In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to assemble and hang a new garage door.

Project details

Skill

Cost

Estimated Time

Installing a garage door

  • Attach weather-stripping to the bottom edge of garage door.
  • Screw cable brackets to the door to secure the weather-stripping.
  • Use impact driver to mount hinges to the bottom panel of garage door.
  • Stand the bottom door panel on the floor in the garage doorway.
  • Insert rollers into the brackets attached to the door.
  • Stand track beside door, insert rollers into the track and screw the track to doorway frame.
  • Attach the hinges to the second door panel.
  • Set second panel on top of first panel in the doorway.
  • Drive in hinge screws to join the first (bottom) door panel to the second panel.
  • Insert the hinge and roller into the track and attach to the second door panel.
  • Check to ensure track is parallel to the door, then screw the track to the wall framing.
  • Install the third door panel, in a similar manner.
  • Adjust the track to ensure door fits without rubbing, then tighten lag screws with ratchet wrench.
  • Connect vertical track sections to horizontal sections with curved corner tracks.
  • Set top door panel in place and secure it with hinge screws.
  • Screw on the top hinges and rollers.
  • Hook the garage-door spring onto door-track bracket.
  • Open the door, then tighten locking pliers onto the track to hold the door open.
  • Feed steel cable over the pulleys at the end of the track; secure cable end to bracket.
  • Attach S-hook to bracket, clip hook onto track.
  • Feed safety cable through center of each spring, and attach to the brackets.
  • Open and close the door to test tension.

Tools

Tools & Materials

  • Impact driver
  • Locking pliers
  • Ratchet wrench
  • Ladder