Flourescent light over garage door solution

[OccupantRJ]

My garage door in the shop only has 2-1/2" clearance to the ceiling, but I wanted a 2 bulb fixture in that location. The normal 2 bulb fixtures would not let the door clear. After a bit of head scratching, a solution was reached. A narrowed 2x6 was mounted on the ceiling, and 2 single bulb units were mounted sideways on the 2 by.

Incorporated in the 2 by is a 4" square junction box for the electrical. The fixtures were screwed to the wood to make it a single unit, then the wood was screwed to the osb ceiling. The unit is now only 1-3/4" high. Cost was $8 more than the standard fixture. A side mount single bulb fixture can be had, and are relatively expensive, but this way I got two bulbs for less money outlay.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Another view.

 

[AldeanFan]

Great solution!

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

I had a similar issue, light fixture hung down too low. I was lucky though and the garage was unfinished, so I just ran two 2x4s across the ceiling joists and recessed the light up into opening between the joists.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I had a similar issue, light fixture hung down too low. I was lucky though and the garage was unfinished, so I just ran two 2x4s across the ceiling joists and recessed the light up into opening between the joists.

I was considering doing similar to what you did, but came up with this while shopping for lights, so went for it.

 

[pattenp]

Your door should just barely clear a low profile fixture. This fixture is 2.25 inch thick.
View media item 15975

 

[OccupantRJ]

Your door should just barely clear a low profile fixture. This fixture is 2.25 inch thick.
View media item 15975

Good info. I have exposed tubes in the rest of the shop, so the homebrew version better fits the interior designers vision.

 

[toplessHO]

they do make fixtures that have lamps on side. search "sidemounts"

 

[Off-Street Parking]

FYI the Feit LED fixtures from Costco are only 1 11/16" thick. They're inexpensive, work great in the cold, and no modifications or custom work required

 

[Jeepman5112]

SAMs has 4 ft LED's for $35 bucks.
I hung 4 today, great investment!
The bright white opposed to the yellow light is amazing.