Garages and Carports - Problem installing a Garage Door opener with lower Clearance

Hey All -

I am helping one of my buddies install a garage door opener, but he has extremely lower clearance. We removed the sheetrock and the ceiling is about 10 inches but the problem is there are tons of beams from framing running through the garage.

We started to install the garage door opener but when the garage door is open we only have about 2" of clearance. I can notch the beams a little with a sawzall to get it to fit, but this one is a tight one.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jg

There are low headroom kits available from most manufacturers. It consists of different tracks that drop the door about 4-6". Should work for you. Don't go notching supports.

install a pair of these low clearance top fixtures Quick Close Fixture [256] - $14.25 : Garage Door Parts, LLC, Your online garage door parts source! (http://garagedoorpartsllc.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=585&zenid=d9128e0dc793d713885a1928e1508e17)

Thanks, I don't quite understand how to use that and where to mount to?

That replaces the top roller plate on your garage door, one on each side, called a low overhead roller. By extending the location of the roller, the top of the door doesn't swing as high as what you are experiencing and it gives you the clearance you are looking for. A common problem and the right fix.

Bud

FYI, a jackshaft garage door opener would be the best opener in this scenario. It's mounted on the side of the door opening and turns the torsion tube. So, you can essentially have zero clearance and still operate the door automatically. The motor turns the torsion tube, so all you need is some space to the left or right of the door and at least 2" of torsion tube sticking out to place into the jackshaft opener. LiftMaster has the 3800 and some newer models. Zap Openers is a good company as well, but is more difficult to locate here in the states.