How do you weigh a garage door?

Knowing the actual weight of a garage door and all the components attached to the door is important when replacing the garage door spring. It doesn’t matter if the springs are extension springs or torsion springs, the weight of the door determines the proper spring size to counter balance the weight of the garage door.
You will need analogue bathroom scale to get an accurate weight. Digital scales will not measure fluctuations as the door settles to give you an accurate weight. Weighing the door can be difficult and you may need assistance lifting the door if the spring(s) are broken.
First you will need to disconnect the garage door from the electric garage door opener if one is installed. Next you will need to set the scale to “0” zero pounds on the scale. Position the scale in the center of the garage door. Carefully raise the garage door enough to slide the scale under the door, then gently lower the garage door onto the scale. Finally you will read the weight the scale shows. If the garage door has only one spring and the spring has broken then the weight showing on the scale is the weight of the door. If the garage door has two springs and only one is broken, then you will need to measure the unbroken spring. In this situation you will need to document the weight showing on the scale and then figure the weight lifting rating for the unbroken spring. When you have determined the weight lift rating for the unbroken spring, add that weight to the weight on the scale and you will have the weight of the garage door. This same procedure works for doors with more than two springs as well, you will just need to determine the weight rating for each unbroken spring then add up all the weights including what is shown on the scales. We always deduct 10 pounds from the weight shown on the scales because we know with a properly balanced door, the door should weigh about 10 pounds when all the springs are doing their job properly.
If you are unable to weight the door yourself, you can always check online chart on different doors And weights.
It is important to remember that if you are adding parts, like a strut, to your garage door it may require the spring(s) to be adjusted or replaced as you are adding weight to the garage door. A door that is not properly balanced can cause damage to other components of the garage door system including damaging the garage door opener.
Balance is the key if the springs are too weak/small the door will be too heavy causing damage. If the springs are too large/strong the door will be to hot meaning it will fly open which can cause damage also the door can become too hard to close which can also damage the garage door opener.
Many garage doors we repair did not have the proper springs to begin with, therefore, we weigh every door to ensure the proper size springs are used to achieve perfect balance.