Pictured above is a contemporary glass-paneled garage door. See how this garage door makes the space look so much more elegant? With large windows, you also enjoy more natural light. Above is the California full-view garage door, 18' x 8', Black aluminum frame, with Clear glass.
Whether you are planning to renovate your current garage or build a brand-new garage, there are many important factors to consider!
If you’ve set out looking for a new garage door and garage door opener, you may be overwhelmed by the terminology and different options available. That is totally understandable! It’s not every day that someone looks for a brand-new garage door. Garage door professionals are available to assist you!
Garage dimensions and garage door clearances can be confusing to navigate on your own. If you need answers before purchasing your next garage door, look no further.
In this article, we’ll go over the five most frequently asked questions about garage doors: everything from garage height, to headroom, to which garage door opener you should choose. These subjects can be complicated, especially if you’ve never had to do this before! Doing your research and reading up on these topics will help ensure you make the right purchase.
In this article, you will gain knowledge about what garage door headroom even is, what garage door opener options you may have (based on your headroom), and more.
Q1: What is garage door headroom and why should it matter to me?
The above diagram shows how to properly measure your garage door to estimate your headroom. Measuring is important as it will ensure your new garage door fits your garage space nicely and causes no issues.
Garage headroom might sound complicated, but it’s simple. Your garage headroom is just the clearance. Clearance is the amount of room between the top of the door opening and the ceiling. Alongside your headroom, it’s also important to understand your door movement and garage door size, so that you can ensure the garage door and garage door opener you choose can efficiently function with no impediments.
Q2: How do I know if I have a low headroom garage door and if I have low clearance, can I still install an overhead garage door?
Basically, your garage will be considered low headroom when there is inadequate room to install a standard lift. A standard lift is the most common pick for residential garage doors.
In a more technical sense, low headroom means the space you have available for extension springs in your garage is less than 8 ½ inches, and for torsion springs used in the over the garage door headers, it is less than 10 ½ inches.
You’ll find low headroom garages more often in these situations:
- Older houses that do not have very high ceilings.
- Newly built properties (usually when contractors and/or builders don’t properly account for a garage door and garage door opener).
- Garage ceilings that feature obstacles such as a ventilation system or fire alarm system.
- A concrete-based garage, typically seen in underground parking situations.
Need a visual? The above shows what low front headroom looks like. You’ll notice there is very little room between the garage door tracks and the ceiling.
Front low headroom VS Rear low headroom: What’s the difference?
You can potentially have low headroom in two places in any given garage. Known as front or rear low headroom, the distinction is the location of the spring and drums, where front low headroom signals front mount springs.
The above diagram provides a better illustration of what low headroom looks like in the back versus the front. Notice how the drums where the cable is wrapped are not in the same location? This also features low headroom hardware, with the double tracks.
So, can you still install a low headroom garage door? Yes, but you need to use specific equipment.
To install an overhead garage door in a garage that features low headroom, you’ll need the right stuff to make it work. You can get low headroom hardware, also referred to as a double- or dual-track system. This hardware is specifically designed for garages that feature low-headroom situations.
How does it work? Your upper track is utilized by the top section of the door, while the other three sections make use of the lower track. These two tracks minimize the headroom space needed and allow for quicker opening and closing.
Q3: How would I install a garage door with low headroom?
Low headroom garage doors, while they have their differences from standard garage doors, are still installed in the same way as a standard overhead garage door. The big distinction is that the garage door opener and springs are installed in a different location. The only marked difference is in the hardware used.
Notice how this garage has concrete walls? Concrete is an expensive material, so most with concrete garages try to save money by shortening headroom. Be sure to be aware of the adverse effects of low headroom before doing this! Pictured is the Village Collection A Design, Plank base, 9' x 7', Cherry, windows with Cascade Inserts.
Q4: What is a wall-mounted garage door opener, and when is it a must-have?
A wall-mounted opener, (AKA a jackshaft) is installed on one of the side walls of your garage for easy access. Jackshafts are designed for high lift clearance, usually involving high ceilings.
With a wall-mounted garage door opener, it functions by connecting to the garage door’s torsion bar. This operates the garage door lift without installing a rail track.
However, wall-mounted garage door openers are versatile. Though they are most commonly used in spaces with high lift clearance, they can accommodate any type of lift: standard lift, high lift, low front headroom, and inclined track.
For the most part, jackshafts are used for commercial applications but have been gaining traction in the residential space. That said, if you have a front low-headroom garage, a wall-mounted garage door opener may not be best.
The LiftMaster 8500W model is highly rated, with great reviews from an array of customers. It’s designed to be effortless to maintain while saving overhead space. Even better, the LiftMaster garage door openers come complete with myQ technology which allows you to remotely control your garage door from a smart device!
How to make the most of your overhead garage room
Wall-mounted garage door openers are attractive because they save valuable overhead space. When you choose a jackshaft-style garage door opener, you don’t need to worry about having your garage door opener and a central rail mounted to the ceiling.
What to do with all that extra ceiling space? You can actually find various products to hang your items from the ceiling. For some inspiration, check out these suggestions from Family Handyman:
- Hang some cargo nets for storing lightweight items.
- You can use garage ceiling storage lifts for bulkier items, like patio furniture.
- Using some coating hooks, you can easily hang bikes in your garage.
- Install some ceiling-mounted racks for latching totes.
Wall-mounted garage door openers help you convert your garage into a gorgeous gathering space
Your garage can be easily transformed into a livable space. This adds an additional room to your home and can be a great place to host guests!
Convert your garage into a livable space with décor and comfortable seating
The above asymmetrical garage has been converted into a space so comforting, you would barely know it’s a garage. Here, light from the garage door pools into the space to make it feel airy and welcoming. Get inspiration from other garage transformations on HGTV’s website.
Need some inspiration? Check out these garage conversion ideas from Budget Dumpster, a company that does junk removal for residents across the USA.
- Children’s play place
- Small studio apartment or guest suite
- Art or woodworking studio space
- Convenient in-home office
- Family entertainment room
Want your converted garage to be the new hot spot? You may also consider turning your garage into the best pub in your neighborhood. You can easily transform your boring garage into an exciting space to enjoy a beer and watch a sports game with friends!
A wall-mounted garage door provides utility and a clean aesthetic because it is tucked away on a side wall and does not take up much space.
Q5: What amount of headroom do you need to install a wall-mounted garage door opener?
You may be surprised to find out that no certain amount of headroom is required for installing a wall-mounted opener. This is possible by using alternative hardware!
In a typical install of a jackshaft garage door opener, 2 inches of open space above the garage door is ideal to install this type of garage door opener. However, if you do not have that much space, there are alternative options, too.
A wall-mounted opener can be successfully installed even when low headroom is a factor. This will be done by lowering the placement of the garage door opener and installing it just below the torsion bar using an alternate mounting kit.
Above is an alternative mounting kit for a wall-mounted garage door opener, its two gears can be clearly seen. The alternative mounting kit is perfect for jackshaft openers that cannot be directly installed on the torsion bar.
There are some must-have specifications, however. To install a wall-mounted garage door opener, allow at minimum 8 ½ inches of space on one side of the door.
Explore different designs and finishes for your garage door
Once you have the more technical details squared away, it's time to get creative! Garage doors can come in a variety of styles, finishes, and colors to complement your unique home design.
At All-Mont Garage Doors, we make this process easy by providing 3 garage door styles: Traditional, Carriage House, and Contemporary. These three categories can help you pick a style of garage door that best complements your home’s façade. You’ll find we have a wide range of garage doors that will fit everyone’s style.
In addition to the style types, we offer an array of colors. You can personalize any style of door with a custom color that works best on your home design!
Pictured above, you are looking at Traditional garage doors in white with overlays and hinges. In a classic white color, this design and color can fit nearly any home beautifully. Our garage doors are made to order with your specifications. Above is the Princeton P-11 design, 9’ x 8'.
Use an online visualization tool
We have a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from, but sometimes you don’t know what looks best on your garage until you try it. That’s why we provide an online Design Centre!
This tool allows you to upload a photo of your home and garage, and digitally add different colors, styles, and finishes on your virtual garage doors. Try out adding some windows and decorative hardware; these small touches can really make all the difference!
This tool allows you to create a comprehensive visual of what garage door fits your home in real-time. Plus, you can request a quote right from this tool.
Looking for next steps in your garage door journey?
You can contact us at 519-942-1956! We can help with garage door and garage door opener installation, as well as an array of other needs you may have.
Our technicians are highly experienced and knowledgeable. They are equipped to perform a variety of services for you, including garage door installations and even repairs.
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