Automatic garage door openers are a godsend when dealing with a car full of children or shopping and especially when the weather is bad.
The prices for automatic garage door openers start from around $500. Different opener types include those for roller doors sectional doors and tilt doors.
A roller door opener is the cheapest, with prices ranging from between $500 to $750. Expensive versions have a safety closing mechanism that stops or reverses the motor if there is an obstacle in the way. Cheaper versions come with a warranty of 3-5 years, which extends up to 7 years for expensive versions.
Belt drive openers are the most expensive due to parts in the opener that provide a quiet and robust operation. The majority of installations use a chain drive opener due to inexpensiveness.
Expect to spend between $550 to $950 for a sectional door, including installation charges.
A tilt door opener comes in two types: a spring-loaded mechanism and a counterweight tilt door. The counterweight tilt door opener is expensive due to additional unique operating mechanisms - you should expect to spend $550 to $1150 for a tilt door opener.
The expected cost to setup an electric opener is between $500 and $1,200. Standard installation charges start from around $230, which covers the installation of a garage door opener up to 3.5 meters in height. Non-standard installations are relatively expensive. Factors affecting the installation charges are below.
Current condition of the garage door.
Existing motor on door (if any).
Type of garage door currently installed.
Type of garage door opener chosen.
Installation charges differ based on the brand chosen. The average labour charges for the job in Australia is $55 per hour. Below is the breakdown of installation charges (along with the cost of the product) of various parts of an electric garage door opener. A chain drive opener costs around $150 to $200 and a belt drive around $100 more. The installation charges for both is the same. The expected cost for installing a brand name opener, including two remote controls and a wall unit, should cost around $500.
Consider the following factors of a garage door opener before buying.
An opener will have either an AC motor or a DC motor, where DC motors are preferable because of quieter operation, reduced vibrations, soft functionality (soft stop and soft start) and less wear and tear. Different motors are suited for different types of garage doors:
A 600N motor is suited for sectional doors for a single car garage.
800N motor is suited for applications of a 600N motor in addition to tilt doors for a single car garage and sectional doors for a medium double car garage.
1000N motor is suited for applications of an 800N motor along with tilt doors and sectional doors for a large double car garage.
1200N motor is suited for applications of 1000N motor plus tilt doors and sectional doors for a heavy double car garage.
A homeowner can choose between belt drive and chain drive garage door openers where belt drive is preferred in residential areas (despite being expensive) due to the following reasons:
Less noise generation.
Hassle-free installation.
Resists corrosion.
Doesn't need lubrication.
Look for the place of manufacture.
Check the warranty. Motors have a warranty of 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. The circuit board and transformers have a 2-year warranty.
Check if the opener is compatible with smart devices.
A manual garage door can be automated after checking a few things.
To automate the door, it must move freely and should not rub on the frame or floor. A wobbling door must be fixed before automating. The door itself must be in good condition (must not be worn out). Custom made doors are challenging to automate, and automation will be expensive due to the unique springs, arms and tracks used in them.
Garages with an 'up and over' door must have tracks running horizontally back in the garage to be automated. Retractable doors running vertically up and down are tricky to automate. Canopy doors are not originally designed to be automated, but well and smooth functioning canopy doors are automatable. Sectional doors can be automated if working smoothly. The majority of sectional doors demand minor repair before installing a motor. Roller garage doors are the easiest to motorise.
A garage lacking in headroom and power is a challenger. Any lintels running through the garage become an obstacle in the motor mechanism's path, making it challenging to install the motor.
Assuming a standard chain-drive opener needs to be installed, below are the installation steps.
Unboxing the inventory. Take a look at what tools and parts are available or needed.
Assembling the rails. They usually come in 5-6 pieces. Rail assembly includes a trolley connected to the door.
Mounting the rails to the motor unit and fastening.
Chain installation. This includes installing the idler pulley on the end of the track near the door. A cable is connected to the chain, making a loop. The loop goes over the pulley, running back to the motor unit.
A header bracket supporting the door end on the track is installed.
Motor unit installation. The motor unit is mounted to the ceiling, and the door bracket and an L-shaped metal bar are installed that attaches the garage door to the rails.
Electronics including door button and safety sensor eyes are installed at the end. Once the installation finishes, the garage door is tested.