How Much Headroom Is Required For Residential Garage Doors?

The moment you decide to have a garage at your home, the only things that come to mind are the styles and models that look attractive in the neighborhood. However, style and design are not the only factors that one should consider. Headroom plays an integral part in the installation of the garage door.

Before even you select the design and style of the garage door, it is necessary to get proper measurements of the space between the top of the door frame and the roof. The correct measurement will help you select the best fit for your space. The correct headroom measurements will allow the garage door to move smoothly on the tracks without hitting the roof. It is better to call a professional to take accurate measurements for the headroom to save yourself from any upcoming trouble.

Installing a garage door is not a minor procedure, so it’s better to take the initial steps wisely. However, there is always a Standard Recommendation regarding every installation. Following are some recommended minimum headroom requirements for a garage door. Please note these are the closest measurement for a typical installation; going below these readings would create a problem.

How Much Standard Headroom Is Needed For A Residential Garage Door?

For the residential garage door, there are different measurements according to the condition. It is safe to have 9-15 inches minimum headroom for the residential garage door. Again, it also depends on the type of garage door you select for your home.

• If it is a standard track with manual operation, a minimum of 12 inches of headroom is required.
• If the tracks are standard with a garage door, a minimum of 15 inches headroom is required.
• If the track has low headroom with manual operation, a minimum of 9 inches headroom is required.
• If the track has low headroom with a garage door opener, a minimum of 12 inches of headroom is required.

For the commercial garage doors, the measurements would be different as the track tends to be larger than the residential ones. So the minimum requirements are also higher.

What Are The Headroom Requirements Depending On The Springs?

The headroom requirement also depends on what type of garage door setup you are going with. The most common is with torsion spring and extension spring.

The One With Torsion Spring

Those who work in the industry would definitely recommend installing the garage door with a torsion spring as it is the safest. It is installed to the opener of the door and creates tension when the door is working.

Regarding the minimum requirement of headroom in the case of torsion springs, it needs a rarely bigger space in your garage than the others. It requires a minimum of 12 inches of space to install the garage door with torsion springs. However, if you go with the double-track system, it may need as little as 5 inches clearance.

The One With Extension Spring

The secondary option for the garage door is with extension springs. Torsion springs are generally more effective than extension springs, but extension springs take less space in the garage because it is attached to the upper tracks and roll down the sides.

The minimum requirement of headroom in the case of extension springs is 9-12 inches. A double-track system would be recommended for homes with low garage ceilings. Like torsion spring, it may need at least 5 inches of space clearance, but it is necessary to know the correct measurements before purchasing the garage door.

How To Measure The Headroom?

Various factors need to be put under consideration while you measure the headroom. It is essential to know hurdles that come in the way. The most common obstacles include ventilation ducts, pipes, support beams, and lighting appliances.

If these obstacles are unmovable, it is crucial to measure the headroom accordingly. Wrong measurements would result in a long-term problem such as an interfered operation of the garage door.

How Can You Improve The Garage Door Installation?

• It is better to opt for torsion springs for the garage door as it is safer than any other springs and it helps in smooth operation for a long time.
• Use safety cables to ensure the security of the garage door that eventually secure your house too.

Bottom Line

Garage door installation is a critical procedure that needs extra awareness. It is better to get assistance from your nearest garage door service provider to ensure quality. ETS Garage Door Repair LLC is the # 1 and trusted garage door service provider in the town. Reach them out for any garage door-related services for repair, installation, and maintenance.