I have to go to a higher lift door for my anticipated lift clearance. Do I really need an electric door? Can't I save a fair amount by eliminating that? I'm looking at a Liftmaster 3800 but while I haven't gotten pricing yet, I suspect it won't be a cheap option.
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What's wrong with a manually opening door?
- Thread starter AbitNutz
- Start date
Gary S
Well-known member
I don't know about Liftmaster doors, but every other brand of door I've ever bought came complete to be used as a manual door. It came with the lock, keys, handle, latches, and cables to be installed as a manual door if you chose to not buy an electric opener.
Liftmaster may do things differently and not include the necessary parts. I don't know.
Liftmaster may do things differently and not include the necessary parts. I don't know.
I do not have openers on my garage but I do on the house garage. I don't take vehicles in/out of my garage enough to justify openers.
In my 3 car detached...one door is installed to match the roof and allow clearance for the lift. The other two are standard.
I put openers on the two standards, but not on the lift bay door. My thinking is that I use the other bays much more, and since my truck is parked on the lift...I have to move it anyhow so opening the door is no big deal.
Anyhow...regardless of whether you are installing an opening or not...the doors need to work manually. The need to be able to stand halfway open without assitance.
I''d go without it for now to cut costs...if you decide you can't live without it...do it later. Friends of mine have a 4 bay independent repair shop and they open and close doors all day.
I put openers on the two standards, but not on the lift bay door. My thinking is that I use the other bays much more, and since my truck is parked on the lift...I have to move it anyhow so opening the door is no big deal.
Anyhow...regardless of whether you are installing an opening or not...the doors need to work manually. The need to be able to stand halfway open without assitance.
I''d go without it for now to cut costs...if you decide you can't live without it...do it later. Friends of mine have a 4 bay independent repair shop and they open and close doors all day.
Hondarider
Well-known member
Unless you're using your garage to house your wife's daily driver (terrible idea) or you're Batman and every second counts when you're taking off to fight Cesar Romero, I'd think a manual door works just fine.
RVDan
Well-known member
I have manual doors and use one every day. It does take a little longer if course to get back out of the car and close the door, but its not substantial.
This way I know it's locked and a stray radio signal is never going to open it.
I'd probably get an opener though if I had the headspace but both my jeep and my truck have a minimal of clearance right now.
This way I know it's locked and a stray radio signal is never going to open it.
I'd probably get an opener though if I had the headspace but both my jeep and my truck have a minimal of clearance right now.
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
All overhead doors are supposed to be able to operate manually. Openers aren't built to actually lift a door, just move it.
Modifieddriver
Well-known member
I have a lift opener on the 18' house sectional door. I like it, but it's a maintenance problem. Had to rebuild it twice. Might because of the door weight.
On my shop I have manual gear drive slat style roll-up doors (canister) with chains. I like this a bunch for several reasons. These doors will probably never have an electric opener. Doing another building, starting this month, and it will get the same doors and same manual openers.
I'm 65 and the little effort on the chain is nothing. Unbalanced sectional doors can be a bummer.
On my shop I have manual gear drive slat style roll-up doors (canister) with chains. I like this a bunch for several reasons. These doors will probably never have an electric opener. Doing another building, starting this month, and it will get the same doors and same manual openers.
I'm 65 and the little effort on the chain is nothing. Unbalanced sectional doors can be a bummer.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Not unless you're in a wheelchair.Do I really need an electric door?
Convenience comes at a cost to install and to maintain. Your tolerance for both is the determining factor.
jack vines
upndown
Well-known member
Liftmaster Doesn't make Garage doors!! I agree with Matt, Use it manually, If you find you don't like it you can always add an opener later.
ilovevocs
Well-known member
My cabin has manual doors. I almost prefer them. They open and close faster, and I can set the height when I only want them partially open with little hassle. If I ha to choose between spending the money on tools and equipment or operators I would nix the latter.
77thor
Well-known member
Nothing wrong with it at all.
Ive got maybe $250-300 in each of my liftmasters....thats a drop in the bucket when compared to what everything else cost. It was nearly the same price as buying the normal openers with the extension kit for 9' doors.
I however did not buy them right away (because I had so many other things to worry about before getting openers), but I did wire in the electrical outlet where it would be needed both on the wall near the torsion bar and also front and center where 'normal' openers are installed. Once I finished almost everything else I bought them and installed them. The 3800s come with a wireless light, but it still needs to be plugged in. I guess I also future proofed it for any future owner that would not want to replace the 3800s because head room was not important.
I however did not buy them right away (because I had so many other things to worry about before getting openers), but I did wire in the electrical outlet where it would be needed both on the wall near the torsion bar and also front and center where 'normal' openers are installed. Once I finished almost everything else I bought them and installed them. The 3800s come with a wireless light, but it still needs to be plugged in. I guess I also future proofed it for any future owner that would not want to replace the 3800s because head room was not important.
timewarp
Well-known member
I only bought openers after talking to my garage door installer, he recommended them for the fact that they open and close the doors smoothly putting less wear and tear on the door hardware than if some one manually yanked them open or slammed them closed. I'm the only one opening and closing them most of the time but thought about the times my niece or nephew might be here "helping" me and decided to get openers. I had swinging doors previoulsy so was used to opening and closing manually. I have come to really appreciate having the openers, this is just a detached shop not a daily driver garage. I would definitely have openers for a daily driver garage.
venturesomerite
Well-known member
I have a 10x16' manual door, no complaints here. I'd rather just lift it than deal with the opener when it breaks.
I think you are into the DD vs. shop door area.
For DD an opener is great for those rain/snow days when you need to get the groceries into the house.
For a shop, when you are out of the car as much as you are, it doesn’t mean that much.
For DD an opener is great for those rain/snow days when you need to get the groceries into the house.
For a shop, when you are out of the car as much as you are, it doesn’t mean that much.