Seven Reasons to Never Install Your Own Garage Door
The do-it-yourself movement is here to stay and that’s great. We have nothing but respect for people who like to roll up their sleeves and do things themselves. That said, there are some things that lend themselves to the DIY impulse and some things that should only be handled by garage door service professionals.
One of those things that should always be left to the pros is garage door installation in Denver homes. Garage doors are complex mechanisms that includes numerous components which, if handled or installed improperly, could lead to grievous bodily harm. It’s not worth it.
But for the skeptics out there we’ve decided to put together a list of seven good reasons why you should never, ever, install your own garage door.
Reason #1: Risk of Injury
There are several components of a garage door that have the potential to cause injury. But not just injury to you during the installation; injury to yourself and your loved ones after the installation when the door fails because of something that was overlooked. Keep these two things in mind: first, a garage door typically weighs several hundred pounds and could kill someone if it came crashing down and second, people have died from being near garage door springs when they break.
Reason #2: It’s Not as Simple as It Looks
An automatic garage door is just a motor that lifts a door that rides on some tracks. What’s the big deal? The big deal is that there is a lot more to it than that. First of all, the motor doesn’t really lift much of anything. All it does is set the door in motion. It's actually the springs that do the lifting and lowering in conjunction with a system of pulleys and cables. Then there are the tracks, the chain, belt or screw drive, the wall-mounted control unit and more. If any part of the system isn't installed or adjusted properly the whole thing could come tumbling down on your head or the head of a loved one.
Reason #3: You’re Probably Going to Make Mistakes
As far as DIY projects are concerned making mistakes comes with the territory. That’s fine when you’re installing bathroom tiles or putting up wallpaper. After all, if there’s a bubble in the wallpaper no one gets hurt. If the garage door is not installed properly several hundred pounds worth of door could come crashing down on your head, a family member’s head or your car. A garage door installation company is not going to make the mistakes you are probably going to make. Sorry, but it’s true.
Reason #4: It May Cost You More to Install the Door Yourself
Making mistakes with a garage door installation can not only lead to injury or worse, but it can also be financially costly. If you bend a track, break a spring, or damage panels you’ll have to replace those parts, and that can get expensive. If the garage door installers damage something during installation replacing that part is their responsibility. Keep in mind too that they will have the replacement part readily available, whereas you'll have to hunt it down. In the meantime, your garage will be open to the world until you can finish the job.
Reason #5: Garage Door Installers Have the Right Tools
One of the simplest reasons to leave garage door installation in Denver to the pros at A Better Garage Door is that we have all the tools necessary to complete the job quickly and correctly. Unless you yourself install garage doors for a living there is a better than even chance you will have to spend time shopping for the right tools. In addition, purchasing those tools (tools that you’re only likely to use this once) is only going to add to the cost of the job.
Reason #6: DIY Installation Will Void the Warranty
The warranty on a new garage door is only valid if the door has been installed by a qualified professional. Manufacturers know that pros are going to do the job right, which will reduce the odds the door will fail in a way that will cost them (the manufacturer) money. If you install the door yourself and something goes wrong you will have to pay for any repairs or replacement parts. In addition, garage door installers typically offer their own guarantee on the installation. Meaning that, in the extremely unlikely event they make an error, they’ll correct it free of charge.
Reason #7: Others Will Be Using the Door
If you live alone and are willing to accept the risk associated with a do-it-yourself garage door installation, then more power to you. However, if you have family members who will also be using the door then they will be subjected to unnecessary risk they never asked for. You hire an electrician to install new wiring and a plumber to install new pipes because these guys will do the job right and you can rest easy knowing your family is safe. The same thought process should apply to garage door installation.
The Bottom Line
If you make a mistake installing the garage door people could get seriously hurt. Not only that, but self-installation will void the warranty, take longer than you expect, and may wind up costing more than if you just hired a pro. When you need garage door installation in Denver there is too much at stake to try and do it yourself. Call A Better Garage Door instead.