How a tilt door works
A tilt door is one solid panel that swings outward and up to open. B&D notes that it protrudes forward as it moves, so the driveway in front of it has to be clear.
Steel-Line still makes tilt doors for smaller garages or openings short on side room or headroom, though it says they may not be available in some regions. Gliderol makes track type and counterweight tilt doors for architecturally designed homes.
Springs are the part to respect. B&D contrasts tilt doors with its Flex-A-Door, which keeps its extension springs tucked away above head height and out of children's reach.
Your options with an old tilt door
| What it involves | Worth knowing | |
|---|---|---|
| Keep it running | A service and a check of the springs and fixings | Spring work is for a door specialist, never a weekend job |
| Add or swap the opener | An opener made for tilt doors | Merlin lists its Commander Elite MS105MYQ and Elite II MS107MYQ for tilt doors; its myQ phone control does not work on them |
| Replace it with a Flex-A-Door | B&D's roller curtain on a curved track | Offered by B&D for existing tilt door openings; sits behind the opening and can suit arches |
| Replace it with a roller or sectional door | A different door in the same opening | Depends on the headroom and side room, so get them measured first |
Signs an old tilt door needs a look
- A loud bang, then a door that suddenly feels far heavier
- The opener hums or strains but the door will not lift
- A spring with a visible break or stretched coils
- One side lifting higher than the other
- Rust on springs, hinges or tracks, which Steel-Line says is common near the sea
Leave tilt door springs alone
B&D says garage door spring replacement is not a DIY task, because tension let go from the coils the wrong way can cause serious injury. If a spring has gone, stop using the opener and keep everyone clear of the door until a door specialist has seen it.
What we would do
If the tilt door runs smoothly and the springs look healthy, there is no hurry to replace it. When the time comes, ask for two options measured for the same opening, such as a Flex-A-Door and a sectional door, so you can weigh driveway space, headroom and warranty side by side.