Garage door replacement

[PAGUY]

I'm planning to replace two wooden garage doors with uninsulated steel doors from HD. One is 8X7 (retail peice $224) and the other is 9X7 (retail price $244). I got an estimate with a well known home improvement company and they want $1900. Now I am sure they get a discount price from the big box stores plus the fact that they may be able to use the old track systems for both doors.

Would you consider this excessive price? I'm thinking I should get a price from a local contractor or DIY with the help of a friend who offered to help.Opinions please.

 

[Fossil Farm]

Our big box store sometimes uses employees from garage door companies that do the big box jobs as side jobs. If you have a local garage door company rather than a complete home improvement company, you may get a better price. I try to use local contractors and local stores as much as possible if it works out and price is not too huge a difference.

 

[koamfps]

If you ever work in the garage you might want to consider insulated doors. I'm really glad I did 4 years later I put in a small wood burner.

 

[KennyG]

They probably will not use the old tracks and may not want to use the track supports from a liability standpoint. That being said, the price sounds at least $500 high to me. I would suggest trying a couple of companies that specialize in garage doors and also see what the big box store will do on installation.

I assume there is a reason you can't do this yourself, but it's a pretty easy job right up to the "wind the torsion spring" step. A couple of handy people can install them pretty easily and then call the garage door company to set the springs if you aren't comfortable with that.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

OUr HD will install them, price is reasonable. I had them do 3 on my pole barn, HD contracted it out to a local overhead door company.

I've installed 2 garage doors myself, not that hard. I used the clopay EZtorsion, you just use a drill to wind it, very easy, anyone can do it. They don't make EZtorsion for over 8' high door, therefore I had those installed.

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

As a general contractor I have never received a discount from big orange or big blue. I don't believe they give any, sometimes coupons. They maybe buying direct from the manufacturer. I doubt they will reuse your old hardware, liability.

Get some estimates from both if you can, or install them yourself. Pretty easy. :thumbsup:

 

[PAGUY]

Thank-you for all replies.

I will check with HD on possible installation but may go the DIY route with friend's help. I figure it is a two man job.

Guy

 

[radioman]

I replaced 2 of my old wooden garage doors on old garage and installed 2 news one from stratch for total of 4 doors. I put insulated ones on the old garage due to fact my kids play in front of garage door and insulated doors is more dent resistant. I installed plain/no insulated doors on new garage doors and never will again. The uninsulated doors has "sharp corners" inside the rails on sides and the insulated ones is all covered up.

The replacement was EASY. you just need to spend at least half a day on the first door, going slow following and reading every step. When I got to the second door, didnt need to read, took shortcuts and went up easy peasey. I think that if you already have garage doors in place, you can just simply replace tracks the same place where it was, use old hangers in back of rails. I used my 16 ft trailer and put all the panels in place the way it should be put up and installed all the wheels on it with my battery operated impact drill and nut driver. That made things so easy to install, I just dont know why too many people freak out on thinking on doing it themselves.

 

[Groo]

those tracks wear out, far before the doors do in my experience. I wouldn't re-use it.

 

[B7510HSD]

Thank-you for all replies.

I will check with HD on possible installation but may go the DIY route with friend's help. I figure it is a two man job.

Guy

You can do it yourself me and my son did his 2 doors 3 weeks ago!! Where I work we buy direct from the vendors and I couldn't believe
that my cost was more direct then thru HD or the Big Blue!!

 

[crazyal]

I did my 9x8 and 10x12 doors by myself. It's really not hard at all. The only part that was a little difficult was the winding of the overhead torsion springs. But on doors you're talking about I'm sure they will come with extension springs.

I really didn't need the insulated doors but the uninsulated doors looked very fragile. Even the two layer (steel outside with foam on the inside) doors didn't look too strong so I went with the three layer doors.

As for price at the box stores goes, that's simple. The standard sizes they get made cheap. The same goes with both doors and windows. Once you get into any other size than what they stock then the prices are much higher.

One nice thing about the insulated doors (maybe all of them) is that they lock together when closed. First you put the bottom panel in place with the rollers on all four corners. Second you put one roller on one of the upper corners of the second panel. You then can angle the panel so you can hook the wheel onto the track. Then straighten the panel so it's even with the first panel then allow the second panel to rest on top of the first panel. The interlocking ridge between the two panels will hold it in place while you put the second upper roller on and then connect the top of the hinge from the first panel to the bottom of the second panel.

 

[Bird]

A lot of years ago, I helped a friend replace a 16' wide wooden overhead door with a new one, also wood. And just a few years ago, I helped a son-in-law replace a 9' wide wooden one with a new metal door from Lowes. Personally, I would never use a wooden door again, nor would I used extension springs again. And if I had a choice, I'd sure go with the insulated door.

 

[PAGUY]

You guys have convinced me to go with insulated doors even though my garage hardly ever needs to be heated. The rigidity factor sold me. I would hate tobuy and install something that could cause problems in the future just to save some money.


Guy