If you live in Southern California, you know exactly how vicious strong winds can be. It can cause serious damage to your property, including your garage door, if it doesn’t have the correct garage door wind load ratings. This refers to the amount of wind pressure your door can endure before failing.
It’s a good thing most modern garage doors are made to be wind-bearing. However, if you live in a very windy location, it’s important to understand how durable your door is. This will help you decide if it’s time for a new garage door installation in Los Angeles with a better wind rating.
In this post, we’ll explain how much wind load garage doors can withstand and what rating you should look for in your own unit. Keep reading and see if your door can hold up against high winds!
What are garage door wind load ratings?
Garage door wind load ratings refer to the amount of pressure your door can handle before it buckles, also known as ‘design load’. It’s measured in pounds per square foot (PSF), though some states may use the ‘W’ rating. Basically, the higher the wind rating number is, the tougher your door is against gale force.
Take note that design pressures come in positive and negative numbers. Positive pressure is the wind blowing directly against your garage door, while negative pressure is the wind pulling or sucking your door outward.
Moreover, these design loads are expressed in PSF+ and PSF- values. The higher these numbers are, the more enduring your door is against both forces.
Overall, there are no state garage door wind load requirements. Still, these are the average recommended garage door wind load guide based on how strong the gusts are in your area:
- 20 to 30 PSF. This is the standard wind rating for most modern garage doors and can withstand moderate wind speeds.
- 70 to 120 PSF. This is ideal for areas that get damaging gusts and hurricane-force winds.
- 250+ PSF. Wind ratings this high offer maximum protection for tornado and hurricane-prone regions, which may be necessary based on your local building code.
Overall, wind-rated garage doors are typically used for coastal properties, like areas in Southern California. But as climate changes, they may be needed for properties that are at risk of wind damage, even if they’re away from coastlines. This includes areas of Los Angeles along canyons and dry hillsides.
Why is your garage door wind load important?
Having a wind-rated garage door has a lot of benefits, especially if you live in a windy area. In general, many homeowners switch to wind-rated doors for the following reasons:
1. Preventing catastrophic damage to your property
A garage door with a decent wind rating will prevent serious damage to your property during inclement weather. Take note that it’s not just the wind but also wind-borne debris that can tear your door apart if it doesn’t have a proper wind load rating.
The door’s wind-rated design and material make it less likely to warp, bend, or tear apart during strong winds. Overall, this will minimize your need for repetitive garage door repair in Los Angeles.
2. Keeping you and your family safe
As they say, you can’t put a price on your family’s safety. Since Southern California and Los Angeles areas can have unpredictable winds, it’s wise to get a wind-rated door. This way, your property and family will be safe in case sudden gusts of winds strike your area.
Overall, wind-rated doors will reduce the risk of potential injuries since they can block flying debris from entering your home. They’re an effective garage door safety feature that you should consider on your next upgrade.
3. Enhancing your property’s market value
If you plan to sell your home soon, upgrading to a wind-rated garage door can increase your property’s market value. This is especially true if you live near coastlines notorious for strong and damaging winds.
In some cases, a door with proper garage door wind load ratings can also lower your insurance premiums.
4. Ensuring peace of mind
Lastly, wind-rated garage doors will give you peace of mind, knowing that your property is safe from potential damage. They will give you a better sense of security, especially in the event of hurricanes or tornadoes.
How to check your garage door’s wind load rating
To check your garage wind load door rating, look for the large sticker on the interior side of your door. It should indicate the maximum miles per hour (mph) rating of your door as well as the PSF+ and PSF- values.
Most standard doors have 74 mph to 180 mph and 20 PSF +- ratings. If your door uses a ‘W-rating,’ you should look for a number around W-1 to W-9—the higher the number, the better.
However, about 80% of doors on homes located away from coastlines aren’t usually wind-rated. And if your garage door was installed on or before 2006, it’s highly possible that it doesn’t have a wind load rating either. This is regardless of whether you are in a coastal area or not.
What if your garage door isn’t wind-rated?
If your door doesn’t have a wind load rating, you have two options: either get a new garage door installed or reinforce your existing unit.
Installing a new wind-rated garage door
If you’re keen to enhance the durability of your door, you can get a brand-new garage door wind load kit. You can call us at Rock Garage Door Repair and we will provide and install the new door for you.
Also, if you plan to upgrade your old door, consider getting a wind-rated unit, even if your area doesn’t have very strong winds. Since weather patterns in LA can be ever-changing, a wind-rated door will prepare your property for harsh conditions.
Reinforcing your existing door
If you don’t have a budget for a new door, you can reinforce or brace your current unit. For example, you can ask us to install a garage door wind load post to beef up the structural integrity of your garage door.
If your door’s wind rating is too low, a garage door hurricane brace wind load kit would be the best solution. We can install all these on your existing door on the same day.
Overall, if you’re unsure of your door’s wind rating and the reinforcements it needs, simply call us at Rock Garage Door Repair. We will send our licensed technician to inspect your unit and provide recommendations, which we can also do for you on that same day!
Additional tips to wind-proof your garage door
Aside from bracing, there are more ways to windproof your garage door in Los Angeles. Here are some of the tips we always tell our clients when they are preparing for strong winds:
1. Check your door’s seal and weatherstripping
First, you should check the seal and weatherstripping of your door and replace any damaged parts. Your door’s seals block wind, debris, and rainwater from seeping into your home.
We suggest replacing cracked or brittle weatherstripping as soon as you notice them. This way, your garage door will be in good condition all year round in case unpredictable winds hit your area.
2. Reinforce the garage door tracks
Make sure your door’s tracks are in good shape and durable enough to hold the rollers in place during strong gusts. Check if any of the tracks are loose, warped, or damaged, then have it repaired immediately.
If you’re replacing your door with a wind-rated kit, such as a wind load aluminum garage door, make sure you also upgrade the tracks. This way, the entire door system will have a strong defense against the harshest weather.
3. Get a battery backup
After the passage of SB 969, all garage door openers in California are required to have a battery backup starting July 1, 2019. This regulation ensures residents can escape their garages in case of power outages during hurricanes or other weather disturbances.
While a battery backup won’t physically reinforce your door against strong winds, it will add a layer of security to your property. This way, you can open or close your door when the power goes out due to the guests in your area.
4. Cover your door windows
Many LA residents tend to overlook their garage door windows when preparing for strong winds. If yours are made of glass, you should consider upgrading to impact-resistant materials.
If replacing the windows isn’t an option, you can reinforce it with grilles or shutters. This will reduce the risk of shattering, which can cause foreign debris to get into your garage.
5. Get a professional garage door inspection
If you’re expecting the gusty season, it’s best to call a professional to check your entire garage door. This way, a licensed technician can repair any damage or weak points that may worsen when strong winds hit your door.
This is also the best time to get a garage door spring replacement in Los Angeles if yours is already starting to fail. You can also ask for other maintenance repairs for your garage door opener, tracks, panels, and so on.
Looking for wind-rated garage doors? Ask us today!
If you’re in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, you can call Rock Garage Door Repair to know more about garage door wind load ratings. We can provide same-day installations or reinforcements for your existing door.
Our licensed technicians are on call 24/7 for all your garage door needs. We can service any brand, make, model, and component!
All our technicians are licensed and insured for your peace of mind. So, if you need reliable garage door services in LA, contact us today, and we’ll get your door protected against the strongest winds!
