Garage door repair
Garage door hinges cracked or bending?
A cracked or bent hinge means the section is no longer held square, and the door can sag or buckle. Replacing center hinges is simple for a tech, but the end hinges and bottom brackets are under load and are not a DIY job.
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Is this what you're seeing?
A hinge at the joint between two sections is cracked, bent or pulled loose from the panel.
The top section is sagging or bowing at the middle.
You see a gap opening between sections as the door moves.
Hinge screws are loose, stripped or pulling out of the steel.
The door pops or creaks at the same section each time.
What's going on
Hinges join one section of the door to the next and carry the roller on their outer end. A garage door hinge has a numbered gauge that has to match its position: end hinges at the track are heavier, center hinges that sit between rollers may be lighter. They flex a little every time the door goes around the curve. Over many cycles, the steel fatigues at the pivot, or the leaf cracks at the screw holes.
A center hinge in the middle of the door is also what supports the weight across the panel. Without enough hinges, or with one cracked, a wide door can bow in the middle like a loaded shelf. The top section is most prone, especially if an opener is bolted to it or a heavy wood or glass door is pulling on it. Loose screws wear the steel holes oval, and then the hinge slips and the section begins to sag.
Not every hinge on the door is the same kind of job. Center hinges at the joints between sections can be replaced as a repair. End hinges at the sides carry the roller, the weight of the section and, on the lowest joint, the load from the cable. The bottom brackets hold the cable ends and sit under very high tension. Those are not for a homeowner. Taking one apart with the door under load can drop the door or snap the bracket.
What to do right now
Do
Look at each hinge from the floor, with the door closed, for cracks or bent leaves.
Check the screws that are within easy reach and note any that are loose.
Photograph the hinge, the gap, or the sag so we can see it.
Use the door as little as you can until it is looked at.
Don't
Do not remove or loosen the end hinges or the bottom brackets, they are under load.
Do not drill new holes or add longer screws into a cracked hinge leaf.
Do not strengthen it by welding or bolting a plate on.
Do not run a sagging door, it can twist the track.
How we fix it
This is garage door repair. We inspect every hinge and fastener, replace the cracked or bent ones with the right gauge, add hinges where the door is under-supported, check the section for cracks around the holes, and test the door through its whole travel.
Repair or replace?
Hinge replacement is a very common repair. If the hinge screws have pulled through the skin of the top section, or the panel has cracked around the hinge, then panel replacement might be needed along with the hinge.
A top section that has bent from carrying an opener can be reinforced with a strut. We will say what we see.
Related questions
What are the signs my garage door needs repair?
The signs a garage door needs repair: new noises, a sagging door, slow or jerky movement, and a door that will not stay put halfway up.
Read full answerShould I repair or replace my garage door?
Should you repair or replace your garage door? It comes down to age, damage, safety, and cost. Here is the line between a smart fix and a new door.
Read full answerCan I replace just one garage door panel?
Can you replace just one garage door panel? Often yes, if the model is still made and the door is sound. Learn when it works and when to replace.
Read full answerWhat's on a garage door maintenance checklist?
What's on a garage door maintenance checklist? Lubricate parts, test the balance and auto-reverse, tighten hardware, and check rollers, cables, and seals.
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