Avoiding common errors
Your door is in fine shape, you’ve got the power and you’re ready to get rolling. Wait. There’s a few more things to consider before installation. Are there light fixtures, outlets or other obstacles on the garage ceiling where the centre of the door and lift motor and assembly will go? If so, remove them first.
A common error—the lazyman’s solution—is to simply install the lift motor and assembly just off-centre rather than removing obstacles. This is a bad idea. The assembly and motor should be exactly on-centre with the door. Otherwise you’re looking at twisting and binding and ultimate failure.
Resist the inclination to tighten the screws like you’re sealing a jar. First, you’ll likely need to make adjustments as you install each component, so keep things fluid until you’re all set, like you’re putting together furniture. Also, on the topic of affixers: never use nails or cheap, weak screws. Garage doors are heavy and get used often, so always use lag screws affixed to a solid frame.
Now sit back and enjoy the ride into your garage. Yeah, it’s not exactly a glamorous project, but it beats opening the door in the rain and snow.
Canadian Home Workshop contributor Jay Somerset has been writing about home renovations and other DIY projects since 2001. He lives with his wife and cat in Toronto. Each month he will tackle a home renovation project that can be done in a weekend or less. From insulating your pipes to installing a tankless water heater to tuning your barbecue, Jay will show you how to get it done right, right away.
What sort of weekend projects would you like to tackle? Please leave a comment below.
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