Q: Does my door's make have specific parts (Normstahl, Novoferm, Hörmann...)?

Parts for Normstahl, Novoferm and Hormann doors are make-specific. Some makes use proprietary finishes or systems. Here's why telling us your make helps us guide you. Even for components that seem similar at first glance (springs, cables, rollers, rails). The same spring size, for example, can come with different winding cones or finishes depending on which make of door it fits. Specifying the make of your door, alongside measurements or a photo, greatly reduces the risk of ordering the wrong reference. Do you know your make? Tell us, along with your measurements or photos: we'll check the compatibility of the chosen part together. The habit that helps: the make is often shown on the door's rating plate (see the dedicated article) — it's the most reliable way to know it for certain. For springs from Normstahl, Novoferm, Hormann and Tubauto, there's no need for their dimensions. For Novoferm torsion springs, it's the door's dimensions we need. For parts other than springs, give us the make, model and year to find the part. Dimensions are only needed for parts that aren't from Normstahl, Novoferm, Hormann or Tubauto.

Q: Should I replace both springs at the same time, or is one enough?

Only one spring has broken, and the other looks fine? Here's why we always recommend changing all the springs. The springs on a given door are fitted at the same time and go through the same number of opening/closing cycles. If one has broken through fatigue, the others have comparable wear. Replacing just one spring unbalances the door, since the new one counterbalances more weight than the old one.

Q: How do I tell the difference between a torsion spring and an extension spring?

The torsion spring — The torsion spring is fitted ONLY on sectional doors, and is installed horizontally. Torsion springs can be "at the front" = next to the lintel; they can also be "at the back", placed at the other end of the rails. The extension spring — It's most often installed vertically but can sometimes be positioned horizontally, on either side, along the sides of the door, along the guide rails; they stretch as the door closes and relax as it opens. Extension springs can be found on their own, but also in clusters of several springs. To identify a spring in a cluster, look for the reference engraved on the hook. Still not sure? Send us: <ul> <li>An overall photo of your door closed.</li> <li>The ends of the springs.</li> <li>The door's identification plate</li> </ul>

Question 1

Does my door's make have specific parts (Normstahl, Novoferm, Hörmann...)?

Accepted Answer

Parts for Normstahl, Novoferm and Hormann doors are make-specific.

Some makes use proprietary finishes or systems. Here's why telling us your make helps us guide you. Even for components that seem similar at first glance (springs, cables, rollers, rails).

The same spring size, for example, can come with different winding cones or finishes depending on which make of door it fits. Specifying the make of your door, alongside measurements or a photo, greatly reduces the risk of ordering the wrong reference.

Do you know your make? Tell us, along with your measurements or photos: we'll check the compatibility of the chosen part together. The habit that helps: the make is often shown on the door's rating plate (see the dedicated article) — it's the most reliable way to know it for certain.

For springs from Normstahl, Novoferm, Hormann and Tubauto, there's no need for their dimensions. For Novoferm torsion springs, it's the door's dimensions we need. For parts other than springs, give us the make, model and year to find the part. Dimensions are only needed for parts that aren't from Normstahl, Novoferm, Hormann or Tubauto.

Question 2

Should I replace both springs at the same time, or is one enough?

Accepted Answer

Only one spring has broken, and the other looks fine? Here's why we always recommend changing all the springs.

The springs on a given door are fitted at the same time and go through the same number of opening/closing cycles. If one has broken through fatigue, the others have comparable wear. Replacing just one spring unbalances the door, since the new one counterbalances more weight than the old one.

Question 3

How do I tell the difference between a torsion spring and an extension spring?

Accepted Answer

The torsion spring — The torsion spring is fitted ONLY on sectional doors, and is installed horizontally. Torsion springs can be "at the front" = next to the lintel; they can also be "at the back", placed at the other end of the rails.

The extension spring — It's most often installed vertically but can sometimes be positioned horizontally, on either side, along the sides of the door, along the guide rails; they stretch as the door closes and relax as it opens. Extension springs can be found on their own, but also in clusters of several springs. To identify a spring in a cluster, look for the reference engraved on the hook.

Still not sure? Send us:

An overall photo of your door closed.
The ends of the springs.
The door's identification plate

Question 4

How do I know which spring to choose for my garage door?

Accepted Answer

Is your spring broken or worn out? Here's how to recognise your type of spring, which measurements to take, and which photos to send us to get the right reference.

The spring(s) are the part that counterbalances the weight of your door: they're what lets you lift it without effort. Worn out or broken, the door becomes heavy, jams, or no longer holds its position. To guide you, only one thing matters: correctly identifying the spring you have.

Torsion or extension? The first question

There are two main families, easy to recognise by eye:

Torsion spring — installed horizontally, on a shaft above the door or at the inner end of the rails. They twist on themselves. The force is transmitted to the door by cables that wind onto the cable drums.
Extension spring — single or in a cluster, installed along the sides of the rails, most often vertically, sometimes horizontally. They stretch as the door closes. The lifting force is transmitted by pulleys.

If the make of your door is Novoferm, Hormann, Tubauto or Normstahl => you need the manufacturer's original springs. To help us identify them, please send us the identification plate. For Hormann or Tubauto springs, you simply need to give us the wire length and diameter — we take care of the rest.

The measurements to take for springs we make to measure for you

For a made-to-measure torsion spring: wire diameter, inside diameter, spring length without the winding cones, and the winding direction (left o

Question 5

The made-to-measure spring configurator: how does it work?

Accepted Answer

There's no such thing as a "standard" spring

If the make of your door is Novoferm, Hormann, Tubauto or Normstahl, you need the manufacturer's original springs.

For all other doors, select the make from the menu, then configure the made-to-measure spring identical to the existing one (spring diameter, wire diameter, length…).

If your door's make isn't in the list, use one of our online configurators: https://www.aidegar.fr/27-configurer-son-ressort-de-traction.html for extension springs and https://www.aidegar.fr/1919-ressort-de-torsion.html for torsion springs.

The principle

You enter yourself the technical characteristics measured on your old spring: spring diameter, wire diameter, length. For torsion springs, you'll also need to specify the winding direction and the finish.

Not sure about a measurement before configuring your spring? Send us your readings and a photo: we'll check with you before you place your order.

Question 6

How do I measure the wire diameter, length and inside diameter of my spring?

Accepted Answer

Three measurements are essential for us to make your spring to measure. Here's how to take them correctly. To offer you the right type of spring first time, we need three precise measurements. Don't worry: they're easy to take, with a simple tape measure.

For extension springs, read our tutorial Taking the measurements of a torsion spring for a sectional door https://www.aidegar.fr/content/9-comment-mesurer-ressort-torsion-pour-porte-sectionnelle and watch our video https://youtu.be/MabwFcEpmhk?si=XR1HPNywEpKnkIMN
For torsion springs, read our tutorial Choosing the right extension spring and fitting it correctly https://www.aidegar.fr/content/14-tutoriel-mesurer-ressort-traction-porte-de-garage and watch our tutorial: https://youtu.be/NvmtZxY4L-o?si=cF2bxIpQDGMSDre0

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