How To Measure A Garage Door For An Opener

How To Measure A Garage Door For An Opener

Installing a garage door opener is a home improvement projection that many exercise-it-yourselfers decide to tackle in an attempt to save coin and fourth dimension. Many homeowners believe that the procedure is as simple as buying the garage door opener that you lot want, finding the correct installation hardware, and connecting to your existing garage door. While the process is very feasible for homeowners, it involves preparation even before the garage door opener can be purchased.

Matching Your Opener to the Door

One of the most of import kickoff steps to installing a garage door opener is to properly measure your garage door so that you buy the right size opener for your awarding. The measuring process is simple and just takes a few tools and about 15 minutes of your time. At that place are v (five) master measurements to consider.

    1. Top: The height of the garage door opening is the altitude from the flooring to the top of the garage door opening. This is a very important measurement that determines if you will need an extension kit when purchasing your DIY operator.
    2. Side Room: This is the area available immediately adjacent to the door opening. A minimum of 3.v" to 4.5" is required on either side of the door opening to mount the Safe-T-Beam® Organisation.
    3. Caput Room: The head room is the surface area above the door opening, used to mount the header bracket and track assembly (yous'll desire to make certain this surface area is in proficient condition). This is measured from the acme of the door opening to the ceiling. A minimum of 12" is typically required.
    4. Depth: This is the distance from the garage door opening to the back wall of the garage. A minimum depth of the door's tiptop plus 18" is required for manually operated doors, whereas a garage door opener can require the door height plus an boosted three' to four' (for standard vii' or 8' loftier doors, depending on model). Retrieve that electric motorheads are typically placed ix.5' to 11.5' (for standard 7' or eight' loftier doors) from the door, so ensure a 120VAC outlet is inside 36" of this location. When measuring the depth, it's as well important to bank check for any obstructions such as storage, cranium admission, and beams that may be hanging down in the way of the installation.
    5. Highest Point of Travel: This distance is measured from the ceiling to the highest point of the leading edge of the garage door when being raised. Sectional doors require a minimum of 2.v" for installing of an electric opener.

          Equipped with the measurement data to a higher place, you can then begin researching different types of garage door openers that will fit your application. A number of different Genie garage door openers are available, and each has its ain set of working parameters.

          Types of Genie® Garage Door Openers

          Genie carries a diverse line of DIY garage door opener units designed to work with single or double doors up to 7' tall. Extension kits are bachelor for doors that are upwards to viii' tall. If purchasing a dealer-installed Genie professional garage door opener unit, the dealer tin can provide the proper rail (model /drive type specific) for a vii', 8', 9', 10', 12', or 14' residential garage door.

          Genie'southward units with 24V DC motors (such as the SilentMax® Connect) have a 500lb. working capacity and are recommended for sectional standard garage doors, and doors with low-cal insulation.

          Doors that are wider and heavier may crave installation of a reinforcement bracket to support the boosted weight. These doors are often better suited for concatenation or belt drive units with 140V DC motors and a greater working chapters. These units can handle sectional or one-piece garage doors that are non-insulated or insulated. Doors can exist fiberglass, aluminum, or steel without result.

          Wood doors, double-sided doors with insulation, wind-load rated or hurricane doors, and other heavier door types are best suited for screw drive units with a  140V DC motor. These units work with exclusive or one-slice doors.

          Select Genie models and door specifications include:

          • SilentMax® Connect – Smart garage door opener for use with smart telephone or device, operates with a tranquility 24V DC motor with a 500lb. weight limit for exclusive doors. Jumpsuit doors and doors that are over 500lb. will require a special application and a different model unit.
          • Genie Chain Drive 500 – Sports a weight limit of 350lb. and is limited to sectional doors that are 7' or lower.
          • MachForce® – The top-of-the-line operator that incorporates a screw drive and 140V DC motor. Designed for heavier doors such as wooden doors, Masonite doors, double-sided insulated doors, hurricane doors, and wind-load rated doors.

          Use the Product Selector to find the perfect garage door opener for y'all.  Brand sure to research each type of garage door opener or talk with your dealer to decide the best garage door opener for your particular application. The right equipment can brand a world of deviation in the performance of your opener, so choose wisely.


          Boosted Pre-Installation Considerations

          In addition to considerations fabricated for the size, weight, and style of door, in that location are a few additional pre-installation considerations to exist made.

          • Do you have a finished ceiling? If so, you volition need a perforated bending that can span beams of trusses to employ for mounting the motorhead.
          • Do you have woods along the door tracks virtually the floor? This is where the Prophylactic-T-Axle will be mounted. If not, boosted fasteners or brackets will be needed for mounting.
          • Is in that location an electrical outlet within 3' of the mounting location of the opener? If not, a licensed electrician may need to install one.
          • Is your door in good working condition and counterbalanced correctly? Check the functioning of the door and see if any obvious harm or wear needs repaired prior to installing your new garage door opener. Contact a local dealer for door repairs.
          • Finally, are whatsoever ropes or locks still continued to the garage door? If so, these volition demand disconnected or disabled and removed prior to operating with a garage door opener.

          Preparing for the installation of your new garage door opener is not difficult simply does accept a certain amount of intendance and attention to detail. With the correct corporeality of forethought, your Genie garage door opener will operate smoothly and consistently for many years to come up.

          For more information on Genie garage door opener models, visit our website or contact us today.