It's in there! (Garage Door is done)

Friday was a full day. When they put "11-1" on the paperwork I thought it meant, arrive at 11AM leave at 1PM. Well when I got home at 11AM and they weren't there I waited 15 minutes and called to find out they meant "Arrive 11-1, finish as possible" oh.

They arrived about 11:45 and were two very polite hard workers. I told them that the door hinge was about to come apart and asked me to push the door opener button as they helped the door up. Of course since the door wasn't being held down by gravity any more it immediately slid off the door hinge pin and the springs released with a loud bang! Fortunately I had safety locks properly in place and the springs didn't go shooting off in to the ceiling or one of them. Unfortunately these two guys were literally holding up the garage door by themselves. One guy sturdied himself and the other guy jumped in his pickup and backed under the door to hold it up.

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I always wondered how they got those big doors up on the roof rack of the pickups. Now I know :)

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I asked them to estimate how long it would take and they said about two hours. I needed to get back to work so I asked if they could call me before they were done. They verified my cell phone number and I left them working with my wife home.

Later that day they called me to say they were just about done and to come back and sign it off. As soon as I arrived I noticed a problem. The window inserts were the "Full sunburst" where the combination of four panels make up the whole sunburst. I had requested the "Dual Sunburst" where two panels make up a sunburst and there are two sets. I went in found my order form, double checked that I had actually ordered it, walked back out and told them that there was a small problem. They immediately got on the phone with their boss and told me that they would take care of it without our intervention. The panels are installed from the outside and are easily replaced. I had him show me how so that if mine are ever damaged I can replace them myself.

The lead person showed me how to use the remote and as soon as the door opened there was a loud "pop" and I asked him what that was. He disconnected the motor from the door and manually slid the door along its tracks. At one point the upper and 2nd from upper door segments would bind up then release dramatically, kind of like an earthquake. He adjusted the spacing between the doors and sprayed lubrication all along the interface between the door segments. I still noticed some creaking, but it was significantly better. Not having a sliding door like this before I had no reference for how quiet or loud it should be. He showed me that there are new sensors near the bottom of the track for making sure nothing is in the way. He showed me how you can lock out remotes without disabling the button by the door to the house. I signed the paperwork and they left.

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Later that night I needed something in the garage and when I went out I didn't have to turn on the overhead lights, there was enough light coming in through the windows in the door that I could get what I needed, clothes from the dryer, without any additional light. I had no idea how much that would improve our situation. I am really glad I went ahead with the windows. All in all it was a great experience.