Headroom refers to the distance between the top of the door and the lowest point of the ceiling or any obstruction such as a garage door opener rail, pipes, or ductwork.
Residential headroom depends on the type of spring system that will be installed with your new garage door. For extension springs, a minimum of 10" is required for your garage doors to operate. Torsion springs require 12". Remember, these amounts are for garage door operation only. If you are installing a garage door opener, additional headroom is required. Check with the opener manufacturer for additional headroom requirements.
Commercial door headroom depends on not only the spring, but the track system that will be installed with your new door. There are many options available to compliment your building. Options such as Follow the Roof, Highlift, Full Vertical track, Spring cycles, Door weights and track thickness can all impact the amount of clearance required. Standard headroom requirements for a door with torsion springs, 2" thick track with a 15" radius require 16". However changes will directly affect the clearance needed.
Note: If you are installing a trolley or jackshaft opener, additional headroom or sideroom is required. Check with the opener manufacturer for additional headroom requirements.
Yes! Low headroom kits are available from your local garage door dealer or retailer. If your garage doors came with extension springs, the necessary headroom can be reduced to 4-1/2”. Torsion spring systems can be reduced to 4-1/2”. More information for both commercial and residentail doors can be found in the Low Headroom Options file listed in our Installation Manuals.
Sideroom refers to the measurement from each side of the garage door opening, outward to the nearest wall or obstruction within the garage. Allow 3-3/4" on either side of the door for standard extension and torsion springs installation and 5-1/2" for residential EZ-SET extension springs.
Backroom refers to the distance from the garage door to the back wall of the garage. For residential garage doors, backroom is door height plus 18". For commercial door installation add the door height along with 23" for 2” track and 25” for 3” track. Additional backroom is required for the installation of an automatic garage door opener.
Standard residential door widths are 8', 9', 10', 12', 14', 15', 15'6", 16', and 18'. Some models can be custom ordered in 2" increments (8'2", 8'4", 8'6", etc.). Check with your local dealer or retailer for custom garage doors width/model availability. Standard door heights are from 6' to 8' in 3" increments, except for 7'3". Most residential garage doors are now available in extended heights up to 16'. Check with your local dealer or retailer for custom garage doors extended height/model availability.
For commercial garage doors headroom depends on model. Doors can be manufactured in 2” increments from 4’2” to 36’2” in width, and from 4’0” to 26’ High. Check with your local dealer or retailer for custom door width/height availability.
Yes! Low headroom kits are available from your local garage door dealer or retailer. If your garage doors came with extension springs, the necessary headroom can be reduced to 4-1/2”. Torsion spring systems can be reduced to 4-1/2”. More information for both commercial and residentail doors can be found in the Low Headroom Options file listed in our Installation Manuals.
Depending on the type of construction, the finished opening should be the same size as the door you wish to purchase. The door fits against the opening from the inside. The rough opening should be finished with an exterior perimeter seal or stop molding to seal out rain and wind. For more information, please refer to the Preparing the Opening file listed on our Installation Manual. Doors mounted to steel jambs are typically ordered 2” wider than the finished opening to allow for side seal application
Normally, garage doors will hang about 4 to 6 inches into the opening. This helps keep tension on the cable so it does not separate from the cable drum or pulley. If your garage door operates with an electric opener, it can be adjusted so the door is pulled completely even with the opening, if necessary, to provide additional clearance for a vehicle
The cost of a garage door depends on a number of factors such as: the model, size, material, decorative options and site conditions. When you purchase a new garage door from Dortex Garage Doors final price will include installation service, sales tax, and distance.
Both residential and commercial garage doors can be painted with any high quality exterior latex paint. Do not use an oil based paint.
Wood garage doors must be painted/stained on all sides prior to installation. Most models are available factory primed. Dortex Garage Doors recommends wood garage doors be re-painted every 1 to 2 years (more frequent refinishing may be required in high moisture areas).
On Residential garage doors the window section can be placed in either the third section (second from top) or the fourth (top) section.
The window section can be placed in any section on a commercial door. Building codes require that glass within 32” of the bottom of the door be tempered glass.
Yes, replacement sections for steel garage doors and wood garage doors are available. If your door was manufactured in the last ten years, we can identify the model by referencing the 15 to 16 digital serial number located on the interior bottom section of the door. Exposure to the elements can alter the color of a garage door over time; so the replacement section may not be a perfect match.
Unwinding standard torsion springs requires specific tools and training. Due to the dangerous nature of this process, we recommend you contact a local garage door professional to remove the tension from the springs.
R-value is a measurement of thermal efficiency of a garage door, or how well it insulates. Insulation is an important factor to consider when purchasing a garage door. If you plan to spend a lot of time in your garage, or if you have a room directly above or adjacent to your garage, you will want to purchase a garage door that offers a high R-value. If your garage is not attached to your house, or you are not concerned with insulation, you can purchase a door with a lower R-value or no garage door insulation at all.
The lower the gauge, the thicker (and stronger) the steel. For example, 24-gauge steel is thicker than 27-gauge steel. However, a “sandwich” constructed door with two 27-gauge steel skins bonded to an insulated core is stronger than a “steel frame” door with a single 24-gauge steel skin.
Just about any opener can be installed with new doors; however we recommend checking with the opener manufacturer to find out if the unit meets current government safety standards as required by law. Once verified the unit is in compliance, you can begin the project. Don’t forget to reinforce the door before attaching the opener!
For Residential garage doors generally, a 1/3 horsepower opener is sufficient for a single-car garage door. A 1/3 or 1/2 horsepower opener is recommended for some of the heavier two-car garage doors. A minimum 1/2 horsepower is required for all carriage house style wood garage doors. Remember to reinforce the garage door prior to attaching the garage door opener. On commercial sites the power, voltage and phase of the door operator are based on your current power availability and on the size and weight of the door. Consult your local dealer for guidance for the opener that best suits your needs.