Common Garage Door Installation Mistakes You Might Run Into
When you choose to DIY your garage door installations, it may take longer to get things done. Nevertheless, there are tips you can follow to be able to install a new garage door properly and safely.
Making garage door installation mistakes can be costly and dangerous, so to avoid them, take a minute to familiarize yourself with these mistakes before you begin to install your new garage door if you really choose to do the installation yourself.
Using the Wrong Tools
To be able to properly install a new garage door, you will need to use the right tools, even if they are more expensive than other tools that you think you should use so you can save money.
For example, using nails in place of lag screws in the framing members is not a good idea at all. Nails are relatively cheaper than screws but they bend and break after regular usage of the garage door and when a regular amount of pressure is exerted on your door. When force and pressure are continuously being exerted on the nails, the nails will be pulled right out of the framing members.
Lag screws are tough and sturdy, with superior tensile strength, making them the preferred fastener that can provide additional support to the weight of your garage door that nails cannot.
Here’s a list of the right tools, although not very comprehensive, that you should use as a start in your garage door installation:
- Cordless drill
- Level
- Stepladder
- Socket set
- Screwdriver
- Adjustable wrench
- Safety glasses
Installing Alone or Single-handedly
The springs of a garage door can be dangerous and fatal and you need help handling them. What is more, a garage door is too heavy to manage alone so it is advisable to get a garage door repair professional or someone who is skilled and experienced with garage door installations.
This will prevent garage door installation mistakes that will lead to fatal accidents and major issues that would cost you even more in the future. Having someone to help you will ensure that your garage door installation is done properly with minimal chances of causing problems in the process.
Ignoring Adjustments
After installing your garage door, you are not totally done. It is necessary that you do some adjustments to make sure that it is working properly. One of the most important adjustments is testing the lift mechanism of your door.
Professional technicians check an installed garage door and make small but critical adjustments to ensure that all essential parts are functioning properly. Some important adjustments include:
- Balancing the garage door correctly
- Garage door opener travel limits
- Leveling and positioning the track system
- Tightening the screws that hold the track brackets in place
Failure to Install the Steel Door Stiffener
Leaving out the steel stiffener to save money is a garage door installation mistake you should avoid. The stiffener acts as a reinforcer for the door’s top panel and without it, your door panels will buckle from the repeated jerking from the motor.
Failure to Line Up the Garage Door Opener With the Garage Door
A critical mistake often made by nonprofessional garage door installers is choosing to install in their motor slightly off-center because there are fixtures or outlets in the center of the garage ceiling.
When your garage door is even just slightly off-center, it can make your door twist whenever you open or close it. When this happens, you will have to hire a skilled professional to fix the problem which will cost you a good deal of additional money.
Remember that every automatic garage door unit needs to be lined up with the center of the garage door itself.
Call for Help to Avoid Garage Door Installation Mistakes
Many homeowners find that DIY garage door projects can save them money and give them a sense of accomplishment.
However, with the risk that it takes for untrained people to do the job, garage door installation mistakes will cost more than having a professional garage door installation expert install the door in the first place.
Avoid injury to yourself and damage to your house and garage by calling skilled and experienced professionals for this major undertaking.
