Rhode Island is small, but its garage doors face a big mix of conditions: salt air around Narragansett Bay and along the South County shore, nor'easters and the occasional hurricane, cold and snowy winters, and some of the oldest housing in the country in Providence and its neighbors.
Because the state is so compact, most homes face several of these at once. A house in Warwick or Bristol can see salt spray in summer, a tropical storm in fall and a nor'easter in winter.
Providence and the older city neighborhoods
Providence, Pawtucket and Cranston have dense neighborhoods of triple-deckers and older single-family homes, often with a detached one-car garage at the end of a narrow driveway. Many of those garages were built before modern door sizes became standard, and a few still have swing-out or tilt-up doors.
Tight lots make clearance a real issue. Before choosing a replacement, measure headroom, side room and the depth of the garage, and find out whether there is power for an opener. Some old garages need new jambs or a header before a sectional door can be hung properly.
Parts of Providence, including College Hill, are in local historic districts where changes visible from the street can require approval from the city's Historic District Commission. Check before swapping a carriage-house door on an older property.
Salt air on the bay and the shore
Homes in Warwick, Bristol, Barrington, Narragansett, Newport and Westerly live with salt in the air year round. It corrodes springs, cables, hinges and opener rails, and it attacks steel wherever the paint is chipped. Galvanized or stainless hardware and a yearly freshwater wash of the door and tracks make a noticeable difference.
The state has a long history with hurricanes, including the 1938 storm and Carol in 1954, after which Providence built its hurricane barrier. Coastal homes should have doors with a wind-load rating appropriate to their location, and when a storm approaches the door should stay closed so wind cannot get into the garage.
Nor'easters, ice and heavy snow
A nor'easter can dump heavy, wet snow and drive it against the bottom of the door. By morning the meltwater has turned to ice along the seal, and running the motor against a door glued down that way can strip its gear or kink the top section. Shovel the snow away from the door after each storm and check the seal before winter.
Cold also stiffens grease, so a door that opens slowly or stops partway on a frigid morning may simply need lubrication. If it keeps happening, have a technician look at the balance and the opener's travel and force settings. And if a spring snaps on a frigid morning, leave the door down: the other spring and the cables are still under heavy tension.
Contractor registration, permits and condo rules
Rhode Island requires contractors to register with the state Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board. Ask any installer for the registration number and check it with the board before hiring.
Permit requirements for a door replacement are set by the local building official in each city or town. Condominium associations, common in the suburbs and coastal towns, often have their own rules on door color and style, so get approval first.
What to ask for in a door near the water
When you replace a door within reach of salt air, the specification matters more than the style. These are the points worth raising when you collect quotes:
- Galvanized or coated springs and cables, and galvanized or stainless hinges, track bolts and fasteners instead of plain steel.
- A factory-applied finish on steel, or a composite or fiberglass skin that will not rust where it gets scratched.
- A wind-load rating suited to your address, with the label left on the door for inspectors and insurers.
- A bottom seal and perimeter weatherstrip that close tightly against wind-driven rain.
- Nylon rollers with sealed bearings, which resist corrosion and run more quietly.
Last updated by the American Garage Door Team.