A bent or misaligned track causes the door to bind, rub, or jump off its rollers. We straighten it or replace it entirely when needed.
The vertical and horizontal tracks guide your garage door's rollers through every open and close cycle. When a track is bent, even slightly, the door has to fight against it on every movement, which shows up as grinding, rubbing along the weatherstripping, or a door that occasionally jumps its rollers.
Minor bends, often from a stray impact, can sometimes be straightened in place without removing the entire track. More significant damage, particularly a crimped or kinked section, usually needs the affected section replaced, since a track that has been bent and straightened repeatedly loses its structural rigidity.
We check track alignment with a level, not just by eye, since a track that looks straight can still be a few degrees off plumb in a way that causes the door to bind gradually over time rather than obviously. This is a common source of premature roller wear that gets blamed on the rollers themselves.
Where a full track replacement is needed, we also check that the wall brackets are anchored into solid framing rather than just drywall, since a track that flexes under load will eventually work itself out of alignment again regardless of how straight it was installed.
Minor bends often can be, but a track that has been kinked sharply or straightened multiple times before usually needs the damaged section replaced rather than bent back again.
The most common cause is a vehicle or object striking the track, though a track can also gradually bend if the wall brackets holding it loosen over time.
Grinding sounds, the door rubbing against the weatherstripping on one side, or rollers occasionally jumping out of the track are all common signs of a track alignment issue.
Call Gulliver Garage Door Services in Bridgeport, CT and speak with a technician about your garage door track repair & replacement needs.
Call 1 (833) 652-7571