BobVila.com

Bob takes a look at a new Sears garage door opener — a 3/4 horsepower unit that's among the strongest on the market. The unit features a keypad that allows access if you need to get in the garage from the home's exterior without the remote control. To meet safety requirements, the opener has an electric eye that reverses the door's downward motion if it senses an object (or small child!) in the way.

Bob gets together with Gary and Earl Raymond from Clairmont Glass as they prepare to install the Clopay garage doors. The openings for the garage doors have arched tops but the doors themselves are rectangular painted hemlock. The door comes in three sections - the bottom and the middle sections are plain and the top section has glass panes set in an arch to match the frame. The first step in the installation is nailing a rubber seal on the bottom of the bottom panel to keep the weather out. The door panels are pre-punched and pre-marked to indicate where the hinges go. Next they put the first panel in place and mount the vertical track. Then they add the second panel and fasten the hinges. With lengths of punched angle attached to the ceiling, they secure the track and put the top section of the door in place. Next they install the torsion spring which, when attached via cable to the door, uses tension to actually lift the door.

Carl Redhead is on hand to help install the garage door openers on the automotive end of the barn. Carl explains the various brackets and beams used to mount the opener's drive and reviews the chain material used to move the door. Electric eyes are added for safety.

Bob meets up with Ryley, who is installing a Craftsman garage door opener. Ryley starts out by pointing out the best place to start a project is with the instructions. They begin by setting up the track and mounting it to the wall over the door on one side and to the rafters on the motor side. The opener has an infrared sensor that stops the door from closing when an object is in the garage door's way. This was a new feature when the show originally aired.

Ernie Hutto from DAB Garage Doors explains that the garage door is the largest opening into any home. Hurricane winds can twist and shred a door, bringing wind force and pressure vacuums into the home and causing building failure. Hurricane Master doors are made of 24-gauge steel to make them more resistant to failure. DAB Hurricane Master doors are strengthened with their patented Interforce system that reinforces the top and bottom panels to prevent door twisting and blow-in. Denver Miller and his crew install the panels starting at the bottom. Reinforcing bars are integral to the design of these hurricane-resistant doors. The Interforce bars are added to the top and bottom panels to give more strength during high winds. The garage-door tracks are also reinforced with seven brackets, a flag bracket, and a 14-gauge steel track. This prevents the tracks from pulling, twisting, and blowing in during a hurricane. The garage door opener is also installed but, as Miller points out, it need not be heavy duty because the strength of the system relies on the torsion springs not the opener. An opener's job is simply to guide the door, not pull it.