What to Expect From Your Garage Door Installation

What can you expect from your garage door installation? You've chosen a door, ordered it, and now it's here and ready to go into your garage. If this is your first experience with a garage door upgrade, take a look at the answers to your top installation-related questions.

How Should a Homeowner Prepare for a Garage Door Installation?

Start with the contractor. Ask the garage door pro if they have any pre-installation prep requirements for their customers. Different companies may have somewhat different requests, requirements, or installation-related policies that customers should follow. In general, the best way to prepare for your installation appointment is to do the following:

• Clear the interior garage area. The technician will need plenty of space to work. Move or remove anything that could potentially interfere with the installation process. This includes your car, garbage cans, tools, or anything else you store in your garage.
• Clear the exterior garage area. Not only does the technician need space to work inside of your garage but they may also need a clear outdoor area to complete the installation or transport materials. Keep your driveway or other similar areas free of obstructions. 
• Designate a parking space. The contractor will need a parking space with easy access to your garage. If you don't have a driveway, make sure there is an available space near the work area. 
• Keep pets away. Does your dog or cat have the freedom to wander in and out of your home through the garage? Reduce the risks for the contractor and for your pet by finding a safe indoor space for your dog or cat to stay while the technician works. 

You may also need to consider additional prep steps, depending on the season and the weather. Remove ice, deep puddles, or muddy patches from the area before the contractor arrives. This will reduce slip and fall hazards during the installation. 

How Long Does a Garage Door Installation Take?

A quick Internet search of "How long will it take to install my garage door?" is likely to turn up one of two answers — either four to six hours or a half day. While this is a general industry standard, it isn't the only potential installation timeframe. The amount of time it takes a contractor to install your garage door depends on:

• Whether you need a door and an opener. Does the contractor need to install a new door and new automatic opener? This type of job could take longer than a door alone.
• The number of doors. Do you have a double or triple garage? If you need more than one door, expect a longer installation time.
• The complexity of the job. Does the technician need to install new springs, hardware, and more? The more tasks the job requires, the longer the process.
• The electrical components. Older homes and brand-new constructions might not have the electrical hook-ups for an automatic opener. The contractor will need to add or reroute wiring, which will increase the installation time.

Along with these issues, specialty doors, the size of your current door (compared to the size of the new door and garage opening space), the weather, and old door removal can impact the total time it takes to install a garage door.

What Should the Homeowner Do During the Garage Door Installation?

There is no need to help the garage door contractor during the installation process. The technicians are professionals and won't need the assistance of a novice homeowner to complete this service. While you can watch from a distance, it's safer to remove yourself from this job and let the pros take over.

When the contractor installs the door you can:

• Write down questions. Do you have questions about the garage door or opener? Think about what you will want to know about how the door works, the warranty, and more. Write these down while the techs are working. Ask these questions after the job is done.
• Keep the area clear. Are household members coming in and out during the installation? Make sure the area stays free of cars, toys, bikes, debris, or anything else during the installation process.
• Keep children and pets away. Do you have young children or pets? Instruct children to stay away from the garage. Closely supervise children and pets during the installation. This can reduce the risks of unintentional injuries. 

Even though you don't need to stay in the work area, let the contractor know where to find you. The technicians may have questions during the installation process. Tell the techs how and where to get a hold of you if an issue arises. Include which door they should use to find you, such as a basement door, door inside of the garage, front entry, or back entry door.

Do you want to learn more about your garage door installation options? Contact Edgemont Garage Doors for more information.