31/01/2018
How Much Headroom Is Needed for My Overhead Garage Door?
If you’re planning to install a new garage door, there’s an important question you need to consider: how much space do I need so that my garage door can be raised properly? At Crowfoot & Cross Town Garage Door Services, we offer our customers garage door parts in Calgary at a reasonable price with great service. Let our experts show you how to determine your need for space, and avoid ordering the wrong parts for your garage.
Determining Headroom Requirements
Headroom refers to the space between the top of your garage door and the ceiling. Depending on the type of door you use, you’ll require more or less clearance for it to open properly. There are two main types of garage doors: those that use extension springs (which we don’t recommend because replacement parts are not available), and those that use torsion springs. Torsion springs are regarded as being the more stable of the two, but each has its own requirements when it comes to the headroom it needs to operate. When possible, it’s always prudent to leave at least 14 inches of headroom. Here’s a short list of headroom requirements based on the type of door you want to install:
For residential overhead doors:
Standard track with torsion springs (manually operated): 12 inches of headroom minimum
Standard track with torsion springs (mechanically operated): 14 inches of headroom minimum
Low headroom track with torsion springs (manually operated): 9 inches of headroom minimum
Low headroom track with torsion springs (mechanically operated): 11 inches of headroom minimum
As you can see, the minimum headroom required to operate your overhead garage door safely is between 9 and 14 inches.
If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy business to handle the installation and repair of your garage door, give us a call. Our experts will answer any questions regarding our products and replacement parts for your garage door. Don’t delay; call us today.