You need a new garage door but the quotes you're getting don't make sense. One installer says $3,500, another quotes $6,200 for what looks like the same door. Then there's the DIY option that could save you half the cost but comes with warnings about dangerous springs and precise measurements. Add in decisions about roller versus sectional doors, insulation levels, and automation features, and garage door installation quickly becomes more complicated than it should be.
The truth is straightforward once you understand the key factors. Installation costs in New Zealand range from $1,500 to $8,000+ depending on door type, size, materials, and whether you hire a professional or tackle it yourself. The price difference between installers usually comes down to the quality of components, warranty coverage, and what's actually included in the quote. Some suppliers charge separately for removal, disposal, and automation while others bundle everything.
This guide walks you through the complete installation process from choosing the right door type for your garage to understanding when DIY makes sense and when you should call a professional. You'll learn how to measure your opening correctly, what costs to expect in different scenarios, and practical steps for installation whether you're doing it yourself or managing a contractor. We'll also cover the most common mistakes that waste money and create safety issues.
What to know before you start
You need to check three critical factors before ordering materials or booking an installer. Getting these wrong can delay your project for weeks or cost you hundreds in wasted materials. Most installation problems start here, not during the actual work.
Building consent requirements
Check with your local council whether your garage door installation needs consent. In most cases, you don't need consent for a like-for-like replacement of the same size and type. You do need consent if you're changing the opening size, modifying load-bearing structures, or installing a door where none existed before.
Councils charge $200 to $350 for consent applications, and processing takes two to four weeks. Ring your council's building department with your garage dimensions and door type before you order anything. Keep the consent number handy because some suppliers check compliance before delivery.
Safety equipment and help needed
Never attempt garage door installation alone. You need at least one helper for lifting panels and holding tracks in position while you secure them. Sectional Door Torsion springs store massive tension and can cause serious injury if they slip during installation, so professionals use specialized winding bars for safe tensioning, but these can also be made quite easily for a one off DIY install.
Professional installers complete torsion spring work with proper safety equipment and training, which is why this step causes most DIY injuries.
Your basic safety kit includes safety glasses, steel-cap boots, leather gloves, and a stable ladder. Avoid working overhead without proper fall protection if your ceiling height exceeds 2.4 metres.
Time and workspace requirements
Plan for six to eight hours for a standard single door installation if you're working with a helper. Double doors take a bit longer for first-timers. Professional installers complete the same job in three to five hours because they've done hundreds of installations.
Clear your garage completely before starting. You need unobstructed floor space to lay out panels, assemble tracks, and move around safely. Remove vehicles, shelving units, and anything stored near the door opening. Sweep the floor so you don't lose small hardware pieces in debris.
Step 1. Choose the right garage door
Your door type determines everything from installation complexity to long-term running costs. The wrong choice can leave you with a door that doesn't fit your space, costs more to heat and cool, or requires professional help you didn't budget for. Start by matching the door mechanism to your garage dimensions, budget, and use case before you look at colours or automation.
Roller doors for budget and space constraints
Roller doors suit tight ceiling spaces and cost-conscious projects. The curtain coils into a compact barrel above your opening, requiring 400+ mm of headroom compared to 250 to 330 mm for sectional doors, but sectional doors need this for 3m along the ceiling as well. You save floor and ceiling space but sacrifice some insulation performance.
Basic steel roller doors start at $1,500 to $2,400 for single installations and $2,200 to $3,600 for double garages. Roller mechanisms have fewer moving parts than sectional systems, which means simpler maintenance. The curtain design is less secure than panel systems, so skip roller doors if security matters more than budget.
Sectional doors for insulation and style
Sectional doors give you the widest range of finishes and the best thermal performance for garage door installation projects. Horizontal panels hinge together and roll up on tracks into your ceiling space. This design creates better weather seals than roller curtains and allows for polyurethane insulation that can reach R-values of 3.0 to 4.0.
Expect to pay $2,500 to $3,800 for a standard single insulated sectional door, or $3,800 to $5,500 for double doors. Non-insulated versions save you $600 to $800 but only make sense for unheated storage garages. Sectional doors need more ceiling clearance and have more components that require adjustment during installation, but they operate quietly when installed and maintained correctly.
Insulated sectional doors cost 20 to 30 per cent more upfront but can save you $150 to $300 annually on heating if your garage connects to living spaces.
Tilt and specialty options
Tilt doors cost $1,600 to $2,600 for single installations and work well when you have limited headroom but plenty of driveway clearance. The single panel swings out before tilting up, which blocks your drive temporarily but simplifies the mechanism. These doors suit budget builds and garages used purely for vehicle storage.
Glass aluminium doors start at $4,500 for singles and deliver a commercial aesthetic with maximum natural light. Custom timber doors begin around $4,800 and require ongoing maintenance but add significant property value. Both options need professional installation because of their weight and precision requirements.
Step 2. Decide on DIY or professional install
Your skill level and the door type you chose in step one determine whether you should tackle garage door installation yourself or hire help. Getting this decision wrong can cost you more than the professional labour fees, either through injury, damaged materials, or a poorly balanced door that wears out springs prematurely. Base your choice on honest assessment of your mechanical ability and the specific risks your door type presents.
When DIY makes sense
You can safely install roller doors or basic sectional doors if you have mechanical experience and a capable helper. Save the $800 to $1,500 in professional labour and use that money for upgraded insulation or automation instead.
Your minimum requirements include previous experience with power tools, ability to follow technical instructions precisely, and comfort working on ladders. You also need six to eight hours of uninterrupted time and at least one physically capable helper who can lift 40 kg repeatedly.
When to hire a professional
Call a professional installer for any door with torsion spring systems, which store 200 to 400 kg of tension and can cause severe injuries if they slip during installation. Professionals complete the work in three to five hours with proper safety equipment, warranty coverage, and building code compliance guaranteed.
Professional installation costs $800 to $1,500 but includes spring tensioning, track alignment, safety testing, and a labour warranty that DIY projects lack.
Heavy timber doors, glass aluminium systems, and high-lift configurations also need professional skills. Installers fix unexpected issues like rotten frames or uneven floors without additional material costs, and their insurance covers any damage during the work. You get peace of mind and a door that operates correctly from day one.
Step 3. Measure and prepare the opening
Accurate measurements prevent the most expensive garage door installation mistakes. A door that's too narrow creates gaps that let in rain and wind. You can't adjust a custom-made door after delivery, so measure twice and record your numbers carefully before you order materials or schedule the work.
Take precise measurements of your opening
You need five critical dimensions to order the correct door size. Start with your opening width by measuring from the inside of one door frame to the inside of the opposite frame at three heights: 100 mm from the floor, at the midpoint, and 100 mm below the header. Record the largest measurement because your door must cover the widest point.
Measure the opening height from your finished floor to the underside of the header beam. Check your headroom by measuring from the top of the opening to the lowest point on your ceiling, allowing at least 350 mm for sectional doors or 400+ mm for roller systems. Measure the side room on both sides from the door frame edge to the nearest wall or obstruction, with ~100 mm minimum required for tracks. Refer the the specific instructions for your door type.
Record your backroom depth from the front of the opening straight back along your ceiling for at least the opening height plus 400 mm. Write all measurements in millimetres on a simple diagram you can email to suppliers or show installers.
Check frame condition and clearances
Inspect your timber frame and header beam for rot, cracks, or previous insect damage. Press a screwdriver into the wood at multiple points to check for soft spots that indicate decay. Replace any damaged timber with H3.2 treated pine before you begin garage door installation work.
Test your frame for square by measuring both diagonal distances from corner to corner. If the measurements differ by more than 10 mm, your opening is out of square and may need shimming during installation. Check that your header beam is level using a spirit level, and pack out any dips with timber wedges.
Rotten timber framing accounts for 40 per cent of unexpected installation delays and adds $300 to $1,000 in repair costs when discovered during the work.
Step 4. Install, test and maintain the door
Your preparation work in step three sets you up for successful garage door installation, but the actual assembly and mounting requires careful attention to sequence and safety. This step covers the physical installation process, safety testing procedures, and the maintenance schedule that keeps your door running smoothly for years. Skip any part of this process and you risk a door that binds, springs that fail early, or safety features that don't protect your family.
Maintain your door for longevity
Create a monthly inspection routine that catches problems before they cause failures. Check all visible bolts and screws for tightness, examine cables for fraying, look for rust spots on springs, and verify that tracks remain aligned without gaps between rollers and track walls. Spray silicone lubricant on rollers, hinges, and spring coils every three months, but never grease your tracks because this attracts dirt that causes binding.
Your springs will last seven to ten years with proper maintenance in most New Zealand conditions, but coastal locations may need replacement every five to seven years due to salt corrosion. Budget $300 to $500 for professional spring replacement when you notice the door becoming heavy to lift or hear loud banging sounds during operation. Touch up any paint chips or scratches immediately to prevent rust spreading through the steel panels.
What to do next
You now understand the complete garage door installation process from choosing the right door type to maintaining it for years of reliable service. Your success depends on accurate measurements, honest assessment of your DIY capability, and following the safety procedures for spring tensioning. Take your time with each step rather than rushing to finish quickly.
Start by measuring your garage opening precisely using the five-point method from step three. Double-check these numbers before you order materials because custom-made doors cannot be returned if your measurements are wrong. Decide whether you need professional help based on your door type and spring system.
Order your custom-made roller door kit directly from DoorsNZ with free shipping across New Zealand and optional installer network access if you change your mind about DIY. Every door comes manufactured to your exact measurements using local Coloursteel and includes all hardware needed for installation.