Garage door opener track purchase.

[Short Round]

Ok dumb question. We are told garage door tracks that are one bigger piece are better than sections. Only trouble is I cannot source the installer grade tracks only the typical Home Depot bolt in sections or pay over $500 for track and installation.

I really don’t feel like putting off the door opener that much longer.

How sorry will I be with the box store tracks?

 

[firebirdparts]

You will not be sorry at all.

 

[Short Round]

You will not be sorry at all.

I kind of wondered. I tend to over purchase and go top shelf but wondered if this might be a place where it would be forgotten in a month and it wouldn’t blip on the radar ever again.

 

[finn]

Multi piece works fine. Easier to ship and stock that way.

You can probably order the single piece track through a door company., wiltout installation.

Just be prepared to pay through the nose.

 

[gnpenning]

Your terminology is a bit mixed, so I'll answer what I think you are asking.

Rails for garage door openers from most pro installers will be one piece. They are a far better rail. The openers that box stores sell come with parts to make a 7' rail, if you need 8' you buy an extension if they have it. Anything over that they can't help you. It's all about shipping and shelf space for them. Nothing about durability, or quality.

Not sure where you got your pricing, but check around. No one around here is close to that amount for a 7' or 8' installed.

 

[Bluedodge]

fwiw - Our Genie screw drives are original from when we built in '93. Tracks came in approx 3' lengths.

Two weeks ago, one of the "carriages" wore out. Worm drive stripped. Replacement unit was $16 delivered. 20 minutes to put it on the 16x7 door.

24 years, 8 months. $16 in maintenance.

I'm happy with sectioned opener tracks.

 

[Short Round]

Your terminology is a bit mixed, so I'll answer what I think you are asking.

Rails for garage door openers from most pro installers will be one piece. They are a far better rail. The openers that box stores sell come with parts to make a 7' rail, if you need 8' you buy an extension if they have it. Anything over that they can't help you. It's all about shipping and shelf space for them. Nothing about durability, or quality.

Not sure where you got your pricing, but check around. No one around here is close to that amount for a 7' or 8' installed.

That was the price from the subcontractor who installed my Clopay 8x10 doors. For 1/4 Hp liftmaster IIRC. I thought it was on the 1/2 hp but the owner said his wife made a mistake that was the installed price on the basic small chain drive model.

I had the gut feeling/limited knowledge that that’s a damned rip off despite his cross and Christian fish symbols on his truck and paperwork.

 

[Short Round]

fwiw - Our Genie screw drives are original from when we built in '93. Tracks came in approx 3' lengths.

Two weeks ago, one of the "carriages" wore out. Worm drive stripped. Replacement unit was $16 delivered. 20 minutes to put it on the 16x7 door.

24 years, 8 months. $16 in maintenance.

I'm happy with sectioned opener tracks.

Oh that’s a pretty good repair rate.

 

[gnpenning]

fwiw - Our Genie screw drives are original from when we built in '93. Tracks came in approx 3' lengths.

Two weeks ago, one of the "carriages" wore out. Worm drive stripped. Replacement unit was $16 delivered. 20 minutes to put it on the 16x7 door.

24 years, 8 months. $16 in maintenance.

I'm happy with sectioned opener tracks.

Comparing apples to oranges...

 

[gnpenning]

That was the price from the subcontractor who installed my Clopay 8x10 doors. For 1/4 Hp liftmaster IIRC. I thought it was on the 1/2 hp but the owner said his wife made a mistake that was the installed price on the basic small chain drive model.

I had the gut feeling/limited knowledge that that’s a damned rip off despite his cross and Christian fish symbols on his truck and paperwork.

First clue they plan to rip you off... really bugs me people do that.

Call a couple door companies in your area.

Don't recall ever seeing Liftmaster sell a 1/4 hp, the smallest should be 1/3hp

 

[Short Round]

First clue they plan to rip you off... really bugs me people do that.

Call a couple door companies in your area.

Don't recall ever seeing Liftmaster sell a 1/4 hp, the smallest should be 1/3hp

It was probably that then. I may or may not have their brochures on the options in my garage build folder.

I wasn’t ready at that time for door openers. I didn’t have power even in the building. Still needed to complete wiring, putting in a ceiling, insulation painting etc.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Where are you? Set your location. Knowing that would allow members to point you to a reliable door company.

 

[Short Round]

Glens Falls area. We might be neighbors!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Talk to Greene Overhead Door. I won't make any claims, but Joe has treated me well.
(518) 320-7258

 

[tapered-pin]

a sectioned rail system will meet 90% of consumer door applications and probably 30% of commercial applications.

 

[86turbodsl]

I had the gut feeling/limited knowledge that that’s a damned rip off despite his cross and Christian fish symbols on his truck and paperwork.

Buyer beware on this one. Sometimes they put those symbols on signage to outright prey on that demographic. I learned the hard way on that for a driveway plow job. 3 passes of plowing 15" snow, 500ft driveway. 10 minutes work, charged me $150.

I later learned that was outright robbery.

 

[rburke65]

Never mind.....brain fart

 

[gnpenning]

a sectioned rail system will meet 90% of consumer door applications and probably 30% of commercial applications.

Explain this some more. Where have you seen section rail for doors over 8' ??

What are the 10% of residential doors that you are talking about?

Give examples of the 30% of commercial doors?

 

[Short Round]

Talk to Greene Overhead Door. I won't make any claims, but Joe has treated me well.
(518) 320-7258

Thank you!

 

[Short Round]

Buyer beware on this one. Sometimes they put those symbols on signage to outright prey on that demographic. I learned the hard way on that for a driveway plow job. 3 passes of plowing 15" snow, 500ft driveway. 10 minutes work, charged me $150.

I later learned that was outright robbery.

Ouch. Yep throwing out that symbology is often connected with bad business practice. I was raised Catholic and I could see how an old person might get suckered in. No offense to any practicing their faith but if used in business it tends to just make my antenna twitch.

A quick single plow around here is $40-80 a plow event for most driveways. Yours is large so I would guess you would be on the high end. I couldn’t afford to pay either, mine is 1/10 mile. I have an ATV plow for regular and a 32hp tractor for when it’s too heavy. Half the time my neighbors and friends will plow while I am at work. Of course I don’t rely on good will but I do appreciate it. I bought some fancy bakers goods to my neighbor last time. I was sick so I let it sit until the next morning but he saw it it and came up to check on things and plowed the long drive on the way in.

I don’t know what the seasonal rate is now. I will have to ask a retiree I know that started doing it as a business. I’m guessing a grand. The plow guys usually will have a mix of seasonal and by the job customers to even out cash flow profits depending on a bad winter or an easy winter.

 

[tapered-pin]

Explain this some more. Where have you seen section rail for doors over 8' ??

What are the 10% of residential doors that you are talking about?

Give examples of the 30% of commercial doors?

I have seen plenty of sectioned rail kits used on commercial receiving doors, most receiving doors for any grade height application are 8'X8'.

EVERY grocery store (dock height or grade height) I've ever seen in GA/SC/TN/NC/FL all use 8'x8' doors, most have solid section rails, plenty dont.

the statistics I gave are an approximation, MY approximation, based on bidding commercial and industrial projects for the last 20 years.

solid is ALWAYS better, but it's just not needed in most residential applications. most 8x16 (residential) doors in our area have sectional rails. I'm not going to argue with you, I could care less if you believe me, troll someone else.

 

[gnpenning]

I have seen plenty of sectioned rail kits used on commercial receiving doors, most receiving doors for any grade height application are 8'X8'.

EVERY grocery store (dock height or grade height) I've ever seen in GA/SC/TN/NC/FL all use 8'x8' doors, most have solid section rails, plenty dont.

the statistics I gave are an approximation, MY approximation, based on bidding commercial and industrial projects for the last 20 years.

solid is ALWAYS better, but it's just not needed in most residential applications. most 8x16 (residential) doors in our area have sectional rails. I'm not going to argue with you, I could care less if you believe me, troll someone else.

I think you are confusing door tracks and opener rails.