Skip to the work orders
OBThe Overhead Bench

Field notes on sectional doors, their operators and the hardware that carries them

The operator

Belt, chain and screw drives, horsepower and duty ratings, battery backup, wall controls, remotes and the safety reversal that has to work every month.

Every work order on this bench

2
  1. A single-car garage bay at mid-morning, a walker folded against the wall beside the driver door, clear concrete floor between the car and the interior door, sectional door tracks and a wall control visible in the frame.

    OP-002The operator

    Belt, Chain and Screw: Choosing an Opener Drive

    Belt, chain and screw drive openers move the same door differently. Here is what each drive costs in noise, duty cycle and upkeep, and how UL 325 applies to all three.

  2. A single-car garage bay at mid-morning, a walker folded against the wall beside the driver door, clear concrete floor between the car and the interior door, sectional door tracks and a wall control visible in the frame.

    OP-001The operator

    Automatic Doors in the Access Chain

    An automatic garage door is one link in the chain between car and house. Clearances, controls and safety devices decide whether the whole entrance works.