[jdr7785]

Does anyone know what this piece is? It appears to reinforce the garage door opener bracket. I have it on my 2 car garage, but don’t have one on the one car door.

 

[3onthetree]

horizontal "strut"

 

[DexterII]

If your single door has an opener, I would contact the manufacturer or a local garage door company to see if one is required. Not all overhead doors are suited for openers, or at least not without further reinforcement, and operating them with an opener can lead to failure.

 

[Old Thomas]

Sometimes every panel has them in high wind zones.

 

[firehawkmph]

A strut can easily be added to your 8' door if you have an opener attached. The door may work without it, but it's a good, inexpensive safeguard. When I pick up 8' doors at the warehouse, they normally don't come included with the door. I always get one anyway figuring the homeowner may add an opener in the future. The vertical piece your opener arm is attached to is a re-inforcement bracket. I always put on on every door, they only cost me about $4.
Mike Hawkins