensions especially those where the full vertical lift tracks are not suitable.
Things To Consider When Buying A Garage Door Track
As for the garage door track to buy, a number of things need to be taken into account.
- Firstly, consider the type of track needed: different types that include standard, high lift, or vertical. It has a lot to do with the structural features and height of the garage as well as the type of door you have attached to the door.
- material quality stands paramount—go for tracks manufactured from strong and corrosion-resistant metals to enhance one’s strength and lifespan.
- Finally, don’t forget that the door’s weight is also a necessary point to ponder over. Tracks must have great strength so that heavy door accessing does not bend or break them.
Also, it would come in very handy to pay attention to such features as the provider’s reputation alongside customer service support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, garage door tracks may not grab your attention like the design of the garage door itself, but their performance and condition are critically important to the seamless operation of your garage system. The right track type, top-grade material, and conscientious maintenance all contribute to the proper functioning and longer lifespan of your garage door. This comprehensive guide to garage door tracks aims to enhance your understanding and keep you abreast of the critical factors to consider when dealing with these pivotal components.
