Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  How do I clean my pre-finished steel Wayne-Dalton garage door?

A.  To clean the surface of your pre-finished steel garage door, simply follow these steps annually:

Remove dirt and mildew by the use of a diluted solution of common bleach or mild detergent at a concentration of one cup in five gallons of warm water.

Q.  How do I clean my wood Wayne-Dalton garage door?

A.  If the finish appears to be in good condition, cleaning and touch-up work is often adequate.  Remove dirt, chalk and mildew by washing your wood door with a diluted solution of mild household detergent at a concentration of one cup in five gallons of warm water.  Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely. 

If the finish is badly eroded and thin, clean the areas where the wood substrate is showing through as described above and prime those areas.  Follow the cleaning and priming of the affected areas with a priming and finish coating of the entire door.   If there is no bare wood showing through, a finish coat only may be adequate.

Q.  How do I paint my pre-finished steel Wayne-Dalton garage door if I want to match my home’s color?

A. To prepare your pre-finished steel garage door for painting, it is important to give it a good cleaning.  Remove any surface wax to prevent the paint from peeling or flaking.  Wash door with soapy water, or with bleach and water solution if there is mildew, and let it dry completely.

Remove surface scratches which have not exposed the metal substrate by lightly buffing or sanding with 0000 steel wool or #400 sand paper to create a smoother surface for painting.  Do not over buff or sand because paint will not adhere to the door if the surface is too smooth.

Do not attempt to remove scratches if your steel door surface has a finish painted texture representing wood grain, stucco, etc. because of the increased likelihood of exposing the metal substrate.  Simply paint them with a high quality metal primer.  Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.

Oil base paint for the finish coat is not recommended.

Note that if substrate is exposed, painting with latex paint may cause accelerated rusting of steel.  Priming first is important.

Q.  How do I process a warranty claim?

A.  For garage doors purchased and installed by Virginia Door, you may call us at (757)482-3667 or (800)842-3016 or e-mail to vadoor@vadoor.com.

Q.  I purchased a garage door through a Wayne-Dalton dealer / retailer.  How do I get missing parts?

A.  Return to the place of purchase.   If the place of purchase is unknown, you may contact Virginia Door.  We have a large inventory of garage door parts.

Q.  Why should I choose an insulated steel garage door?

A.  Insulated doors help reduce the transfer of heat or cold air into your garage.  This is important for several reasons.

1)      If your garage is attached to your home, air in the garage can travel through the doorway into your living area.

2)      If you use your garage as a workshop, as a laundry area,  as a place to raise plants, etc., your comfort may be important to you.

3)      If you have living space above your garage, an insulated door will keep temperature in the garage fairly stable which will reduce fluctuation in the temperature in the room above.

4)      An insulated door is generally quieter and has a more attractive interior.

Q.  Are special size doors available?

A.  Yes.  Please call Virginia Door for a free estimate – (757)482-3667 or (800)842-3016.

Q.   What is required for installing an electric operator?

A.   An electric operator can be installed on most garage doors.   There are, however, a few exceptions because of overhead beams, limited headroom, attic access, etc.  Virginia Door gives free estimates and can advise you.  Even when there are issues, usually a garage door opener of some kind can be installed.

Some garage doors already have the needed strutting needed to protect the top section when an electric opener is installed, but some doors will need a reinforcing strut on the top section.

An electrical outlet is needed generally in the ceiling, however, the requirements are different for a residential jackshaft operator.

Q.  How do I line up the safety sensors for my garage door operator?

A.  Most systems have a light on each sensor, and when aligned correctly, both lights are lit, not flickering.  Make sure all connections are tight and that the sensors are pointed directly at each other.  We also offer troubleshooting on the phone – 757-482-3667 or 800-842-3016.

Q.  How do I program my remotes?

A.  Most Liftmaster systems are programmed by pushing the “Learn” button that is located somewhere on the motor and then pushing the remote.  However, there are some variations.  You may call us for additional help – 757-482-3667 or 800-842-3016.

Q.  My garage door will only go down if I have constant pressure on the wall button.  What is wrong?

A.  This is a safety sensor issue.  Check to see that there are no obstructions between the sensors - no cobwebs, boxes, etc.  A sensor may have been knocked out of line if it was bumped.  See if you can realign the sensors if they are not pointing directly at each other.  Or there could be a loose connection.  We also offer service.  See phone numbers above.