Garage Door Installation 101: Everything You Need to Know

Getting a new garage door is a major home improvement project that needs to be carefully planned and carried out by professionals in San Diego, CA, to ensure optimal performance, avoid costly garage door repair, and safeguard your and your family’s safety.

We’ve previously taken a close look at the common garage door problems and listed the biggest reasons to get a new garage door. Now we’ll help you make getting a new door that much easier by answering some common questions about garage door installation. Read on.

Can I install a new garage door myself?

Unless you have a background as a garage door technician and access to specialized hardware, you should never attempt a DIY garage door installation or repair. Not only are many garage door components too cumbersome for a single person to handle, certain parts (such as the springs) can be extremely dangerous if tinkered with incorrectly.

Don’t believe us? Every year, over 20,000 injuries are reported that are directly related to DIY garage door repair. This includes over 800 lacerations, over 2000 crushing injuries, and over 7000 pinching injuries (these can easily lead to finger amputations). In some cases, an accident during DIY garage door repair can even be lethal.

Even if you’re able to complete the installation without incidents, there’s always the risk that you’ve made one or more mistakes that will lead to costly, frustrating, and even hazardous malfunctions down the road. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, always outsource your garage door installation to a reputable company.

How long does it take a professional to install a garage door?

The vast majority of residential garage door installations can be finalized on the same day. However, certain factors can prolong or shorten the time it takes to complete the installation.

These factors include:

• Having existing brackets and wiring that are in good condition will usually speed things up.
• New builds are the fastests. Installing a door into an empty entryway is invariably easier than jobs where an old door needs to be disassembled and removed before a new one can be placed. This typically takes 3 hours or so.
• New door is the same as the old one. If the new door is the same type and size as its predecessor, the installation can usually be done within 3-4 hours.
• Size of the door. The bigger the door, the longer it’s going to take to install.
• Weather. Although this isn’t usually a problem in San Diego, sometimes harsh weather can slow down or even temporarily pause the installation process.

Can you install a new garage door on old tracks?

Under no circumstances should you attempt to reuse old tracks with a new door. The reality is that the garage door industry is constantly innovating, so the old tracks are simply not going to be fully compatible with the new door.

This will result in the door being improperly spaced, which can cause it to get stuck, fall off the old track, or even suffer a broken spring. Any of these malfunctions can result in expensive damages and serious injury.

Where in San Diego, CA, and the vicinity can I find a trusted garage door repair service? 

Radford Garage Doors & Gates is an established provider of garage door repair, installation, maintenance, and replacement services that operates throughout San Diego and the surrounding cities.

We have a long tradition and offer customizable solutions covered by extensive warranties. Visit us at our showroom today if you’d like to see and touch the materials our garage doors are made of and have your questions answered by our experts. We can’t wait to meet you!