How-To-Measure For Your New Residential Garage Door
Please use the drawing and instructions below to measure your garage door.
Step #1 Measure door opening width and height in feet and inches. This determines the size of door needed. The rough opening should be the same size as the door.
Step #2 Measure for sideroom: 3-3/4" is required on each side for installation of the vertical track for standard extension spring, standard torsion spring and EZ-SET Torsion Spring System, 5-1/2" for EZ-SET Extension Spring System.
Step #3 Measure area labeled “headroom” – distance between the top of the door opening (“jamb header”) and the ceiling (or floor joist). 10" is required for the standard extension spring or EZ-SET Extension Spring System. 12" is required for standard torsion spring and EZ-SET Torsion Spring System. If you have restricted headroom, special hardware is available. Additional headroom is required for installation of an automatic garage door opener.
NOTE: If door height extends above the opening, the headroom measurement should be adjusted proportionately.
Step #4 Measure area labeled “backroom” – distance is measured from the garage door opening toward the back wall of the garage. Door height plus 18" is required. Additional back room may be required for installation of an automatic garage door opener.
If you are not comfortable taking measurements or do not have the time it's OK, we offer free estimates and will measure for you if you are ordering a new door.
CHOOSE YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER
There are a variety of garage door openers with various features and benefits – sometimes it can be confusing.
Garage Door Openers Differ By:
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Power Rating:
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1/3 for most doors.
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1/2 horsepower for larger or heavier doors
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Drive Mechanism:
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Belt drive is quietest
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Chain and screw drives are more durable but may require more maintenance.
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Motor Type
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AC is most popular
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DC motors offer softer starting/stopping
If You Have a Garage Door that…
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Is adjacent to a bedroom you may want an operator with quiet operation. Consider a belt drive operator or an operator with a vibration isolation system (VIS) or both.
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Is opened frequently, you may want to consider a opener with chain operation.
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Gets excessive wear and tear due to sudden starts and stops, consider an opener with soft start and stop features available with DC motors.
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Want safety and convenience of automatic lighting, consider an opener that includes a motion detector in the wall button.
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Have multiple doors on your garage, you should consider an opener with three-button transmitters to allow separate opening/closing of the doors.
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Have an extended height door, be sure to get a rail that fits your door height. Residential rails come in lengths for 7, 8 and 10 ft high doors. Door higher than 10 feet may require a commercial operator.
All Operators Offer as Standard or Optional Features
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Keypads (for operation when you don’t have your transmitter)
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Extra transmitters (for other family members)
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Open door monitors (to monitor the garage door from different parts of your house)
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Lockout (prevents operation during vacation)
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Worklights (to turn on the light without opening the garage door)
