My old one piece garage door is falling apart. Should I convert to a sectional roll-up door?
First, you will have to determine if you can convert to a sectional roll-up garage door. If you live in a community that has a homeowners association, you will need to check with them about replacing your garage door, as they always have the final say. Unfortunately, this can be a crucial step in the process.
Importance of Getting an Estimate
The next step would be to find a garage door company of your choice and have them come out to give you an estimate on converting to a sectional roll-up garage door. Do not expect them to provide an estimate over the phone; they will need to inspect the garage to determine whether a sectional roll-up can fit. Most of the time, you should be okay, but there are some instances where it might be impossible to install a sectional roll-up garage door.
Understanding Headroom Requirements
What will determine whether or not you can convert to a sectional roll-up door is what we call headroom. This is the space or distance between the top of your garage door opening and the first obstacle above the door, such as your ceiling or pipes running along your garage wall. You will need about 10 to 12 inches of headroom above your garage door opening for a successful installation.
Low Headroom Solutions
If you have less than 10 to 12 inches of headroom, you can use low headroom tracks to fit a door into tight spaces. The minimum headroom distance for using these tracks is about 5 to 6 inches. Although I have installed garage doors with less than this, it is very time-consuming and difficult, and you will likely pay more for this service. Some garage door companies may not even attempt installation with such limited headroom, but I have successfully installed them with as little as 4 inches of headroom.
Support Beams and Their Impact
Another main factor in determining whether you can support a sectional garage door involves support beams. Homes with living areas above the garage often have these beams, which run along the ceiling. In some cases, they can be 5 to 6 feet back from the garage door opening. When you install a sectional garage door, the track goes back into the garage about eight and a half feet. If the beam is positioned less than 8 feet from the door, it may obstruct the installation of the garage door and make it difficult to add a garage door opener.
Final Measurements
If you measure from the garage floor to the bottom of a beam and find that it is more than 7 feet 6 inches from the floor, you should be okay and likely able to fit a sectional roll-up garage door in your garage. However, if you discover that you cannot fit a sectional roll-up garage door in your garage, you might have to settle for installing a one-piece garage door.
In conclusion, understanding your space is essential when considering a conversion to a sectional roll-up garage door. Be sure to consult professionals and take accurate measurements to ensure a successful installation.