Avoid DIY Garage Door Installation
Considering DIY Garage Door Installation? Read this First!
It can be tempting to consider DIY garage door installation to save a buck. However, your sweat equity can quickly turn into injuries and repair costs. What makes do-it-yourself garage door installation so tough?
The Pitfalls of DIY Garage Door Installation
At best, installing a garage door without the help of a pro could result in costly repairs; at worst, you could sustain severe injury. What leads to these situations?
- Inadequate knowledge of garage door components and functionality. Garage door service professionals frequently get called to bail homeowners out of DIY door installation snafus. These issues often occur due to a lack of knowledge about door parts and their functions. Choosing the wrong track system, low-quality lumber, or even a simple misplaced hinge can cause your entire garage door to malfunction, resulting in additional repair expenses and potentially dangerous situations. Remember, contemporary garage doors with windows weigh 100 lbs. at a minimum, with larger models topping 300 lbs. and more. In motion and malfunctioning, they can cause serious injury.
- Lack of tools and equipment. Garage door kits commonly lack installation hardware. In this situation, many homeowners fail to understand the exact equipment they need to accomplish a safe installation or where to purchase it. They also seldom have the tools to achieve a secure install, such as a counterbalance spring system, an essential device for lifting heavy garage doors. Worse, they are ignorant of the dangers of door springs, which can quickly unwind and launch, potentially causing severe injury. (Click here to learn more about door spring dangers.) Having your garage door installed by a pro will circumvent these issues and preserve your warranty, which may be void with homeowner installation.
