Is your garage door outdated, malfunctioning, or no longer securing your garage and home? It might be time to consider a replacement instead of repairs. But hold on! A garage door installation project is no walk in the park. Making mistakes and the wrong choices can end up costing you more than necessary. In this article, we explore simple tips to guide you through the installation process and assist in selecting the proper garage door.

Weighing Costs and Challenges: DIY vs. Professional Installation

When deciding between installing a garage door yourself and hiring a professional, it’s crucial to consider the costs and factors involved before making a final decision. A licensed garage door company provides all the resources and expertise needed to complete the project on time and within budget, potentially saving you time and reducing the risk of accidents. The cost of installing a residential garage door by a licensed garage door repair company can range from $700 to about $3,000. The cost varies based on the door type, size, and weight, as well as the project requirements.

If you choose to do it yourself, however, you may need to rent or buy tools, work at heights, manually handle heavy equipment, parts, and hardware, and invest the necessary time to install the new door. While a DIY installation can save on labor costs, a lack of experience is likely to make the project time-consuming and increase the risk of mistakes before and during the process. A professional company typically takes 3-5 hours to complete a replacement project, while an inexperienced person could take 7 to 15 hours or more.

During the installation process, there will be no door securing the garage. Therefore, make sure to take proper precautions to ensure the security of the property. Carefully assess your situation to determine whether performing the garage door installation yourself is the best approach for you.

Choosing the Right Door: Types and Materials

There are many types of garage doors constructed from various materials and finishes. However, choosing a garage door should primarily be a decision based on your home’s design, with the new door enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Here’s a brief overview of the options available to you.

Wood Garage Doors

Wooden garage doors typically come with a higher overall cost compared to other options. They are pricier to purchase, repair, and maintain, often requiring heavy-duty hardware, custom springs, and heavy-duty garage door openers. However, custom wood garage doors offer greater design flexibility, a luxurious appearance, and enhanced corrosion resistance, particularly beneficial if you reside in a coastal area.

Wood garage doors can come in two different types of finishes: paint-grade or stain-grade doors. Stained wooden doors require more maintenance, including re-staining every couple of years, to preserve their appearance and keep the wood in good condition.

Aluminum Full-View Garage Doors

Full-view garage doors are also more expensive compared to steel doors, but they offer a modern look, durability, and require less frequent maintenance than wood doors. When selecting an aluminum full-view garage door, you will need to make several choices. You’ll need to decide between anodized or powder-coated frames, the frame’s color, and the type of glass.

Powder-coated frames are pricier but offer increased rust resistance, making them an ideal choice for coastal areas and beachside locations such as Capistrano Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Seal Beach, and Long Beach.

When selecting glass, the most common types used in full-view garage doors include standard clear, tinted, black laminate, and white laminate. Black or white laminate offers absolute privacy as you cannot see through them. Tinted glass provides less privacy as you can partially see through it.

Steel Garage Doors

Steel garage doors offer a cost-effective and low-maintenance option. When selecting a steel garage door, you’ll need to decide on the color, design, finish, insulation, windows design, and glass type.

Standard colors include white, almond, sandstone, and dark brown, but custom colors like black, green, bronze, or graphite are available for an additional cost. Different designs include long or short raised panel, recessed panel, planks, and flush. The available finishes include wood-grain texture, smooth, and faux wood. Classic raised panel garage doors with a wood-grain texture are the most standard and economical option, with smooth and faux wood garage doors costing substantially more but offering a more luxurious and modern look.

Steel garage doors don’t have to be insulated, but if you do want insulation, there are two types of insulated garage doors: 2-layer poly back and 3-layer steel back. Understanding the difference between insulated and uninsulated garage doors can help you buy the right garage door. Poly back garage doors have their insulation exposed from the back, while steel back doors have the insulation sealed with a steel cover, similar to a sandwich.

Windows can also be added to garage doors. The windows are typically positioned horizontally on the top panel, but vertical placement is also an option. Adenoidally, door windows can have vinyl inserts on top of them, offering more design flexibility. Glass options include clear, tinted, glue-chip, obscure, and frosted. Custom designer and laminate glass options can be requested for a unique and personalized look.

Before You Buy a Garage Door

Measuring the dimensions of your garage is a crucial step in the installation process. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to measure:

• Start by measuring the height and width of the garage opening.
• Measure both sides beyond the garage door opening, ensuring at least 4 inches of clearance for the tracks. If the clearance beyond the garage door opening is less than 4 inches you may need to add jambs to the garage opening.
• Measure the header and the clearance above the garage door opening, allowing for at least 5 inches of headroom clearance. If the garage doesn’t have at least 5 inches headroom, you’ll need to retrofit and install a rear torsion system or install a one-piece garage door (swing up).
• Measure the distance from the garage door opening to the back wall, taking into account any support beams or shelves.
• It is best to double or even triple check your measurements to ensure that all of your measurements are exact.

If you decide to hire a professional garage door repair company, they will manage this task. However, if you undertake the project yourself, it’s necessary to have the right measurements when ordering the garage door and equipment to ensure proper fit and installation.

Inspect the Garage Door Upon Delivery

Carefully inspect the package upon receipt. Take the time to verify that all the necessary hardware for installation is included and accounted for. Check for items such as springs, torsion assembly, tracks, rollers, hinges, supporting brackets, and screws, ensuring they are included and in good condition. Additionally, inspect the door sections for any dents or damage to the finish or color.

When purchasing a garage door, you can typically expect to receive the following items as part of the package:

• The door panels per your order.
• Mounting hardware which includes screws, bolts, and brackets necessary for installing and securing the various components of the door.
• A set of horizontal and vertical tracks.
• A torsion assembly which includes springs, center bracket, center bearing, (2) end plates, (2) pulleys and a torsion tube.
• A standard size garage door will also come with (15) hinges, (10) rollers, (2) top brackets, (2) bottom brackets and a pair of cables.
• Bottom seal and weatherstripping (if purchased).
• A detailed guide that provides step-by-step instructions for proper installation and operation of the garage door.

If you discover that some hardware is missing or damaged, contact the manufacturer immediately.

A Closer Look at the Garage Door Installation Process

Performing a garage door installation without prior experience can be a time-consuming project that demands physical work and attention to detail. For an inexperienced individual, the process can take anywhere from 7 to 15 hours to remove the old garage door and install a new one. Here’s a brief overview of the installation process.

Removing an Old Garage Door

Skip this step if you don’t have an existing garage door installed or if you are working on a new construction project.

1. To begin the installation process, start by removing the old garage door. If your previous door has torsion springs, it is important to exercise caution and consider researching the specific steps involved or hiring a professional garage door installation company to handle this task. Releasing the torque from torsion springs can be potentially dangerous if not done properly. Prioritize your safety and the proper handling of these components.
2. Once the springs’ torque is released, disconnect the garage door opener from the door
3. Next, remove the garage door panels, beginning with the top panel and working your way down. Detach each panel from the hinges until all panels are removed.
4. To continue, remove the old tracks and torsion assembly by unscrewing them from the garage header, jambs, and rafters. Carefully detach and remove these components to make way for the installation of the new hardware

Before moving forward with the new garage door installation, it is crucial to verify that the garage frame, jambs, header, and rafters are in good condition. Inspect these components to ensure they are structurally sound and able to support the new door. Additionally, clear any debris or clutter from the area, creating a clean and organized space for the installation process.

Installing a New Garage Door

1. Install and attach door hinges to each panel.
2. Install top brackets to the top panel and bottom brackets to the bottom panel.
3. Install the vertical tracks with the jamb brackets and flag brackets.
4. Starting with the bottom panel, insert the rollers into the side hinges and bottom brackets.
5. Place the bottom panel against the door opening. Level the panel in between the tracks and insert the wheels into the tracks.
6. Stack the remaining panels, ensuring they align properly, and tighten the hinges.
7. Mount end plates, and the spring anchor bracket (center bracket) as per the manual.
8. Attach horizontal tracks to vertical tracks, flag brackets, and rafters.
9. Ensure proper fit and tighten bolts.
10. Slide the torsion tube into end plates and position lift cable drums and torsion springs.
11. Attach the cables to the bottom bracket’s hook and connect them to lift cable drums/pulleys.
12. Wind torsion springs and secure winding cones.
13. Install reinforcement strut on the top garage door panel.
14. Test the garage door for proper functionality.

The installation directions provided here are general simplified instructions and may not cover all unique situations. Different applications may require specific approaches. Therefore, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided in the manual for your specific garage door. The manufacturer’s instructions will offer the necessary guidance and steps tailored to your garage door model for a proper and safe installation.

Consider having a licensed garage door repair company inspect your installation work for safety and correctness if it’s your first DIY project.

Other Factors to Consider During Garage Door Installations

California resident are required to install a garage door opener equipped with battery backup per the California garage door law (SB-969). This means that when replacing and installing a new garage door, you may need to replace your garage door opener to comply with the law.

Installing a garage door can be a time-consuming, hazardous, and challenging process. Therefore, there are four key benefits of having your garage door professionally installed:

• Expertise and Experience: Licensed garage door installers have the knowledge, skills, and experience to efficiently install garage doors. They are familiar with different door types, installation methods, and safety measures.
• Safety: Garage door installation involves working with heavy materials and complex mechanisms. Professionals are trained to handle these tasks properly, comply with industry safety standards and safety testing, minimizing the risk of accidents or injuries.
• Warranty Coverage: Many licensed installation companies provide warranty coverage for their work. This gives you peace of mind knowing that if any issues arise with the installation, they can be addressed promptly and at no additional cost.
• Time and Convenience: When you hire a licensed installation company, you save valuable time and effort. Typically, a licensed installer can complete the installation of a standard garage door within 2 to 4 hours.

In summary, installing a garage door yourself can be challenging, especially if you lack experience. However, with basic technical skills and enough time, it can be a rewarding and enjoyable project. All you need is a basic understanding of the installation process and clear instructions on where everything goes. While it may require effort, a DIY garage door installation can be successfully accomplished with careful planning and attention to detail.