Newest in our blog
Why Is My Garage Door Rusting Only at the Bottom
You see it every time you pull into the driveway. Those unmistakable, ugly orange-brown spots creeping along the bottom of your garage door. It starts small, but it seems to be growing, and you can’t help but wonder why it’s only happening there. The rest of your door looks perfectly fine. It’s a frustratingly common problem, and it leaves many homeowners scratching their heads. Is the door defective? Is it a sign of a bigger issue? Before you jump to conclusions, let’s start with a simple diagnostic. That discoloration might not even be what you think it is.
Published Date: Jan 21, 2026
Top Benefits of Fire-Rated Garage Doors: Why They’re Worth It
A fire-rated garage door is more than just a safety upgrade — it’s a smart investment in protecting your home, business, or property. Whether you’re a homeowner or commercial builder, these doors offer real fire protection and can help meet local code requirements. At Up & Down Garage Doors, we help property owners across the U.S. choose and install the right fire-rated doors for garages. In this guide, we’ll cover what fire-rated garage doors are, how they work, where they’re used, and why they’re a smart choice for both safety and compliance.
Published Date: Jan 21, 2026
How Garage Door Flood Vents Help Reduce Flood Damage
Living in a flood-prone area means your home or building is constantly at risk from rising water levels. Installing garage door flood vents is a simple yet effective way to reduce structural damage during a flood. These systems allow water to flow in and out of your garage, helping equalize pressure and protect the foundation. In this guide, Up & Down Garage Doors explains how flood vents for garages work, what types exist, and why they’re worth the investment.
Published Date: Jan 20, 2026
Vertical Lift vs. High Lift Garage Doors: Which Overhead Solution is Best
Imagine your garage wasn't just a place to park your car. What if it had the vertical space for a two-post car lift, a loft for your workshop, or floor-to-ceiling storage that finally gets everything off the ground? For many homeowners, this dream is cut short by one thing: the horizontal tracks of a standard garage door. You park your car, press the button, and the door dutifully retracts, hugging the ceiling and occupying the most valuable real estate in the room. But what if it didn't have to? This is where specialized lift systems come in. If you've ever wondered how to reclaim that precious overhead space, you've likely come across two terms: high lift and vertical lift. While they sound similar, they solve different problems and have unique requirements. Understanding the difference is the first step toward transforming your garage from a simple box into a high-functioning space.
Published Date: Jan 20, 2026
Identifying and Preventing Garage Door Cable Fraying
Listen closely the next time your garage door opens. Beneath the hum of the motor, do you hear a faint scraping, a subtle groan, or a slight vibration that wasn't there before? It’s easy to dismiss these small sounds, but they could be your garage door's early warning system. Those two thin steel cables, one on each side of your door, do the heavy lifting day in and day out, hoisting hundreds of pounds against the pull of gravity. A single frayed strand is often the first, quiet sign of a potential failure that can be dangerous, disruptive, and costly. But here’s the good news: by learning to spot these early signs, you can prevent a major breakdown before it ever happens. This guide will teach you how to read the warning signs, perform safe maintenance, and know exactly when it’s time to call a professional.
Published Date: Jan 19, 2026
Detecting Micro-Cracks and Fatigue in Garage Door Hinges and Panels
That faint creak your garage door makes? Most of us ignore it. The tiny, web-like line near a hinge? We dismiss it as a scratch. We often assume garage door problems are loud, sudden, and obvious—a snapped spring, a door off its tracks. But what if the most significant threat to your door’s health is something you can barely see? Metal fatigue and micro-cracks are the silent culprits behind many catastrophic garage door failures. They develop slowly, caused by thousands of cycles of lifting and lowering, extreme weather, and minor imbalances. Finding a small crack early can be the difference between a simple adjustment and a full, costly door replacement. This guide will teach you how to become an expert inspector in under 10 minutes, using just a flashlight and your eyes.
Published Date: Jan 19, 2026
Long-Term Rust Prevention Coatings for Coastal Garage Doors
Living by the coast is a dream. The sound of the waves, the salty breeze—it’s a lifestyle many people crave. But that same beautiful sea air that fills your lungs is quietly waging a war on your home’s biggest moving part: the garage door. It’s a common story. You install a beautiful new door, and within a few years, you spot it: the tell-tale orange-brown freckles of rust, often starting at the bottom or around hinges and handles. This isn't just a cosmetic issue; it's the beginning of a process that can compromise your door's security, function, and lifespan. But here’s the good news: this is a preventable battle. With the right knowledge, you can transform your garage door from a vulnerable target into a fortress that stands up to the salty air for years to come. Let's talk about how to win the war against coastal corrosion.
Published Date: Jan 16, 2026
What to Do When Your Garage Door Falls Unexpectedly
It’s a sound you’ll never forget: a sudden, jarring crash from the garage that makes your heart leap into your throat. You rush to look and see the worst—your garage door, a solid, dependable part of your home just moments ago, is now hanging crooked, off its tracks, or collapsed on the floor. In that moment, a flood of questions hits you. Is my home secure? Is anyone in danger? What do I do right now? First, take a deep breath. This is a startling and stressful situation, but you are not alone, and there is a clear, safe way to handle it. This guide is your urgent action plan, designed to walk you through the immediate safety steps to secure the area and get the help you need without putting yourself or your family at risk.
Published Date: Jan 16, 2026
Understanding Garage Door Pinch Points and Anti-Pinch Panel Design
Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home. You probably know about the importance of its safety sensors—the little electronic eyes near the floor that stop the door from closing on an object. But what about the danger you can’t see as easily? It’s the space between the door sections, a risk that safety experts call a "pinch point." Shockingly, research has shown that nearly one-third of garage doors that pass standard safety tests could still pose a significant finger-crushing hazard to children. Understanding this hidden danger is the first step toward creating a truly safe home for your family.' This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about pinch points, from identifying them on your current door to understanding the modern technology that has made them a thing of the past.
Published Date: Jan 15, 2026