Garage doors and openers: repair or replace?
My house was built in the early 1990s. There are two wood 8x7 side-by-side garage doors with Craftsman 1/2 HP chain drive openers. The wood is getting a little ratty on the bottom of the doors, probably from water. Also, one of the openers is a little quirky and the other one is starting to get that way. One of the doors was knocked and it is slightly out of alignment (long story). I had a local garage door repair company come out last year to check out the one door. They wanted to charge me $400-500+ to rebuild the door and opener. The rebuilding of the doors consists of new hardware (rollers, hinges, etc), re-aligning everything and also new springs and cables. NOT new doors. I went to Lowes yesterday to price out garage doors and openers. I priced out mid range stuff at just over $2,000. I may be better off going to a local garage door company to get it done. Anyway, if I get both doors and openers rebuilt, we are talking $800-1000+ and atleast double to have the stuff replaced. Insulated doors would qualify for the Energy Tax Credit, so that would reduce my bottom line a little bit. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would never rebuild a wooden garage door. I would not even do it for a customer. I would put in new doors and openers. Openers are only good for about 3000 opens. They are considered throw away items. Your $2000 is about right. You might as well just cowboy up and spend the money. You will be alot happier in the end. You will never be satisified with rebuilt doors. I guarantee it. Good Luck Thanks for the advice Jack. Makes a lot of sense to replace everything. I am better off using a local garage door company because if there are ever problems after installation, I can call them directly and not the box store or installer. Lowes carries ReliaBilt doors and Chamberlain openers. I priced the doors and openers quickly at Lowes, about $2,100 installed. Are there are any hidden costs? It's probably not as bad because they will be installing the doors on an existing frames. Maybe the will give me a deal on two doors and two openers? At my old house, I had a local garage door company replace springs on the garage. I'll start with them first. Most garage doors installed by Box stores are actually installed by local garage door companies. At least thats the way it was in VA. The Box does the advertising, sales pitch and handles warranty calls...the local company (usually a factory authorized installer) does the site inspection and actual work. Sometimes GDOs are installed by handyman types contracted by the Box...but if a door is going up at the same time..normally the door company will do it. When they are having sales and discounts at the Big Box..its because of volume agreements with the manufacturer...the local company may not be able to match that. I'd find out who the actual maker of the doors is...I thought Lowes back there sold WayneDalton....I'd be wary until you know who actually makes the door. Reliabilt, I believe, is just the Lowes house brand. I contacted three local garage door companies. Two are in the mid $2,000 range and one is in the low $2,000 range for installation of 2 doors and 2 openers. They all use a mid-price ranged 3-layer steel construction door with a fairly high R value and 1/2 HP openers. -Company A uses Raynor doors and Raynor belt drive openers-quoted $2,521 total -Company B uses Amarr doors and LiftMaster chain drive openers (upgrade to belt drive opener, add $15 each)-$2,070 -Company C uses Advantage doors and LiftMaster belt drive openers (owner claims to use upgraded hardware)-$2,648 Company B uses a standard 1 3/8 thick door. The guy said that the other probably use a 2 thick door. I did not think to ask the other two companies what thickness door they use. The guy just came out and said they use an industry standard 1 3/8 thick door. Belt drive or chain drive openers? Anything else that I should be looking out for? I vote for Raynor!!!! I have used them, and have had few callbacks. Is it worth the extra $400 or so for the Raynor when you compare to the other deals? So, which deal looks good? I am leaning towards Company B, mainly because it's the cheapest and comparable to the others, except their price includes a chain drive opener. Going with a belt drive opener only adds $15 per opener. The chain drive is more heavy-duty, but noisier. The garages are above my master bedroom, but there is no garage door usage when people are sleeping, so noise is not an issue. Originally Posted by Just Bill I vote for Raynor!!!! I have used them, and have had few callbacks. It might help if you break it down a bit more. Door? Door install labor? Opener? Opener install labor? Any required angle iron or parts included? You can find quality openers for $200 or so...many of the openers sold by door companys have big markups...even though they are identical to the ones you can buy off the shelf. Since you have installed openers...replacing them is quite simple if the door is prepped for it. Many times you can use the already installed supports and door bracket..when putting a new opener on an existing door. Of course..thats not the complete case here... Maybe it's just me...but I just don't buy the..It will cost this much kinda quote. And if they haven't actually been to your house..that can become an issue later OHHHH we didn't realize we'd have to do all this extra work. Shouldn't happen..but what if it does? The break-downs are at my office. I will post them tomorrow. Originally Posted by Gunguy45 It might help if you break it down a bit more. Door? Door install labor? Opener? Opener install labor? Any required angle iron or parts included? Here are the break-downs... Company A: $1566 for 2 doors(2 I think), $880 for 2 1/2 HP belt drive opener and $75 for one keypad. Company B: $1400 for 2 1 3/8 doors and $700 for 2 belt drive openers. Company C: $1850 for 2 doors(2 I think) and $798 for 2 belt drive openers. These prices include all labor and parts. From what I have researched, 2 doors may be overkill. 1 3/8 is standard. The price will drop a little if I price out 1 3/8 doors with A C. I am leaning towards Company C and won't make a final decision until they come to the house to check everything out. Well...as I said...I think A C are a little high on the openers. A seems very high...esp with the extra keypad charge. And C seems a little high on the doors. Somewhat depends on comparing apples to apples and your local pricing of course. A top of the line Genie (my favorite for the price) or Chamberlain opener runs about $220-240 with a $100 install. Those both include a wireless keypad which take about 5 min to install and program. Belt drives are quieter and maintenance free...but I still like screw drive openers better...just don't like the exposed drive belt and sprockets of the belts that I've seen. If the doors are 3 layer (steel interior) you would get by fine with 1 3/8. If insulation and sound deadening are VERY important than the 2 doors will offer a bit more of both. I would only be truly concerned if you heat or cool the garage. I assume these all include weather seal around the sides and top? I do agree with Bill, Raynor doors that I've seen seem very good...though I mostly dealt with Clopay and Wayne Dalton. I liked Clopay better than WD...just didn't like the interior appearance and construction of WD. Wow, what a huge difference between what I was quoted on the phone and what the guy from Company A quoted me this morning at the house. Same price for the openers, $440 each for 1/2 HP belt drive openers plus $75 for 1 keypad. Here is what I was quoted on doors... 2 Raynor Centura, foam injected, R18, 24/24 gauge steel, 2 thick doors: $2,136 2 Raynor Relante, foam injected, R-13, 24/24 gauge steel, 1 3/8 thick doors: $1,896 2 CHI 2216, foam injected, R-14, 26/27 gauge steel, 2 thick doors: $1,646 2 CHI 2285, placed in foam, R-8 26/27 gauge steel, 2 thick doors: $1,540 The prices include: take down old door, track, springs, hardware and haul away. Installation of new doors, tracks, springs, hardware and openers. The lady quoted me $1,566 for 2 8x7 middle of the road Raynor steel, insulation, steel R-15 doors yesterday. Forget about Company A. They seemed way over-priced. I have an appointment with Company B tomorrow evening. They do Amarr doors and LiftMaster openers. Company B came out this evening. Same prices as I was quoted over the phone. 2 Ammar Stratford 3000, R-6.5, polystyrene insulation, 27/27 gauge steel, 1 3/8 thick doors $700 each 2 Ammar Heritage 3000, R-9, polystyrene insulation, 24/27 gauge steel, 2 thick doors $775 each 2 LiftMaster 3820 1/2 HP belt drive openers $350 each. That's more in the price range, low $2000s. Is it worth the extra $75 per door for the Ammar Heritage 3000? As I said...depends on what you use the garage for...but I agree, B seems better. FOr the cost..yes..I get the better/thicker doors. I'd still never pay any of those prices...lol...but I prob have more time (and maybe more experience?) than you. btw..they are weathersealing if needed aren't they. C in these instructions....http://www.royalbuildingproducts.com...ation_Tips.pdf The garage is strickly used to park cars. Our master bedroom is above the garages. I can do some handyman stuff around the house, but I won't mess with the garage doors and openers. Yes, they are weather sealing. Any more feedback? I am leaning towards Company B...2 Ammar Heritage 3000, R-9, polystyrene insulation, 24/27 gauge steel, 2 thick doors $775 each and 2 LiftMaster 3820 1/2 HP belt drive openers $350 each. These doors seek like a nice, lower to middle range door. Maybe I'll tell the guy that I am ready to pull the trigger and see if he will knock something off the price. Doors and openers installed today. It took 2 guys about 3 hours to do everything. I went with the goods that I stated in post #16. Wow, what a world of a difference! Nice looking doors and super smooth operating openers. Thanks everyone for the great feedback.
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