garage door makeover or replacement

Many people rely on garage door installation services when the time comes for replacement or a new installation, but there's a certain sense of pride that comes from finishing such a task on your own. Indeed, as long as you keep an eye out for certain tips and tricks, you'll be able to complete your installation project in a way that guarantees pride and excitement.

Below, you'll find a guide to some steps you should be sure to be cautious of when installing a garage door. Following these suggestions will allow you to avoid some common pitfalls, and can help guarantee that your installation is every bit as professional and efficient as that of a hired service.

Pre-Install Weather Stripping

Keeping your garage weatherproof is a major concern, as it's the best way to protect both your vehicles and your home security. Once the door is already hung, however, it can be a challenge to track down all the potential gaps and reach all of the areas of the door you need to secure.

In order to avoid that struggle, be sure to install your weather stripping before the door is hung. This should still allow the door to function smoothly over its tracks, but will help to guarantee that you don't have leaky trouble spots down the road.

Install Brackets In Sections

The old adage about the tortoise and the hare certainly applies to installing garage door brackets. If you hang one side quickly and then hang the other to match, you may be at risk of an uneven alignment that can leave your door struggling to secure itself and your garage door motor pushing through mechanical challenges.

Instead, hang either side of the bracket in even sections. This will allow you to check your work as you go in order to verify a level installation, and will prevent you from having to backtrack to source a problem down the road.

Take Spring Precautions

While many people may not think of a garage door spring as a health hazard, a typical spring contains a vast amount of potential energy held inside the coil. Given the necessary strength to operate your door, it stands to reason that a release of that energy in the wrong direction could be disastrous. Make sure that you follow every safety recommendation provided when installing the spring, including protective gear such as heavy gloves and eye shielding.