Choosing between a DIY kit and a fitted door
Garage door kits vs supply and fit: which is better for you?
A garage door kit gives you the door and its parts to fit yourself; a supply and fit service measures the opening, orders the right door and installs, balances and tests it. A kit can work for a confident DIYer fitting a simple door in a square opening, but for most homes supply and fit is the safer choice, because the hard part of a garage door is not hanging it but setting the springs and balance correctly.
We supply and fit garage doors across Northern Ireland rather than selling kits, so we are not neutral. This guide aims to be fair about when a kit is reasonable and where it tends to go wrong.
- Kit
- Door and parts, you measure and fit
- Supply and fit
- Survey, door, fitting, removal
- Biggest risk
- Spring tension and balance
- Our service
- Supply and fit
What a kit leaves to you
With a kit, every step beyond delivery is yours. That includes some that are easy and some that are not.
- Measuring width, height, headroom and side room accurately, and ordering the right size.
- Removing and disposing of the old door, including its springs.
- Fixing the frame or tracks plumb and square in an opening that may not be.
- Tensioning springs and balancing the door.
- Wiring and setting up any motor, including limits and safety reversal.
Side by side
The main differences come down to who carries the risk.
| Kit | Supply and fit | |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring | You | Surveyor |
| Wrong size ordered | Your cost | Fitter's responsibility |
| Old door removal | You | Included |
| Springs and balance | You | Engineer |
| Someone to call after | Kit seller, if anyone | The firm that fitted it |
Why springs are the sticking point
Springs on up and over and sectional doors are tensioned to match the weight of the door. Too little tension and the door is heavy and drops; too much and it flies up. Getting it wrong strains any motor and wears parts quickly, and releasing a spring under tension can cause serious injury. That is the part of fitting we would never recommend a homeowner does, and it is also the part the old door's springs need when it comes out.
When a kit can be reasonable
A simple side-hinged door on a square timber frame, fitted by someone used to hanging doors, is the most kit-friendly case because there are no springs. A basic manual door on an outbuilding where finish and draught-proofing do not matter is another. For an insulated, automated door on a house, the balance tips firmly towards supply and fit.
What supply and fit looks like with us
We measure the opening, recommend the type that suits it, order the door to our measurements, remove the old door and fit the new one. The door is balanced, any motor is set up and tested, and you have the same firm to call if you need a repair later, with 24/7 call-outs.
Questions we get asked
- Do you sell garage door kits?
- No. We supply and fit, so the door is measured, installed and set up by our team.
- Is a garage door kit cheaper?
- The invoice can be lower, but it excludes measuring, removal, fitting and your time. Compare against a fitted price and factor in the risk of a wrong size.
- Can I fit a sectional door kit myself?
- Sectional doors use torsion springs that need specialist handling. We would not recommend it.
- Will you fit a door I have bought elsewhere?
- Our service is supply and fit, so we are responsible for both the door and the result. Contact us to talk through your situation.
- What if my opening is not square?
- Most are not. A survey picks that up so the door and frame can be ordered and packed to suit.
Rather have it done properly?
We measure, supply and fit, and take the old door away. Tell us about your garage to get a quote.
Based at 31 Mount Street, Dromore (BT25) · covering Northern Ireland · 24/7 emergency repairs