There’s nothing wrong with wanting to save a little money. Most homeowners know that the best way to cut costs on home improvement projects is to do the work yourself. If your project is relatively simple, a DIY job will save you costs. However, more laborious and complicated work is best left to the professionals. When it comes to garage door opener installation, should you do it yourself or get a professional?
If you’re looking to upgrade your garage as a whole, the garage door opener is a great place to begin. Garage door openers can typically last for at least 7 years before problems start manifesting. If you are upgrading the overall technology framework of your home or garage, you might need to change out your garage door opener. You may be able to do the job yourself, but here are some factors you will want to consider.
Time
Installing a new garage door opener can take between 2 to 4 hours, but depending on how complex the installation is, can take longer or shorter. Simply replacing an existing unit? In most cases, you can use the hanging hardware that already exists and use it for a new unit. This simplifies the project and cuts down on the time needed to install. If you require a brand-new installation however, you will need things like wiring and stud-finding, all of which are more complex and take a longer period of time. You might want to consider a professional in this case.
Expertise Level
Installing a simple garage door opener will require basic electrical and carpentry knowledge. Most of the tools you’ll need are basic hand tools that you might already have at home or can find easily at any hardware store. However, if you have no prior experience with either electrical or carpentry work, you might want to engage a professional service.
Assistance You’ll Need
In quite a few cases, installing a garage door opener will require at least two people. There will be some lifting and maneuvering that you’ll need to do to align and mount the unit correctly. If you do not have anyone to help you with the installation process, you might need a professional instead.
Door Adjustments
Some cases may require additional adjustments performed on your garage door before you step into installing a garage door opener. If your garage door needs repairs, you need to get that sorted first. Further strain may be put on the operator which can affect the overall performance of your garage door. If your garage door is not opening and closing smoothly in the first place, you might want to get a professional installer instead. They’ll be able to make any necessary adjustments to ensure that your garage door opener can be installed safely later on.
What Should You Do?
If your garage door opener is relatively easy to install, you have basic electrical and carpentry experience, your garage door otherwise has no problems, and you have someone to assist you, you might be able to carry out the job yourself. If not, however, getting a professional garage door opener installation service to help you out may be a better choice.
