Q. What is headroom?
A. Headroom refers to the distance between the door height and the lowest point of the ceiling or any obstruction such as an opener rail, pipes, or ductwork.
Q. What is backroom?
A. Backroom refers to the distance from the door to the nearest obstruction inside the opening. The door height plus 23″ for 2” track and 25” for 3” track is required for proper door installation. Additional backroom is necessary for the installation of an automatic door opener.
Call (828) 584-2297 or fill out a contact form to ask any further questions!
Q. What Size Should the Opening for My Door Be in a New Building?
A. Depending on the type of construction, the finished opening should be the same size as the door you wish to purchase. The door fits against the opening from the inside. The rough opening should be finished with an exterior perimeter seal or stop molding to seal out rain and wind.
For more information, please refer to the “Preparing the Opening” file listed in our Installation Manual. Doors mounted to steel jambs are typically ordered 2” wider than the finished opening to allow for side seal application.
Q. How much headroom do I need?
A. It depends on the type of spring and track system that will be installed with your new door. There are many options available to compliment your building. Options such as Follow the Roof, Highlift, Full Vertical track, Spring cycles, Door weights, and track thickness can all impact the amount of clearance required. Standard headroom requirements for a door with torsion springs, 2″ thick track with a 15″ radius require 16″. However, changes will directly affect the clearance needed. It is always best to have a professional dealer look at the opening to determine the best track application and clearance required.
Note: If you are installing a trolley or jackshaft opener, additional headroom or sideroom is required. Check with the opener manufacturer for additional headroom requirements.
Q. What Can I Do if I Have Too Little Headroom?
A. For more information, refer to the “Low Headroom Options” file listed in the Installation Manual.
Q. What is side room?
A. Side room refers to the measurement from each side of the door opening going outward to the nearest wall or obstruction within the building. Allow 3-3/4″ on either side of the door for standard wood or masonry jamb and allow 4 ¾” for steel jamb construction.
Q. What type of spring system comes with my door?
A. We will install the spring best suited for the site conditions. Contact All About Doors to determine the best type of spring system for your application.
Q. What glass options are available for the full view door models?
A. Tempered glass panels are available in either DSB or insulated. Aside from clear or tinted tempered and impact glass, acrylic windows and aluminum panels are also available. Clopay can accommodate special-order glazing requests. Reach out to us for more information.
Q. My door has a window section. Do I have a choice as to where that section is placed?
A. The window section can be placed in any section on a commercial door. Building codes require that glass within 32” of the bottom of the door be tempered glass.
Q. I am constructing a new building, what size should the rough opening for my door be?
A. Depending on the type of construction, the finished opening should be the same size as the door you wish to purchase. The door fits against the opening from the inside. The rough opening should be finished with an exterior perimeter seal or stop molding to seal out rain and wind. For more information, please refer to the Preparing the Opening file listed on our Installation Manual. Doors mounted to steel jambs are typically ordered 2” wider than the finished opening to allow for side seal application.
Q. I am getting ready to remove my old door, which has standard torsion springs. How can I get the tension off the springs?
A. Unwinding standard torsion springs requires specific tools and training. Due to the dangerous nature of this process, we recommend you contact a local door professional to remove the tension from the springs.
Q. Do I need to reinforce my door if I am installing an automatic door opener?
A. Yes! Failure to properly install opener reinforcement will result in damage to the door and will void the warranty. The reinforcement configuration differs depending on the model number and size of the door. Refer to the installation Manual supplied with our doors for specific instructions. For more information, see the “Attaching an Automatic Opener to Pan Construction Doors using Punched Angle” file listed on the Installation Manual or “Attaching an Automatic Opener to Sandwich Construction Doors Using Punched Angle.
Q. Why Does My Door Hang Slightly Into the Opening?
A. Typically, doors will hang about 4 to 6 inches into the opening. This helps keep tension on the cable so it does not separate from the cable drum or pulley. If your door operates with an electric opener, it can be adjusted so that the door is pulled completely even with the opening if necessary to provide additional clearance.
Q. Where can I buy parts?
A. Clopay sells parts exclusively through our distribution network. See the “Where to Buy” section on the Clopay website to find a local dealer in your area or contact us today!
Q. Does my door require maintenance?
A. Your door is the largest moving part on most buildings, and perhaps the hardest working, being raised and lowered an average of six times per day. Like any other area, it needs regular inspections and maintenance. We suggest performing the recommended door maintenance listed in your Installation Manual every 5,000 cycles or an annual basis whichever comes first.
Q. Can I fix my door myself?
A. Clopay doors are built to last, but some parts do occasionally wear out or become damaged. If you are reasonably handy and follow the detailed instructions in the Installation Manual, you can do some repairs yourself. Some of the parts that may require repair include rollers, bottom seal, hinges, lift handles, windows and window inserts. However, we strongly recommend that replacing springs, door sections, tracks and operators be handled by a door professional.
Q. How Often Should I Schedule Maintenance for My Commercial Door?
A. Your door will wear with every cycle, so it’s best to schedule maintenance based on how heavily you use it. We suggest performing the recommended door maintenance listed in your Installation Manual every 5,000 cycles or on an annual basis, whichever comes first.
Q. Are Replacement Sections Available for My Door?
A. Yes, we have replacement sections for your door, provided we still manufacture the door model you own. If your door was manufactured in the last 10 years, we can identify the model by referencing the 15 to 16-digit serial number located on the interior bottom section of the door. Exposure to the elements can alter the color of a door over time, so the replacement section may not be a perfect match. Contact us for details.
Q. What Is R-Value and Is It Important?
A. R-value is a measurement of a door’s thermal efficiency or how well it insulates. Insulation is an important factor to consider when purchasing a door. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the space or if you have a room directly above or adjacent to the space, you will want to purchase a door that offers a high R-value. If you are not concerned with insulation, you can purchase a door with a lower R-value or no garage door insulation at all.
R-Value of Clopay Garage Door Models:
| DoorType | Thickness | InsulationType | R-Value |
| PremiumSteel | 2” | Intellicore | 18.4 |
| PremiumSteel | 1-3/8” | Intellicore | 12.9 |
| PremiumSteel | 2” | Polystyrene | 9.0 |
| PremiumSteel | 1-3/8” | Polystyrene | 6.5 |
Get in touch with us for specific information.
Q. How Much Horsepower Do I Need for My Door’s Opener?
A. The door operator’s power, voltage and phase are based on your current power availability and the door’s size and weight. We’ll help guide you to the opener that best suits your needs. Consider a modern opener with smart features like diagnostics that keep you updated on the status of your door.
Q. When Referring to Steel Gauge, Does a Lower Number Mean Thicker Steel?
A. Lower steel gauge means the thicker (and stronger) the steel. For example, 24-gauge steel is thicker than 27-gauge steel. However, a “sandwich” constructed door with two 27-gauge steel skins bonded to an insulated core is stronger than a “steel frame” door with a single 24-gauge steel skin.
Q. Can I Paint My Clopay Door?
A. Clopay’s steel doors can be painted with any high-quality exterior latex paint. Do not use oil-based paint. Refer to the painting instructions in the Installation Manual.
Q. Does Clopay Offer Reinforced Doors for High Wind Areas?
A. Yes. These doors feature added steel reinforcement struts, upgraded springing and heavy-duty track and rollers to meet wind speeds and gusts from 75 mph to 170 mph. Your local building code authority can provide information on the windload rating required in your county.
Q. What Is the Difference Between High-Speed and High-Performance Doors?
A. A high-speed door moves quickly, while a high-performance door is durable over many cycles and is incredibly robust overall. We offer both in one package, for example, the doors in the Extreme™ series, so it doesn’t need to be a choice between high-speed vs. high-performance doors.
Q. What Are the Safety Features of High-Speed Doors?
A. Modern high-speed commercial doors offer multiple, monitored safety systems. They’re manufactured in compliance with all safety standards, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). They feature emergency stop, automatic reversal on physical or sensor beam contact and configurable fail positions on power loss.
Q. What Are the Main Advantages of Smart Openers for Commercial Doors?
A. The three main benefits of smart openers are the remote monitoring and control options, access management with audit trails and diagnostics, which indicate when the door requires maintenance.
Q. How Long Do Commercial Door Openers Typically Last?
A. The longevity of a commercial door opener is heavily dependent on the level of regular maintenance, the number of cycles it goes through and its environment. You can work out a rough estimate by dividing the number of cycles it is rated for by the number of cycles it goes through in a year.
Generally, a commercial opener can last between eight and 20 years or more.
Q. How Many Times Can You Open a Garage Door With a Battery Backup?
A. Depending on the weight and battery capacity, your commercial garage door should be able to open and close between 20 and 50 times on battery power.
