Installing a garage door adds security to your home, and it keeps your vehicle and property clean and safe. Though DIY garage door installation is a big project, it’s one that pays off by increasing resale value to your home.
Before You Begin
This guide helps you install a standard single 8-foot wide by 7-foot high non-insulated sectional garage door with extension springs. Installing a garage door with extension springs is easier and safer than installing one that uses a torsion spring as a supplemental lifting mechanism.
When to Install a Garage Door
Because it takes two to three days for most do-it-yourselfers to install a garage door, reserve the project for warm, dry months when it’s less critical that the garage be kept closed up.
If the door from the garage to the house has no lock, install one for security when the garage is left open. Local building code may require that the door be no less than a 1-3/8-inch thick solid entry door. Required in case of fires, this type of solid entry door also provides security when equipped with a lock, though the garage will not be secured.
Safety Considerations
A single-wide steel non-insulated garage door is over 100 pounds. Wider doors, insulated doors, or doors made of other materials might weigh up to 200 pounds or even more. Be careful when lifting the door, especially when the door is not connected to the extension springs.
Never work on extension springs when the garage door is anywhere but in its highest position. When the door is raised, the springs are only minimally tensioned. When the door is down, the springs are taut and can cause injury if they are removed.
Source: The Spruce
