Roller doors and strong wind
The supercell that hit Mildura on 11 November 2016 brought more than 485 requests for help to VICSES. Wind is hard on roller doors in a particular way: after Cyclone Yasi, the Cyclone Testing Station found many roller doors first came out of their side guides, then off the drum.
That research is from a cyclone region, not Mildura, but the lesson carries: the curtain's edges and guides are where a roller door gives way. If a storm has bowed the curtain or pulled an edge from its guide, stop using the door and book a repair.
Finishes for a roller door in Mildura
Steel-Line offers a patterned roller door finish called UniCote LUX, which it says resists chipping, peeling and cracking. Steel-Line and Gliderol both make roller curtains in Colorbond steel, and Steel-Line also uses Zincalume.
Whatever the finish, Steel-Line suggests washing a Colorbond door with clean water and a cloth at least every six months, keeping sunscreen off the coating, and never hosing the opener.
Motors and what their warranties say
Motor cover is often counted in cycles as well as years. Steel-Line covers its RD1500 Pro roller door opener for 3 years or 15,000 cycles, whichever comes first, so a door that opens many times a day reaches the cycle limit before the time limit.
Steel-Line's opener package for its wind rated roller door includes two remote handsets, a wireless wall button and a battery backup unit, with a 2 year or 10,000 cycle warranty. A battery backup is worth asking about anywhere storms take the power out.
A storm-damaged door is a loaded door
A bent curtain can still be under full spring tension. Steel-Line says a roller door that strains the motor or will not stay up is out of balance, and it warns against tensioning one yourself. Keep cars and people out from under it until a door specialist has looked.
Roller doors around Mildura
Victoria's wiring rule
Energy Safe Victoria says a restricted electrical licence, held by some plumbers and fitters, only covers like-for-like reconnection. A new power point for a motor needs a licensed electrician.
Sheds and big openings
Wide shed doors put more weight on the springs and motor. Give the opening's width and height when you describe the job.
After a storm
Photograph the curtain and the guides before anything is moved, inside and out.
What we would do
When comparing motors, ask for the warranty in both years and cycles. For a busy household the cycle figure is the one that usually runs out first.