Major manufacturers will make sure to include detailed steps to install their doors, so if you buy Clopay garage doors, Raynor garage doors or Martin garage doors, you should be able to follow those tips. Furthermore, for any spring replacement or additional parts, most companies make easy to install kits with everything you need and directions to assist your project.

From garage door manufacturers, you should get a kit that includes your panel doors, a garage door motor, cables, rollers, hinges, garage door torsion springs, and if you are going with sliding garage doors, tracks. Additionally, you may need to buy a steel stiffener that you will position on the top part of the door panel that will be activated by the electric door control.

Not all kits will come with this, so you will need to buy it separately. The next most important thing to do is read the instructions a few times and understand the function of each part before going ahead and following the steps.

Tips

Even when following instructions carefully, some areas might require further clarification, so here are some additional tips to pay attention to.

1. Connect your garage door motor to the center of the door, not to one side. Otherwise the door panels could twist each time they lift and get damaged.

2. Consider the type of lift motor to use; a chain driven motor or screw driven. Chain driven are very reliable for residential doors and are easy to modify if need be, but look into the benefits of both to decide.

3. Never nail any part of the garage door. Screws are the only things that are appropriate to mount any wood blocks or pieces.

4. Make sure that you don't have any power outlets, smoke detectors or light fixtures on the ceiling near the center of the garage door as they can interfere with it.

5. Test the safety features once installed, by placing your hand under the door as it closes to trigger the eye detection mechanism, or by placing an object in the path of the door to see if it reverses when it touches it.

Whether you are installing carriage garage doors, a wood garage door or even custom garage doors, your garage doors installation should follow the manufacturer's guidelines perfectly and diligently to avoid any mishaps in the future.