Ceiling Ht. Minimum, Garage Door Opener

[Grug]

I've searched the forum and haven't found a definitive answer.

Is there a minimum ceiling height when it comes to installing an overhead garage door opening system?

For the garage I'm considering, it would have 9' x 7' twin garage doors and an 8' ceiling. I don't have any 'big' vehicles. Tallest would be a stock 4WD Tacoma truck.

 

[FULLSCALE302]

I've got a 9x7 door and slightly less than an 8' ceiling. I used some brackets that I bought online to make it work with an opener. It's pretty close but it works!

 

[aar0s]

Only thing I can say is a 9x7 will work with an 8 foot wall but 9 foot ceilings are nice. I'd say with the Tacoma your going to be cozy with the opener and track, might want to look into a shaft opener like the liftmaster 3000.

 

[crocket468]

It depends on what type of garage door opener you choose to use, looks like you would only have 12" of headspace (space between the top of the door opening and the ceiling).

When I purchased my last doors, the company said my doors would barely fit with the opening I framed and my ceiling height. I have 10'4" ceilings and I installed 9x9 doors. I have ~1-1.5" clearance between the door and the ceiling when the door is up. There is no way a standard bar and chain type opener would work. I used liftmaster 8500 jack shaft openers so it wasn't an issue. I have 16" of head space, so yours may need smaller radius tracks to make it work.

Your best course of action would be to stop in at an overhead door installer and talk with them to see what your options are.

Also, If I was building another shop.. I would NEVER install two 9' wide doors. If I had to have twins, 10' wide would be the bare minimum. If I had the time I would rip out the center section between my doors and install a 22' door. Wide door openings are so much nicer to work with.

 

[FULLSCALE302]

These are the brackets that I used: http://supersneaky.com

It was tight, but my old '07 Ranger FX4 with 33's and a 4" Superlift would fit. I couldn't open the hood under the door or opener though!

 

[Grug]

I was hoping to get by with a run of the mill stock door opening system.

Also, when I say the garage will have an 8' ceiling; in reality it will be slightly higher (I think). Consider an 8' stud, a double top plate (3") and a double bottom plate (another 3"). So, at the end of the day, a fella' should really have 8' 6".

Remember, my garage isn't built yet...still planning.

 

[crocket468]

You should be golden with 18" of head space and a standard opener.

I would still go with a jack shaft opener. I love mine.

 

[upndown]

I installed doors and operators all day long with 12" headroom or less. Just make sure you get 12" radius horizontal tracks.

 

[Grug]

I would still go with a jack shaft opener. I love mine.

'Jack shaft opener' Gonna' have to Google that.

Garage opening systems are a totally unfamiliar territory for me.

 

[kwschumm]

I have a compact tractor and the ROPS won't clear a 7 foot door. Our Kubota ZTR mower would clear it by inches. 7 foot seems minimal to me.

 

[csp]

I would still go with a jack shaft opener.

My exact thought before even clicking the thread open. Liftmaster 3800