Garage Door Openers?

[Mr.Bungle]

I'm sure this has been beaten to death but seeing as I'm a n00b and the search did not have what I was looking for, I've made a new thread. For this, I apologize.

We (wife and I) are having a house built and will need to get a garage door opener. I would like to find out about the pros and cons of the different styles. It'll be a standard 2 car garage, one door. Which would be better? Belt drive? Screw drive? For reference, our master bedroom will be directly above the garage. Ideally, I would prefer a quiet opener.

Now, I saw some front/side mounted liftmaster units on Garage Mahal at Jay Leno's house but I would assume those would be for a split garage and I would need an opener mounted dead center of the garage? Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ghnl]

The Liftmaster would work fine for any residential garage door. They cost a little more than the 'standard' type that hangs above the door. They work with the torsion spring that is positioned above the door opening (instead of the extension springs that stretch out above the door tracks).

They might be preferable in your situation because the drive unit will not be hung off the ceiling (which will also be the floor joists of the bedroom above).

 

[Mr.Bungle]

Thanks for the reply! It's good to know that it should work for my garage!

 

[porschedude996TT]

Liftmaster 3800 is what I would buy. I bought two of them and the install was easy, they are very smart units, and the are out of the way.

 

[ovilla]

If you don't need the ceiling height for a lift or anything else, then a regular Craftsman opener will do. Their belt drive units are very quiet. Having said that, a Liftmaster LM 3800 will be extremely quiet (even more so than the Craftsman belt drive unit) but it will cost twice as much unfortunately. If you want a Liftmaster unit, check out www.sandfordandsondoors.com. They always have really good sales.

 

[Indy_500]

I have a Stanley garage door opener for what it's worth.

I'm gonna be honest here though, think about how many times you open and close your garage door. Think about all the time you waste with a cheapo. It might just be worth that extra money to save yourself lots of time and the hassle of er going out. I've had quite a few garage door problems but none directly relating to the garage door opener unit itself. And when they happen, it really *****. Your vehicle gets trapped and yadah yadah yadah.

 

[Mr.Bungle]

@ ovilla - thanks for the link I will check it out.

@ Indy_500 - That is sort of my philosophy with this. Or maybe I watch Holmes on Hoimes too much! I know how often we use our garage door opener at our apartment right now and it is an old, noisey, piece of junk. I want to do it right the first time. Ideally a garage door opener should last many years so I don't mind spending the money for a quality unit. My folks have lived at their house for 23 years and only gone through 2 openers. I think part of that was because they switched to a roll up style door.

I still have a question about the liftmaster 3800 though. On their site it says it is designed specifically for split garages, which I won't have. Does this mean I need to look into a normal overhead opener?

 

[ghnl]

I still have a question about the liftmaster 3800 though. On their site it says it is designed specifically for split garages, which I won't have. Does this mean I need to look into a normal overhead opener?

A quick perusal of the Liftmaster webpage does not reveal (to me) what you say. AFAIK, it will work with any normal garage door. It does require the torsion spring (aka jackshaft) above the door. But that is not uncommon.

 

[Mr.Bungle]

@ ghnl - I can't seem to find where it said the split garage thing. I went too deep into google research last night! Well, if it works with a standard 2 door garage that is all that matters to me! Thanks!

EDIT: I found where it said this. It was a local garage door installer's site:
"Model 3800 offers an ultra-quiet, space-saving, wall-mounted design. It is specially designed for garages and unique applications that don't allow for a traditional garage door opener, such as garages with very low, cathedral or obstructed ceilings, and is designed for use on sectional doors only, up to 14 feet high or 180 square feet."

 

[tdkkart]

4 LiftMaster openers, they work great and are very quiet. Our bedroom is partially over our garage, I cannot hear the opener run in the bedroom. I'm sure part of this is the fact that the opener is mounted to the wall rather than the ceiling.

 

[Rickster]

My brother and I both have Genie's. Mine is a screw drive and his is a belt drive. The screw drive unit is loud. If you hose it down with lube it quiets down for a few days and becomes ear shattering again. Not to mention puddling lube on the floor and throwing it around off the screw. My brothers belt drive unit is as quiet as the day he installed it. Not much stuff around the house I'm waiting to replace, but this noisy screw-drive garge door opener is one of them.

 

[haugy]

I hate to hijack, but this thread is along the problem I'm having. I need an opener for a 12'x12' door in a shop. No need for stealth quiet, but remote powered would be nice. Anyone using something for this kind of setup? Recommendations? All I need are brand names or places to look. I'm not finding much.

[/hijack] Sorry Mr. Bungle

 

[scheu]

x2 screw drive being noisy. But another thing to look at, as far as noise, is the door it's self. A better quality door is quieter. Hopefully I'll find the time this weekend to install the new belt drive opener I have.

 

[Mr.Bungle]

I hate to hijack, but this thread is along the problem I'm having. I need an opener for a 12'x12' door in a shop. No need for stealth quiet, but remote powered would be nice. Anyone using something for this kind of setup? Recommendations? All I need are brand names or places to look. I'm not finding much.

[/hijack] Sorry Mr. Bungle

No worries! I hate creating new threads myself. Sometimes when you see the experts posting, you've gotta jump in. Hope they are able to help!

 

[ghnl]

@ ghnl - I can't seem to find where it said the split garage thing.

EDIT: I found where it said this. It was a local garage door installer's site:
"Model 3800 offers an ultra-quiet, space-saving, wall-mounted design. It is specially designed for garages and unique applications that don't allow for a traditional garage door opener, such as garages with very low, cathedral or obstructed ceilings, and is designed for use on sectional doors only, up to 14 feet high or 180 square feet."

A 14' high door is huge! A 16'WX 8'H garage door is 128 sq ft. Well within the design parameters.

And most garage doors are sectional. I assume they mean it won't work with those California style rigid doors that pivot up & out when opened.

 

[Packard V8]

I hate to hijack, but this thread is along the problem I'm having. I need an opener for a 12'x12' door in a shop. No need for stealth quiet, but remote powered would be nice. Anyone using something for this kind of setup? Recommendations? All I need are brand names or places to look. I'm not finding much.

Liftmaster also makes many industrial-quality/size openers. I recently picked up one used and was impressed with the quality. Their customer service is also second-to-none.

thnx, jack vines

 

[D.J.]

Mr.B: I sure hope you will get to park in that garage, I have talked to some folks and they say they wish they had installed two separate doors because their spouse cannot park in their half of the garage. Just a comment about those who cannot park or drive?
________
Victorias Secret Gift Card

 

[rdmelton]

If you don't need the ceiling height for a lift or anything else, then a regular Craftsman opener will do. Their belt drive units are very quiet. Having said that, a Liftmaster LM 3800 will be extremely quiet (even more so than the Craftsman belt drive unit) but it will cost twice as much unfortunately. If you want a Liftmaster unit, check out www.sandfordandsondoors.com. They always have really good sales.

FYI, the correct link is www.sanfordandsondoors.com (not sandford). And you are right that is the best price that I've seen for this unit, which is great because I was about ready to order one somewhere else for more!

 

[GTO]

I have the LM 3800 with the battery back up.I am glad I spent the extra $$ on this unit.It's nice and quiet(14' Amarr Door).

 

[rdmelton]

FYI, the correct link is www.sanfordandsondoors.com (not sandford). And you are right that is the best price that I've seen for this unit, which is great because I was about ready to order one somewhere else for more!

On their website, there is an installation cd for the 3800 for $2.99. Is it worth it or are the written instructions adequate?

 

[InPrimer]

I have 2 Genie openers on @ 9X14 doors, ultra quiet, on the back of garage (it's a 50' drivetru) I have a Sears chain drive, believe me the former are quiet the latter noisy

 

[Ezekial]

two single car units here. I am very happy with the middle/upper range Craftsman unit. It's around $150 and is often on sale around $140. I went with the tried and true chain drive and they are not very noisy at all, and very smooth. They are black and come with 2 3button openers and a number pad from outside. I would recommend them.

 

[teaki]

The Craftman units come from Chamberlain - I would always buy a Genie Belt or Chains again. Very high quality and made in US (as the only manufacturer I know).

 

[m.james]

First off, Mr.Bungle is nuts. I do not understand how Mike Patton thinks.


Secondly to answer your question in addition I would do some window shopping because the sales men will tell you want is best and try and sell that to you.

 

[Jazz]

I'm actually going with the Liftmaster door myself to clear up ceiling space in hopes that next summer I might get a 4 post lift. I'm also getting a high lift door to take advantage of my 11' ceilings

 

[scuba0459]

I had ordered a Liftmaster 3800 with a 16 x 9' door and they installed a conventional opener. On Monday they came back and installed the 3800. I knew I wanted the 3800 so my ceiling would be nice and clean but I gotta say that this thing is so cool that I could just watch it work all day long. Mine included the light and the deadbolt features. The opener is very quiet and the door starts moving slowly, speeds up and then slows down just before the end of it's travel.

Once it is closed the deadbolt locks it tight.


I love it.

Albert

 

[JetLinkin]

Mine is a Genie with a screw drive and it has worked like a champ for a long time. One of the infra red sensors went out and I went to the local big box store and bought a new on--took about 10 minutes to replace it. I've never really considered the noise level as my garage is detached but it has never bothered me.

 

[Mighty Favog]

Ive installed 5 regular style openers over the years and one Liftmaster 3800. I love my 3800. It was very easy to install with the instructions that came with it. I was showing my son and daughter in law something in my shop a couple of weeks back and when I opened the door they were both amazed at how smooth and quiet the door was. I wasn't even showing the door and opener, but they both noticed it.

 

[blue dog]

I have been using http://www.martindoor.com/
They have low voltage motors that are silent and the motors can be side mounted, leaving the center of your garage open air space.
In 5 years, i have had 6 of these units installed on jobs and spec homes, not one issue.

 

[jdieter]

I've got 1 chain drive and 2 screw drives, just purchased the Liftmaster 3800. The Liftmaster is by far the best design, best built and you can barely hear it operate. If lightning strikes are an issue be sure to get a good supressor that also has terminals for the photocells.

 

[LEVE]

I have a 1992 Sears Craftsman 1/2 hp chain drive opener that's been going strong. The only time it failed was when a spring on one side of the heavy wooded door broke while lifting the door. I was standing under the spring at the time, that was exciting!

I removed it from my home in Wisconsin when I moved and installed it in my new 3 bay garage here in Washington State. Since it was an older unit, I installed it on the 8' door. I bought a new Sears Craftsman 1/2 hp chain drive opener for the 16' double door. The cost was about $125 on sale. I popped for an additional opener to put inside the back door. That way I can use it to open/close the door on the detached garage from inside the house.

In each case, I like them, each are are quiet, easily maintained, parts are available and they just keep working.

I love having garage door opener slaves!

 

[StarWolve]

I just had a new door and Liftmaster 3800 installed yesterday. The door was a 21 yr old wooden 8x16", and it was sagging in the middle creating a gap on the sides big enough for mice and snakes to get through.

I can't say enough about how nice the Liftmaster 3800 is. There is a motion sensor on the wired button that turns on the light, temperature and time display, and the light itself just needs power and no other wires! The opener is quiet, starts and ends slowly, and operates smoothly. It is a little "smarter" than most openers, so don't lose the manual. I had to reset the open/closed position, but even that wasn't difficult if you follow the instructions. The deadbolt feature is nice, and you can even disable the remotes from the main switch (if you're going on vacation and leaving a vehicle in the driveway, this prevents someone from smashing a car window and hitting your opener.) All these features, combined with the position of the opener, make this opener a much more secure setup.

Plus, my garage has 13.5' ceilings, so eliminating the center overhead track allows for a lift in the future. Removing the track also reduces shadows from the overhead lights, and gives me room to add a ceiling fan in the future. Well worth the price to convert to the 3800 - and I'm saving my old opener for the shed I'll be building next spring.

 

[Ender-DI]

If noise is a concern, I have been really happy with the Marantec M-line of openers. They are very quiet. Installed them in multimillion dollar homes, recommended them to friends. Love them.