Overhead Garage Door Replacement & Installation Company in Toronto
Overhead Garage Door Replacement & Installation Company in Toronto
When most people think of garage doors, the image that often comes to mind is a row of painted wooden panels. And while wood has long been a go-to material, times have changed. Much like other aspects of modern home design, garage doors have evolved—embracing new materials and fabrication techniques that offer better performance, durability, and aesthetics.
Technological improvement is as constant as the march of time. This is true of computer processors, televisions, lightbulbs, and anything else you care to name; including garage doors. Today’s aluminum garage doors are several steps up from the garage doors of yesterday in looks, durability, and energy efficiency. Yes, wood may still appeal to traditionalists, but more and more homeowners are discovering the many benefits of aluminum garage doors.
If you’re still clinging to your old wooden garage door despite the rot along the bottom, the fact that it rattles its way up and down the track, and the fact that it leaks valuable heat like a spaghetti strainer it’s time to consider replacing it with an aluminum door from Smart Doors.
Unlike steel, aluminum doesn’t rust—making it a perfect choice for high-humidity environments or areas where winter means months of snow and ice. Steel doors often require regular upkeep to prevent corrosion, especially in cities like Toronto where road salt and moisture can wreak havoc. Similarly, wooden garage doors are vulnerable to rot if not meticulously maintained. Aluminum, by contrast, offers peace of mind with its natural resistance to both rust and rot—significantly reducing your maintenance load over time.
Aluminum garage doors are notably lighter than their wood or steel counterparts. This reduced weight translates to less strain on your garage door opener and torsion springs, which helps extend their lifespan and lowers the likelihood of costly repairs. And in the event of a power outage or motor failure, you’ll be thankful for how easy an aluminum door is to lift manually.
There’s a common misconception that aluminum garage doors look too industrial for residential homes. In reality, today’s aluminum doors offer a wide range of finishes, colors, and textures—including convincing faux wood grains and even full view Glass Doors that deliver the warmth of timber without the hassle. Whether your home is modern, traditional, or somewhere in between, aluminum doors can be customized to perfectly complement your exterior aesthetic.
Aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials available. Most aluminum garage doors are made from recycled materials and are fully recyclable when they reach the end of their lifespan. Choosing aluminum means making an environmentally conscious decision—helping reduce landfill waste and contributing to a more sustainable future for Toronto and beyond.
When you factor in lower maintenance costs, extended hardware lifespan, durability, and energy savings, aluminum garage doors deliver excellent value over time. They last longer, perform better, and contribute to increased home resale value. Investing in aluminum isn’t just about curb appeal—it’s a smart financial move for homeowners looking to reduce long-term expenses and increase property worth.
Unfortunately, if you have an old garage door in Toronto GTA you’re laying out the welcome mat for burglars. Most home invasions occur through old doors and windows and this includes garage doors. It’s easy for a crook to gain entry through a window with a rooting frame or a garage door with loose, rotting wooden panels. An aluminum garage door will put up the ‘Stop’ sign for burglars.
Today we know that conservation is essential if we’re to leave our children the kind of life we’ve enjoyed. Replacing a leaky old garage door with a new, insulated, snug-fitting aluminum door will keep valuable heat inside where it belongs, keep the rooms that share walls with the garage warmer, reduce your monthly energy bills, and save irreplaceable energy resources for future generations.
While aluminum garage doors have several advantages, like corrosion resistance, low maintenance, and modern appearance, it’s vital to examine a few potential drawbacks before making a selection. Understanding these trade-offs will help you decide whether aluminum is the best option for your unique needs.
Although aluminum is resistant to rust and corrosion, it is softer than steel and more prone to dents caused by accidental strikes, hail, or errant basketballs. Steel may be a better match for houses with a lot of traffic along the driveway—or for business buildings where longevity is critical—due to its higher impact resistance.
Aluminum garage doors often provide less natural insulation than steel garage doors, which may result in higher energy expenses in locations with severe temperatures. However, this may be remedied by using insulated aluminum panels, which considerably enhance thermal performance—albeit at a greater initial cost.
While aluminum is adequate for most residential applications, it may not be the ideal option for heavy-duty applications requiring great impact resistance and long-term structural strength. Steel garage doors operate better in high-traffic or tough areas because they are less susceptible to apparent wear and tear over time.
While aluminum garage doors are known for their durability and ease of maintenance, they still require regular inspections and servicing to function properly. Here’s what you need to know:
One of the biggest advantages of aluminum doors is their resistance to rust, mold, and decay. Unlike wooden doors, aluminum does not require frequent repainting or panel replacement. However, periodic cleaning with mild soap and water can help maintain its appearance and remove accumulated dust or debris.
Many modern aluminum garage doors come with glass panels, which enhance their aesthetic appeal. If your aluminum door features glass elements, regular cleaning is necessary to prevent dirt buildup and water spots. It is advisable to inspect the glass for cracks or damage at least once a month and schedule repairs as needed.
Although aluminum garage doors are lightweight, their lifting mechanism—including springs, cables, rollers, and tracks—still requires periodic maintenance. Here’s a breakdown of the essential checks:
Conduct a visual check of the springs, hinges, cables, and rollers every two months. Look for signs of wear, rust, or damage. If any components appear compromised, contact Smart Doors for professional servicing.
Disconnect the automatic opener and manually lift the door. It should move smoothly and stay in an open position without assistance. If the door feels unusually heavy or does not stay open, this may indicate a spring issue that requires expert attention.
The automatic reversal system is a critical safety feature that prevents accidents. Test this mechanism monthly by placing a solid object, such as a wooden board, under the door. If the door does not reverse upon contact, contact a professional to adjust the sensors.
To keep the system running smoothly, apply lubricant to the rollers, hinges, and tracks at least once or twice a year. This prevents friction-related wear and extends the lifespan of the components.
Once you’ve decided to go with aluminum garage doors, that’s unfortunately not the end of it. There are plenty more things you need to consider to make sure you get it right. After all, a garage door is a very important part of your property, having a major effect on aspects such as security, curb appeal, and energy consumption. Not getting it right could end up costing you a lot of money further down the line. The kinds of issues you’ll need to consider include the following:
Just because you know the thickness and the material of the door, doesn’t mean you can know how it will perform as an insulator. More insulation means more heat retention and lower energy bills. As energy costs have gone up, better insulation has appeared in aluminum garage doors. Another factor has been noise reduction – with more garages being connected to the main house, outside noise can enter through the garage door and travel through the house. Better insulation reduces this.
Don’t just assume that your door will be safe, simply because it’s made of metal and it’s big. Modern garage doors come with many features that are designed to improve safety for you and your family. This is especially important when you bear in mind that these relatively heavy doors are usually moved automatically. Look out for features such as pinch-resistant edges and tamper-resistant bottom brackets, for added safety.
Don’t settle for any old garage door. It needs to fit in with your overall security, lighting, and aesthetic strategies for the property.
Garage Door springs can hold incredible tension when they are compressed. After all, they are used for lifting a large piece of metal upon command (your door opener merely pushes the door, and the springs do the lifting).
it’s perhaps not the first thing people think to ask about when buying aluminum garage doors, but it is important. Good warranties tell you that the manufacturer is confident about the door’s quality and design.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when it comes to purchasing – most of us don’t go out and buy new aluminum garage doors regularly, so it’s perfectly understandable that you’ll have lots of questions. If you’re not satisfied with what you see, or what you’re being told, don’t hesitate to look around and become better educated about what’s possible.
Aluminum garage doors present a sleek and stylish face to the world that’s at once clean and attractive as well as functional and long-lasting. Corrosion-free, low-maintenance, and affordable they typically provide years of trouble-free performance. As with all garage doors, however, you must pay proper attention to maintaining the torsion or extension springs that lift the door because failure to do so could bring a swift end to your years of trouble-free performance. In this post we’ll look at the garage door springs, how they work, and the type of maintenance they require.
Aluminum overhead garage doors will provide you with many years of dependable, stylish service but like a beautiful, well-made car you need to take care of what’s under the hood. In the case of aluminum garage doors what’s under the hood are either torsion or extension springs.
The torsion spring is about a hundred pounds of coiled power. It sits parallel to the garage door directly over the opening and stores energy when the door is lowered and then releases that energy to lift the door. The torsion spring is by far the most dangerous component of any garage door mechanism.
If a garage door mechanism doesn’t use a torsion spring it will use extension springs. There are typically 2 extension springs and they run parallel to the door tracks in the space between the tracks and the garage ceiling. They store energy by extending when the door is closed and then release that energy to lift the door.
There are a few key points that you need to keep in mind when it comes to the maintenance of your garage door springs. These include:
A “cycle” consists of one complete opening and closing of the garage door. Typical aluminum garage doors will be good for approximately 10,000 cycles before they need to be replaced. The more cycles the garage door has been asked to perform the more important it is that the springs be properly maintained.
In places like Toronto GTA rust is a very real danger due to the amount of rain and snow and the proximity of the lake. A dry, rusty spring used several times a day is far more likely to snap than a well-lubricated well-maintained spring. You should have the overhead garage door replacement pros from Smart Doors inspect and lubricate your springs regularly.
When the springs are being inspected the balance of the door should also be checked. This is done by disconnecting the motor and lifting the door manually to about waist level then letting go. If the springs are working properly the door should stay at waist level when you let go. If the door drifts up or down it’s time to replace the springs.
The springs on aluminum garage doors will fail in time. There’s no way around it. But you can ensure you get the most out of your springs by having them professionally maintained by the pros from Smart Doors. Failing to do so could shorten their life by as much as 25-50% and cause a nasty accident where the spring snaps and the door comes crashing down with someone under it.
Don’t risk the safety of yourself and your loved ones, make sure you schedule regular maintenance on your garage door springs and rest easy.
At Smart Doors, we’ve set the standards in premium overhead garage door sales and installations in Toronto. We back every aluminum garage door we install with a two-year warranty, in addition to generous manufacturer warranties—giving our customers lasting peace of mind and performance. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading to aluminum, now is the time to act. Don’t spend another season worrying about rust, rot, or rising garage doors repair costs.
