Buying a new garage door is an important task for homeowners. After picking out the perfect one, it’s time to start preparing for its upcoming installation. There’s a lot you’ll need to do before the installers show up, so you’ll want to make sure you’re ready. Here’s a list of some things you should do to prepare for your new garage door installation.
Verify All the Details in Advance
Shortly after purchasing your garage door, you’ll want to go over its details. Make sure it’s the right size and shape and has all your desired features. For example, you should check to ensure you have the residential roll-up garage door instead of the commercial variation since those can be easy to mix up.
Once you’ve confirmed all the garage door’s details, check the information about the installation itself. Verify the date the installers will be coming on, and ensure that all the services you want are on the bill. It’s far better to iron out the details in advance rather than on the day of the installation.
Plan Out the Installation Day
After those verifications, it’s time to plan out that day for yourself. Typically, it’s best to clear out your whole day for something like this. While the installation process will vary depending on the type of garage door you used to have and the new one you’ve bought, it could take anywhere from three to six hours. If there are any delays with when the installers get there or any slowdowns with your door, the installation could take up even more time.
That’s why it’s best to simply plan for a day at home. Fortunately, if you live with a spouse or significant other, only one of you has to be there. That means the other person can go to work or run errands if needed. Plus, you can swap positions if the other has a few things they need to do that day.
Clear the Garage Out
A day or two before the installation, you’ll want to clear out your garage. That doesn’t mean you need to take everything out and make it look spotless, but you should remove anything that might be in the way of the installers.
That mainly includes any items you might have near the garage door tracks. All entrances should also be clear of debris. Regardless of how clean your garage is, though, you’ll definitely need to move your cars. You should move all your vehicles out into the street a few hours before the installers arrive. Leaving them in the driveway could cause difficulties since they occupy so much space.
Remove All People and Animals
Finally, the last thing to do to prepare for a new garage door installation is to remove all people and animals from the premises if possible. Children and pets can get in the way of the installers without realizing it. So it’s best to send your kids to a friend’s house for the day and your pets to someone who can take care of them. If that’s not possible, make sure they stay indoors and out of the way.