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How to install a garage door opener

By Bunnings magazine / Autumn 2023

Chamberlain roller lift attached to garage door.

Going up

Improve your home security by converting your manual roller door into one that rises automatically using a garage door opener and a smartphone.

There are a couple of things you need to check before beginning this D.I.Y. project. First, you need at least 95mm clearance from the side of the roller door to the wall. The second thing you need is a handy powerpoint.

Once you’ve determined your garage door is suitable for installing a smart garage door opener, you’ll need to buy it and a connectivity kit. You’ll also need access to two ladders.

Before you begin, be sure to read the manufacturer’s safety recommendations and follow all of the steps.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, ear muffs and gloves, for example) and follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Disable the locks on roller door

Disable the garage door 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 and against the drum; tighten with a small shifting spanner.

Person’s hand disables locks on roller door.

2Pin the door and secure with a drill

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

3Secure the red rope (provided in the kit)

Knot the red rope through the cable loop at the side. Pull the cord until you 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 a factory-set right opening.

Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: After installation, adjust the rope to be 1800mm above the floor.
Hand is on Chamberlain Roller Lift Plus with red rope.

4Secure tie-down strap

Open the garage door and secure a tie-down strap around the rolled drum. Position a ladder underneath with a folded drop sheet on top of the ladder. 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.

Roller drum is secured with tie-down strap.

5Replace wall bracket

Slide the garage door 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.

Chamberlain roller lift attached to garage door.

6Secure the weight bar

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

Persons hand uses screwdriver to secure bolts on Chamberlain.

7Install mounting brackets on both sides of the door

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

Mounting bracket on side of door.

8Plug in the router

Unplug the door opener before running sensor cables to the control panel using the 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. Your door is now ready to roll.

Self-adhesive cable mounts hold sensor against the wall.

9Keep in mind…

  • Garage doors attract insects so protect yourself by wearing gloves and closed footwear.
  • Choose the right ladder for the job: make sure it has non-slip feet and set it up on a flat, stable, solid surface. Maintain three points of contact on the ladder at all times (for example, both feet and one hand) and make sure another person is nearby. Never stand on the top rung.
  • Don’t allow people or pets to walk under the open garage door while working on it.

*This product uses a coin/cell battery. Keep out of reach of children.

10Looking to get your garage in order?

Check out our guide on how to organise your garage.

Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

 

Photo Credit: Natasha Dickins

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.