I’m building a new shop/garage and have come to the point where I’m ready for the overhead doors. Their not very large (9 ft wide x 8 ft. high). There will be two of them. I’ve been searching for DIY installation guidelines with little success. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t do this job myself. I consider my skills as good as anyones, (I’ve built the entire 36 x 55 shop by myself). I’m just lacking experience with overhead doors. Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Replies
They are pretty straight forward, just follow the installation instructions.
Don't try to install (or adjust) a torsion bar spring, though; They can be dangerous to work on.
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"I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different." Oscar Wilde
As an avid do it yourselfer, I put in three garage doors last summer. No real problems if you just follow the instructions included with the doors. Pay particular attention to getting the tracks square with the opening (90 degrees and parallel) and the door will operate very smoothly.
With regards to Bobs comment on torsion springs. Many new doors have torsion adjusters that are adjusted using a drill. These lower the danger level (compared to the ones where you manually wind the springs with a couple of 1/2" steel rods) to just aboust zero. I used Clopay 2" fully insulated doors with that type of adjuster and put my old door (old style wind up torsion) on a neighbors garage since we were adding on and needed two new doors to match.
"Many new doors have torsion adjusters that are adjusted using a drill."
Keep in mind that turning them the wrong way can mess them up. Then you have to wait 2 weeks to get a $100 replacement piece. This typically happens because you set the directions down a little too close to the propane heater while it's running so you can't read which is the correct way to turn them.
Of course - This is all second hand info - Never happened to me.In calm water every ship has a good captain. -- Swedish Proverb
call a sub. usually you can find someone who will install a door for less than you can buy it for. use only Wayne Dalton. I mean it. check out their openers. Huge difference from all of the others.
Edited 12/26/2002 7:52:49 PM ET by LEIGH
That's what I've run into. Usually a full time garage door installer can install it for what their discount is.
Same door....same price.....installed just about free to you.
Do some price checking...see what ya find.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Ditto on the sub comments from the others. I just built a garage with two 10' x 7' OH doors. I went to HD ( I know, I know. ) and they wanted 400 each and they were SO. I called Overhead door and they installed them the next day for 280 apiece. Saved me alot.
Cole
Cole Dean
Dean Contracting
Ditto!
I called at Home Depot and they sold me a 16x 8 door but couldn't deliver for three weeks. I called around and got a similar door the next week installed for the price I was gonna pay home depot for the door!
It was kinda wierd watching someone else work since I've done all of this so far myself, but he enjoyed checking out my project and I enjoyed his tips and helpful hints...
when the glass was installed backwards they evan came out and changed it!