Worth installing door myself? Brand recommendations?

[frankd]

Like the title says, I have a 16 foot garage door that I'd like to replace.
I was hoping to buy some time on the existing door by having a company change the bottom seal. That turned out to be a disaster. The guy did awful work and messed up the door and I'm trying to get my money back but I'm sure I wont.

I plan on calling some OTHER garage door companies for estimates for a new door but after dealing with this clown that did an awful job I'm wondering if I'm better off doing it myself as there seem to be very few real trade professionals left (at least where I live).
I do plan on getting estimates from local reputable garage door companies but wondering if anyone has tackled this job themselves and whether or not its worth doing.
About 3 years ago I converted the door from extension to torsion springs and installed a liftmaster 8500 jackshaft opener. I had no issues doing this myself so I feel like replacing the door should be pretty straightforward? Or am I wrong?

Also, does anyone have recommendations for a quality insulated door? I've seen Clopay mentioned alot on this site.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Coplay enjoys a decent reputation.

I personally would not choose to install a door by myself, I have seen it done but watching somebody with experience and a helper does not make me an expert.

 

[The Cobbler]

For the few hundred dollars it costs to get a door installed by an expert, I would choose that route. but, as always. YMMV .

 

[Firebrick43]

I bought doors(chi) from a dealer and put them up no issue. The hardest and most dangerous part is the springs and it sounds like you have that covered. Assembling the tracks and doors is easy. Just keep the track plumb and square.

 

[fourbyford]

I bought a couple of Clopay 13' w x 12' h, r-18, 2 sided steel, torsion springs and did the install myself. In addition to saving some cash, they are installed the way I want. Like others... I'm tired of paying top dollar for substandard workmanship... which I've seen far too often.

This building is in a high wind area and I purchased the high wind "kit". Never had a problem and the insulation is worth it... not only for the r value, but because of the rigidity it gives the doors.

As was mentioned, you have experience with the "hard part"... the most important part is to keep the panels level as you install them. Do that and the rest is easy.

...D

 

[matt_i]

I bought and installed a Haas 2" thick door by myself. It wasn't as long as yours, so you'd need someone to help with the panels. Also you need some way to transport the panels as they are long.

The garage door is a pretty simple mechanism. Imo the magic is built into the way the vertical track is designed so it all pulls back from the seal just as it raises. Iow the vertical track is not truly vertical and the conveyor wheels are each offset by the same so the door face itself is still level.

Its good to be mindful of the powerful spring. My experience is that you need the proper diameter bars, 1/2" cold rolled steel is good, cut a 36" bar into two pieces. Its just that a person can get tired after 32 x quarter turns and still have to seat the setscrew.

I also used GRK-RSS screws of 3-1/8" length in a couple places the typical 1-1/2" hex heads would have been used.

The only turnkey quote I got for the door was ~$2500, hands-off, write the check. I purchased the entire single door kit for ~$650 in a standard color.

The nice thing is/was, armed with that knowledge I've modified and raised the tracks and spring on another door and repaired a couple more broken torsion springs. Its just work after you've been thru the experience once.

 

[firebirdparts]

I think they are fun to assemble, honestly. I would pay you to let me install it.

 

[frankd]

I bought a couple of Clopay 13' w x 12' h, r-18, 2 sided steel, torsion springs and did the install myself. In addition to saving some cash, they are installed the way I want. Like others... I'm tired of paying top dollar for substandard workmanship... which I've seen far too often.


...D

This is the main reason that I'm hesitant to pay someone to do the work. Quality craftsmanship is not easy to find. The guy that just installed my bottom seal did an absolutely awful job. I knew it wasnt good as he was doing it but after he left I realized the level of his ineptitude and it took me 2 hours to undo the work he had done. I asked for my money back and he only wants to come back and fix it/"make it right" but I wouldnt trust this guy to go anywhere near my garage door again.
This was just to change a bottom seal so i didnt do much research into the business because I figured its one of the most basic of tasks.

I'm going to do my best to get estimates from some quality installers that have been in the business for a long time. I'm just tired of being screwed by so called "contractors".

 

[NUTTSGT]

Where did you buy the conversion kit and opener from ? Was it a big box store or overhead door company ?

If it was the latter and you were happy with that service, why not pay them another visit ?

 

[frankd]

Where did you buy the conversion kit and opener from ? Was it a big box store or overhead door company ?

If it was the latter and you were happy with that service, why not pay them another visit ?

I dont remember where exactly I bought the parts from but it was a mix of places. They didnt do the installation. Everything was purchased online except for the shaft. The shafts that were sold online looked really flimsy so I went to a local steel place and got an 18 foot piece of very sturdy steel pipe to use instead. The springs, drums, cables were from ddmgaragedoors.com (I think).
I did the conversion by myself after reading a bunch of articles and watching some youtube videos. The site I bought the parts from also had some really great tutorials so it made it really easy.

 

[yeldogt]

Have had really good luck with the full foamed Clopay --

I always have the installer upgrade all the hardware. The regular residential is junk -- for a tiny bit more $$ you get a much better install .... especially on a wide door.

I have played around with enough garage doors in my day to understand that there are tricks that you just learn by doing ... maybe if the opening is perfect a small door is possible. Doing a wide door in an old frame forget it IMO.

Pay someone do do it right ... The openers on the end of the torsion shaft are really nice. I put the green hinge on the last couple. Also -- I have had good luck with the nylon BB guide wheels ... years ago they did not hold up as well as today. They are quite vs the steel.

 

[CraigStu]

Me too. Metal-foam-metal Clopay door from HD. They did the install since I had no clue. Now I might try it myself. I got a total price including install so have no idea what the door would cost w/o install. That should easy to find now that there is so much on the web.

 

[frankd]

The garage door is a pretty simple mechanism. Imo the magic is built into the way the vertical track is designed so it all pulls back from the seal just as it raises. Iow the vertical track is not truly vertical and the conveyor wheels are each offset by the same so the door face itself is still level.

I purchased the entire single door kit for ~$650 in a standard color.

This is my main concern. The garage ceiling is only 7.5 feet so the radius is kind of tight. When I initially installed the torsion spring conversion and jackshaft opener I was having trouble getting the door to come down so I added pusher springs and raised the height of the rear section of the horizontal tracks so that the door was pitched in a downward direction by a few degrees.

 

[frankd]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll definitely look into Clopay doors and upgraded hardware.

 

[BD1]

Ask them for price IF you remove existing .
I called local guy for price and what door he would suggest. I priced door and his installed price was $150.00.
I had him do it for that.
This was torsion spring door and I didn't want to mess with that. I heard too many stories about injuries from those springs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bimmer1980]

I installed three OHI doors from a local garage door supplier. These are 2" foam with steel on both sides, plus a composite overlay for the carriage door effect. They also have insulated glass in the top panel. I also bought one Clopay door for the other opening. Candidly, I was less impressed with the Clopay. The OHI doors had nicer hardware and I thought the door itself had thicker gauge steel. I would have no hesitation to buy the OHI doors again.

I did install them myself. There were a few details that I wanted to be specific about for my install.... Candidly, it tool me much longer than a pro, but it was done to my satisfaction.... YMMV...

 

[frankd]

Great info. Thanks again. I'll also look into OHI. I do want a high quality door but I'm hoping to keep the total cost (including install) under $2,000. Hopefully that's a reasonable expectation.

 

[matt_i]

This is my main concern. The garage ceiling is only 7.5 feet so the radius is kind of tight. When I initially installed the torsion spring conversion and jackshaft opener I was having trouble getting the door to come down so I added pusher springs and raised the height of the rear section of the horizontal tracks so that the door was pitched in a downward direction by a few degrees.

Relax tension on the torsion springs just a tad? Would be my initial thought unless the opener can't pick it up. But usually its one or the other and the best is a balance.

 

[fourbyford]

I do want a high quality door but I'm hoping to keep the total cost (including install) under $2,000. Hopefully that's a reasonable expectation.

Not sure about the cost of an install but my 13' w x 12' tall doors came in right about 2 large/each... and that included the high wind accessories

...D

 

[frankd]

Not sure about the cost of an install but my 13' w x 12' tall doors came in right about 2 large/each... and that included the high wind accessories

...D

Well that makes me feel better about my budget. thanks

 

[volaredon]

Clopay and "Ideal Door" are one and the same. Ive done 4 here at my location and a couple for neighbors over the years.... I ordered my 1st 2 from a door company and they said "Clopay" on the packaging/ my neighbors' and my own most recent came from Menards, who advertises "Ideal Door Co"/ The main packaging said Ideal, the doors had stickers on them that said "Clopay".

My 1st 2 were new installs, when I built my detatched garage. my neighbors' and my own 2 most recent were replacements. The ones I replaced were Wayne Dalton for which I have heard nothing but bad news about for years. My Wayne Daltons were uninsulated with just an outer skin, and nothing for reinforcement. definitely a cheap grade, I dunno if WD makes a "good-better-best" or not, I know that Clopay does.
I have also heard of CHI, I see their semis up n down the interstate all the time, I think they have a factory a couple hours south of me. but I have no exp with their product.

With the Wayne Daltons that I just replaced, the old track does seem chintzier, thinner than the new track. all bent up and twisted, the bottom panel rollers always liked to pop out as I raised them. I had teh extensiion spring setup before, had one break on the side I rarely open a few years ago, and just left it broke. In the side we use all the time, I had a spring break a couple months ago and I replaced those but it was then, in the process of replacing them that I realized how "shot" those W-D doors really were. And I had more weight in the foam board that I glued in 10 or so years ago, than the weight of the door panels themselves. I have yet to find a place to dump them off. they are stacked in my side yard, just finished the install of the 2nd door yesterday.

my biggest problem was in dealing with Menards on these latest doors. I should have gone back to the garage door company I bought my 1st ones from and bought them there. I ordered regular 9X7 in chocolate brown. Not the fancy ones, no windows, just plain doors in a standard size, I got the "in between" being the cheapest had no insulation, the highest had (I think) R-value and these are 12.something R value. They gave me a spiel about a ridiculous 30% restock charge (on a standard product!) and a 30 day window to come and get them, or they would be sold or sent back...
I ordered on 9/16, was told they would be in 10/12 and THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN!!
I told them I would be outta town around 10/12 (camp trip) and wouldnt be back til around 10/15. They said OK. I checked before I went, no doors. I checked when I came back, no doors. they now said around 10/20. well I was waiting tor their call they said they'd give me that never came. I went back about the 26th (a month and 10 days after I paid for them!) all ready to snap on somebody because as far as I knew they werent there yet (no call!) for them to tell me "oh yeah those are here"......
Me; "well why didnt you call me?" Them; "oh we don't call anybody. If we have an Email on file we would have Emailed you" WHAT!!??!! There was nothing at all said about an Email when I bought the damn things!!! The salesman said THEY WOULD CALL ME. and then they said again "well sorry sir, we just don't do that".
I wish I had a better source that wasnt 45 minutes away to buy home improvement things. That wasnt my 1st aggravation with them lately, a week or 2 before I ordered these doors I had another problem with them over a couple of ceiling fans. and roofing materials the week in betweeen the fans and the roofing material. Story on that for later. Basically, other things that used to be "expected" on the customer service side that they "just don't do any more". and I am tired of being played for stupid.

 

[volaredon]

and for budget I paid $657 each for 2, 9x7s. My 9x8s cost me alot less from the door company but that was a few years ago. Same brand, same color, and a foot taller. and I think those are the thicker 2" ones vs the 1-3/8" ones that I just got for the house garage
I had my son help me with all the doors I put up, for some reason he asked me this time he wondered how much it would cost to have "had" them done. Well, a door company wouldn't have replaced the rotten jambs, for sure. I did.
I told him that unless it was free, I could care less what I could have had someone else come in and do it for..... If I had done so, that would have meant at least day missed from work to be here to babysit. the installers..... No thanks I will do my own.
I do have these fitting much better than the ones that I pulled down had fit... related to gaps and such.

and He11 yeah unless you have some medical limitation, (no offense intended if so) do them yourself.
I found out something years ago. Even If I gotta go buy a tool or 3 in the process (which is becoming less frequent now a days, for that being necessary) when the job is done, It STILL costs less than having it done //even if the cost of said tools are lumped in with the price of the job/// and when done, I still have the tools. for the next time. to piss away money for labor what do you have to show for it then? Nothing.

 

[kbs2244]

it sounds like you can just replace the door panels and keep the existing tracks?
if that is the case, get a helper, unbolt the current panels, remove and replace with matching new