How To Install A Garage Door In A Cinder Block Wall

Turning an empty room into a garage is a convenient upgrade. It will protect your vehicle and provide extra space for storage. You can always hire a professional to build your garage, but if you want to do it by yourself—or if you're just curious—we have researched how to install a garage door in a cinder block wall.

You can install a garage door in a cinder block wall by following these simple steps:

Measure the wall dimensions.
Install jambs onto your wall.
Install the door panels.
Mount the garage door tracks.
Install the garage door springs and cables.

After reading the steps above, you may still have some questions. Do not worry because, in this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive step-by-step guide for installing a garage door. Keep reading to find out more!

How To Install A Garage Door In A Cinder Block Wall

When installing a garage door in a cinder block wall, you will need to prepare the wall before mounting the garage door. The reason for this is that cinder block walls are light and more fragile than other walls like concrete.

That is why if your wall already has an opening, checking if there is a lintel is essential because it will carry the weight of the wall above the opening. Having a strong frame and attach points installed in your door opening is also crucial for a strong and stable garage.

After these preparations, you can follow the general instructions for installing a garage door. Now here's how to install your garage door:

1. Measure The Wall Dimensions

Taking the proper measurements of your wall before installing your garage door is important to avoid wasting time, money, and effort. You will need to measure a few parts of your garage as you will use it as a reference for the next steps.

You will need to measure the following dimensions:

Width: Measure the width of the door opening at the widest part.
Height: Measure from the floor (make sure it's finished and leveled) to the top frame.
The distance from the floor to the ceiling: Measure from the floor to the lowest point of the ceiling.
Headroom: Measure the space between the top of the door frame and the lowest point of the ceiling. Take note that you will need a minimum headroom of 12 inches.
Side of the door opening: Measure the distance from each side of the room to the door opening. You'll need a clearance of at least 4 inches if you have a 2-inch garage track and 6 inches for a 3-inch track.
Backroom: Measure the depth of your garage ceiling (make sure you measure the unobstructed part), so you'll find out if the room has the available space for installing the tracks.

Write down all your measurements. These will make the next steps easier because you won't have to keep on measuring the garage over and over again.

2. Install Garage Door Jambs

Attaching garage door jambs is crucial if you have a cinder block wall. Without the jambs, you cannot have a strong attachment point where you can mount the garage tracks. It also makes your garage look more aesthetically pleasing because of the finished look.

You can use 1 x 4 wood as your jambs and attach them to the webs or directly to your cinder block wall. Measure the sides and the top of your wall and cut a piece of wood for each side. Then, ask a helper to hold the wood in place and fasten the jambs to the wall. You can attach them using wedge bolts, tap cons, or screws.

Check if the jambs are properly installed and secured before proceeding to the next step. It's important to check if the door frame is secure and plumb because this will carry the weight of the garage door.

3. Install The Door Panels

Before buying garage door panels, you should measure the length and width of your garage door opening using a tape measure. The door panels will be about 1/4 inch smaller than the door opening. Then, purchase the parts according to your measurements.

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To install the door sections, follow this procedure:

Lay weather stripping on the bottom edge of the bottom door panel. Put the panel flat on a workbench and fit the edge of the panel in the weather stripping's groove.
Attach the track bracket to the bottom edge of the panel and attach the hinges to the top edges. Make sure that they are properly aligned and leveled, then fasten them to the wall.
Set the panel in the door opening. A quick tip is to drive nails into the jamb at an angle to keep the panel in place.
After placing the bottom door panel, attach the door wheels that came with your door to the bracket and hinges. Then, you will mount the garage door tracks, which will be explained in the next step.

Check out this garage door rubber weather stripping on Amazon.

4. Mount The Garage Door Tracks

When mounting the tracks into a cinder block wall, remember to make sure that the jambs are plumb and tightly attached to the wall. Then, assemble the rail parts by following the manufacturer's guide. There should be vertical, curved, and horizontal tracks.

After these preparations are done, you need to go through the general steps for attaching the side rails to your wall:

First, wrap the track around the door wheels on one side. There should be a little bit of space between the track and the door.
Next, align the tracks to the frame, and drill pilot holes at each lag screw position using 3/8-inch drill bits.

Click here to see this 3/8-inch cobalt drill bit on Amazon.

Loosely fasten the rails and check if the top of your rail at each side of your door frame is leveled with each other. You can check this by measuring the top of the door to the top of the bracket for each side. Repeat these steps for each side.
Connect the horizontal track pieces to the vertical track by lining up the curved tracks with the vertical tracks. Put the screws into the holes and lock them in place.
Connect the horizontal tracks to 1 1/4-inch perforated angle irons that will be screwed into the ceiling. You should attach wood boards to the cinder block ceiling before attaching the perforated angle irons.
Check if everything is plumb and secure, then fasten the screws.

Check out this perforated angle iron on Amazon.

After mounting the tracks, you are going to install the rest of the door panels where the same steps above will apply. Insert the door wheels into the tracks and loosely screw the door hinges to connect each panel. Pre-drill pilot holes where you will put the hinges to make fastening easier.

5. Install The Garage Door Springs And Cables

Before you install the garage door springs, you should first identify what type of spring you have because it may affect the installation process. However, here is a general guide on how to install garage door springs and cables:

Hang the spring on a hook attached to the perforated angle iron.
Pull up the garage door until it slides into the horizontal track. You will need to ask someone to lend you a hand if it's too heavy.
Get a vise grip and lock it into a curved track to keep the door from falling.
Once the door is up, attach the cable to the bottom bracket of the bottom door panel, and pull it over the pulley found at the curved track.
Put the other end of the cable through the pulley on the spring and tighten it.
Lubricate the spring to prevent rust.
Try to close the garage door and check for any malfunctions.

Click here to see this 3-in-1 garage door lubricant on Amazon.

Can You Screw Straight Into Cinder Blocks?

An easy way to screw straight into cinder blocks is by using concrete screws. The installation process is easy and straightforward. All you need to do is drill a hole into the cinder block, clean the hole, and drive the screw into the hole.

How Do You Insulate A Cinder Block Garage?

Installing rigid foam insulation is the simplest and most affordable way of insulating your cinder block garage. It comes in lightweight panels that you can stick to your wall using special foam-safe glue.

Check out this pink insulation foam on Amazon.

In Closing

Installing a garage door by yourself can be challenging, but when done correctly, the results will be all worth it! We hope this article has helped you learn more about installing a garage door in a cinder block wall.

You can check out these other related articles if you want to know more about optimizing your garage:

How To Program (& Reset) My Garage Door Opener With Dip Switches

How To Paint A Metal Garage Door