Prepping for a Garage Door Installation – Homeowner Checklist
Before your scheduled garage door installation, it’s important to get your home and garage ready so the installers can work quickly and safely.
Taking a few simple steps ahead of time can help prevent delays, protect your belongings and ensure the entire process runs smoothly.
This homeowner checklist walks you through exactly how to get ready for a hassle-free garage door upgrade.
What Should You Do Before Garage Installers Arrive?
Before the day of your garage door installation, it’s important to prepare the space inside and outside the garage, checking things like the structural condition, confirming power access and more.
These steps support a safe and efficient installation, explaining what you should do before your installers arrive (or before you take on a DIY installation job) to ensure a prompt and smooth process.
Clear Access Around the Garage
The area outside your garage should be completely clear to give technicians full, unobstructed access.
Be sure to remove things like:
- Parked vehicles
- Wheelie bins
- Garden tools or equipment
- Outdoor storage items
Creating wide, open access points helps ensure a safe, efficient installation environment and minimises the risks of delays or hazards.
Create Space Inside the Garage
Creating space inside the garage is just as important, especially if you are having a garage door installed which requires ceiling tracks and plenty of overhead room, like a sectional door.
Again, be sure to remove things like:
- Cars and motorbikes
- Bicycles and lawn equipment
- Storage boxes and loose items
- Anything fixed to the ceiling that could block the tracks
Taking a few minutes to clear the space will make the entire installation process quicker and easier for everyone, whilst also protecting your personal belongings from potential damage.
Prepare for Different Garage Door Installation Options
How you handle the above will likely depend on which fitting style your new garage door will use – face fit, reveal fit or part-reveal fit, as each option will impact how much internal space you need to clear and how the door will sit within the opening.
A face fit requires more internal clearance because the frame sits behind the brickwork, while a reveal fit places the door between the brick pillars and typically needs less internal depth. A part-reveal fit, often used for garages with limited headroom or uneven brickwork, requires access to both the inside face and part of the reveal.
Knowing your fitting style in advance will help you prepare the area more effectively, which in turn will help your installers quickly get to work without obstruction.
So be sure to speak to your garage door installation company about this, or research online to ensure you have the facts before any DIY work takes place.
Check Your Garage Structure
Although the overall structure and condition of your garage will have been assessed during your free site survey, it is still important to recheck its condition in the days leading up to your installation.
Focus on structural aspects like:
- Brickwork
- Timber supports
- Lintels
- The main opening frame
If you spot cracks, rot or instability, contact your installation company as soon as possible so it can be addressed before installation day. Minor structural damage should be okay, but anything significant will likely impact your garage door performance and could cause larger problems in the future.
Confirm You Have Reliable Access to Power
A reliable power supply is crucial for those upgrading to an automated garage door, as these rely on consistent electrical access.
You should check that the power supply is fully functional and within a reasonable working distance from your garage.
If your power supply is failing or not currently available, notify your installation company and arrange for a qualified electrician to install or repair the outlet ahead of installation day.
Prepare for the Installation of Smart Features
If your new, chosen garage door includes smart features such as wireless connectivity, exterior keypads or camera-based controls, make sure you have your Wi-Fi password ready and that your router provides a strong, reliable signal to the garage area.
If your Wi-Fi coverage is limited in your garage, it could be worth investing in a signal booster to ensure better connectivity in this area of your home.
Preparing these details in advance ensures the smart components can be set up quickly and creates a hassle-free installation experience.
Consider Pets, Children and Their Safety
On installation day, your garage becomes an active workshop, with tools, equipment and potential trip hazards that can pose safety risks for small children, pets, plantlife and homeowners.
To maintain safety, you should:
- Keep children indoors
- Secure pets away from the workspace
- Remove or cover any plantlife or hanging baskets
- Avoid entering the garage unless asked by technicians
These steps will reduce the risk of accidents and help further safeguard your home if any accidents were to occur, which is of course much less likely if you’re working with a professional garage door installation company as opposed to DIYing it.
Conclusion
A little organisation and preparation go a long way in helping your installers deliver the best results, in a safe and efficient way. So, be sure to give yourself enough time to tidy your space (inside and out), check your garage’s condition, confirm you have reliable internet access (if applicable) and prepare any smart features so everything is ready to go on installation day.
At West Midland Garage Doors, we are committed to making the garage door installation process simple and affordable.
Honesty lies at the heart of what we do, with no hidden costs and a free no obligation estimation service, we provide expert advice and a stress-free garage door supply and fitting experience from start to finish.