Garage door

I am about to begin the project of installing a 6ft wide, 8 ft tall roll up garage door on my barn.  I am doing this solo.  Any tips or techniques I should know in advance?  The thing is pretty heavy.  I am planning on using my front end loader to lift it most of the way up.  It is the issue if tweaking it into place that concerns me.

Get more hands to help. I helped installed a garage door years ago. Ever with a loader you with need help. In my view one needs three to six people to get the job done. Two people to get the door on the tract, another two to push the door down and two to check the fit. Also make sure that the door is laid out with the top and bottom marked and all parts number. Good luck.

John F Dean wrote:...roll up garage door ...

Sounds like a drum door if I am not mistaken. I had one installed in a garage back in February, and two guys assembled it on the ground and attached the tracks on either side. They placed the bottom of the tracks against the wall opening, and starting at the other end, lifted up the drum end and walked it up and forwards, if that description makes sense. A couple lag bolts were set to hold it in place while they made sure everything was plumb and square, and made sure the drum unrolled and rolled up as it should. Since you're considering trying to install one alone, may I suggest a similar approach with the tracks and everything put together on the ground, then using the loader on the tractor to pick it up and get it in place to bolt to the barn opening. I think it's totally doable.

Hi James,

I have done many projects  in my time that couldn't be done by one person.  But, those projects have always begun with lots of planning. Thanks for the help.

James Freyr wrote:

John F Dean wrote:...roll up garage door ...

Sounds like a drum door if I am not mistaken. I had one installed in a garage back in February, and two guys assembled it on the ground and attached the tracks on either side. They placed the bottom of the tracks against the wall opening, and starting at the other end, lifted up the drum end and walked it up and forwards, if that description makes sense. A couple lag bolts were set to hold it in place while they made sure everything was plumb and square, and made sure the drum unrolled and rolled up as it should. Since you're considering trying to install one alone, may I suggest a similar approach with the tracks and everything put together on the ground, then using the loader on the tractor to pick it up and get it in place to bolt to the barn opening. I think it's totally doable.

Seems like the sticky point could be getting it the last little bit up, without hitting something, depending on how precise your loader/tractor is...

Maybe have some wedges handy to deal with the last inch or two?

Hi D,

Thanks for the tip. I didn't fully explain. In the first post.  As I commented, I planned to lift it most of the way up with the front end loader.  My intent is to use come alongs (wench) to put it into place.  The trick will be if I can find a place to hook them to on the door. Thanks for the comment though, it could have been a life saver.

Rgr; ya, come-alongs should do nicely, long as there are places to connect. Might be able to use a piece of lumber secured to door as attachment point on that end, to spread load from come-alongs if there are no suitable spots on door itself..

The way I do it is place and center the bottom leaf of the door with track wheels on the floor I set up and attach the  the side rails, their mounting brackets have side to side adjustment. I add subsequent leaves with wheels into the side rails. Once I get to the top leaf I make sure it is centered.  Now the door is captured in the side rails I address the upper rails and square them up to the side rails and door frame. If it has a torsion spring I do not do the wind up.  I lift the door making sure the spring is secured and loosen the drums I then wind the cable taught. Once the cable is taught I secure the drum.   By lowering the door it winds the spring and is so much safer than winding the spring by hand.