High Rise Garage Door Conversion - Need Help!

[1SICKM]

I'm having a 4 post lift installed soon and need to raise my current tracks approx 4ft along with purchasing Liftmaster 8500. One company quoted me $1900! Are you kidding me! That's nearly 1500 in labor. Does anyone know a reputable garage door company in Northern New Jersey that can help me...

Thanks

 

[Heel2toe]

I don't have a name of a company for you unfortunately but there are a plethora of garage door companies in business. It seems the regional ones like overhead door for example are far more pricey than a father son business from my experience.

Go on Google pull up a bunch of companies and hit the phones. That's what I did. I received quotes right in that ballpark too at first. It's amazing the sorts of answers I received from different companies ranging from thats not possible to you'll need a different door.

I finally got a guy on the phone who knew exactly what I wanted said something like "oh are you putting a lift in your garage?" Followed up with "yeah that's easy I've done it a bunch of times"

Perfect I thought exactly the kinds of answers I was looking for. He was happy to do it on my schedule showed up when he said he was going to did it pretty quickly and it came out exactly how I imagined it would have been. He charged me $900 including the opener which seemed like a pretty decent deal. I could have maybe found a guy for cheaper but I was happy I don't shop around when it comes to labor for the cheapest out there. Of course I want it to be priced fairly but it was the knowledge and confidence the guy instilled on the phone that made me feel comfortable with him. Yeah the price was good too but he didn't attempt to upsell me on new doors or **** like that.

 

[matt_i]

The key pieces seem to be making up the new track, obtaining larger diameter sheaves to wind up more linear length of cable, and likely a new longer spring, so it can be wound up more turns to again take in more linear length of cable.

 

[rwilner]

I'm having overhead door install a high lift in my 3rd bay. The door and operator installed are about $1800 all in. So if you need a whole new setup, your price seems ok.

If you can reuse the door, you will need a side mount operator I think, and a track conversion kit. That is probably $$700 in parts. So maybe $1k seems right all in if you reuse the door.

Just my experience

 

[Burl]

My door has to go up another 22", was quoted min. $600, max 2K. All guys said the only thing that they would reuse is the door. Most people say they won't do it, contractors in my area only want easy money.

 

[SHOCheapRacing]

I am having mine raised just over two feet. To keep the door as close to the ceiling as possible I am have custom track made. With the 8500, battery backup and labor it was priced at $1500.

That is using my original door and replacing the bracing with more shallow metal to gain maximum height. All new track.

 

[Heel2toe]

Its funny because I got so many different answers regarding needing and entire new track vs splicing in extensions and reusing the old track. In my case my original door setup consisted of extension springs with the typical overhead opener and the door was 9' up. My new ceiling height was changed to 12'6" and we ended up moving the track up ~40" IIRC.

I just looked through my phone and this is the only picture I have that shows how it turned out. As you can probably see from the picture the door is tucked up really tight to the ceiling exactly how I wanted it to be. The guy reused my old tracks and spliced in a straight section to give the added distance. All that he added was the torsion springs the drums new cables and the opener. It's been about a year now with that setup and I love it. The door opens silent and very smooth, no complaints whatsoever.

I can snap some more detailed pictures if it would be helpful to really see what they spliced in.

 

[1SICKM]

very helpful! I'm not getting a new door. Just need opener, torsion bar and tracks. I'll start making some calls.

 

[jrkrace]

I had mine done with Liftmaster MJ medium duty opener. All said and done is was 1300.00. My installer told be the 8500 was a little finicky for him and he said I would be happier with the medium duty unit. I'm glad I listened..

Don't mean to add another element to your situation...

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Its funny because I got so many different answers regarding needing and entire new track vs splicing in extensions and reusing the old track. In my case my original door setup consisted of extension springs with the typical overhead opener and the door was 9' up. My new ceiling height was changed to 12'6" and we ended up moving the track up ~40" IIRC.

I just looked through my phone and this is the only picture I have that shows how it turned out. As you can probably see from the picture the door is tucked up really tight to the ceiling exactly how I wanted it to be. The guy reused my old tracks and spliced in a straight section to give the added distance. All that he added was the torsion springs the drums new cables and the opener. It's been about a year now with that setup and I love it. The door opens silent and very smooth, no complaints whatsoever.

I can snap some more detailed pictures if it would be helpful to really see what they spliced in.

Trying to do the same thing. What is the diameter of the new cable drums?

 

[SiGmA_X]

I got quoted ~$15-1800 for the high lift plus the cost of an LM8500, no install costs on that one. I paid about $700 for a high lift kit from DDM and an LM8500 off of Amazon. It took me a full day or so to install the high lift kit - but that was because my studs were in awkward places so I had to make cross brackets... I would do it again easily, a day of my time is sadly not worth a grand+, and I love DIY projects.

 

[pattenp]

Trying to do the same thing. What is the diameter of the new cable drums?

Drum size depends on amount of lift. The high-lift drums are stepped.

See this.. http://ddmgaragedoors.com/parts/cable_drums.html

 

[Plow Man]

I did it my self with the help from DDM garage doors. Great bunch of guys, they figure everything out for you.
Easy to follow instructions!!
Link is in post above.