A garage door in Dallas and one in El Paso face almost nothing in common. North Texas has hail, wind and the occasional ice storm; Central Texas has heat and shifting clay soil; the Gulf Coast has humidity, hurricanes and windstorm rules; and El Paso and West Texas have desert sun and dust.
Texas also has no statewide license for garage door companies, which puts more of the vetting on homeowners. The last section covers what to ask for before you hire.
Dallas–Fort Worth: hail, wind and ice
Dallas, Fort Worth, Euless and the rest of the Metroplex sit squarely in hail country, where spring storms regularly drop stones big enough to dent steel. Beyond dents, hail can crack the overlays on some wood-look doors and shatter the glass in window sections. A door made from heavier steel with an insulated, multi-layer build shrugs off more hits, and a textured surface disguises the small dimples that remain.
Spring storms also bring damaging straight-line winds. A wind-rated door with heavier struts holds up better, and keeping the door closed during a storm protects the roof structure above the garage.
The February 2021 winter storm showed how many Texas homes were unprepared for days of hard freeze and lost power. Know how to use your opener's emergency release, and consider an opener with battery backup.
Central Texas: Austin, Kyle and New Braunfels
Along I-35 from Austin toward San Antonio, towns such as Kyle, San Marcos and New Braunfels have grown fast, and many homes are newer with builder-grade doors and openers. Hot garages are hard on openers: motors run warmer, and plastic drive gears and logic boards can wear out sooner.
Much of Central Texas is built on expansive clay, which puffs up when soaked and contracts as it dries out. Slab movement can twist a garage opening slightly, so the door rubs, binds or leaves a gap on one side. If a door that ran well starts sticking after a long dry spell or a heavy rain, have the track alignment checked.
Hill Country homes west of Austin and around New Braunfels often use stone exteriors and side-entry garages, and wood or wood-look carriage doors are a popular match.
Houston and the Gulf Coast
Humidity, salt air near Galveston Bay and the coast, and hurricanes set the conditions here. Hardware rusts quickly, and floods like the one Houston saw during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 can soak springs, bearings and opener motors.
In the coastal counties where many homeowners depend on the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, garage door replacements typically need to meet windstorm standards and be certified for the home to remain eligible for that coverage. Ask your installer for a door that has been evaluated for Texas windstorm requirements and for the paperwork you will need.
El Paso and West Texas
El Paso sits in the Chihuahuan Desert, with strong sun, very low humidity and spring winds that carry dust. Ultraviolet light breaks down paint and vinyl weatherstrip on exposed doors, and blowing grit wears rollers and hinges.
A door that refuses to close only around sunset is often a safety eye being blinded by low light rather than a failing opener. Trading the eyes' positions so the receiver is out of the glare is a simple fix. Many El Paso homes are stucco or brick with attached garages, and insulated doors make a real difference in summer garage temperatures.
Hiring a garage door contractor in Texas
Texas has no statewide license for garage door installers or general home contractors, so checking credentials falls to you. Ask for proof of insurance, a written estimate listing the door model and spring type, and the warranty terms. If an opener needs a new outlet or circuit, that electrical work should be done by a licensed electrician.
HOAs are widespread in Texas suburbs, and many restrict garage door style, color and windows. Get written approval before ordering.
Torsion springs and cables are under extreme tension. Whatever region you live in, leave those parts to a trained technician.
Last updated by the American Garage Door Team.