Installation of Garage Doors
Old garage door
New classical steel garage door
How to install a new garage door?
If your garage door is too old to repair, consider having it replaced. The following steps are the beginner guide on how to install a new garage door.
Disconnect the opener arm from the old garage door. Use winding bars to unwind existing springs, release tension completely. See my blog to learn more.
Ask your helper to hold the top garage door section, prevent it from falling down after unscrewing and unbolting. Unscrew and unbolt the top section.
The same process to remove the rest door sections.
Unscrew and unbolt the torsion bar, bearing plates and spring bracket. Take the torsion bar down.
Unbolt horizontal door tracks and take them down.
Unbolt and unscrew the old flag bracket and vertical tracks. Remove them away.
Unpack your new garage door, and locate the bottom panel first.
Assemble the rubber seal on the bottom panel, and tighten two bottom brackets with screws at both left and right sides separately.
Connect garage cables on the bottom brackets and place the bottom panel into the door opening.
Invite the helper to hold the bottom panel upright, and place the panel at the center of the door opening. Screw and tighten a new vertical track on the door frame. Use leveler to adjust the track, make it vertically before screw tightening.
Insert rollers’ bolts into the bottom panel and insert the rollers into the vertical track.
Install the other vertical track on the other side of your new door. The same process: adjust the track vertically, and insert a roller on both the bottom bracket and track.
Before attaching the second panel, use the leveler again to make the bottom panel leveled.
Attach the second panel on the top of the bottom one. Make sure the groove of the upper panel rests on the edge of the lower panel.
Insert rollers and hinges on both panels and check the leveler again to ensure both panels are leveled.
Attach the 3rd panel on the 2nd panel and secure the 3rd one by tightening rollers and hinges. Leave the last panel (the top panel) side temperately until step 23.
Along the vertical tracks, run the garage door cables from bottom to top and leave them on hinges temperately. Make sure the cables are free from sticks or blocks.
Check the flag brackets and adjust them for vertical. Screw and tighten the bracket.
Attach a horizontal track to the vertical track and the new flag bracket. Bolt the horizontal track but don’t tighten firmly.
Level the horizontal track and tighten the other end of the track on its mounting bracket. Drill a hole if necessary, and bolt and tighten accordingly.
Tighten the screws and bolts on the horizontal track at the vertical track side.
Do the same on the other side of the garage door.
Attach the top panel and tighten screws. Check the space from the door to tracks, and adjust the door panel to ensure some space available to avoid scratching.
Assemble new springs and a spring bracket on the torsion shaft. The red cone is for the left side and the black cone for the right side. Fasten the springs and the bracket together.
Lift the shaft above the door panels and horizontal tracks. Insert cable drums and bearing plates at both ends of the shaft. Install the red drum on the left side and the black drum on the right side.
Bolt and tighten the bearing plates on the horizontal tracks. Use your leveler to check and adjust the horizontal of the torsion shaft. Fasten the spring bracket against the wall or lumber, and tighten the screws
Use pliers to lock the shaft to void its rotation. Bring the door cables up and attach the cable heads to the cable drums. After tightening the cables, fasten the screws on the drums firmly.
Use wounding bars to tighten springs. For a 7’ height door, 28-32 circles of wounding are very popular. Check and adjust the door balance after wounding. (See my blog about how to check the balance of a garage door).
Congratulations on your completion of garage door installation project!
If you encounter any issues during the installation, please give us a call at 416-887-0248 or fill out the Contact Us form here. We are always happy to assist. Our professional services cover Mississauga, Oakville, Etobicoke, Milton, Brampton and GTA.