In addition to reducing your home's exterior curb appeal, old or flimsy garage doors lead to higher energy bills. Low-quality doors may allow cold air to leak into the garage during winter, lowering your home's temperature and making starting your car a challenge, while also providing little protection against the heat during summer.
New garage door installation can lower energy bills and improve your home's energy efficiency. To get the best results, hire a home improvement professional who can install a replacement model safely, skillfully, and on time. Garage door installation is big project, and it can be dangerous or costly if you don't have the skills for the job.
Garage door installation improves your home's energy efficiency and curb appeal. | @ fotolia.com / vera7388
Installation Basics
Hiring a contractor doesn't give you a free pass to ignore the installation process, and you should know what to expect before starting the project. Keep in mind that this is not a complete guide to the process, and that you should always work with a qualified professional.
1. Before beginning the actual garage door installation process, remove the old door, unlatching it from its pulley system, taking apart its panels one at a time, and taking care to prevent it from falling on you.
2. Measure the installation area's height and width, headroom (from top of opening to ceiling), and back room (length of garage).
3. Begin garage door installation by inserting the bottom piece of your door into the frame using a level. Tap nails partway into each jamb. Using the manufacturer's instructions, assemble the vertical, curved, and horizontal pieces of the track and set aside.
4. Install the second panels on top of the first panel, hammering nails into the side jambs to hold the panel in place. Install the hinges and repeat the process for however many panels are necessary.
5. Install the rollers in the panels' roller supports. Place the rollers in the assembled track, securing the track's brackets as you go along. Avoid friction damage by preventing the rollers from pressing too tightly against the track.
6. Once you install the vertical tracks against the jambs, install the curved and horizontal pieces. When securing the horizontal pieces, use your previous measurements and level to make sure you install the tracks straight so that they point away from the opening at 90 degrees.
Your garage door installation is complete when the tracks are secure and you've assembled the springs according to the manufacturer's instructions. With the help of your contractor, lift the door to about half length to make sure the tracks are level and parallel, then lift it fully and attach the springs to the pulley system.
While it's not rocket science, garage door installation requires skill and care. Never attempt it on your own. If you need help with garage door installation, check out our contractor database today.
