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Frequently Asked Questions - Help Guide


Q: Why should I use a professional garage door dealer/installer?
A: At Pinnacle Door Services, we believe that the installation of a garage door is not a do-it-yourself job. A garage door is the largest moving object in your home and because of the large number of small parts and the weight of doors, the installation of a garage door is highly technical. Connecting the springs can be particularly dangerous and proper installation is critical to the performance of your door. As professionals, we can typically install a door in a few hours and are careful to make sure safety requirements are met. Most importantly, incorrect installation can void certain warranties, so we recommend a professional handle the job for you. We also have the ability to haul away your old door and dispose of it for you.


Q: Is 25 gauge steel thicker than 24 gauge steel?
A: No. When comparing strengths of steel, remember, the lower the gauge number, the thicker (and stronger) the steel.


Q: Why should I choose an insulated door if my garage is not insulated?
A: A garage door opening is very large. Insulated doors will help to reduce the transfer of heat or cold air into your garage. This is important for a number of reasons:

  1. If your garage is attached to your home, air in the garage can travel through the doorway to your living area.
  2. If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a top priority.
  3. If your garage is below another room in your home, air can travel through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. An insulated door will keep temperatures in the garage fairly stable to reduce the temperature fluctuation in the room above.
  4. An insulated door is generally quieter than its counterparts.


Q: What are the benefits of a steel door versus a wood door?
A: Steel doors may require less maintenance than a wood door. Certain steel doors we carry are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating. We recommend an annual cleaning of the exterior of the door with a common household detergent and warm water at least one time per year. Our wood doors are unfinished and need to be primed and painted or stained on all six sides of the door upon delivery. We do recommend visual inspection of the paint or stain finish on wood doors once a year to determine any necessary maintenance.


Q: What is required for installing an electric operator?
A: In the event that an electric opener is installed, the top section of the garage must be reinforced with a strut or angle iron spanning the length of the top section.


Q: I want to replace my old door, but don't know how to dispose of my old one. Will you take care of that?
A: Absolutely.


Q: When I replace my existing door, can I keep my old track?
A: We strongly recommend replacing your track when you replace your door because each brand of garage door has been specifically designed to work with a specific type of track. In addition, replacing your track is an inexpensive way to insure that your entire garage door system is as safe as possible. By replacing your track you also ensure that your door warranty will apply, in the event that you have a problem.


Q: I have a one-piece door now. Can I replace it with a sectional door?
A: Yes. We can install a sectional door for you by installing track and springs to accommodate a sectional door. Depending on the construction of your garage, other modifications might be necessary. We will evaluate the job prior to installation, so that any required modifications can be performed.


Q: I'd like to purchase a steel door, but need a different color than the ones I see on your web site. Can I paint the door once it's installed?
A: Yes. The majority of our steel doors are pre-painted with a factory-applied baked-on coating that is suitable to be repainted. Most doors will accept a wide variety of commercially available latex exterior paints, when applied in accordance with the paint manufacturer's recommendations. Do not use oil-based paints.


Q: Are special size doors available? I have a custom-built garage that features an unusual size door.
A: Yes. We offer residential doors in widths between 6' and 20' in two inch increments and in heights between 6'6" and 12'.*
*Not all door models are available in this range of widths.


Q: My garage has very little space (headroom) above the door. What is the minimum headroom required to operate a sectional door?
A: Standard headroom applications require 12" to 18" of space between the bottom of the opening header and the unobstructed ceiling. At Pinnacle, we do have expertise in custom-built applications. A variety of special track options are available and make it possible for many unusual garages to be fitted with doors. By using low-headroom track, it is possible to install a door in an area that has as little as 6 1/2" of headroom.
Other special track applications include:

  1. Vertical lift track, for use in situations where the ceiling is extremely high and the garage door has room to lift straight up.
  2. Follow-the-roofline track, which is used when the ceiling of the garage is pitched at the angle of the roof, making it desirable for the door to follow the same angle, thus providing additional overhead room.
  3. Hi-lift track, which is used when the ceiling is unusually high, but the door must still retract to a horizontal position.

Q: I'd like windows in my new door, but are they secure?
A: Yes, we have doors with specially designed DecraGlass™- safe, secure windows for your garage doors. DecraGlass™ windows are tempered, translucent windows that feature beautiful etched designs to compliment the style of your home.


Q: I've been comparing R-values of various doors. What’s the difference between them?
A: Many manufacturers use R-values to show the energy efficiency of their product. This number is calculated based on the thickness of the insulation and its chemical properties. Therefore, most of the published R-value numbers, reflect only the R-value of a section, not of the installed door. A door's insulating capabilities can be greatly affected by the door's construction. For that reason, the doors we offer are insulated doors are built to maximize energy efficiency. Our thermal break, door section construction and insulation help keep your garage as comfortable as possible.


Q: How do I know if my door is properly balanced?
A: If you are not comfortable troubleshooting your door, please call us and we’ll be happy to come out for a service call. Otherwise, there are several tests you can perform to tell if your door is balanced. Before testing your door, disengage you electronic opener.

  1. Raise your door in 1' increments, and the door should stay in place.
  2. When you lower the door, the door lowers in a controlled manner and doesn't slam down.
  3. When you raise the door, the door rises at a controlled pace.
  4. When the door is fully-raised in the open position, the bottom of the door should be aligned with the bottom of the header of the door opening.

Q: Do I need a lock on my garage door?
A: If an electric garage door opener has been installed on your door, it may not be necessary to have a lock. Newer electric openers function as the lock, making it improbable that an intruder would be able to lift your door from the outside. If you have an older opener, check to see if your door can be lifted from the outside. DASMA, the trade association for the garage door industry, discourages homeowners from attaching a lock when an opener has been installed, because too frequently, a child or other family member will accidentally lock the door. If someone then tries to open the door using the electric opener, the opener will pull against the lock causing the door to be damaged.
We strongly recommend a lock, however, if no opener is installed on your garage door.


Q: Which springs are stronger - extension or torsion?
A: The two types of springs used on garage doors today are extension and torsion springs. Extension springs are attached on either side of the door and stretch along the horizontal track when the door is closed. Torsion springs are typically located just above the top section of the door and are mounted to the header. They are wound springs and do not expand or contract when the door is moved.
Some homeowners prefer torsion springs because these springs offer more safety and provide better balance to the door for smoother operation.


Q: How do I paint a wood door?
A: Wood doors require special finishing prior to installation.  To finish, preserve and protect your beautiful Amarr wood door, all six (6) sides of each garage door section must be finished within two (2) days of receipt of door and prior to installation to validate the warranty. 


Q: I don’t have time for repairs. Are steel doors maintenance-free?
A: For the most part, yes. We do recommend that you wash your steel door a minimum of once a year with: hot, soapy water. Never use bleach on a garage door. Use a well-soaked cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low pressure spray washer. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue.


In addition, lubrication of rollers and hinges is recommended on a yearly basis. Visually inspect springs and cable for wear and binding annually and contact us if damage is suspected. Do not attempt to remove, repair or adjust springs. Please understand that high spring tension can cause serious injury and even death.


Q: What is a carriage house door?
A: A Carriage House door is a type of garage door that replicates the look of doors found on carriage houses in the early 19th and 20th Century. We carry a variety of striking carriage house designs made from three different materials, steel, wood and wood composite. We also offer stamped-steel carriage house doors in the Classica Collection and Oak Summit Collection that eliminate a homeowner's concern of misaligned trim overlays. JELD-WEN carriage house doors in the Estate and Carriage House Collections are made from environmentally friendly, recycled wood fibers that are virtually impervious to climate changes and resistant to cracks, splits, rot and will not rust. Lastly, Amarr offers beautiful, natural wood carriage house doors under the Bob Timberlake™, Biltmore Estate For Your Home®, and Amarr By Design Collections.


Q: What is Wind Load? And how do I know if my garage door needs to be a Wind Load door?
A: In our Northeastern Ohio service territory, wind is not typically a factor in residential garage doors. However, it is important for commercial and industrial doors. When we visit you for an estimate, we can specifically discuss wind load and suggest doors that will meet your needs.


Q: Do you carry products that qualify for the 2008 Energy Tax Credits?
A: Yes, many of our residential doors qualify. Please call us directly to discuss the door that will fit your needs, 888-346-0610.


Q: What qualifies a residential garage door for this tax credit?
A: Residential garage doors that have a U-factor of 0.30 (previously 0.35). Additional requirements are:

  • The garage must be part of the taxpayer’s principal U.S. residence
  • The tax credits now apply to qualifying purchases through the end of 2010
  • The tax credit now equals 30% of the product purchase
  • The maximum credit for qualifying purchases is now $1,500.00
  • The door must be an insulated garage door installed in 2009 or 2010
  • The garage must be an insulated place
  • The door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years

Q: Which doors do you offer that qualify for this tax credit?
A: The following Clopay products qualify. Please contact us directly with any questions, 888-346-0610:

  • Clopay Building Products Company, Inc. Make/model #s: 4300, 4301, 4310, 4400, 4401, GD2SP, GD2LP, 9200, 9201, 9202, 9203, GD2SU, GD2LU, 9130, 9131, 9132, 9133
    • Doors with no windows or with ½” or ¾” insulated windows qualify.
    • Door with windows other than ½” or ¾” insulated do not qualify.
  • 4050, 4051, 4053, GD1SP, GD1LP, GD1SU, GD1LU
    • Doors with no windows qualify.
  • Coachman Collection (1- 3/8” and 2” base door thickness)
    • Doors with no windows qualify

Q: What does a homeowner need to do to obtain the tax credit if the garage door that meets all the qualifications?
A: We’ll provide you with a Manufacturer Certification, the door cost and the cost of our labor. Please keep copies for your records, but do not need to be submitted with tax return.


Q: What areas of Northeast Ohio do you service?
A:We specialize in Garage Door Repair, Garage Door Springs, Garage Door Opener Repair and Installation of new garage doors and openers in the Cleveland, Akron, Canton area, including: Alliance, Atwater, Aurora, Barberton, Bath, Beachwood, Bedford, Beloit, Berlin Center, Brady Lake, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Brunswick, Burton, Canal Fulton, Chagrin Falls, Chesterland, Clinton, Cuyahoga Falls, Deerfield, Doylestown, East Canton, Fairlawn, Gates Mills, Green, Greentown, Hartville, Hinckley, Hiram, Hudson, Independence, Kent, Louisville, Macedonia, Mantua, Maple Heights, Massillon, Medina, Middlebranch, Middlefield, Minerva, Mogadore, Munroe Falls, North Canton, North Royalton, Northfield, Novelty, Paris, Peninsula, Randolph, Ravenna, Richfield, Rittman, Rootstown, Salem, Sharon Center, Solon, Stow, Streetsboro, Strongsville, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Uniontown, Wadsworth, Warren and Windham. If you're not sure, call us: 1.888.346.0610