Garage Door Replacements - Can You Do It Yourself?
December 2nd, 2008

Older garage doors are often the subject of replacement in a home. At some point in the life of the door, they simply wear out. The great news in this project, though, is that new garage doors have features manufacturers never even considered in older models. They are insulated which not only means warmth, but sound proofing too. That can be really handy when your teen decides to use the drum set his grandma thought to be a good idea to give him for Christmas. Moreover, they are far more secure than they used to be, which can be nice for people who store more valuables than just their cars in the garage. In these days of more and more possessions, the garage often becomes a place of storage for a number of important items. More than that, though, they provide the maintenance free beauty you would want for any part of your home.

While wood was once the first choice material for garage doors, steel, fiberglass and other synthetics are now the choice for many homes. These materials allow for a classic look, tailored to your preferred colors, without the hassle wood doors once provided. The tongue and groove features on newer models keep the wind, rain, and snow out of your garage area. They seal as well or better than most exterior doors on homes. Many often come with new safety standards too. Most will not close if they hit an object as they are closing. This means that whether it is your child's bike, your car bumper, or you dog, nothing will get crushed. Some even have a design that will push objects out of the way of panels as they close together. This can prevent crushed fingers should your little ones wriggle away from you as the door is closing. If you want natural light in your garage, but you do not want the security problems glass might cause, newer doors offer plastic windows that look like glass. This means that you can have the style you want without the security risk. Some companies have even gone so far to protect your valuables that your garage door opener sends a different code to your garage each time you open it. That means intelligent thieves who have the technology to steal codes will find it impossible to take yours.

While these new advances in garage door technology are great, they simply do not fit well with the modern do-it-yourself individual. The doors are both large and heavy. This can not only cause lifting problems, it can also prove impossible for inexperienced individuals. Should the door fall, it will easily crush the individual handling installation. Moreover, the springs that are used to help the doors open, store and release force, which can instantly kill a person. Not only should you choose not to replace a garage door by yourself, you should not choose to complete serious service tasks. At most, you should occasionally oil the wheels, hinges, and tracks. Any other projects should be left to garage door professionals, as your life simply is not worth the risk of a garage door.

If despite this warning, you insist on installing the garage door yourself, be sure you have a few extra pairs of hands around. Assistance with tough tasks can be one of the most important do it yourself safety tasks. When you get ready to start installation, be sure to begin with the weather stripping. This will keep the drafts and moisture out of your garage. If improperly installed, you could experience some real problems in your home. You will also be required to rent or purchase a spring tensioning tool. Renting or purchasing poor equipment in this case is just not a good idea. These springs can maim and even kill people who do not know how to properly use them. Going cheap on equipment in this arena simply is not a good choice.

When it comes down to it, yes, you can replace your garage door by yourself. You probably have the ability and the skills. However, because of the dangers involved, hiring a professional to do it for you is really a better and safer bet in the long run

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