Like any investment or home component, you will want to make sure that the garage door installation you order will actually fit your Atlanta home.
To reduce the chances that the garage door you think you need will end up not fitting, take careful measurements. Also, you must account for all of the peripheral clearance your garage door system will need to operate.
If this process sounds complicated, don’t worry. It really isn’t too difficult. You will just need to be sure that you are measuring from the right starting point. You must also be sure to get good, straight lines that accurately represent the dimensions needed for proper garage door installation sizing.
To accomplish this task, follow these simple steps.
Garage Opening Width and Height
Begin with an open garage door and measure the opening from jamb to jamb. The jamb is the piece of trim that borders the opening and represents that area where the opening stops.
Hook your tape measure on one end of the jamb or have someone hold it for you. Next, pull it as tight and as straight as you can to the other side. If you need to, you can set the tape measure on the ground and measure horizontally from there. But ideally, try to hover a small bit above the surface so that irregularities don’t mess up your measurements.
Repeat the process by measuring from the very top jamb all the way down to the ground.
Measure the Left and Right Side Room
In addition, the distance between the interior edge of the door jamb to the inner wall of your garage is known as the side room.
You will need at least 3 1/2 inches to 4 inches of unobstructed side room on each side to account for the side track mechanisms for most common styles of garage door installations. Unobstructed means that there are no pipes or other objects in the way of the full height of the door.
Measure the Headroom
The distance from the inside edge of the top of the door jamb to the ceiling of your garage is called the headroom.
You will need around 10 1/2 inches to 13 inches of headroom for most types of manual garage doors. Automatic garage door opener models need an additional 3 inches for 13 1/2 – 16 inches total. And, some specialty installations like wood garage doors may even need as much as 18 – 21 inches.
And, if you have low headroom, do not worry. There are low headroom garage door kits available that can accommodate as little as 4 1/2 inches of headroom.
Measure the Backroom
Finally, the backroom is the distance from the ceiling edge above the garage opening all the way back to the ceiling edge on the opposite side.
You will most likely need enough backroom to account for the height of the garage opening plus 18 inches. Some installations may need even more room.
Confirm Your Numbers by Consulting an Expert
Unfortunately, getting accurate measurements is tough without the right tools and know-how.
With your general needs and measurements in hand, you can consult a garage door installation expert who will go over the types of garage doors you may need given your garage’s dimensions. They can also come out and measure for themselves. This is a great idea if you want to guarantee that the model you order will fit.
For help getting the right measurements or determining which garage door product would be right for your home, get in touch with us today.