You can buy garage door opening gear at department or big box stores from around $150 to $200 on average, while an installation expert charges at least double that amount.  A professional can install it in about two hours for a single garage door, which means that they are getting a minimum of $100 an hour for their labor.  If you have not installed garage door opener gear before than it will take you longer, but is it still worth saving yourself a couple hundred dollars if you have the time and resources?  Only you can calculate how much your time and frustration is worth.  Below are some of the pros and cons of installing a garage door opener gear system yourself.  The only con to hiring a professional is the money required to do so.  If you have excess money, then you can hire a professional for a fast and guaranteed installation.

If you do not have excess money, then there are additional things you need to consider alongside of having enough time to complete the job yourself.   Do you have the right tools for the job?  There isn’t a specialty tool required to install garage door opener gear.  If you have a power drill, socket set, step ladder and a few other standard issue toolbox tools, you are ready to go.  If you have to purchase these tools just for this job, it may not be the money saving venture that you had therefore anticipated.

Do you know what type of garage door opener gear is required for the type of garage door that you have?  There are many different types of garage door materials and shapes and sizes.  If you are unsure as to which type of garage door you have, you may not know what type of garage door opener gear you need.  A contractor can come and look at your garage door and ensure that he is installing the correct garage door opener gear that is required for your existing garage door.  It would reduce your chances of saving money if you purchase and try and install the incorrect gear that you need.

Warrantees and guarantees contribute to the bottom line.  If you have a licensed contractor install the gear that he has sold to you, you will have both a strong warrantee and installation guarantee.  If you purchase your own garage opener gear and install it yourself, then the warrantee does not cover the installation process nor the same life cycle as a professionally sold gear system.

If you do not mind giving up the cost benefits that you receive when you pay for the luxury of having a professional install your garage door opener gear then you will gain valuable experience with the installation process by doing it yourself.  You will also be intimately experienced with the gear system that you have installed and can therefore maintain it with ease.