New doors
New garage door installation and replacement in Haverhill
Take these measurements before you call. They decide which doors will fit your garage.
Say the town and what the door is doing.
Measure the opening
Low clearance above the opening, common in small detached garages, may call for a low-headroom track, so mention it on the call. Tight side walls can also limit what fits.
- Width and height of the opening.
- Headroom above the opening.
- Clear space on each side.
- Depth from the opening to the back wall or anything stored there.
Materials
Steel is common. Wood and wood-look doors suit some houses but take more upkeep. Aluminum-framed glass doors let in light.
Insulation matters most if the garage is attached, has a room above it or doubles as a workshop.
Road salt and slush are hard on the bottom of a door, so ask about the bottom seal and how long the finish is warranted.
Windows and style
Raised-panel, flush and carriage-house looks come in several materials. Windows near the top let in light without exposing what's in the garage.
What changes the price
This site lists no prices because the cost depends on the job. These things move it:
- The size of the opening.
- The material and insulation.
- The number of windows.
- The track your headroom needs.
- Removing and hauling away the old door and springs.
- A new opener or outlet.
- Any permit.
Ask for the whole job in writing, with removal shown as included or excluded.
Permits
Ask before work starts. Haverhill's building inspector can tell you whether your job needs a permit: 978-374-2338, City Hall Room 214, 4 Summer Street. In Methuen, ask the Inspections Division: 978-983-8625, Searles Building, 41 Pleasant Street, Suite 203.
If a permit is needed, have the contractor get it. The state warns that homeowners who pull their own may not be eligible for its Guaranty Fund.
Changing the size of the opening usually means changing the framing above it. The state says work on structural elements generally needs a Construction Supervisor License, so ask whether the contractor holds one.
Don't remove the old door yourself
Taking down a door means releasing its spring tension. That's the dangerous part of the job. Leave the old door and its springs to the contractor.
Call about your door
Say the town and what the door is doing. You will be connected with an independent garage door contractor.