So how much room do you need to allow for your overhead garage door, if you want to install a garage door opener?
For a standard garage door opener, your garage door should have about 15 inches of clearance overhead. This allows 12 inches for the door and springs, and 3 inches for the opener. In most garages this isn’t a problem. But not all garages in Rancho Cordova have this much room. No worries. With a little ingenuity, you can still manage an overhead door with room for a garage door opener. Here’s how.
The Jackshaft Garage Door Opener
The easiest solution to tight overhead space for a garage door is to install a jackshaft garage door opener. These openers work the same as traditional overhead garage door openers, but work on the side of your garage rather than the top. You’ll naturally need to have more space on the side and the mechanism might take up valuable car and storage real estate. But it is an effective way to install an opener.
Install A Low Headroom Track
You can also install a track designed for low headroom. These are designed for garages where overhead space is tight. This will provide more room for installing a garage door opener. With this type of track, all you need is about 9 inches of headroom space rather than the standard 15.