Issue with garage door install

[noskcaj619]

Let me start it by saying the process felt “off” from the very beginning. And maybe this is where I went wrong, but I went through Home Depot to get this garage door installed and they contract with a local company to do the work. Our old garage door, which I don’t have a picture of, was almost 30 years old and it’s the original from when we bought the house. The opener stopped working and they no longer make parts for it, so we decided to get a new everything.

See the attached pics of the view from the left and right sides on the inside and outside. To me, it looks like the door is too small. You put in your measurements on the HomeDepot/Clopay website and they come out and double check it. That’s where I think it went wrong. The company kept saying they were coming out to measure but didn’t, then said they did come early one morning. Our camera was broken, so we had no way of verifying this. I’m no expert but shouldn’t they have at least knocked on our door or called and let us know they were there measuring? Wouldn’t they need access to the inside to do so? HomeDepot tracks their progress through the lead, so when I called them, they had a different date than the installer said they were coming. That part left a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyway, he didn’t finish because he stripped a bolt that’s needed for the belt on the opener so he’s coming back. The garage is manual operation until then. This is our first house and we are still learning, but this just doesn’t look right. What do y’all say? And how do I address it. Is there anything we can do to get this corrected? That would be the last resort if they are unwilling to fix it. How do we close those gaps in that instance?

 

[jonesg]

its on them to make it right.
show the pics to home depot.

 

[Professor Fate]

Probably not done installing the door. Door needs to be adjusted closer to the trim and the seal needs to be installed on the sides. If the gap on the sides is too large a piece of trim will have to be installed, then the seal. Not a big issue really, but make sure it's done to your satisfaction prior to them leaving the job.

 

[dcg9381]

I don't think the door is too small, the track that "holds" the door off the exterior needs to be adjusted. Badly.

I have not seen an install this "obviously bad" before. I would request a different installer. ere the garage door companies have "A" "B" and "C" level teams. I think you got the guys from the T-ball league, not even the minor leagues. Or perhaps got a company that sub-contracted to another company.

Generally the "deal" with HD is that they are not liable for this stuff, so you need to look at the fine print. I've seen some pretty bad "home depot contractor" screw-ups. Your real recourse is in your chargeback period.. So be aware of that. HD ain't gonna make it right.

I agree that it's not a big deal but trying to leave a consumer like that is a bit crazy. There's actually a lot going on with installing a garage door and most of it is not how well the door seals to the exterior.

A new garage door should come with a new track. Did they use the existing track?

Anyway, he didn’t finish because he stripped a bolt that’s needed for the belt on the opener so he’s coming back. The garage is manual operation until then.

That stripped bolt has nothing to do with the poor track situation. Nothing at all. Do not pay these bills until it's right.

 

[jonesg]

I fixed my old doors by installing angle trim, 90 deg half round x 1 inch strip on both sides, nailed to the outside and a bottom rubber seal, its very old and crooked but i made it work, if i paid for new i'd require they make it seal properly.

 

[CombatNinja]

A proper tech can get that sealed up but ideally the door should be about 6" wider. That said, it sounds like you got an inexperienced tech. I'd call the install company and politely request that a different installer come out.

The bigger lesson here (since this is your first house) is that you should never, ever go through he big box stores for the installation of anything. Either watch YouTube and DIY it (because you'll take your time and you care) or go direct with the professionals. When you have issues, each entity will just play a game where they tell you to go through the other guy. all Home Depot and Lowes want it to swipe your card at the register. All jobs get subbed out to the lowest bidder and they don't ever want to hear from you again unless you want to buy more stuff.

 

[noskcaj619]

I don't think the door is too small, the track that "holds" the door off the exterior needs to be adjusted. Badly.

I have not seen an install this "obviously bad" before. I would request a different installer. ere the garage door companies have "A" "B" and "C" level teams. I think you got the guys from the T-ball league, not even the minor leagues. Or perhaps got a company that sub-contracted to another company.

Generally the "deal" with HD is that they are not liable for this stuff, so you need to look at the fine print. I've seen some pretty bad "home depot contractor" screw-ups. Your real recourse is in your chargeback period.. So be aware of that. HD ain't gonna make it right.

I agree that it's not a big deal but trying to leave a consumer like that is a bit crazy. There's actually a lot going on with installing a garage door and most of it is not how well the door seals to the exterior.

A new garage door should come with a new track. Did they use the existing track?



That stripped bolt has nothing to do with the poor track situation. Nothing at all. Do not pay these bills until it's right.

Sadly I had to go to work, but my wife was home with our newborn, so she was pre-occupied. She went to take a look after he let her know he was “finished” but would need to come back to install and set up the opener because of that bolt issue. She asked me if there was supposed to be those gaps in it and I asked her to send me some photos. I am so very new at this - so what is the terminology that I should use with this guy? Ask him about adjusting the doors? And then some kind of seal that has been mentioned in other responses? The company has been in business for 30 years, but I met the guy before I left for work and he didn’t seem inexperienced, but then again like I said I’m new at this.

 

[noskcaj619]

A proper tech can get that sealed up but ideally the door should be about 6" wider. That said, it sounds like you got an inexperienced tech. I'd call the install company and politely request that a different installer come out.

The bigger lesson here (since this is your first house) is that you should never, ever go through he big box stores for the installation of anything. Either watch YouTube and DIY it (because you'll take your time and you care) or go direct with the professionals. When you have issues, each entity will just play a game where they tell you to go through the other guy. all Home Depot and Lowes want it to swipe your card at the register. All jobs get subbed out to the lowest bidder and they don't ever want to hear from you again unless you want to buy more stuff.

After this experience, never again. It was bad from the start, but I thought the install would go smoothly because why not. He will be back, so I’ll have to talk with him about the gap. I hope he doesn’t try to play me

 

[noskcaj619]

Probably not done installing the door. Door needs to be adjusted closer to the trim and the seal needs to be installed on the sides. If the gap on the sides is too large a piece of trim will have to be installed, then the seal. Not a big issue really, but make sure it's done to your satisfaction prior to them leaving the job.

Can that be done? I mean the door is too short to be to extend past the gaps. There are gaps on both sides - which I think because they failed to actually measure it. They said they did, I think they just took my measurements and went with it and lied about coming out.

 

[noskcaj619]

I don't think the door is too small, the track that "holds" the door off the exterior needs to be adjusted. Badly.

I have not seen an install this "obviously bad" before. I would request a different installer. ere the garage door companies have "A" "B" and "C" level teams. I think you got the guys from the T-ball league, not even the minor leagues. Or perhaps got a company that sub-contracted to another company.

Generally the "deal" with HD is that they are not liable for this stuff, so you need to look at the fine print. I've seen some pretty bad "home depot contractor" screw-ups. Your real recourse is in your chargeback period.. So be aware of that. HD ain't gonna make it right.

I agree that it's not a big deal but trying to leave a consumer like that is a bit crazy. There's actually a lot going on with installing a garage door and most of it is not how well the door seals to the exterior.

A new garage door should come with a new track. Did they use the existing track?



That stripped bolt has nothing to do with the poor track situation. Nothing at all. Do not pay these bills until it's right.

Unfortunately that’s not how it works with leads through HomeDepot/clopay - I paid for the door at the time of design.

 

[Zeke]

Sadly I had to go to work, but my wife was home with our newborn, so she was pre-occupied. She went to take a look after he let her know he was “finished” but would need to come back to install and set up the opener because of that bolt issue. She asked me if there was supposed to be those gaps in it and I asked her to send me some photos. I am so very new at this - so what is the terminology that I should use with this guy? Ask him about adjusting the doors? And then some kind of seal that has been mentioned in other responses? The company has been in business for 30 years, but I met the guy before I left for work and he didn’t seem inexperienced, but then again like I said I’m new at this.

All you need to say is I don't want to see any light when the door is closed. If it has windows (It appears not) that might make it harder to make your point, but a garage with no windows should be pitch black with the GD closed. It's that simple.

 

[CombatNinja]

That's the second way the big box stores get you over a barrel. Any reputable overhead door company will not charge you a penny before they complete the work. Unless it is a true custom door made to order, they might charge you half.

 

[noskcaj619]

I don't think the door is too small, the track that "holds" the door off the exterior needs to be adjusted. Badly.

I have not seen an install this "obviously bad" before. I would request a different installer. ere the garage door companies have "A" "B" and "C" level teams. I think you got the guys from the T-ball league, not even the minor leagues. Or perhaps got a company that sub-contracted to another company.

Generally the "deal" with HD is that they are not liable for this stuff, so you need to look at the fine print. I've seen some pretty bad "home depot contractor" screw-ups. Your real recourse is in your chargeback period.. So be aware of that. HD ain't gonna make it right.

I agree that it's not a big deal but trying to leave a consumer like that is a bit crazy. There's actually a lot going on with installing a garage door and most of it is not how well the door seals to the exterior.

A new garage door should come with a new track. Did they use the existing track?



That stripped bolt has nothing to do with the poor track situation. Nothing at all. Do not pay these bills until it's right.

I don't think the door is too small, the track that "holds" the door off the exterior needs to be adjusted. Badly.

I have not seen an install this "obviously bad" before. I would request a different installer. ere the garage door companies have "A" "B" and "C" level teams. I think you got the guys from the T-ball league, not even the minor leagues. Or perhaps got a company that sub-contracted to another company.

Generally the "deal" with HD is that they are not liable for this stuff, so you need to look at the fine print. I've seen some pretty bad "home depot contractor" screw-ups. Your real recourse is in your chargeback period.. So be aware of that. HD ain't gonna make it right.

I agree that it's not a big deal but trying to leave a consumer like that is a bit crazy. There's actually a lot going on with installing a garage door and most of it is not how well the door seals to the exterior.

A new garage door should come with a new track. Did they use the existing track?



That stripped bolt has nothing to do with the poor track situation. Nothing at all. Do not pay these bills until it's right.

Should the opener be off center?! I just took this picture because I didn’t notice it before - where the hanging wires are is where the old opener was, which was dead center. Does this matter?

 

[The Cobbler]

If all they were doing is a quick measurement, they probably just do that & leave. they can do that in 2 minutes, vs knocking the door , you coming outside, conversing with them and so on. there's 15 or 30 minutes. Good customer relations? probably not, but that's the age we live in .
as others have said, it looks to be a trim/ weatherstrip issue that is easily fixed. express your concerns and see what they say before you get all wound up about it. it probably will work out just fine . best luck with it

 

[CombatNinja]

The metal panels should ideally sit inside the framing. Take my weather stripping away and I have a 1/8" to 1/4" gap all around. This is showing what loos like an inch and a half gap. Not great...

 

[fourjeepin]

If the installer won’t make it right, HD will. Take pics and show to the store manager (not the ASM or MOD).

 

[PoorUB]

Simply, the door should be as wide, and maybe an inch wider the the opening. If weather strip can be added to the sides and top that closes the gap, I would be ok with it. Also, who in their right mind puts the door opener off center! It shoul be right in the middle. I would love to know if this "installer" and I use the term loosely, ever installed a garage door before?

I was installing a furnace at a customer's house. At the same time a guy showed up and replaced the 16 foot wide door and the opener. It took him about three hours and he did a great job.

 

[dcg9381]

Should the opener be off center?! I just took this picture because I didn’t notice it before - where the hanging wires are is where the old opener was, which was dead center. Does this matter?

Off Center Door Opener Mount?

Hi guys...here I am again torturing you all with another garage door opener issue. I did a search and found a member here (Question) installed standard type openers at the far edge of the doors. I want to put openers on two of the 3 bays of my detached and would prefer to do this as...

www.garagejournal.com

Apparently you can offset these. The reason to offset them is that proper framing is not available or an obstetrical is in the way.

It does not look to me like the torsion bar is level across. The depth of the torsion bar must be consistent in offset off the wall too.


Like I said, garage door install is a bit of an art. I tend to avoid it, but I do NOT trust the contractor doing this one.

 

[Zeke]

The metal panels should ideally sit inside the framing. Take my weather stripping away and I have a 1/8" to 1/4" gap all around. This is showing what loos like an inch and a half gap. Not great...

I don't agree with that. All the doors I have seen sit just behind the jambs.

On the opener, I've not seen that offset either and it's not even needed!

Speaking of jambs, a track adjustment and some added jambs, then the weatherstripping applied would make that job come out OK.

On the measurements, I know a roofer that gives estimates per Google Earth and Street View for the pitch. It wouldn't surprise me that someone ordering a door would us SV and try to scale the door. There aren't that many stock sizes. What is the jamb to jamb measurement?

 

[CombatNinja]

Zeke, I think we are saying the same thing. I didn't word it very well. I meant that the metal panels of the door should be just ever so slightly wider than the opening. Mine are about 3/4" on each side. It looks like the OP has a door that is not quite as wide as his opening.

 

[whateg01]

... 90 deg half round ...

You mean quarter round?

... There aren't that many stock sizes. What is the jamb to jamb measurement?

That's what I was thinking. Unless it's a custom door, it's in some fixed increment. They may have decided that the next size up was too big so this was the best option.

 

[jstroede]

The door looks fine to me. Did you order new weatherstrip? Did it have it on there before? I see a strip on the top, and I can tell where it was installed on the sides before but is currently missing. That will cover your gaps. If you didn't pay for seals though, they aren't part of the door and must be purchased separately. One thing that does worry me a little though is it looks like your top section is leaning back quite a bit. Usually this is because the header (or top weatherstrip) is pushing the top of the door back because it isn't straight. This happens in older houses, and can be a pain to deal with. Your options are to correct the problem so the whole door is plumb like it should be, which can be very difficult, or you can live with the section leaning back (and usually a small gap between the top two sections) and conform the weatherstrip to match. It is flexible and can be done, but to a perfectionist will look wrong. It will work fine though.

Installing the opener off center is most likely because of the center post. I would be VERY surprised if this door was ordered this way without someone that knows what they are doing to have a look at it, including the inside. You have low headroom track installed due to the beam in the garage, and most likely an extended height operator to get on the other side of the beam. Hanging the opener off center is no big deal. There are many normal sizes of doors that won't have a stile in the center even to connect to. 10', 12', 14', 15' among others don't have a centered stile. In an extension spring application, having the operator off center would be a problem but in a properly operating door, it is no issue. Heck there are operators out there that attach to the end of the door to make it run up and down.

One thing I do see that I don't like is no triangulation on the operator mount. Maybe he just isn't done yet, but it should have one.

 

[jstroede]

I don't agree with that. All the doors I have seen sit just behind the jambs.

On the opener, I've not seen that offset either and it's not even needed!

Speaking of jambs, a track adjustment and some added jambs, then the weatherstripping applied would make that job come out OK.

On the measurements, I know a roofer that gives estimates per Google Earth and Street View for the pitch. It wouldn't surprise me that someone ordering a door would us SV and try to scale the door. There aren't that many stock sizes. What is the jamb to jamb measurement?

Finished opening should be the door size on standard bracket mount track.

Well unless you want the opener to hit the pole, then that's where it's going to go. Who knows how the previous track and opener were configured. It might have had a cut down rail and a shortened install height. There are no pre-install pictures so I can't comment, but offsetting an opener is not uncommon.

 

[manwithtools]

It's pretty common to have an opener offset from center. If the door has windows on the top panel and four hinges across the door, it's almost required to put the opener offset to align with the hinges and door structure between windows 2 and 3 or 3 and 4. In those cases, there is no point to attach the opener that does not obstruct a window. I had this in two of the 5 garage doors at one of my previous homes.

 

[noskcaj619]

You mean quarter round?


That's what I was thinking. Unless it's a custom door, it's in some fixed increment. They may have decided that the next size up was too big so this was the best option.

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t know what jamb to jamb measurement is? I googled it but got differing responses - is that how wide my garage door is? It’s 18ft across I think, but they were supposed to come measure it. They said they did, but from the looks of it, I’m not so sure. Then again some responses on here have said it not too bad. I honestly just don’t know. When you order on HomeDepot/clopays website you put in your own measurements and they come out to double check it. I’ve sent the company a message with my concerns - I’m just waiting for a reply

 

[noskcaj619]

The door looks fine to me. Did you order new weatherstrip? Did it have it on there before? I see a strip on the top, and I can tell where it was installed on the sides before but is currently missing. That will cover your gaps. If you didn't pay for seals though, they aren't part of the door and must be purchased separately. One thing that does worry me a little though is it looks like your top section is leaning back quite a bit. Usually this is because the header (or top weatherstrip) is pushing the top of the door back because it isn't straight. This happens in older houses, and can be a pain to deal with. Your options are to correct the problem so the whole door is plumb like it should be, which can be very difficult, or you can live with the section leaning back (and usually a small gap between the top two sections) and conform the weatherstrip to match. It is flexible and can be done, but to a perfectionist will look wrong. It will work fine though.

Installing the opener off center is most likely because of the center post. I would be VERY surprised if this door was ordered this way without someone that knows what they are doing to have a look at it, including the inside. You have low headroom track installed due to the beam in the garage, and most likely an extended height operator to get on the other side of the beam. Hanging the opener off center is no big deal. There are many normal sizes of doors that won't have a stile in the center even to connect to. 10', 12', 14', 15' among others don't have a centered stile. In an extension spring application, having the operator off center would be a problem but in a properly operating door, it is no issue. Heck there are operators out there that attach to the end of the door to make it run up and down.

One thing I do see that I don't like is no triangulation on the operator mount. Maybe he just isn't done yet, but it should have one.

Just and fyi - in the attached photos is what was newly installed on Tuesday 12/19. It was not like that prior. My house was built in 1998, the previous garage door did not have as big of a gap and in the picture you can see where the wires were for the old opener. For some reason this particular installer decided to lower the tracks and off center the garage door opener. I wasn’t home at the time, my wife was with our newborn, so I couldn’t check on his progress or maybe I could’ve addressed some of these issues. We are in New England and we chose a high rated insulated door to help with the cold, but because there are large gaps on the sides, the garage is just as cold as the outside. I sent a message to the installer and so I’m hopping to hear back as he is not finished anyway. He stripped a some kind of bolt that is supposed to be for the garage door opener and so it needs to be replaced. He told my wife “he’ll be in touch.” She went into the garage after he was done and asked me about the gaps on the sides. You can see clear through to the outside! I hope he’s not “done.” Like I said this is my first house and we are new at this, but it doesn’t look right at all.

 

[Notgrownup]

Just give the installer a chance to make it right. I would be read to submit a claim to Home Depot. It’s on them to make sure the door is installed properly I would say. You do get what you pay for. A garage door company might have been a bit more but the door would likely be installed properly the first time. It likely would’ve hadanopener installed in the middle of the door.
Good luck to you.

 

[imnutz]

Door should be the same size as the finish cased opening, (not 6" larger as some have said), stop moulding is then installed on the outside to cover the gap - in most parts of the country, today it is a vinyl stop with a vinyl weatherstrip that rides on the face of the door (look at all the walk-thru doors in your house as an example) With a torsion spring setup, the operator can be installed anywhere across the width of the door, with extension springs they should be installed dead center. (42 years in the garage door business)

 

[Redraptor]

What he said. The OP hasn't verified the opening size. 30 some years ago I didn't know about overhead doors and when I contacted a door company found out 2 of the 3 doors on my garage were custom size. I ordered standard size and closed up the jambs.

Door should be the same size as the finish cased opening, (not 6" larger as some have said), stop moulding is then installed on the outside to cover the gap - in most parts of the country, today it is a vinyl stop with a vinyl weatherstrip that rides on the face of the door (look at all the walk-thru doors in your house as an example) With a torsion spring setup, the operator can be installed anywhere across the width of the door, with extension springs they should be installed dead center. (42 years in the garage door business)

 

[wssix99]

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t know what jamb to jamb measurement is? I googled it but got differing responses - is that how wide my garage door is? It’s 18ft across I think, but they were supposed to come measure it. They said they did, but from the looks of it, I’m not so sure. Then again some responses on here have said it not too bad. I honestly just don’t know. When you order on HomeDepot/clopays website you put in your own measurements and they come out to double check it. I’ve sent the company a message with my concerns - I’m just waiting for a reply

Home Depot and Clopay have an excellent program with access to customer service better than you can get through a "dealer." If your Home Depot salesman can't help you, I have the magic number that you can take to a Home Depot Department Manager to get things sorted out.

Did you talk to HD? What did they say? Did you ask for HD's copy of the pre-measurement report from the installer that confirmed everything before the order?

The install looks good except:
- The door is a little too tall. (This should have been resolved when they came out and did the pre-measure.)
- The door is a low-headroom track, which you do not need and is more expensive. You should have a standard track. Not sure how you ended up with this - it seems to be kicking the top panel in a little more than it would have been otherwise. If you had a normal track, the larger door may not be an issue.
- You are missing the side seals around the exterior of the door and the top seal was not adjusted. (This is why you have gaps.) Either the installer removed these and forgot to re-install them or you never had them in the first place and needed to order them. (If the later, this should have been called out in the pre-measure.)
- Your opener is off-center because of the column in the center of your garage. This is not ideal but shouldn't be a big problem for a balanced door. A jackshaft opener would have been better.

What type of garage door did you have before?

 

[nadogail]

I have not yet had really good luck with any installation by a Home Depot Contractor. As of this writing I have been to two Home Depot stores for fence replacement on two Rental Properties. None of the three contractors have even been to the properties to measure for an estimate.

The answer I got from all three contractors was “we don’t have a crew to do the job in your area”.

I have used Home Depot to install new Garage Door Openers. The installer without exception made “rookie mistakes”.

It sure doesn’t say much for Home Depot when they take my request for a proposal and can’t get their contractor to prepare an estimate.

Apparently Home Depot signs agreements with the lowest bidders and has no interest in ensuring that those contractors are working to make Home Depot look good.

A local electrical contractor refers to them as “Home Desperate”.

Because 20% of a product line has 80% of the Sales of that product, it seems to me that Home Depot attempts to stock only 80% of the fastest moving 20%.

In full disclosure, I own some stock in Home Depot.