Replacing garage door

[garrett1812]

I am purchasing a new home with a noninsulated garage door, which I want to replace with an insulated door. I would like to do this right away, so I can sell the old door in like-new condition.

I see new insulated doors typically come with springs, track, etc. Can I simply reuse the existing track and then adjust the springs? It looks like the bulk of the work with a garage door is installing the track and springs.

Easy do it youself, or should I hire out?

Looking for a door style like this:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_368894-5687...=3515176&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1

Some pics attached.

Thanks!

 

[ddurrett896]

I'm pretty sure you have to use the new track. Unless you really want that style with the winders, why not just added insulation to the door? $60 and an hour > $1,000 and a day

 

[garrett1812]

Would like to add the windows. The new door is expensive, but hoping to help offset by selling the existing door.

 

[hippie2cams]

I personally would hire it done by installer, there is a ton of hardware to be installed and lined up plus springs have to be wound to balance door. If you are not experienced at door installs it can take forever just to sort out the hardware, plus you must have the correct tools for the job. A good installer can put those doors up in a couple hours.l tried one a few years ago thinking how hard can this be, well I found out. took almost all day just to sort out all the screws washers and correct nuts,and brackets just to get started. I was lucky I got an installer to put it together for 100.00 under an hour later my door was working. I had already put more time in than that.

 

[upndown]

Your buying New. Install New! Your old springs won't work any way. Also tracks may be lighter gauge steel.

 

[kramarj]

I am biased here, but I recommend you hire it out. We have worked on so many doors that were installed by the home owner and have had to fix their mistakes and it ends up costing more in the end. I will say there are some home owners out there who do a fantastic job, but the majority just aren't capable of it or don't care enough to install it correctly.

On a normal 16x7 we come in and tear out the old door and install the new door with new tracks, springs, all new hardware and door stop on the outside and we are usually done within and hour or two depending on the situation. It does cost more to have the door installed by a pro, but normally it gets installed correctly and works for years and years. I do recommend you find somebody who only installs doors, not a handyman who claims to be a jack of all trades kind of guy.

If you do decide to install it yourself, completely uninstall the old door. It is quicker to just install all new tracks. Plus you will have the correct tracks and can set them to the new door, where if you re use the old tracks, you will have to adjust them anyway. As far as the springs go, each door has a set of springs engineered for that specific doors weight, so you cannot reuse them.

Also, it looks like you have a pretty decent door now, so you should be able to sell it quite easily and offset the cost of the new one.

 

[Jazzman442]

I just had a new door installed at my aunts house. The company installed a hurican, insulated door for less than i could buy one and install it myself.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you have any DIY skills, installing the new door is easy but a helper would be handy. Since your current door is uninsulated, I'd think you might have an issue getting rid of it at a decent price but I could be wrong.

 

[volleyball]

What about just adding windows to your existing door and insulating it?

 

[NUTTSGT]

What about just adding windows to your existing door and insulating it?

That actually might be the easiest and cheapest route to go and probably what I would do.

 

[garrett1812]

Any thoughts on what a like-new door would sell for?

Would a garage door company buy the old door? Or discount for keeping it?

I thought about installing windows in the existing door as well. I looked only breifly, but all I could find was windows for thicker(insulated) doors. And they were kind of expensive.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Any thoughts on what a like-new door would sell for?

Would a garage door company buy the old door? Or discount for keeping it?

I thought about installing windows in the existing door as well. I looked only breifly, but all I could find was windows for thicker(insulated) doors. And they were kind of expensive.

As far as profit on the used door, check out CL in your area. That should give the best indicator of what you'll pocket on the sale.

 

[upndown]

Most door Co's won't buy them. They're not in the used door bus. But I would certainly ask. The problem with reselling the door is storage, they don't always sell right away. Looking at your home and neighborhood someone might complain about it leaning against your house. Storing inside the garage Will take up alot of valuable space!

Try selling the door first with the understanding that pick up will need to be scheduled wit new door installation.

 

[hangfirew8]

If you are in s tract home your neighbors have the same garage doors. Sell or gift it to one that has damaged doors.

-HF

 

[volleyball]

You can buy panels with windows for many doors. Do you know the mfg?

 

[kramarj]

The only problem with adding windows and insulation to the door is that it adds weight to the door. So by the time you buy the insulation kit, the panel with windows, and a new set of springs that are right for the door, you will probably spend almost the same amount a new door would cost.

Believe it or not, it is very expensive to buy just one panel. For example, when somebody damages a section on a 16x7, it is probably about $300 for us to come and replace it, this is just for a standard section, not one with windows. If you want windows you can easily double that price. So, say roughly $600 for ONE panel with windows. Now lets throw in an insulation kit, I have no idea what it would cost, but I think $100 would be fair, now lets throw in the correct set of springs, we get $215 for a set of springs installed. We could install a new comparable door for roughly $1000.

So to replace one panel with glass, add insulation and get the correct springs, you are at approximately $815 for a pan insulated door vs. approximately $1000 for a new door installed. It's a no brainer to me.

I will say all these prices are in the ball park. I don't actually know what each individual part costs, but they prices are in the ball park.

 

[ford33]

Why buy an insulated door and then put windows in it?

Will the windows reduce the R value of the whole door? Could windows also represent a security issue?

 

[ADCS]

If you are purchasing a new home (I assume it is being built now?), why not just have the builder install the door that you want...?

 

[jonjon1]

If I were you I wouldn't spare any expense, thats what the last owner did...

If it was my house I would have a company come out, pick the door you want and do a jack shaft opener and have it mounted as close ot the ceiling as possible, it looks like you can get it behind that beam pretty easily... then sell your entire door with the opener...

 

[CNGsaves]

If I were you I wouldn't spare any expense, thats what the last owner did...

If it was my house I would have a company come out, pick the door you want and do a jack shaft opener and have it mounted as close ot the ceiling as possible, it looks like you can get it behind that beam pretty easily... then sell your entire door with the opener...

^ ^ ^ This. Builders who build these houses with cheapy doors are crazy. It's a total waste of money as the GD always gets replaced.

OP . . . let me guess . . . You're in Canada ?? That looks like new housing development ??

Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.

 

[garrett1812]

The house is already built. No option to change with the builder.

If I have to put a new track up anyways, mounting the top rails high to the ceiling and forward of the beam would be ideal.

 

[upndown]

Kinda hard to tell for sure by the pics, but it looks the *** end of that opener is mounted way to high anyway!

 

[garrett1812]

Yeah, I agree. Going to have them fix that.

 

[upndown]

Just make sure the sensitivities are set correctly or you could be replacing that Top Section sooner than you think!

 

[redmed]

When I had my house built I choose the uninsulated door and I insulated it myself. I chose the uninsulated door because a insulated door is made with a thinner gauge steel than the uninsulated door and I wanted a stronger door. Insulating the door was simple the only problem I had was finding non pink or beige insulation.