Garage door height question
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 706
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From: Vienna VA
Garage door height question
I am building a detached garage built with a 10 ft ceiling (to store my baby). I eventually want to get a four post lift and want my garage door to open as close to the ceiling as possible (to give me maximum height). Has anyone done this? What automatic door opener did you buy? Will I need to purchase special hardware (e.g. extended lift arm). Any pics would be appreciated.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 577
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From: st george utah
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
try to go 12ft high 10ft door maybe a 16ft high with a12ft door so when you sell your house some one can park their rv in it
i did it is only 38ft x48ft 16ft ceilings 12x10 door and now is to small
i did it is only 38ft x48ft 16ft ceilings 12x10 door and now is to small
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Nashville, TN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Stillwater,MN
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Originally Posted by testpros
Does anyone know how I get the garage door to hug the ceiling?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 46
From: Vienna VA
Originally Posted by TNT C5
You use rails that are mounted a few inches from the ceiling instead of 2 feet or more.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 900
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From: Waunakee Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '20
You can't use a typical opener if you raise the door rails to a foot or less from the ceiling. I have a 10' ceiling and a 4 post Superior lift. The door rails were raised. My 99 coupe fits above (in either direction) and my wife's Honda Accord fits under with room to spare. This is a single stall door. There is a company that makes an opener that drives the torsion spring rather than pull/push the door. Wayne Dalton is the brand. Don't even consider one. They have a terrible reputation for poor quality.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 171
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From: Gainesville Florida
I'm not at home right now so I can't post a picture. Let me try to explain what I did. Originally, my garage door opener was in the middle of the door and pulled the door up and across. Springs were on both sides of the door. Now, I have one spring at the top of the door, it's really like a coil. The garage door opener is on the side and raises the door straight up. The track was moved to hug the wall and the roof. My garage is 12 ft high, the garage door is standard size. It just hugs the wall as it opens now. Goes up the wall and about 2 ft over the ceiling. I haven't ordered my 4 post lift yet, will occur next week. Working on the garage first. Changed the garage door opening, put electric all over the place, installed air conditioning and will now paint. Hope to get the lift within the next few weeks. If you need picks, PM me and I'll be home Saturday morning.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
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From: York PA
They make a bigger raduis track that raises the door. How high? Call your garage door contractor and talk to him. I would build the garage walls at least 11' 3" high, then you could get a clear floor lift(the cables connect above the posts instead of on the floor) made by BEN PAC it's 11'2" high, Or use sissor roof trusses (Cathredral ceiling) with the 10' high walls & you could get a 12' lift.( if the car will be parallel to the trusses )Thier are serveral ways to build the garage for the lift. 10' high flat ceiling would be ok, but you will have a floor plate connecting the posts together. any Questions you can PM me I'am a builder.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,167
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From: Holly Ridge North Carolina
Originally Posted by testpros
I am building a detached garage built with a 10 ft ceiling (to store my baby). I eventually want to get a four post lift and want my garage door to open as close to the ceiling as possible (to give me maximum height). Has anyone done this? What automatic door opener did you buy? Will I need to purchase special hardware (e.g. extended lift arm). Any pics would be appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
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From: St Marys GA
Originally Posted by Garrett FRC
I would deffinatly try and do more than 10ft. Just MHO. Good luck with the garage though!
and go with the tallest door you can fit as mentioned earlier. I don't have a lift but keep my 22ft boat in the garage (40ft deep). 9-6 ceiling; 8 ft tall doors. Sears makes an extender rail kit for their door openers for use with 8 ft doors. Don't know who has an opener for taller than that. I do know that they make special door tracks for tight ceilings. Find a reputable door company.DBD
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Plano Texas
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Instead of placing the garage door opener on the ceiling, there is one built that mounts on the wall (same wall as where the garage door is located).
I had the site in my "Favorites", but it is 'lost'. Do a Goggle on Garage Door Openers.
Cost is high (~$400 if memory serves) but it is
A neighbor has this on his and it is perfect (he also has a lift in the garage).
This method will save a lot of height issues in a regular garage (as I and the neighbor have).
I had the site in my "Favorites", but it is 'lost'. Do a Goggle on Garage Door Openers.
Cost is high (~$400 if memory serves) but it is
A neighbor has this on his and it is perfect (he also has a lift in the garage).This method will save a lot of height issues in a regular garage (as I and the neighbor have).
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
Originally Posted by testpros
Does anyone know how I get the garage door to hug the ceiling?
I have a 10 feet ceiling. My garage door is 8' by 16' (or 18' I forgot, that was 5 years ago) insulated.
My door opener and rails are hung on the ceiling. There is an rail extender piece added before the curved section of the rail. In other words the straight section of the rails are extended the amount needed to get it all on the celing. My door is almost completely quiet since it is mounted solidly to the ceiling and does not have any of the typical garage door wiggle due to long brackets.
If you need I can take some pic's for you. It will have to be next week thou. Our daughter gets married tomorrow and we are sort of busy around here. You can pm me and I will work on it next week.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
A good garage door installer should be able to raise the motor approximately 12" closer to the ceiling and use a longer connecting arm to the track mechanism. It won't effect the operation of the door.
Racer
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 416
Likes: 11
From: Baltimore MD
garage door
You may want to look at the Wayne Dalton opener. The motor and springs are over the door so yo do not have the motor out in the middle of the room. I have 2 of these install and have had no problems with them.