Installing a new garage door?

[The_Auto_Tech]

So, currently I've got a really crappy garage door setup. It's a 9x7 door but is made of wood panels kind of chopped and mashed together. It's the old style that uses the expanding springs and cables for the door. Currently it's setup for manual opening. It's got a lot of small gaps and holes in it and I would love to replace it with a new insulated door and add an opener. Is it possible I can retain the track I already have and change it over to a torsion spring system? Was thinking of picking up this setup since it says it includes everything minus the bracket for an automatic opener:

https://www.menards.com/main/doors-...04-c-12358.htm?tid=5763765401282520137&ipos=9

I'm assuming since the track is already there that it would be fairly easy to setup. Thanks guys!

 

[gnpenning]

No matter how many stars or how fancy the description that is not a upper line door. If you don't use it much it should work. Be sure to a get strut and opener prep if available.

Assembling and installing the new track doesn't take much time. Not all rollers are the same size and may not work with your old track. The door should come with new track and don't understand why you wouldn't want to use it? ?

 

[finn]

Those doors are fine to replace what you now have. It’s a major improvement from your description. It includes the track and hardware, so use it.

Check on the installed price of an equivalent door from a local door company. The price may surprise you.

 

[RH2]

I would definitely check with a local door company. Ours sold and installed a better door than the big box store for less than the box store wanted for just the door (self install).

And the new door will come with new track.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

No matter how many stars or how fancy the description that is not a upper line door. If you don't use it much it should work. Be sure to a get strut and opener prep if available.

Assembling and installing the new track doesn't take much time. Not all rollers are the same size and may not work with your old track. The door should come with new track and don't understand why you wouldn't want to use it? ?

Gotcha. I'll use the new track that comes with it then. I believe the strut and opener prep comes as another kit.

Those doors are fine to replace what you now have. It’s a major improvement from your description. It includes the track and hardware, so use it.

Check on the installed price of an equivalent door from a local door company. The price may surprise you.

Yes, it would be a major improvement. I called a few places. Only got ahold of one place so far and they were 3 weeks out on install and it's 300 dollars more than I can buy the door for. I don't really wanna wait that long.

I would definitely check with a local door company. Ours sold and installed a better door than the big box store for less than the box store wanted for just the door (self install).

And the new door will come with new track.

See above. I don't mind installing it myself as I'm pretty handy, but yes, if it's a good price I'd just have them do it.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Most of the places around here want 600 dollars parts and labor to do it. I can get that door from Menards with everything for 280. Tempted to just do it myself as I have a lot of free time and I'm young. If it saves me 300 dollars that's a good chunk of money.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

A two layer door is better than what you have. Be sure to measure headroom. That track requires 12". If you have less get the low headroom kit. Will save you a lot of headaches. Hope this helps.

 

[kbs2244]

My experience with new vs old tracks on wood door being replaced with a insulated steel was that the old tracks were much more sturdy.

 

[DieselNut88]

I have a 16x7 from menards. It is not a very good door but works. I have the easy wind springs and have had to tighten it 2 times in 7 years. The doors come with plastic rollers and squeal bad. Nothing will stop it. Your not supposed to lube them. I have a insulated door. I would talk to a local door guy and compare prices. Oh I did install the door with my dad and it is not hard, just measure carefully for the tracks.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

A two layer door is better than what you have. Be sure to measure headroom. That track requires 12". If you have less get the low headroom kit. Will save you a lot of headaches. Hope this helps.

I've got 12" of headroom for sure. Anything is better than what I have. lol

My experience with new vs old tracks on wood door being replaced with a insulated steel was that the old tracks were much more sturdy.

I'll check and see which ones are better!

I have a 16x7 from menards. It is not a very good door but works. I have the easy wind springs and have had to tighten it 2 times in 7 years. The doors come with plastic rollers and squeal bad. Nothing will stop it. Your not supposed to lube them. I have a insulated door. I would talk to a local door guy and compare prices. Oh I did install the door with my dad and it is not hard, just measure carefully for the tracks.

Yea, I'll install it myself. I figured for 280 I'll give it a try and see how I like it. The one I have now is stupid loud so I think anything I do will be better. lol I'm assuming yours was the mid grade door?

 

[lakelandcat]

I have a 16x7 from menards. It is not a very good door but works. I have the easy wind springs and have had to tighten it 2 times in 7 years. The doors come with plastic rollers and squeal bad. Nothing will stop it. Your not supposed to lube them. I have a insulated door. I would talk to a local door guy and compare prices. Oh I did install the door with my dad and it is not hard, just measure carefully for the tracks.

Just put up my 9x7 and DieselNutt88 is right, can't stress enough to measure twice and make sure all is level and plumb.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Will do. I'm glad I decided to do it myself. The wood framing the old door in was very shot. I'm going to be re-framing the whole door and doing some reinforcing along with evening out the wall. It was badly set up before.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Got the door all re-framed. Glad I did it myself as the door company would have charged me a lot of labor to re-frame the whole thing. I've got the door on and the tracks almost finished, just need to get some uni-strut to finish out the rear and we should be ready to test. It fits much tighter than the old unit did.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Install is all complete! I got the rear track hangers installed. Much sturdier than the old door. The new track was pretty nice too. The whole door is done besides trimming out the outside. I've got it all adjusted and it's nice and tight against the frame. It opens and closes very easily by hand. Excited to get my Liftmaster 8500!