Garage doors purchased on a closeout price sound like a great deal. For the most part, they are. However, some of those closeout items are closeout items because they lack something in the box or kit, usually hardware. That makes garage door installation a nightmare, because you do not have all of the nuts, bolts, and screws or track needed to properly install the door. Hang on; it is not all that bad. You can still get the right hardware you need to finish the installation, if you know where to look.
More Tracks
Almost every garage door requires a set of "tracks." These tracks hold the garage door in the upright position when it is closed, and help guide the garage door's casters upward when opening the door. If you are missing one or both tracks in your discounted door kit, check for a telephone number to call the manufacturer. If there is one, call it and ask for replacement tracks, explaining why you do not have them. If they were not in the box, the manufacturer is more than willing to replace them for free.
If there is no contact info for the manufacturer, call a garage door installation company. The owner and technicians can locate extra tracks for your garage door. They can also install the tracks for you when they deliver them, but that is up to you.
More Nuts, Bolts, and Screws
If you are really lucky, the nuts, bolts and screws included in the kit are not custom-made just for this garage door kit. Custom-made hardware is made of a size, diameter, and/or length for which you cannot find replacements in any hardware store anywhere. You will be able to tell if you have custom hardware by taking the pieces you have to a hardware store to match to something they have. When you need replacement parts that match what you did not get in the kit, this is a fairly typical procedure. However, custom-made parts will not have matches in a hardware store, and that is how you know that you will not be able to finish the installation. The missing parts cannot be so easily replaced. You will definitely need help from a garage door installation technician.
On the flip side, if you have very typical and universal parts that are missing, taking what you have to the hardware store to match it will be a breeze. The hardware store employee can help you match size, diameter, and length, even if the parts are metric. It will only cost you a few extra dollars or cents, and that still makes your closeout garage door kit an excellent value.
For more information, contact a company like Overhead Doors Unlimited Inc today.
After we made the decision to start looking for a new garage door, I realized just how many different options there were out there. In addition to traditional white doors, we were left looking at different doors that really complemented the look of our house, and it was remarkable to see just how much of a difference the perfect door made to our home. I wanted to begin a blog all about finding a great garage door and knowing how to spot excellence, so I made this blog. Read more here to find a garage door you will love every day.