Installing a garage door myslef?

[Grabbit]

I'm just wondering how difficult installing a garage door would be. I'm fairly handy but mostly on cars. The only concern I have is that if I install it myself I void the warranty on the garage door itself. Should I have someone else install one and keep the warranty or am I worrying too much?

Here she is, already pre-wired for sensors.

 

[Printer Mike]

You mean "opener"?

 

[tundradude]

You mean "opener"?

I was thinkin the same thing. Door looks pretty much installed to me. Nice job.

 

[D KRAGER]

Installing an opener is pretty simple stuff as long as you can build some brackets for it to hang by..... I don't like the cheap strapping that they sometimes include with the opener. Use some angle iron or something stout.

 

[Grabbit]

Sorry, yes I meant opener. I called and its only $100 to have the company that installed the garage to install the opener and keep the warranty on the door itself. Plus it doesn't have to come from them (they were overpriced). Now I have to research garage door openers. Ahhh the pleasures of a first time home owner.

 

[Galvatron]

Chances are the one they install might be worth a little extra money since you can probably get the 1-piece rail instead of a 6-7 piece rail sold in the stores. The multi piece rail might rattle and will loose some rigidity with all the joints.

 

[rburke65]

I would think this should be a good project for thr novice home owner. If nothing else you have all of us here on the Garage Journal as your assistants. Plus it will be a learning experience, you save $100, and when the opener fails down the road, you will save again by fixing it yourself, and won't have to take off work waiting for the garage door guy to get there. It will be a win/win situation. You can do this.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I put my own 16x7 door and opener in, wasn't a big deal.

 

[55dude]

put in many openers, just follow the directions as they are pretty easy. help is nice but can really be a pain if they can't keep their mouth shut.

 

[logical]

I'll offer a tip, useful especially doing it alone. Figure out where motor will be and screw an eyehook into a ceiling joist above the front (towards the door) edge of it. That way you can bungee or rope it in place while you install the hanging straps. the instructions will probably suggest proping it up with a ladder or something but hanging it from the hook works better.

 

[Grabbit]

Thanks for the input guys, do modt kits sold at Sears, Home Depot, etc come with the rail and pretty much everything needed to install like my setup or is this stuff extra since I'm not replacing an old door opener?

 

[MAINIAC]

Go for it! it's quite simple. You will have everything except power and hanging materials in the box. I have done many and find that Sears are great. I install the wall end mount and then lay a 2x4 across the tracks to rest the unit on, no eyebolts or fancy supposts until it's ready to hang. I prefer belt drive as they are very quiet and dependable. I am sure lots of people have their own preference. good luck and don't be afraid. Russ