I built a play shed for the kids a few years back that was a miniature version of my house complete with garage door. I went to Eastern Overhead Doors (Belleville Ontario) to purchase the hardware, and while i was there the guy gave me a garage door that i could modify - it was headed to the scrap heap so he didnt charge me a cent, and with a little woodworking it fit/worked PERFECT. While i was installing the door the next day, one of his installers stopped in uninvited and helped me finish up the install and checked/tested it. Again no charge, they just wanted to make sure it was safe for kids. Needless to say I highly recommend this company to anyone in the area.
I'm a trucker whose grandfather was a construction worker and carpenter... I've watched every video of this series and enjoyed every second. Thank you for your time and videos you make.
You'd think so, but my brother nearly lost a thumb when he unbolted some of that while it was under tension and it shot a bolt across his hand and into the wall! I loved how he'd say "it was totally unavoidable!" immediately after explaining what happened. I'd point out that those red bolts are red for a reason. And he isn't a stupid person either! Sigh..
Overhead door isn't the only company, they all use red bolts or rather they're supposed to. On occasion we'd have to paint them red. Every red bolt means that bolt is under spring tension or a major supporting bolt for the door and/or track.
Many thanks guys! It pays to read the comments as well. I always learn something new. I'm a DIY home owner and may have been able to figure this out on my own - or not. So much better to have a heads up. MANY THANKS!
@@winterishere9828 🤔 Interesting. With a little help from google-earths measuring tool, and making the assumption you’re not on a boat or treading water - 10,000 miles away (from Roseburg) could only place you in about 4 countries on the southern tip of Africa or Antarctica. [I know, I know, you were just making the point that you were a really long way away.]
The first garage door in our previous house, the goobers didn't properly attach the end of the rail above the door opening, and after about a month, when closing the door, the rail pulled out and fell down. The beam across the opening was too low, so they put one ratty piece of 2x4 above the beam, loose, and then tried to get 2 screws into it after the drywall was up. Instead they had half of one screw in it. When I fixed it I went overboard, and fabricated something out of 4x3/8 flat steel, which I bolted to the beam, but at least it was still there 20 years (and another garage door) later.
As a Garage door installer I have been waiting for this video since you started speculation. It's interesting to see some of the little different ways they accomplish the same goal I do in an installation. You definitely nailed the key points your average person should know about when considering doing this themselves. I always likened winding a spring to loading a firearm. They are safe as long as you are intentional and careful, but you need to treat them like they could kill you if you are standing in the wrong spot or doing something wrong, because they can. Most garage door installers know at least one guy in the industry who's missing a finger or has a torn shoulder from a slip up with a spring.
So glad to hear you say that you will never again try fitting a garage door. I just had a new one fitted. I thought about doing it myself as half the cost is in the installation, but I though better of it and paid the extra. It was nice to let the tradesman have the hassle. 😊
I not only installed my own overhead garage door, I built the door myself from scratch. Never do that again! I mean it came out ok, looked great and saved me thousands on a wood door, but boy was it a lot of work and needs a little extra regular maintenance.
“But for me, there are no instructions anywhere near as helpful as watching so who knows exactly what they’re doing” That’s exactly why I watch your videos.
@@dabest133 Experience installers can take anywhere from 5 to 6 hour for a 1-person installer and for a straightforward install like this one. I think a DIYer can take twice as long or even longer. There some important measurements that are needed to ensure the door are level during and after installation. Hope this brief info helps.
Ive been installing garage doors this year and absolutely love it. Great money (six figures if you go it alone) a different location everyday and usually in complete solitude. There may be other trades on site, but, I don't speak spanish so no need to worry about folks talking to me. The work isn't all that hard once you've unloaded your doors and its a soothing process.
I liked the shot of them cleaning afterwards, any contractor who cleans up their mess and as well as their work afterwards shows a true level of professionalism.
just installed the first garage door and can see for a start where i went wrong had to go back to the store backtrack a few steps and so fort .. this guys are pros and a joy to watch
Man watching the garage door installers is like poetry in motion. We still have our Overhead Door going on 30 years. Needs maintenance every now and then but I'll never forget the night the springs snapped. We were sitting in our living room and it sounded like a bomb going off. I've never seen two cats run so fast:)
First, thanks for an interesting channel. Second, many thanks for your crystal clear voice and use of the English language. For me as a foreigner with a slight hearing condition I have no problem whatsoever to follow your story. If you ever get out of the carpenter business you have a future as a narrator in the broadcasting media. 👍
I installed an 8'door once. Fixed many. I gladly pay someone else now. I'm getting a new door on my house next week. This video reinforces my intuition. Specialty tradesmen are worth their weight and can knock out your project faster and more efficient than me, allowing me to focus on other things. Enjoyed the history you shared.
I've in installed one garage door, my first and last... It can be done by a general handyman or tradesman. But it's not worth the headache if you can afford to let a pro do it. Not to mention the potential to mame yourself.
I have used Overhead Door in the Sacramento area several times over the last 20+ years and have been amazed by their knowledge, thrifty and friendly service. They have gone out of their way to be helpful.
I am an OHD installer in ks...went to do an install once and the customer came out with a bandaged up hand. Well he tried installing a standard track door himself when he needed lowheadroom track. As he was sawing his rafters to make the track fit the saw bucked and he cut off his fingers. There are a lot of variables to consider when installing a door, let the pros do it. Nice install btw.
EC. Great stuff. I've been a carpenter since 1972 and a contractor since 1979 here in SoCal, but just recently retired. I've worked with bad carpenters and good ones. I always kept the good one close, and I will tell you, I would have kept you close. You are methodical and precise. My crews, when we were setting forms or framing were like the "Borg", we didn't have to speak, because we had a hidden internet connection. I rarely see that anymore. I am glad to see you are training these young men.
Overhead Door is great. Have had them work on multiple doors in the Eugene area. Also - word to the wise - DO NOT attempt to mess with the torsion springs on your garage door unless you know what you're doing. You CANNOT hold them back with a bent screwdriver or prybar while you're mucking around with the springs and cables.
Installing a garage door for the first time with no experience is torture. Outsource it to the pros. It's well worth the money. I remember my boss spending 4 hours in a hot as hell garage where he couldn't get out until the door was installed and he could open the main garage door. He must have lost 10 pounds in sweat and was soaking wet by the time he came out. The large spring that runs down the middle is really dangerous.
I've had to learn by doing making repairs on the Overhead Door in my shop (someone backed into it with a load too high to fit through the opening). I love figuring out how things work and these doors are like a lot of other things: simple, once you know how they work, and know how to work safely. Seeing a full-blown episode with a professional installer will be great!
I’m a 60 year old Electrical Engineer and during covid with lots of free time I became an aspiring carpenter! Much more fun than my real job. Getting ready to build a shop and found you on RU-vid. Love your videos. Keep them coming.
Well I've been an overhead door technician for 6 years now and I'm tickled that I have a skillset that the EC is impressed with. All the best from BC, Canada!
I did garage doors for years. It's a dance. For many guys it's piece work so efficiency determines how well you do. That angle iron cutter is a great tool. Like a paper cutter for angle iron. On one door not so impressive. Compare when cutting iron for 3 doors and it is a serious time saver.
Watching an experienced garage door installer at work is inspiring, in less time than it takes a novice to figure out where the parts go the installer is driving away. The satisfaction of a new working door with a remote in an hour or less and no aggravation reading instructions is worth the extra money.
I've given this a thumbs up 👍 already before I even watch it....... thats how much I trust and love this content...... looking forward to sitting down with a cup of coffee when I get home and watching in peace.......
Never installed a garage door. But several years ago I replaced both my garage door openers myself. Took a Saturday, but now, every time I open or close my garage door, I feel a little pride :)
I love this house! Scott, you inspired me to build and finish my garage and I must say, it turned out great! BTW, I purchased a Skillsaw per your videos and have to say, best saw I have ever owned.....So glad you and Nate are doing this series, it is a wealth knowledge for all who take the time to watch it! ....Keep up the good work!
It’s funny to see people Install Garage Doors in other parts of the country. I live in Florida and have been in the trade for 17 years. With our Hurricane codes here the same door would have ten 3” struts and much bigger springs for the extra weight. I’m so jealous.
I installed doors in the late 90's wind load door had an i beam and straps on every panel ! I hear ya though one strut light door install is a piece of cake
Been watching since vid one. I have no earthly reason to believe I'll ever build a house, yet felt like I really needed to watch this series. I'm in Phoenix with family just over the Columbia river into Washington, so I watched you come down and help your family here in Phoenix for that project too. I don't know you guys, but I feel like I know you guys. Thank you forever for this incredible wealth of knowledge.
I've always wanted to see the entire build of a garage door. It's very interesting to see the parts come together with expert installers. Plus the extras like working with a company that has history with the original garage door creator commands a lot of respect and really adds to the Spec House features. Love the content and keep up the good work.
To anyone reading this comment, make sure you head over to EC2 to check out their podcasts, either on RU-vid or Spotify or wherever. There is a whole wealth of knowledge to be had and you’re missing out on a lot if this is the kind of content you’re into.
I installed two garage doors in my last house. The first one took seven hours. The second was thirty minutes. There's a lot to figure out, but once you've done it it's not too bad.
Yeah, there's a lot of things like that. I replaced a starter on my truck the other day. Took me a couple of hours messing around, trying to figure out the best way to access it, what combination of extensions, etc to get at the bolts. I'm pretty sure that if I had to do it over again this morning, I could get the old out out and the new one in in about 30 minutes, 40 tops.
Great video, capturing installation and importants tricks of the trade. Loved the clean at the end, take note to all apprentices, the mark of the best tradesperson.
We recently had our garage door replaced by a much thicker, insulated door as I use the garage as my shop and it gets down to -25 to -30 here in my area. The installer left 1/4" gap between the concrete floor and the track of the garage door as he said that contact between the metal and concrete rusts the track out at the bottom. Made sense to me as I started looking at other peoples garage doors and noticed that he was right!
My dad has been a garage door tech for 25 years. He’s basically done all the doors from Brookings Oregon through crescent city ca and all around that area.
I’ve installed a lot of garage doors over the years and I can say it’s something anyone can do; it is a great DIY job as it’s a basic by the #s install. It’s like putting a Lego set together; all the parts are provided along with step by step instructions. I will say a couple of musts are a magnetic nut driver and a set of saw horses. A couple of nice things to have are an impact driver over a power drill and a torsion spring over coil springs as it limits the pinch hazards coming back into the garage, especially if you’re going to use the space behind or above the door. I work in a small shop, 15’x23’ and every inch is needed, my torsion spring was the best investment I made with the door, even more than my opener. Most everything comes with a garage door if you buy it from a box store but remember if you aren’t using an opener you’ll want to buy a lock for the door as the ones that typically come in the door kits can only be actuated from inside the garage and most people want a garage door they can open from the outside.
The other type of springs are called extension springs. Some call them stretch springs. Their really only useful on 8x7 or any single, fairly light door. You need to lift the door dead weight to install those springs and if it’s a 16x7 wood door that’s 370lbs well it’s a nightmare. I’ve repaired many of doors that had extension springs break that’s gone THRU block walls in the back of the garage.
Gavin Lawn: Extension springs are what typically comes standard with doors, at least around me. I agree they are a pain in that you have to lift the door to put them in; though that can be done easier than lifting with a few people through the use of ratchet straps. With 2 straps on each side you can ratchet the door up a little at a time until one strap is out of travel, you go to the other, rinse and repeat. When installed properly though extension springs should have a safety cable through the middle to contain the spring if/when it breaks. I have been in a garage when one has broken, been in when a torsion spring has broke too, just my luck and I can say both will startle the heck out of you and both are loud, almost like a gun going off. I was in a garage with the door down when the torsion spring broke and that ways by far loader then the extension spring but the extension spring seemed to last longer and the pieces bounced in the safety wire. Glad the safety wire was there that’s for sure as I’m 6’6” and the spring wasn’t too far from my head. That all said torsion are hard to beat along with high lift doors and a side mounted opener as they don’t effect the shop at all; though they do take some ceiling height. I worked in a shop years ago with roll doors and while they were OK they were loud when operating but they were a great fit with a lower ceiling as they didn’t come into the shop like traditional doors would.
Chris Lackey You are definitely correct. It’s code now days that if you have extension springs you must have safety cables. I’ve seen the cables break with the spring tho about 60% the time. Problem I seem to see if regardless of extension spring size and door weight, they always send the same exact size safety cable. I’ve seen big 400 and something pound springs actually go thru cinder block walls at the back of the garage. If it’s a one time install for a homeowner the extension is better only because you can’t buy winding bars off. Granted some are creative and make them but then u also have them homeowners who think they can u screwdrivers. Last home owner I seen do that ended up with 22 stitches and a cut cornea. Torsion spring are scary for sure. I do a lot of commercial work. Bout 75% of my work. I’ve had brand new springs from the manufacture slip right off the cone while winding. I’ve put spring blocks on broken springs to hold em together while we order the new springs and the spring snap again while winding. When those types of things happen while 20’ up an extension ladder it makes u pucker up tighter than a nun. Always recommend solid steel bars made or ground down to fit. If a homeowner is gonna do it anyway I say no screw drivers or make shifts. No all thread or anything like that. Rebar be my recommendation with 2” of tip on each side of each bar ground down just enuf to slip in n out easy. Not ground enuf n getting stuck can be just as dangerous. Just be careful.
Gavin Lawn: I made a pair of torsion spring tightened out of 2 18” 3/8” drive socket extensions with the small ends cut off each. They work great and if I recall I chose them because they were a few 1,000s under 1/2” and were a perfect fit. I was always taught if you’re scared of a tool or technique don’t do it; while we should respect things that can be dangerous we should never be scared. When you’re scared you can withdraw, panic, and/or make the wrong move while being respectful you can be more intentfull and deliberate with what you do and how you do it. Just like you shouldn’t use the table saw or a chainsaw if you fear them you should know your own limits and while DIY can be great some of the biggest residential jobs I’ve had were correcting DIY jobs gone wrong. Everyone should know what they can do, what they can’t do, and not be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. While I believe people can do much more than they think they can I think people need to know their limits and when they’ve got in above their head.
Chris Lackey They should know yes but don’t. And it’s not about being scared of the tool so long as it’s the correct tool. When it comes to garage doors people seriously underestimate the components of it. I’ve seen some serious injuries from improper tools to the guy who thinks he’s hot shit or better than others. Sadly I’ve also seen people not using common sense more. The guy who undoes extension spring lift cables with the door door and the cable n spring shot back and smashed his face severely including losing an eye. The guy who lost 4 fingers due to not knowing exactly how a door works and what part does what and why. He untangled a cable that was thrown but the drum on the other side slipped n that cable he was working with suddenly took all the tension while his fingers where behind the cable but infront the drum. Or the owners son who doesn’t take ur advice from experience on a simple tip n bar slips his hand n the other bar still in the spring whips down smack in the top his head needing 44 staples. With a little direction or tips n pointers, proper or equal to tools but mainly common sense and patience and home owners can solve majority of their issues. Spending 10 minutes assessing the issue and operation of the job is key. No one can ever be that busy they can’t spare 10min. Makin a simple call to a buddy or experienced tech on how or what they would do. Bounce ideas off each other. Borrowing of buying tools sufficient to do the job. My winding bars are off my uncles old plow. Cut to size n ground down tips. The bars were black so the sanded tips allowed me to quickly visually see if my bar was seated all the way before releasing the other one without having to wiggle n push to be sure. People just think everything is simple and rush into shit n cause bigger issues, get hurt or worse. Common sense will go miles. The new generation may not wAnna try anything tho cuz they way their growing up they may not anything they need 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Common sense also plays into tools. Me knowing my bars are well sufficient, same with you and old ratchet extensions. People like use tend to have a longer shelf life than others it seems.
I’ve replaced the torsion springs myself. Not a big deal if you’re methodical. If you’re careful enough not to get hurt running saws and climbing ladders etc, it’s doable.
I found out a few weeks ago that those springs have a finite service life. One of my broke. The garage door opener sounded ‘strained’. I thought that meant it was time to clean & lube the tracks & hinges - until I spotted the busted spring! Got online & discovered that the builder’s-quality spring is rated for 10,000 cycles. 20k & 30k cycle-rated springs are available for a little more $. Quick mental calculation told me I had gotten about 12,500 cycles out of my springs.
Manufacturers spring cycle for any residential door and many many commercial doors is 10,000. Thats their baseline cuz normally they last 5-10 years. Ppl go for 50k or 100k cycles when it’s firehouse or somewhere that it’s in use all day long up n down. N the other guy said 2 vs 1 well when u do that the wire diameter is reduced along with length. They are calculated on door weight. Still only 10k cycles tho.
I am a garage door professional. You were really lied to. The standard springs are rated for 5000 cycles. Everything else is considered an upgrade to the hardware package
X Zanadon I’ve never heard from any manufacturer I’ve dealt with being 5k cycles. I’ve talked with and installed Wayne Dalton, Amarr, CHI, Raynor, OHD, Clopay, General, Artisan and maybe more but that’s all that came to mind at the moment. One thing I don’t kno is maybe location comes into play? Kinda like how by beaches and Hi wind areas you need to have a Wind-Load door. Every company I have spoken with over 12 years has told me 10k. I asked Wayne Dalton today if that’s the case and he said anyone doing 5k spring cycles is trying to save on door cost from manufacture and speed up frequency on spring repairs.
I use jackshaft-type electic garage door openers on my shop. If I had more overhead clearance in my attached garage I'd have one there too, the lack of ceiling obstruction is just wonderful. The shop had conventional openers with conventional/low tracks, I actually raised the tracks on the single-bay myself and installed the opener myself, but for the bigger door I let someone else deal with the springs and balancing the door.
my grandfather was a garage door salesman and helped bring Acmetrack (later shortened to Acme) here to Canada. they are better known for their sliding door hardware. later sold to Stanley, I think the brand is still around though.
Binge-watching of the spec house complete in less than three weeks, I can't believe it! I'm up to date! Wait... that means that now I have to wait for episodes!
Our you could do it yourself, then have to futz around with it every couple years for the rest of your life. (Don't ask how I know that.) I don't know about OHD parts, but the parts you get at the big box stores to fix your garage door are low quality, and seem to only last a few years. I installed a wide door for the two cars, and consider that a mistake. The geometry of a wide door is much less conducive to going up and down smoothly. And don't get me started on door openers. I think I'm on my 4th one. :-(
I installed a garage door when I was building our house in 2008. I did it from the instructions, and it went great. Just read the instructions multiple times, and you should not have a problem. I'll be installing another one this year. This will be my last house. They'll carry me out in a plywood box, out of this one. Cheers from Canada.
6:20 the house I own now, the garage door DID fall on the previous owner's mercedes. Fixed it myself with exact replacement springs. Used 2 bathroom scales at each edge of the door to perfect the weight balance. Replaced with a quiet belt drive too.
I think one of the best door replacement jobs I went out on was a lady had driven into her garage unloaded her groceries, then left to go run other errands. Upon backing out of her garage she didn't realize the emergency release rope had somehow managed to get tangled in the cargo bar on top of her SUV....she backed out of the garage and took the garage door opener and garage door with her......OOOPS!!! We did give her a discount for uninstalling the garage door for us though, she got a laugh out of that LOL.
Mine was a “service call on my way home”. Was a fire house where someone forgot to apply the air brake In my opinion n ran halfway thru. Full view aluminum door. Fire chair claims the parking brake failed. Service call my ass lmao
As I watch you, since the original “Burke Bar” episode, I’m continually amazed by your expertise, skill, and attitude. That said, I’m even more appreciative of your willingness and knowledge that dictates that you allow, no require, someone who knows more or is better at something than you are to step in and make it happen. Then to watch you stand back and be amazed at how effortlessly they accomplish their task is a very gratifying thing. Those lessons were learned, by myself, the hard way, but learned well. Please “keep up the good work” and “...there shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling for He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep in all thy ways” Psalm 91:10-11
Scott/Nate, I was so excited to see this episode because I WAS planning on installing one in my new boathouse until now - if you aren’t willing to do it, I’ve got no business trying it
Hey guys, great content as always. Excuse me, but I have to talk a little bit because my boss is firing me during the quarantine. I've been sitting at home for more than 5 months now and I get depressed. My buddy Dave Harper motivates me and we are putting all our welding knowledge on the spot. If you need a welder or welding advice, visit our website weldingtroop.com Visit the website (weldingtroop.com) and give us your feedback, whether you appreciate it or not. I really appreciate it. Thx!
I had a spring break on my old door, and it was loud from inside the house! My SUV was in the garage, and when I went to inspect what happened, the door would only open about a foot, and crooked at that. Lots of power in that spring!
I was the installer of two 7' x 9' doors on the house which I built. As far as I know. at least one of them is still installed and operating, 45 years later. They had tension springs , not torsion springs which makes the installation less exciting although I believe I had to replace 3 or 4 springs over the years.
My dad and I did this on weekends when I was just a pup. Mostly on commercial buildings but homes as well. Biggest doors I ever helped install were on a train roundhouse building. 3 doors that had to be wider than a double wide residential garage door want to say it was like 30 feet wide ( but honestly remembering this 40 some odd year later .... problematic ). The height well it was like 16 panels .... I remember being around when the springs were being tensioned. Kenny, dad's cousin, missed getting a winding rod fully seated and when it unwound .... the other rod ripped his pants off as it passed by his leg.
I installed a garage door and opener....and 20 years later, it still works. It took a long time.....maybe because I didn't have a helper or an impact driver.
There’s plenty of wood behind the drywall. That was so it didn’t need done after it’s installed. Especially if it’s a development them guys get paid by sq ft and will destroy what we did to hang their drywall. Last 39 house development I installed the doors at I had to do repairs to 22 of the doors. They will cut the wires for wall button of the opener and sensor instead of drywalling over it as a pre wired look. Nightmare.
Yes I’m aware of why he installed the rips before hand, I’m a journeyman Carpenter and I frame metal studs and hang drywall for a living, also worked on track homes for five years as a framer before joining the union. I get paid $50 per hour to hang drywall, so you get it gets done right!’To me it sounds like your situation was partly crappy sheetrockers, and most importantly a major lack of planning ahead by.the GC to recognize those sort of conflicts before they happen
BayAreaMCs Correct that would be cuz your in the Union. Im talking about the crews that are Mexican or Latino and speak no English at all. Idk what the rules are there but I been on Union job that are clean, nice, organized, there’s communication on what’s goin on or sold there’s problems or issues or anything. Love them. Then there’s leaving a job for a week when your done and being asked to go look at 1 door and spent 3 days fixing what I already did on 22 outta 39 units becuz ppl don’t care, can’t ask you even if they did. The cause of poor quality in America anymore. Wish every site I’ve been on could be like yours but unfortunately the other times the nice guy always finishes last.
Company sent the wrong springs one time.....I had to make bigger winding rods(out of #6 rebar)so that I could wind it up...I kept thinking something wasn't right....imagine what happened when I unlocked it and the spring brought it up.The bolts at the end of the track helped stop it and not too much was tore up
You stated that garages weren't needed until cars came along but I lived in a "Carriage House." That was a house that was above 5 garages where horse-drawn carriages were parked to get them out of the weather, dust and sun.
Been in this industry going on 15 years. It's amazing what people think is safe, and how they think. I can not even remember all the terrible things we have seen as a result of a homeowner or handyman doing this and not fully understanding what he got into. Or even just the thoughts people have. Countless people have returned springs saying Well I installed an opener I don't need the springs anymore. WOW. Weeks later why does my new operator run like junk! Stay safe everyone!
Interesting to see the installers use a manual shear to cut the angle iron braces. I’ve also seen them use a manual punch when using regular angle iron instead of slotted. So much faster and less messy than using a grinder or a sawzall. The first time I worked on an overhead door was for my Aunt Jo. Her door was for a one car garage and had tension rather than torsion springs. I was able to go the the local Overhead Door franchise and buy the right size springs. Pretty straight forward job to replace them. The second time was on a two car garage with torsion springs on a rental property my boss owned. I had fairly recently heard my uncle Art, a veteran carpenter, go on about how dangerous torsion springs were to work on and they should be left to the guys who specialize in garage doors. To say I was a bit nervous adjusting the tension on those is big understatement. Haven’t had to dean with very many since then and no torsion springs.
Will the additional thickness of drywall be an issue? I would think it would be fine but you guys are the experts on this. I just build cars. I do know it will be fun to loosen the tracks and fit the sheets in there.
My Dad installed Garage doors for a short period of time and it always seemed next to criminal to me. He would have to do a double door like that on his own, some times there wasn't a slab so he was expected to work on a ladder over the rebar and 20 years ago it wasn't common to cap the ends. He gave that up, working alone on a remote site in conditions like that was an accident waiting to happen. These guys look like they have their business it order which is really nice to see.
I replaced my chain drive with a belt drive opener. The car in the drive way is louder than the opener. Very much worth it. But I would not mess with springs... I also wish I could put the sensors at the level of the bumper, it would more useful to me than a few inches above the ground.
And people die from falling off ladders all the time. yeah, there are hazards, and you have to respect that and be mindful of where the forces are and will go if things slip, but it's not like playing catch with glass jars of nitroglycerine.
I've not appreciated my garage door as much as I should have. That was a hellova installation! Two skilled guys took atleast a half a day. Can't imagine doing it myself either!
