Can I convert a standard garage door to a high –lift?
Standard garage doors can typically be converted to high-lift if there is
enough head clearance in the garage. Head clearance is the distance
from the top of the garage door opening to the ceiling in the garage.
Typically 12 inches of clearance from the ceiling is needed for any
garage door.
If the ceiling in your garage is 10 feet tall you can use a high lift door to
raise the door in the open position to 9 feet. The 12 inches of clearance
from the ceiling is needed to install the spring bar, springs, drums and
end bearing plates. This example would provide two additional feet of
clearance for a 7 foot tall garage door.
High-lift doors are beneficial if the additional height in the garage is
needed for taller objects. Many times people want to install a lift in
their garage to allow for two cars to be parked in the same space with
one on a lift and the other parked under the lift.
When changing from a standard lift to a high-lift, much of the hardware
will need to be changed. A high-lift door will require new tracks, drums,
cables and springs because the geometry of the door has changed. The
amount of high-lift available is determined by the ceiling height of the
garage and the distance from the top of the garage door opening to the
ceiling.
When changing to a high-lift system the opener will also need to be
changed to a jack shaft opener. A jack shaft opener takes away the
need for the opener rail and moves the motor to the side of the garage
door. A jack shaft opener opens the garage using the spring bar rather
than a rail with a belt, chain or screw suspended from the ceiling in the
garage. This clears additional head room needed in a high-lift
application.
In some application the high-lift can be closer to the ceiling than the
recommended 12 inches, but that is on a case by case basis. Not all
high-lift doors can be any closer to the ceiling than 12 inches.
High-lift conversion are best done by a garage door professional with
the knowledge and skill set needed to perform the conversion. Many
calculations must be made to determine the correct drums, cable
lengths, springs and tracks needed to perform the conversion.
