Installing garage doors next week, am I crazy?

[941designs]

I am pretty good at general construction, but I have been told I'm crazy to install my own garage doors when they come in next week. The doors are sectional traditional doors, 10x10 and 18x10. They are hurricane rated due to being in Florida. This is in my pole garage, so any similar builds with pics is appreciated. They both will have electric openers as well. Paying to have them installed would add about $1000, which I don't have to spend.

When they arrive, I will add pics detailing the madness...

 

[Rockuf8]

After watching two guys install my new garage door, I realized it's actually rather simple. You'll def need another hand, no way you'll be able to do it on your own, but I'm stating the obvious.

This is what I observed as to the order of how the door itself is installed.

Put the two upright tracks in place and slide the lowest door section with track wheels in place, center the track and door left to right and drive in the lowest lag bolt. Insert next door panel and attach it to the one below it with brackets, do the same, on and on until you have all of the panels except the top most panel. Attach/bolt up the upper tracks, insert the last panel into the upper tracks to get the width of the upper tracks correct all the way to the rear where your angle iron will attach the tracks to the ceiling, then attach the upper tracks to the ceiling with 3 pieces of angle iron. Make sure you drill the lag bolts right in the middle of the slots so you have the ability to adjust the tracks slightly left to right. Attach the last panel to the other lower panels and that's it for the door.

I'm sure you could look it up on youtube to familiarize yourself with how-to's.

 

[Chaznsc]

I am pretty good at general construction, but I have been told I'm crazy to install my own garage doors when they come in next week. The doors are sectional traditional doors, 10x10 and 18x10. They are hurricane rated due to being in Florida. This is in my pole garage, so any similar builds with pics is appreciated. They both will have electric openers as well. Paying to have them installed would add about $1000, which I don't have to spend.

When they arrive, I will add pics detailing the madness...

If you don't have it to spend, then what do you have to lose? Take your time, lay it all out, get a good buddy to confer with and DO IT.

As far as you being crazy, crazy folk don't know to ask, so you definitely aren't.

 

[Gary S]

The crazy people are the ones who told you that you are crazy. If you are competent, do it. If those crazy people aren't competent, they they should stay in their cage and keep quiet.

I installed my first garage door in 1976 with no prior experience on garage doors. If you read the instructions, you can do it unless you are incompetent. I've installed doors in every garage I've owned since, and all I had to do is read the instructions and follow them.

 

[nehog]

I did both my 10x16 doors. Each took about a day to do, and I worked by myself. It was rather simple to do, I had no real problems, used scrap angle from the build (my building is steel) to make track hangers, and some minor stuff to get them mounted. Once mounted, just a bunch of drilling and screwing as I had to install reinforcing bars on each panel (they were supplied but not mounted).

 

[Angelfire]

After watching the installer install mine, it's pretty simple. And he worked alone. 16x9 high rise door

 

[kert]

Did my 18x8 by myself. Was no big deal, but I do a log of things by myself that most people would believe I couldn't. I sheathed the walls of my barn by myself and right now I'm drywalling the inside. Hell, I unloaded and installed a cast iron tub in my bathroom by myself. The guys at the supply house asked me if I had a team to help me unload it. It's all about working smarter.

 

[volaredon]

Ive done a few I like the ones with the spring above the door as opposed to the older style with the springs along the horizontal tracks. It is NOT that hard... certainly NOT worth paying $1000 to have someone else do it

 

[sberry]

I have done a few, some way bigger than these.

 

[StingRay]

I did a 8 x 10 and a 8 x 16 with helper. I followed the instructions and it went pretty smooth. I'd do it again and would likely never pay for service again. It's not the black art that its made out to be.

 

[sophijo]

Here's a great resource:
http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/

 

[LEVE]

I did an 8'X8' and a 8'X16' on my 3 car garage with a buddy. It took some time, about 3/4 of day. We did the 8' door first and that gave us a good feel of how to do the larger 16' door.

One thing I did that was out of the ordinary was to dry fit the overhead rail supports. Once the length for the supports was dialed in and lag screwed to the rafters I took my welder and tack welded the supports together. If the bolts loosen... no problem. It took only a few minutes but really strengthened the rail system and has kept if from moving.

When we were done both doors went went up and came down again, just like it they should. You'll do fine.

 

[jlckmj]

I put 5- 9wX8h doors on my old garage. I did not have any trouble doing it, but it took me a full day on the first one, by the 5th one I was doing it in 3-4 hours each. (with no opener)

With that said, I had them install my last one because it has the side winder opener. I bought a package deal from a regular door installer, I figure the labor to install was only about $300, that was money well spent.

Now $1,000, that seems very high, I would probable do it myself also.

Jim

 

[fourjeepin]

One guy put in my two 8x10s. It did take him most of the day, but he did it all by himself.

I wouldn't pay 1k for an install either.

 

[atfulldraw]

Even though the price seems high, I'll be the one that says pay to have someone else do it. I'll bet you can get a better price if you shop around.

I've installed two and will never bother with it again. Those springs can be really dangerous.

 

[upndown]

The most important step in installing a door is centering and leveling the bottom section!

I always tack the stops up first, install all hardware on the bottom section, level the bottom section and shim tracks if needed. Doesn't hurt to put a 1/4-1/2" shim under tracks in case floor heaves. Tack the left hand track up, slip in the next two sections.. tack up the right hand track and tour off to the races... good luck

Also always measure your door and opening before starting!! Don't ask me how I know

 

[coljar]

I installed my doors by myself and I hadn't done more than a couple in the past, mainly assisted. It's not that hard if you don't get in a big hurry. I found beer helped when I'd get stumped and I'd just think about the problem until a solution was found, maybe the next day.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm with the rest of the majority, do it yourself. I'd probably get some help with the larger door so you don't accidentally ding the panels. It's not that hard, take your time, read the directions and level. Do a search on youtube, you find some videos on the subject.

$1000 ? Do it yourself and save that money for elsewhere. How much can you finish on the inside for a grand ? All of your electrical supplies and lighting ? Insulation ?

 

[941designs]

Ok, majority wins. I will have a second person to help, so when I said alone I was referring to without professional help.

Thanks as always for the prompt feedback. I am sure if any problems arise, there is nothing this forum and/or YouTube can't help me fix!!!

 

[crewchief888]

i removed an old waterlogged wooden door by myself, and installed a new metal door and door opener, in less than a day.

 

[84944Redline]

I'm curious to hear your thoughts after you get them put up. Betting you'll be like me and say it was so much easier than anticipated!!! You'll be so happy you didn't pay someone else to do it.

People freak out about the springs - but that's due to "dummies" out there not being sensible. I'm a 145lb. weakling and nearly laughed at how easy it was unwind the springs. And I've now put up a total of four doors; two at the old house and two at the new. Each house was about a days work and that included the openers.

 

[jimp]

Done many no problems, except on one, I had it a little tight. Make sure of your measurments and it's a piece of cake (once you install it wrong it's a pain in the *** to fix). Sorry never taken pictures during the installation.

 

[Kurn]

Never installed new ones,but once upon a time I took my old ones completely apart to repair them.Actually pretty simple,and I have the carpentry/home repair skills of a three year old.

 

[Worsedog]

I watched the guys that did mine and I would be inclined to give it a go myself if the need should arise. I got a pretty good package deal when I bought mine, two 8x10 and one 7x6 nice insulated CHI brand doors with Liftmaster 3800's on the big doors for $2600 total. I thought it was a decent deal. And they hauled the old **** off as well.

 

[CBRacerX]

Greetings All - First Post. I've got a typical two car garage (25x20) attached to my 1978 built home. Never been updated. I do lots of car and home renovation projects and have lived with this poor excuse of a garage since I bought the house in 2002. My garage door is a double sized wood version with no windows and extension springs. One spring broke last night, bend the angle hanger, smacked my road bike and almost landed on my garage queen. My wife was also in the garage at the time

Seeing this thread gives me the courage to get a new door (metal and insulated with windows) and install a LiftMaster 3800. Since my wife offered to split the cost of a new door, lets do this right, eh?

And I'm also greenlighting a general garage renovation, which I will start a new thread on.

Chris

 

[76cruiser]

Sounds like a great opportunity to post your pics, progress and advise as you go. I will be watching as I have the same idea. I have a new pole barn awaiting concrete and hope to do the 3 overhead doors myself (2-10x10, 1-10x12).