VROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

GIVE YOUR GARAGE DOORS SOME TLC AND THEY'LL WORK HARDER AND SMARTER

Projects and photography NATASHA DICKINS

Change The Weather Seal

Garage doors tend to take up a big percentage of a home’s facade, so it’s worth keeping them maintained – not just for looks, but to ensure they work smoothly and efficiently, too.

Get your metal roller or sectional door looking and working like new with these simple repairs that can be done in one weekend, from the replacement of the weather seal along the bottom edge to installing a new 'smart' automated door opener.

The hardworking piece of rubber along the base of a garage door eventually deteriorates, but it only costs a few dollars to replace. Before you buy a replacement weather seal, make a note of your door brand, the width and how the seal folds into the track. Also check you have the correct drill bit for the screws that attach the side door guides to the wall.

Tools & materials

n Safety equipment (gloves and eye protection) n Tape measure n Drill with 8mm (5/16") nut driver n Screwdriver n Scraper n Utility knife n Barbecue wipes n Silicone spray n Garage door weather seal

1 Open the door fully and, on the side with the most space, use a drill with an appropriate bit to remove the screws holding the guide on the wall and move it away. Use a screwdriver to remove the plastic cartridge or stopper on the metal track that holds the seal. Tip: We needed an 8mm nut driver for these screws.

2 Wear gloves to slide the old weather seal along the metal track to remove it completely. Run a scraper into the recesses and along the base to remove all debris, then clean with barbecue wipes. Tip: Change an automated door to manual via the switch or lever on the side before opening it by hand to remove the seal.

3 Lubricate the track by using the attached straw to spray silicone into the recesses. Feed the new seal into the two track recesses. Tip: Enlist another pair of hands to help feed in the new seal while you pull it along, to help prevent it from slipping out while avoiding stretching the rubber.

4 Pull the seal through and trim with a short overhang on the ends to allow for shrinkage, then replace the cartridge or stopper. Push the door to fully open and reposition the guide on the door, reinstalling the screws in the existing wall holes. Tip: Use a sharp knife to avoid agitating the seal out of the track when cutting.

Install A Door Opener

Convert a manual-lift roller door into one that opens automatically via a smartphone but, before installing, check there is at least 95mm clearance from the side of the roller to the wall and a power point. You’ll need an opener and connectivity kit, and two ladders. Make sure you also read the manufacturer’s safety recommendations. Follow these steps to install it yourself or visit the Service Desk‡ and arrange for Bunnings to do this for you.

Keep in mind…

n Garage doors attract creepy crawlies, so guard against them by wearing gloves and closed footwear.

n Always wear a mask and eye protection while cleaning.

n Use the right ladder for the job, make sure it has non-slip feet and is set up on a flat, stable and solid surface. Maintain three points of contact (for example both feet and one hand) on it and make sure another person is nearby. Never stand on the top rung.

n Don’t allow people or pets to walk under the open garage door while working on it.

Tools & materials

n Safety equipment (gloves, ear and eye protection) n Tape measure n Small shifting spanner n Drill with 8mm nut driver and 5.5mm bit n Two ladders n Tie-down strap n Drop sheet n 13mm socket n Screwdriver n Garage door opener and smart connectivity kit n Felt-tip pen n 40mm timber offcut

1 Disable the locks and manually check the door opens smoothly. To begin installation, on the opposite side to where the opener will go, clip the supplied stop collar over the axle, against the drum, and tighten with a small shifting spanner.

2 To pin the door and prevent it from ballooning upwards when it moves, close it fully then lift by half a turn to secure supplied self-tapping metal screws into the ends, about 50mm in and through the drum behind, using a drill with an 8mm nut driver. Tip: Work from inside the garage on a stable ladder.

3 Knot the red rope through the cable loop at the side. Pull the cord to hear a click and check the legs turn freely. If your opener is on the left of the door, follow the instructions to change it from the factory-set right opening. Tip: After installation, adjust the rope to be 1800mm above the floor.

4 Open the door and secure a tie-down strap around the rolled drum. Position a ladder underneath with a folded drop sheet on top. Mark the position of the nuts before removing the U bolt from the wall bracket with a 13mm socket. Lift the axle to move the rolled drum onto the ladder and remove the bracket.

5 Slide the opener over the fork to straddle the spokes in the drum. Replace the wall bracket and lift the door back into position. Place the supplied clamp over the axle and through the bracket to tighten the screws over the marks with a 13mm socket. Remove the strap and ladder.

6 Measure halfway along the base of the door and use the weight bar as a template to drill holes with a 5.5mm bit, securing it with supplied bolts using a screwdriver and spanner. Add the warning labels, plug in the opener and follow instructions to set the door-opening limits, testing with a timber offcut.

7 To install connectivity kit sensors, position supplied mounting brackets inside either side of door, the same distance up from the floor, no higher than 100mm, and secure with appropriate screws. Check the eyes of the sensors face each other and the invisible beam between them is unobstructed.

8 Unplug the door opener before running sensor cables to the control panel using supplied self-adhesive cable mounts to hold them against the wall. Remove the access panel of the opener to connect the wires. Plug in the router and opener, then download the app to pair the door to your devices.

1 Grunt 25mm pull tie down strap, $8.95/4m, I/N: 4310166. 2 Chamberlain ‘MyQ’ connectivity kit for smart garage door opener, $158, I/N: 0133221. 3 Stanley 150mm adjustable wrench, $17.99, I/N: 0525479. 4 Chamberlain ‘RollerLift Plus’ roller garage door opener, $569.75, I/N: 0133220*. 5 Gorilla 150kg 6 step double sided ladder, $258, I/N: 0381589. Some