garage door install

[cookiedough]

got 2 estimates one mfg. is HAAS and the other is Clopay 2 different installers.

16x7 std. white garage door needed nothing fancy no windows, etc.

Clopay installer $1125 2 inches thick but is polystryene (cheaper foam) R9 value vs. around 1250-1300 for polyurethane being more solid/durable only 1 3/8" thick but with that insulation (similar to expanding foam in a can) do not need to be as thick of a garage door plus is R13 energy efficient so is better that way.

27 gauge Clopay vs. 26 gauge HAAS mfg. so HAAS is slightly better as well.

Pretty much decided on HAAS mfg. thru a company been in business 31 years vs. Clopay guy who does it pretty much himself last 30 years,  even though tops 200 bucks more in price since better R value and prefer polyurethane vs. polystyrene insulation more durable and solid and hopefully quieter since both are STEEL construction.

Any other ideas or suggestions?   Waiting on 1 more installer to come on Tuesday at 5 p.m. before I decide on Wednesday.

I will miss my uninsulated vinyl garage door that caved in Wednesday since although not insulated, no issues and VERY quiet up/down being vinyl vs. steel construction past 25 years made by Wayne Dalton which no longer makes that model for replacing just the top section and of course the spring that broke.  I have heard that steel garage doors going up/down are LOUDER and screatchier since everyone comments on how quiet my basic vinyl wayne dalton garage door is going up/down vs. their steel doors.

First time in 25 years without being able to lift my garage door and use it for more than 1-2 days will be 2-3 weeks now by the time installer gets it installed.  NEVER EVER knew how much I enjoyed being able to push a button to not only get cars out of garage or walk outside using garage door entrance since I have to now for a few more weeks carry all my trash and garbage/recyclables/burning material thru kitchen, dining room, and living room to use my front entrance door - what a pain in the keester.  My back garage door entrance std. small door is occupied/tied up with 2 cycles sitting in front of it unable to use it during winter. 

For 200 bucks more tops,  polyurethane insulation being stronger and more R-value (13 vs. 9) am hoping the up/down movement with denser insulation will QUIET down the movement vs. just cheaper stryofoam insulation on a steel 16x7 garage door???  right??

[Oss]

nice but if the freakin door does not seal tight on the top/bottom and sides it might as well be made of paper

How do I know?  Mine has gaps of 3" plus to let air in

And our bedroom is above the garage. And my wife's office is next to it

So make that one of your questions cookie

[Robert]

Have a steel door and its not loud at all and is sealed when closed all around. Would recommend of course the insulation of choice but also there are supports or braces that go behind and are fastened to the inside of the door that would help with the quietness of the door and contribute the strength and rigidity of the door. Lube the tracks, wheels and hinges since most installers wont do that and I would be surprised if you would notice to much of a difference. I would also say seal the edges of what ever type of insulation you use to the door. The doors themselves are not hard to install either and you may be able to save few bucks doing your own install

[old2soon]

Which ever one you choose or get or end up with see if the installer has any in the area they've done and would it be possible to talk with the customer and observe it in operation. AND are they-the customer-happy on both ends of the deal and was the door installed in the time frame given? How long is the whole shootin match guaranteed for? Saw something on This Old House the other day and the home owner was concerned about noise so the installer went with a belt drive stead of a chain drive. I believe the door in question was near at 16' wide and can't recollect how much the door weighed but the remodel was in Boston Ma. I think.  RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

A big box door uses a lighter gage hinge. My neighbor's door never worked right from day one. When my opener crapped out , I had the garage door installer (also a friend) look at his, and reinstall. He changed the roller hinges and reset the door. It is so quiet and sealed now. 

                                         da prez

[cookiedough]

probably going with HAAS mfg. the one installer came in at 1400 told him too much so he dropped it to 1300 which is reasonable vs. 1125 for cheaper Clopay mfg. installer guy.  I figure better insulated/denser/slightly thicker gauge,  is worth the less than 200 bucks difference over say 20+ years it should last.

One thing the 1125 installer said is do NOT go Menards EZ Set torsion spring they go with on all their garage doors since they are junk and he prefers 2 smaller normal torsion springs one on each side of the middle to help with weight distribution vs. one bigger torsion spring.  So, if one smaller spring ever breaks,  good chance 1 spring will do the trick for a few weeks and NOT damage the door as was my case when the 1 larger torsion spring broke and opener tried lifting the door without any spring doing damage to top section bending it inwards.   Good idea!


I priced out menards brand similar insulated steel core garage door and is 800 bucks so 450 bucks or so to install is not a bad deal I hope???  It would take me all weekend vs. an installer am sure 4-6 hours total plus they haul old door away and guarantee their work for at least 5 years or so as long as in business that is. 

[Hook#3287]

I'd agree with the two springs is better than one statement.

Since I installed a garage door 25 years ago, I've never done another.

It's a job better suited to the pros who do it daily.

Too much chance for damage during shipping and installing, that it's worth paying the fee.

I use Raynor, they have nice doors with thousands of options and the one in my house is 30 years old and still working great.

[hairyteeth]

+1 for a Haas door...My mother called me a few years back complaining her garage door was just barely making it up. I investigated and it wouldn't raise hardly at all. Closer inspection showed the opener had just wore itself out. So I pulled the emergency rope to open the door and I could barely lift it, plus it wouldn't stay up. I figured a sping had broke and caused the opener to work extra hard until it wore itself out. Haas repair man came out and took one look at the door, he said watch this, he proceded to drill holes in the lower part of several door panels. I watched the water pour out for the next ten minutes. He said it was caused by the old panels allowing water inside where open cell foam insulation soaked it up, he said it probably took years. The springs were not broke just not set for a door the heavy from water.
The fix was a new HAAS  door with closed cell insulation and a new opener. My opinion... leave door springs and door installation to the professionals. Mark

[cookiedough]

Yah,  3 mfgs. considering are Clopay, HAAS, and Raynor. 

The Raynor installer has not gotten back to me yet so guessing he is out and HAAS is in.

Man, it is VERY hard to live without using your garage door at all now 1 week.  Cannot even open the door since spring broke to get garbage out, etc.  Sucks having to go out front house door with garbage and having to leave 2 cars outside in winter and all out front house door in general since everything I need is by garage house door.

Will have to wait 1-2 more weeks for install am sure.

[Gryphon Rider]

Yah,  3 mfgs. considering are Clopay, HAAS, and Raynor. 

The Raynor installer has not gotten back to me yet so guessing he is out and HAAS is in.

Man, it is VERY hard to live without using your garage door at all now 1 week.  Cannot even open the door since spring broke to get garbage out, etc.  Sucks having to go out front house door with garbage and having to leave 2 cars outside in winter and all out front house door in general since everything I need is by garage house door.

Will have to wait 1-2 more weeks for install am sure.

I recently replaced the springs on my garage door after one broke.  It takes some care and diligence as you're dealing with a lot of stored energy, but it can be done if you're willing to research how to do it.  I guess in your case it wouldn't be worth it, as you're replacing the whole door soon anyway.  BTW, you can open the door with the electric opener and only one of the two springs broken if you get someone to push the button while you are lifting.

[¿spoom]

probably going with HAAS mfg. the one installer came in at 1400 told him too much so he dropped it to 1300 which is reasonable vs. 1125 for cheaper Clopay mfg. installer guy.  I figure better insulated/denser/slightly thicker gauge,  is worth the less than 200 bucks difference over say 20+ years it should last.

One thing the 1125 installer said is do NOT go Menards EZ Set torsion spring they go with on all their garage doors since they are junk and he prefers 2 smaller normal torsion springs one on each side of the middle to help with weight distribution vs. one bigger torsion spring.  So, if one smaller spring ever breaks,  good chance 1 spring will do the trick for a few weeks and NOT damage the door as was my case when the 1 larger torsion spring broke and opener tried lifting the door without any spring doing damage to top section bending it inwards.   Good idea!


I priced out menards brand similar insulated steel core garage door and is 800 bucks so 450 bucks or so to install is not a bad deal I hope???  It would take me all weekend vs. an installer am sure 4-6 hours total plus they haul old door away and guarantee their work for at least 5 years or so as long as in business that is. 

Have you checked with A&R door service? They're from south of Milwaukee, but I see their trucks north of it and they did an excellent job on my now 20 year old Raynor steel insulated door 

[¿spoom]

Yah,  3 mfgs. considering are Clopay, HAAS, and Raynor. 

The Raynor installer has not gotten back to me yet so guessing he is out and HAAS is in.

Man, it is VERY hard to live without using your garage door at all now 1 week.  Cannot even open the door since spring broke to get garbage out, etc.  Sucks having to go out front house door with garbage and having to leave 2 cars outside in winter and all out front house door in general since everything I need is by garage house door.

Will have to wait 1-2 more weeks for install am sure.

I recently replaced the springs on my garage door after one broke.  It takes some care and diligence as you're dealing with a lot of stored energy, but it can be done if you're willing to research how to do it.  I guess in your case it wouldn't be worth it, as you're replacing the whole door soon anyway.  BTW, you can open the door with the electric opener and only one of the two springs broken if you get someone to push the button while you are lifting.

Agreed, but having done a few during my industrial maint. days, and considering how reasonable I've found service folks, I'd farm this one out. Even if the door is in good shape, it takes a little while to get the balance correct, neutral in the right place, and the stripe gap the same on both springs if it's a torsion spring type.