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Need help--roll up door

Daedalus

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Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Messages
6,000
Need help with getting a roll up door. I got referrals for a couple contractors. 1st quote was "I don't want the work" high. The 2nd vendor never got back to me, even after an on-site visit, a message, and a phone conversation (with another promise to get back to me). It was his job to lose, really, as I liked the guy (and yet he has had to lay off over 1/2 his crew :dunno:).

So I'm thinking I buy the door online and have it delivered and, depending on the replies here, do the install myself with a buddy or hire a contractor I know (but also doesn't want the work and won't be cheap).

Building is a steel quonset hut style building. I don't know exactly how the frame is designed, as there is a lot of finish work around it (wood and some kind of gypsum). The door opening is not a standard size.

1) My understanding is the weight of the door is supported by the tracks, which rest on the ground. The tracks are tied to the frame just to keep it from falling over. Is this true? I ask since it seems a steel building may not be all that strong compared to wood framing.

2) I've looked at online vendors, but so far no info on weight. How much, roughly, would a 13.5'w x 12'h door weigh?

3) Any recommendations on vendors? What about options? I won't get insulated, since I'm in a moderate climate, and since the building is steel sheet anyway. Anything else?

TIA!
 
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Zeke

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Aug 13, 2009
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17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
I-don't-want-the-work-high and a couple of no responses. Think they are telling you something?

I do.

Was there an opener involved? Is there a header to attach to? I want to see that sucker hung from a Quonset hut.

The job is not standard. Pay the premium or you WILL be doing this yourself.

Just my .02, not a slam.
 

Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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12,489
Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
Are you talking about a rollup type door (slat or sheet) such as Overhead Door brand, or a sectional type door like used on most home garages? Just want to clarify the terms.

If the framing is non standard in size, you can easily re work the frame for virtually any opening you want, and it would be well worth it to get a standard size door.

If you are talking about a roll type door, you have to lift the entire roll, intact into place on the mounting brackets. You probably will need to have some rather heavy C channel for side frames to support the door. These channels will probably need to be carried to the roof and tied in for strength. You will probably need a fork lift to raise the door safely.

Charles
 

64dragnwagon

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Joined
Sep 3, 2006
Messages
461
Location
Northeastern Tennessee
I just installed 2 10x10 roll ups on my pole building. They are not hard to install IF you have a good solid square opening to bolt/screw it into. As you said the weight is supported by the vertical legs. The 10x10 is about as large as I would want to do without some type of forklift or similar equipment. We had 3 people, one on each leg and another on a scaffold with a strap around the rolled up door. It is a little scary, if it starts to get away from you you will likely damage the door at the least and possibly injure someone in the worst case. I told everybody if it starts to fall get the h@#! out of the way and let it go. You rest the legs against the edges of the door opening and walk the legs up until it is against the wall and then have someone ready to align it and start the two anchors at the very top of the legs. Once you get that you can align the legs and square it up. If you have a square door opening framed up it should be no problem. I belive I bought mine from "roll up doors direct" they have a web site, Google it.
 
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Daedalus

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Sep 28, 2009
Messages
6,000
^ That's what I'm looking for. I think roll up doors direct is where I got the idea about the rails taking all the weight. Don't know if all brands are like that.

What do you think about the doors? Good quality? Would you buy it again? What options did you get?

Are you talking about a rollup type door (slat or sheet) such as Overhead Door brand, or a sectional type door like used on most home garages? Just want to clarify the terms.

If the framing is non standard in size, you can easily re work the frame for virtually any opening you want, and it would be well worth it to get a standard size door.

If you are talking about a roll type door, you have to lift the entire roll, intact into place on the mounting brackets. You probably will need to have some rather heavy C channel for side frames to support the door. These channels will probably need to be carried to the roof and tied in for strength. You will probably need a fork lift to raise the door safely.

Charles
Yes, rollup, not sectional. I've done sectionals and they're pretty straightforward. Obviously the height and weight require a little more doing on this. I usually use a cherry picker for heavy things, but this is obviously too tall for that. I wonder if I can jury-rig my BendPak into position and use it to lift the door? I don't know if a whole-size door is possible without going narrower. I'll have to drill some holes in the finish work to try to figure out how the frame is made.
 

bigdav160

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Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
2,027
Location
Deep in the heart of Texas
I've hung two Janus 2500 rolling doors by myself. One was 16x8 and the other was 14x10.

Not as easy as a sectional door but with the right winching systems and some safety straps it goes pretty quick. I think it was harder getting them off the trailer by myself.
 
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ADaughen

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Aug 2, 2010
Messages
373
Location
Ohio
The rollup doors are supported by the framing the tracks just guide the door


What Shade guy said.

You are going to need scaffolding and a few guys to help with something that size.

A standard 1-car roll up door from Clopay was pretty heavy for my BIL and I. We lifted it up onto the scaffold set at ~7'. Then attached the guide rails. Then raised it with 2x4 blocking to get it the rest of the way to the right height then bolted it into a double 2x12 header. Adjusted the rails to keep the door square in the opening and then adjusted the spring tension.

I couldn't imagine doing a 13.5' door with "just a buddy". :shocking:
 

AndysMBgarage

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Dec 30, 2010
Messages
263
Location
Mornington Peninsula Vic Australia
My garage roller door was installed by one guy.

The brackets were bolted to the brickwork and the door was winched up one side at a time then each end was lifted to the top of the triangular support brackets.

I didn't say he was a little guy!
 

99SVT

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Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
306
Here is the attachment point on mine:

DSCN1696.sized.jpg


DSCN1697.sized.jpg
 

broncorick

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Joined
May 30, 2007
Messages
71
Location
Indianapolis
I did roll ups in my garage and installed my self. Added the wind gust locks, 10' x 10< installed both in less than 3 hours. Very happy with them
 
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Daedalus

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Sep 28, 2009
Messages
6,000
Which model door did you go with and are you happy with them.

Had them installed a week ago today. Thread is here. So far, very happy with the door. The one thing I did wrong was I assumed the motor would need a 12V source near the motor up top, so I wired an outlet up 11' high next to the door. The Pantheon opener needs an outlet next to the control box, down low. My fault for not paying attention and doing my homework. Paid about 1/2 of what my first quote was. It pays to shop around.
 
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