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Changing the look of your home could be as easy as changing your garage door. And depending on the door type and features, it can be a DIY project. What does the work entail? We’ve laid out the steps below.
Detach the door. Your old door may have specific removal instructions, per the manufacturer’s manual. But in general, you want to separate the door from the pulleys, remove each door panel and unfasten the tracks.
Be prepared for the weight. Doors made of wood, glass, and steel are heavier than the aluminum and can be cumbersome. Take care to disassemble the door in pieces, so that you aren’t holding more than you can handle.
Get the right dimensions and lay new tracks. You need to know the height and width of the door opening, of course, but overall depth and capacity above the door should also be noted–this is the fly space, providing enough room for an open door. Shoot for about 12” above the door and enough clearance to encompass its height, with at least 20” buffer.
When you install a new door, make sure to install the corresponding vertical and horizontal tracks–they’ve been designed with appropriately spaced gussets, which allow the door to open and close at specific distances. Without these pre-sets, the door can get caught along the jambs, increasing pressure and instability.
Attach brackets and rollers. Put the framework in place, whether it be mounting brackets on the wall or door jamb and sliding the rollers onto the tracks.
Place panels and secure from the bottom up. Weatherstrip the bottom panel and level it, laying it into the door frame and securing according to manufacturer instructions. From here, attach hinges as necessary, which allow the door to fold as it rises/falls.
Spring the door and test it. Attach the springs to the pulleys in the final step and test the door–it will probably take two or more people to hold it steady while lifting it slowly, making sure the tracks are even, parallel and smooth.
There are a lot of pieces to manage in garage door installations, not to mention the need for exactness and adequate support. For many, the project requires calling in garage door experts to do the job. Here’s why you may want to do so.
Why and when you need a professional tech to install your garage door
The process–and doors themselves– can be cumbersome. Here at Garage Doors of Indianapolis, we may send two or three techs for an installation, depending on the door type, because they can weigh up to 400 or more lbs. The doors must be secured and tracked in various positions, which calls for a degree of expertise and manpower. It’s not a one-man job.
Your safety is at risk. Do you know what could happen if you don’t use the correct/level tracks, install hinges in the wrong places or have incorrect spring tension or counterbalance? Lack of awareness of how the pieces play together could result in door falls that harm to your vehicle–or yourself.
Lack of security. Even if the door functions properly, is it secure? Most high-tech features that customers find desirable include electrical wiring or computer programming that complicate the installation process, requiring expertise to make sure it is tamper-resistant.
You gain warranty, service, and support. Not only is the door covered by a manufacturer warranty, most garage door companies back their product and workmanship. We offer 24 hour emergency service, annual maintenance, and regular repairs.
Interested in updating your garage door? Contact us to schedule a consult and/or installation.