At Garage Door Specialist, we’ve seen our share of do-it-yourself repair attempts. Sometimes, the results are harmless. Other times, they turn into emergencies. One recent case at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham is a textbook example of why industrial garage door repairs are best left to professionals.
A Door with a Unique Setup
The museum has a 12×12 commercial door with low headroom tracks and an “outside pickup” system. This means the drums and cables are mounted outside the tracks instead of above them – a design used when there’s not enough overhead space for a standard setup. It also uses a reverse torsion spring system, which operates differently than most commercial doors. Instead of winding springs away from you, the springs are wound toward you.
Attempting DIY Industrial Garage Door Repair
Following a YouTube video for a standard garage door, the museum’s maintenance team tried to reassemble the door after an issue. Unfortunately, the video instructions didn’t apply to their unique system.
The result:
- Drums installed in the wrong position
- Cables wrapped incorrectly
- Springs wound in the wrong direction
With no spring tension, the door was stuck wide open – creating both a safety hazard and a security problem.
Our Repair Process
We brought in a forklift to safely lower the door. From there, we completely rebuilt the setup:
- Corrected the drum placement
- Rewrapped the cables the right way
- Applied proper reverse torsion winding to the springs
Once finished, the door operated as intended, with smooth, balanced movement.
The Lesson for Businesses Doing DIY Industrial Garage Door Repair
Every industrial and commercial garage door can have unique hardware or configuration. What works for one door may not work for another. Attempting a DIY repair without understanding the system can make the problem worse and increase repair costs. When in doubt, call in a specialist before the damage escalates.