And We Have a New Garage Door

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Every homeowner knows that right when you're about to delve into a big renovation...something will go wrong.  In this case, something non-related went totally wrong. 

Anywho...This past weekend my garage got a little unexpected makeover:

Regardless of how little I use the garage (the sole purpose of the garage is to keep the trash can dry), I had plans to give it a bit of a facelift in the spring.  The garage door is painted the same lovely color as the rest of the garage and house. The painters must've had so much paint leftover because even the entry door is painted the same grayish-purplish color.  Yet, they painted around the massive security light.  The garage entry door, garage door and light were all begging for a little makeover. And I had big plans to spend one day and $50 on paint and a new light to spruce up the place.

However, fate would have other plans for the garage.   Right as we were prepping for Justin's holiday party (which I was hosting), the garage door fell off the track.  Even after spending a few hours fixing the rollers and track, it all came undone once we tried to operate the door again.  Not knowing a darn thing about garage doors, and also a little scared that the heavy steel door might collapse on us, I called a technician to come take a look at it.  Long story short, it needed to be replaced.

Based on my conversaton with my dad about what to expect for a door replacement, I was surprised to hear that the garage door man's price was very fair.  Just meeting this man though, I still collected three quotes for the same door and install specs (17'x7' residential steel door, non-insulated, 25 gauge steel, same warranty, opener with 2 remotes and keypad, install, and haul away old door) from a couple sources:

          1) Quote from a man I was referred to from a friend (who I chose to go with based on his
               experience and price)
          2) Quote from Lowe's for garage door, opener and installation (+$462.00 higher)
          3) Quote from Home Depot for garage door, opener and installation (+$398.00 higher)

I actually assumed that Home Depot and Lowe's would be cheaper.  Do your homework when bidding out jobs and materials.  Big box stores aren't always cheaper in fact, they were as much as 45% more expensive for the same door, install and opener!

So, I am happy to announce that (in less than 3 hours of installation time which was completed while I was warm inside my home) I had a brand new garage door installed.  I didn't have to lift a finger.  Well, other than to snap this picture...

Regardless of whether I use it or not, it is lovely....  So lovely that I may actually use it one day.

I may have taken the trash out a few extra times this weekend so I could play with the new door.

One brand spankin' new door and new opener, and one more project crossed off my spring to-do list.  I like to think I'm ahead of schedule :)

Mary