6 Common Rollup Door Problems (and How to Fix Them)

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Rollup doors do a lot of great things for your facilities &#; they protect them from the elements and guard against invaders. They also hide your business's merchandise away from prying eyes. However, these abilities can only hold true if the door itself works as intended. A range of common rollup door problems can affect the door's capacity to protect your investment. Even high-quality rollup doors may see issues over time due to natural occurrences like rust and aging.

These issues are why it's essential to know some of the most common concerns, learn how to perform commercial rollup door troubleshooting and know when to contact a professional. When every component of your business is in working order, you can avoid taking hits to your productivity and revenue.

6 Reasons Your Overhead Door Won't Close or Open

Is your rollup door uneven? Does it struggle to open or close all the way? If so, it's likely experiencing one of the potential issues an overhead door may encounter throughout its lifetime. Luckily, many of these problems are preventable as long as you understand how they arise and how to address them. Here are seven possible reasons why your overhead garage door is giving you trouble.

1. It Lacks a Power Source

Loss of power can be a common reason why people need to perform commercial overhead door troubleshooting. Be sure you know when you're dealing with a run-of-the-mill power outage versus an isolated incident. If your building still has electricity, and your garage door isn't working, there may be an issue with the breakers. If this has happened, your door may remain in an open or closed position.

Similarly, there may be an issue with your remote or wall switch &#; such as an out-of-sync remote or faulty electrical wiring. If you've identified a problem with the wiring, shut off the power supply before attempting to fix or troubleshoot anything.

2. It's Being Obstructed

Obstructions can be physical objects or even particles of dust and dirt. When investigating why your rollup door is jammed, no option is too extreme for why it won't open or close. Small particles can easily build up and become caked-on grime that interferes with your door's operation. A physical obstruction like a piece of loose material is easy enough to remove. Eliminating dirt and grime will require a bit more effort.

3. Its Parts Are Worn-Out or Broken

As components age, they can make your rollup door hard to open, and they will eventually require replacements. Torsion springs and bearings are standard subjects of overhead door wear and tear.

In many types of doors, torsion springs control the up and down movement and withstand numerous cycles &#; anywhere up to 50,000 cycles. Eventually, they wear out, though, and the environment can contribute to this. For example, humidity makes them more susceptible to rust. Whether you need a spring adjustment or an entire replacement, it's beneficial to know when the torsion spring is causing the problems. For safety, remember always to call a professional to handle torsion spring replacements.

The end bearing plates are another area of the door that could become worn out over time. These bearings support the weight of the spring and the entire door. Over time, they may begin to grind, forcing the rollup door to work harder and operate noisily. Worn out end bearing plates may bind up, preventing movement and putting the door out of alignment. You can detect any signs of wear around the end bearing plates if you find any black dust or powder around the component, which indicates metal grinding against metal.

4. Its Components Are Misaligned

Misaligned parts are a common culprit for rollup door problems. Misaligned hoods, fascias and tracks or too-tight guides can lead to a door that scrapes against the guides, which can cause property damage and take the paint off the panels. This issue affects both the door's aesthetic quality and performance. This kind of predicament is one you want to avoid whenever possible &#; one problem is easier to solve than multiple.

Rust can also change a door's alignment &#; this often happens when the track becomes corroded. Rust can negatively impact how the door runs over the tracks, causing your rollup door to be uneven. If the tracks become misaligned, a domino effect may occur with other system components. The curtain could sustain damage as it crosses over this uneven path, or the motor could burn out from working harder.

5. Its Motor Is Faulty

If your electric rollup door won't open, the jam may be due to a motor-based issue. Because motors are such complex parts, it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause without the expertise of an overhead door professional. If you decide to give the motor a preliminary inspection before calling, make sure the door is turned off, as well as the power supply.

While complete motor failure is easier to detect, you might have an issue in which the motor doesn't sync up with the remote or wall switch. Faulty sensors are another common malfunction of motor-powered doors. When this happens, your overhead door won't be able to sense obstructions and subsequently reverse or stop as needed.

6. Its Spring Tension Is Too High

If your door's springs are tensioned more than what's recommended, they become more likely to break. In addition to this issue, incorrect tension makes your door harder to operate, which may be causing some of the concerns you've encountered. When the spring tension is too high, the door becomes difficult to close and easy to open. When it is too low, it becomes difficult to open and easy to close. If you suspect this is why your door is stuck, it's best to call a professional for a rollup door tension adjustment to ensure every mechanism is adequately calibrated.

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Commercial Rollup Door Troubleshooting

If you suspect there's an issue with your rollup door, it pays to know how to troubleshoot. That way, you can pinpoint the cause of the problem and get in touch with a professional quickly if needed. Here's what you can do to investigate the situation and discover the cause of your commercial door challenges:

• Misaligned tracks: If your door is no longer following its tracks, check if it has any signs of warping or dents. The track itself may be dented, loose or dirty &#; or lacking lubrication. It may be hard to tell if your door has run off its tracks when it is tucked in the overhead hood in the open position. In this case, calling commercial door professionals &#; like those at Cookson &#; can save you the time and stress of examining it yourself.
• Rusty and worn parts:  Metal end bearing plates and torsion springs may become rusted or worn out with time. Look for black metal dust or filings or binding and listen for excessive noise on the bearings. Inspect the spring for rust and other damage. Check for rust or corrosion around door elements and door panels as well.
• Faulty motor: If the motor emits unusual sounds, struggles to move the door along its tracks or doesn't respond to the remote or wall switch, it may be about to fail or is out-of-sync with the door.
• Tight components: A jammed rollup door is often a sign of tight guides, and a hard-to-close door indicates high spring tension. Be sure to check for missing paint and damage to the door itself. It may be easy to mistake this issue as a case of misaligned tracks. Inspecting individual elements, like the springs and guides, will give you a better idea of what's causing the faulty operation.
• Obstructions: Look for any possible obstructions around or on the door, whether they're physical objects or built-up grime. You may find leaves or other debris hung up in the guides.
• Power issues: Always turn off the power before you inspect anything related to the electrical wiring. Examine the breakers to see if they've been tripped, and check out the circuit board if those aren't the answer. You might find it needs a replacement.

Fixing Your Rollup Door

You know what's causing your overhead door to malfunction, so how do you fix it? Some issues are easy to tackle by yourself and don't require much intensive work. However, you always want to practice caution when dealing with a heavy overhead door, especially if there's a chance it could come loose. Don't hesitate to get in touch with the professionals if the complications are more than what you or your workers are equipped to handle.

Here are a few things you can do to repair your door system:

• Do a thorough cleaning: If you can chalk your issues up to being caused by dust or debris, cleaning your garage door should be enough to remove the obstructions and return your equipment to working order. Additionally, protecting your door against rust will save you the trouble of dealing with this unwelcome issue before it ever begins. Wash it regularly with soap and water and lubricate your tracks, end plate bearings, chain drive and springs.
• Replace the parts: You may need to replace individual components &#; such as the tracks or motor &#; if they've failed or sustained substantial damage. If the door panels have noticeable dents or scratches, it's not difficult to replace these. However, if they're bent out of shape and have badly affected the door system, you might need to have a professional remove the entire door and install a new one.
• Fix the guides: If your rollup door is off-track, you might be able to remedy this by tightening the loose track or cleaning debris off of it. If the problem is more involved, you can disconnect the door from the opener. Readjust the guides to make them plumb, and ensure the gap dimensions match the measurements listed in your door's installation manual or construction drawings. If any part of the guides is bent or damaged, contact a professional.
• Resync the door: If your door's remote isn't working, it may simply need a change of batteries. Resyncing it could also be necessary, and fortunately, this process isn't complicated. If the wall switch doesn't work, however, repairing it can be more complex. The same goes for replacing the circuit board. Contacting a commercial door professional may be a safer option when dealing with electrical systems.

What Is Required to Adjust a Rollup Door?

If your commercial door's spring tension is off, it is relatively easy for a professional to adjust it. A commercial door that's difficult to close is indicative of tension that needs to decrease, while a hard-to-open door needs an increase in tension. How does a technician adjust a rollup garage door? They can use an Allen wrench to access the exposed drive. From there, they'll turn the wrench clockwise to release tension or counterclockwise to increase it.

After the adjustments are made, the technician will likely lubricate the springs to help keep them in excellent condition. Always leave rollup door spring adjustment to the professionals since torsion springs become dangerous if they snap unexpectedly.

Lubricating the door's other moving parts, such as the springs, with a manufacturer-approved lube is something you can do yourself if you feel comfortable doing so. Using a non-grease lube instead of grease is ideal because it can make it harder for debris and dirt to accumulate on the tracks and elsewhere. 

Contact the Rollup Door Experts at Cookson

If you've conducted commercial rollup door troubleshooting and need assistance from expert door professionals, Cookson can help. We offer a range of resources for commercial overhead doors, from parts and accessories to dealer services. We have experience working with commercial door installations and repairs for numerous industries, including health care, schools and universities and retail.

We will also collaborate with you on the process of designing and installing a new door if you need a complete replacement. All our doors are custom-made, allowing you to select a fitting design and security level for your building. Whether you require a product or service, we provide reliable and innovative solutions. If you're interested in what we can offer you and your business, contact us to submit a request for parts or service or reach out to a local dealer.

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Repainting your doors is a great way to revitalise your property. A fresh coat of paint on an external door can make your home look much more appealing. If you&#;re looking to sell your home it also helps increase the all-important &#;kerb appeal&#;. Repainting an internal door can completely change the look of the room, and is a low-cost way to revitalise boring or dated décor. But, like with all things, there is a right and wrong way when it comes to painting doors.

You may think that repainting a door is a rather simple task. After all, a door is just a big rectangle made of wood. Like with everything though, there is a right way to go about the job. If you do it wrong you could end up with a streaky, uneven finish.

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Common Painting Mistakes

It is important that you choose the right paint for the type of door you will be working on.

Most paints and varnishes are fine for internal doors. But, if you are be painting an exterior door then you need to use weatherproof paint. Another thing to consider is whether the paint is oil or latex-based. If you are painting over an existing coat then you must use the right type of paint &#; latex-based paints won&#;t adhere well to a surface that is covered with oil-based paint, for example.

You don&#;t always have to remove the existing paint coat if you are using the right type of paint (but light sanding and an undercoat will make the finish look nicer), but if you want to put water-based paint on a door that has already been painted with latex paint, you will need to strip the existing coat first.

The most common mistakes and problems with painting doors include:

Paint Bubbles

Paint bubbles form when the paint is unable to adhere to the surface underneath. This can be caused by using the wrong type of paint, or by painting on a surface that is either damp, dusty, or too hot. One common misconception when it comes to painting outdoors is that you should do so on a very, very hot day. While it is good to paint when the weather is warm and dry you should try not to paint something that is directly exposed to the sun. So, wait until the sun is not shining on your front door before you paint it!

Blocking and Sticking

Paint blocking is the term that is used to describe two surfaces that have been freshly painted, and that stick together when they are placed next to each other. This can occur with low-quality paints, and it can also happen if you paint a door or window then close it too quickly, not giving it time to dry. Ideally, if you are painting a door you should remove it from the doorway and lay it flat, paint it and then give it plenty of time to dry before re-hanging it.

Take the time to prime and sand the surface that you plan on painting, and follow the manufacturer&#;s recommendations regarding topcoats and finishes.

Foaming and Cratering

Foaming and cratering is a common issue that can have a huge number of causes.  It is normal for very small bubbles to form while you are painting a surface, but with high-quality paints, the bubbles will break easily to leave a smooth finish. If you use low-quality paint, bubbles are more likely, and they can also form if you shake a can of paint that is only partially filled, or if you apply paint too quickly using a roller. For best results, purchase the best quality paint you can afford, prime the surface before painting, and work slowly and methodically.

Lap Marks

Lap marks are lines of paint that are denser or darker than other areas of paint. They appear if you apply paint over an area that was painted earlier and has already started to dry. The best way to prevent these unsightly marks is to make sure that there is always a &#;wet edge&#;. Try to paint in small segments, working quickly enough that you don&#;t leave a dry area. Paint &#;wet to dry&#;, working towards the unpainted area then back in and over the just-painted section for a smooth and professional finish.

Flashing

Flashing, or poor sheen uniformity can create dull areas and shiny patches that make your paint job look unprofessional. The best way to avoid this is to seal the wood before you start painting. The primer and undercoat will help to create a uniform surface so that the final coat looks as smooth as possible.

Roller Marks

Roller marks are the pattern that the paint roller leaves on the painted surface. This is a common problem if you use a lower grade of paint or a low-quality roller. Similar &#;stipple&#; can occur if you use low-quality paintbrushes too.  You are more likely to see roller marks when you are painting with latex paint. To prevent this problem, pre-dampen the roller cover and then thoroughly shake out any excess water before starting to paint. Try not to lift the roller from the door too often while painting, and take care not to allow too much paint to collect at the ends of the roller.

Most of the problems that occur when painting doors are things that can be prevented if you use good quality paint and work methodically. If you rush the job or keep having to stop because of distractions, that&#;s where problems will start.  Give yourself plenty of time to complete your paint job and prime the surface of the door before you start work. As with any other DIY task, taking the time to do it properly the first time is much more efficient than rushing the job. When you rush, you just end up needing to re-do it because of unsightly streaks, cracks, bubbles, or lap marks.

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Brush marks

If you have a door with a lot of detailing, you may want to paint it with a brush rather than a roller. While a brush is more work, it&#;s far easier to get into indentations and carvings than a roller. Some people also just prefer the control a brush offers.

Unfortunately, using a brush does leave you prone to brush marks but with just a few simple tips &#; you can minimise this.

Make sure your door is smooth and clean so the paint will properly adhere.

Next, apply your primer. Start with the hard-to-cut inside parts of your door with a thin layer of paint. This makes it easier to brush out into the main section of the door.

If you paint it thin layers, it will make it easier to build up without leaving streaks or an uneven finish.

Between each layer, give the door a light sand. This will help keep the finish even and make the next layer more adhesive.

Using the wrong type of paint

It can be tempting if you have interior wall paint left over to paint your doors with it but, in the long run, it&#;s not going to save you time or money. Wood and metal paints are formulated differently to wall paint so while they may look fine when first painted, you&#;ll notice problems very quickly.

This is because they are made of very different base ingredients. Wall paint tends to consist of materials such as synthetic resin and is designed for adhesion to drywall, brick, and cement. Wood paint tends to make use of materials like unsaturated polyester, polyurethane. This gives it better long time adhesion to wood.

You&#;ll find if you use wall paint it will not be durable long-term and will quickly crack and peel. It also won&#;t be tough enough to stand up to the environment if used on an exterior door. You&#;ll do well if it lasts more than a few months before it needs redoing.

If you still have more questions, our team is always more than happy to help. Find the best way to get in touch with a member of our team by visiting the contact page.

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