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Message |
    
ASH
Citizen
Username: Ash
Post Number: 91
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:01 pm: |     |
We've had a couple of quotes to fix our garage door, which is all off its tracks and has been stuck open since we bought the house. Both quotes involved replacing it with a steel or wood door for around $1,000.
One guy did say he could fix the hardware, etc. for around $300 but that it would be a waste of money since the door would just break again.
Well, we don't use the garage much at all and wouldn't mind keeping the nice old wood door...I just want to be able to shut the thing and open it every now and again, like every couple weeks.
Would doing the hardware-only fix be such a bad thing? (Not to mention the fact that it would be much easier for us to scrape together $300 than $1000!) |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 459
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:21 pm: | |
All the moving parts -- cables, springs, rollers can be replaced DIY (with the EXCEPTION if your door has torsion rods, not springs).
I had a spring break a couple of months ago -- asked on this site for advice (THANKS JG Berkeley),
then did a web search and found lots of very specialized sites that offer info and sell parts.
The basic parts, springs, cables, rollers, are sold at Home Depot.
That said -- IF the wood is sound on your door, and the tracks are ok (not bent or damaged) -- I'd think you could have it repaired (or do it yourself).
If there is rotten wood -- its probably a losing cause. But that doesn't mean you have to get a steel door -- wooden ones are certainly available, and in many price ranges.
Pete |
ASH
Citizen
Username: Ash
Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 7:32 am: | |
Thanks for the information. I will get myself out in the cold today to take a careful look at the door. But I'm afraid DIY garage door machinery is a bit beyond my capabilities at ths point!
BTW, what's the best way to check if the wood is rotten (you can see I'm really a novice here!) |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 139
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 8:15 am: | |
AsH, The wood should actually look rotten...if the door's been painted on both sides (and it should be) then check to see what the 'condition' of the paint looks like. Heavy cracking/crazing and peeling is a good sign that the door may have more problems internally.
Also, if the door opens even some, you can look at the 'bottom' edge of the door for signs of rot. Most wood doors actually don't fully rot, but rather only the bottom sections do (on sectional doors). You could actually if you have a rotted bottom section but the rest seems fine, replace just that one section, providing the door is relatively standard size. As Pete said, there are LOTS of wood doors out there in lots of styles and you're likely to be able to find a match.
On the DIY thing...garage doors (with regular springs) are actually mechanically very easy and its a good job to tackle if there isn't anything basic (tracks bent) wrong.
Parts are readily available.
This is something my dad taught me how to do when I was about 14 years old ... (a spring broke) ... he's a physicist so I got a very DETAILED explanation of how it worked, but the basic what to do was pretty easy and .... (this could be a long story) 
Anyway, its not very hard ... although my schedule of late has been nuts, I'd be willing to give you a hand if you were up to tackle it yourself...just having some problems right now with 'free time'.
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
ASH
Citizen
Username: Ash
Post Number: 93
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 6, 2004 - 9:04 pm: | |
Thanks so much Richard--it's really nice of you to offer to help! I did check out the door and it does look pretty cruddy, and is only painted on one side, so it may be best to replace it after all...anyhow I think we'll wait for the spring to deal with it. |
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