Restoring sliding garage doors
Our original garage doors have been replaced with a standard issue sectional door by the previous owners some years ago. The door works fine, but we are not too happy with the looks of it.
Our neighbor recently announced that he wants to replace his original doors (which is already equipped with an electric opener) with a sectional door. There is nothing wrong with his door, but he thinks a new door would look better.
Now the question: would it be feasible for us to throw out our sectional door and replace it with out neighbor's original door, or are there any hidden pitfalls I am not aware of. Or am I just crazy to even consider this ? Will I become the laughingstock of the entire neighborhood :wink: ?
And if possible, are there any good eichler garage door experts out here in the east bay who would be able to get this job done ?
Any hint is appreciated.
I don't think you're crazy to try this, since I plan to do the same exact thing. It is possible apply Eichler-like paneling to a sectional garage door, but I got an informal quote of $2500.00. I'm meeting with this company on Friday to discuss my options.
If you can get a set of doors from a neighbor, that's great. I am thinking I have to build my own from scratch. I haven't looked in detail at the mechanism for an original slider, but it shouldn't be too hard to create from better materials. I'm thinking of using a straight piece of standard roll-up track and wheels, but mount them across the width of the garage instead of the usual way.
I'll let you know if I hear anything useful from the garage door company that did the installation on the sectional in my new place.
Chuck
When I purchased my home (single car garage) the previous owner had boarded up the garage reason unknown. The garage door was in really bad shape. I found a guy through my realator who installed a 4 piece secitonal sliding door and installed original siding on the front. Door cost was about 1000 and additional labor was about 700. He did an excellent job, I have no complaints a year later and am very happy that I was able to maintain the exterior aesthetics.
todd
Mine is a two car garage, so that might explain the difference in cost.
Chuck: did the garage door company you talked to have Eichler experience? Are they able, for example, to install an opener that will open original Eichler doors? We have the original doors on our 2-car garage, but want to have openers installed w/o replacing the doors. So far, we have not been able to find any companies to do this.
I am in San Jose. If you have any company suggestions, please send me an e-mail.
Cathye
(cathyelynn at earthlink dot net).
I sent you an email directly, but to summarize for others, Crown Industrial Supply (http://www.crown-industrial.com) does more things like fire house doors, big barn doors, etc.
Could you measure the width of your doors? It would appear that they were 8' 4" wide or something like that. I'd like to know the real dimensaions.
Thanks,
Chuck
can you copy me on that email too ? Thanks
Two unrelated thoughts on garage doors:
1) If you have sliders and really want tip ups, most any company can convert them to tip ups. I've done it with mine, and it works great. The only cost disadvantage is that you must buy two openers.
2) The biggest problem with the rollup panel garage doors is that people leave them white. If they are painted the same color as the body of the house, they blend much better.
