Updating My Home's Exterior
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Updating My Home's Exterior

After we listed our home for sale, I could tell that things really needed to change, and fast. Our real estate agent mentioned that there were a few issues with the exterior of our home, so we took her suggestions to heart. She mentioned that our garage door desperately needed to be updated, so we worked hard to take care of the issue. We completely repainted the door, and then we worked on adding hardware and handles that gave it a little visual interest. This website is here to help people to update their home's exterior in a productive, convenient way. Check it out!

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Updating My Home's Exterior

Prep Work For Installing A Garage Door Opener

Alice Rhodes

There is prep work for installing a garage door opener? Yes, there is. After you have purchased the garage door opener you want and brought the box kit home, you will have to do all of the following before you can even install the opener; that is, of course, if you are going to do this DIY.

Select and/or Install a Wood Beam 

You should either have a wood beam in your garage that runs parallel to the top edge of your garage door, or you will have to install a beam that runs perpendicular to the door. This beam also has to be set some distance back from the top edge of the garage door when the garage door is open. This is the beam to which you will attach the motor of the garage door.

Its physical presence cannot interfere with the opening of the door. So, you will have to make sure that the beam on the ceiling of your garage is far enough behind the open garage door before you start the installation process. Failing to do so can result in damage to the garage door opener and prevent the garage door from opening fully.

Find a Metal Joist to Support the Door

With some garage door opener kits, this joist is included. With other kits, it is not. Check the components in the kit you have purchased. There should be a metal component that looks like a bent-out-of-shape "L."

The bottom part of this piece of metal is the base of the "L" bent downward to form an obtuse angle. On both ends of this component, you should see brackets. The base of the "L"-shaped component has a bracket that has to be attached to the garage door, while the other end of this component is attached overhead. This is the metal joist that will help provide lifting support for your garage door as the opener is working to pull the door upward.

Open the Box and Lay Parts out by Step

Finally, open your garage door opener kit. Lay the parts out on a hard surface, such as a garage workbench. Lay the parts out according to the steps in the instruction manual. This will help you see how the parts are installed, and how each part of the installation process builds on the last step. Make sure you have the right tools laid out as well.

For more information, contact a company like Edelen Door.


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