Installing garage doors.

kcult

kcult

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I haven't made it to YouTube yet, but I'm sure this is something any person with half a jug of common sense and mechanical ability could do, right?

When my wife had our carport finished into a garage, she paid a man to pay a man to install the electric garage doors. I'm interested in skipping that with our new building. Well, I've already skipped the man paying the man because we didn't ask him to have them installed. Instead, I saw the man working on one of our roll up doors at the factory and he would install mine, if I needed him to.

Do I need him to? Has anyone here done this as a money-saving DIY?
 
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I’ve put in a New opener, cables, and springs. Never the door assembly or tracks. Although it is not complicated it is critical to get measurements accurate, spring winding is dangerous to your health, and someone else can do it in one third time.
 
I had a spring break once as I closed the door. This was before they put the cables inside the spring to try to contain them. The broken spring went by my head at Mach 1, I nearly had an involuntary bowel movement.
 
ronn47 said:
I'd Pay the Man.
Dealing with those coil springs if you don't have the tools and knowledge will get someone hurt.

Pay the Man.
And give him a beer also.
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He's more of a pill popper, but I get your point.

Concerning the springs, the ones on my current doors run from the door frame back towards the motor, vs above the door frame and running side to side. Well, going by my mental picture, anyways.

It'll be a bit because I still need to run wires and decide how/if to finish the inside.

I'll try to snap a few pics after work.
 
I’ve replaced springs. It’s nerve wracking and not for the faint of heart.

While door? Yeah, I’m paying somebody.


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The Overhead Door man broke his arm changing the springs on my mom's garage door.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Me.
Better to pay the expert. They warranty the work, get it done right the first time, and in 1/4 the time it would take you.
Well worth it.
I could handle replacing a 30 year old door opener but the tracks and door were good.
A couple years later when the door failed, I called the pros.
Another thing, the pros install a one piece bar for the opener.
We have to special order those. Retail only has the pieces version so it fits in a retail shelf.

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I have replaced my own springs and an opener. But I would pay to have a door installed.
But if ya not smart enough to wind springs without getting hurt, ya don't need a gun.
 
Does 'pay the man' apply if all you're doing it swapping out an existing opener? not installing a new door, just replacing the 35 years old electric opener...
 
Tim said:
Does 'pay the man' apply if all you're doing it swapping out an existing opener? not installing a new door, just replacing the 35 years old electric opener...
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For me it's primarily working with the springs, and the initial door installation.

Replacing - or installing - a door opener is no big deal. The springs though... that's a different story.
 
Been there and done that. I will agree, tensioning the new springs is not for the faint at heart (nerve wracking). Without knowing you personally, its hard to recommend DIY.
 
kcult said:
I haven't made it to YouTube yet, but I'm sure this is something any person with half a jug of common sense and mechanical ability could do, right?

When my wife had our carport finished into a garage, she paid a man to pay a man to install the electric garage doors. I'm interested in skipping that with our new building. Well, I've already skipped the man paying the man because we didn't ask him to have them installed. Instead, I saw the man working on one of our roll up doors at the factory and he would install mine, if I needed him to.

Do I need him to? Has anyone here done this as a money-saving DIY?
Click to expand...
I used to sell Garage Doors. Pay someone that knows what they are doing. Get all the torsion springs adjusted right from the start and it will save you a lot of headaches down the road
 
When I put tension on my new springs I put on a construction hat, face shield, and thick gloves. Every quarter turn my rectum got a little tighter. It was a double size door with two springs. I made had 2 stainless rods made. The weight of a double door is so heavy it took two guys to lift it already installed. I don’t remember how many quarter turns I made but it was a bunch. I spray oil on my springs each year and lube cables with teflon spray.
 
BlackGun said:
I put on a construction hat, face shield, and thick gloves. Every quarter turn my rectum got a little tighter.
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BlackGun said:
I don’t remember how many quarter turns I made but it was a bunch.
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Similar here - when I had to re-tension ours, I wore a full face motorcycle helmet. : )
 
I’m in a similar situation where it looks like I’ll need my current door and track replaced after someone tried to back out with the door down. Maybe opener too if I go with a heavier door
So, which man to pay? Seems like going to Lowe’s to order the door and letting their crew install is the cheap and easy solution. But, are the garage door specialty companies that much better?
 
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smooth said:
I’m in a similar situation where it looks like I’ll need my current door and track replaced after someone tried to back out with the door down. Maybe opener too if I go with a heavier door
So, which man to pay? Seems like going to Lowe’s to order the door and letting their crew install is the cheap and easy solution. But, are the garage door specialty companies that much better?
Click to expand...
I had a father/son company from Lincolnton NC area put mine in my shop 4 years ago. 12x12 insulated steel doors with Liftmaster openers. Saved me several dollars and have had zero issues. I can PM a number if you’d like.
 
I’ve installed overhead doors in the past. I’ll use gloves and 2 sticks of rebar. The instructions tell you how many twists you need and the color coded line is for counting. I normally quarter turn the rest the rod under tension on my shoulder while moving the secondary rod the the next spot. Do it on a scaffold and it’s easier.
 
smooth said:
I’m in a similar situation where it looks like I’ll need my current door and track replaced after someone tried to back out with the door down. Maybe opener too if I go with a heavier door
So, which man to pay? Seems like going to Lowe’s to order the door and letting their crew install is the cheap and easy solution. But, are the garage door specialty companies that much better?
Click to expand...
American Garage Door is who we use for our projects. They saved my dad about $1100 on a quote compared to Lowe’s or HD or even overhead door co.
 
American Garage Door has a store in my area. Thought they might be a bit too fancy for my needs. But if they did a great Job and saved you a few bucks, I may need to give them a call.
 
Despite the naysayers, it’s a task that can be done if you have at least 3 functional brain cells, can follow instructions, and can think. You also have to respect the forces involved. One man can do it, but it’s safer and easier with at least two.
 
Going with Gaddy's Door Service out of Morven, NC.

I actually graduated high school with the owner, but thought he was either dead or in prison, until just the other week.

Who knew?
 
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