If you’ve noticed your garage door is making some seriously bad noises, or is clearly broken or damaged, a garage door replacement is needed. But before you install that door, it’s important to prepare your garage door opening.
Whether you’re installing a new door or upgrading an existing one, getting the garage door opening ready is key to ensuring the door functions smoothly and securely. In this garage door preparation guide, we’ll walk you through how to prepare your garage door opening, or more accurately, how to frame your garage door.
Understanding the Importance of Preparing Your Garage Door Opening
Before diving into the specifics of framing a garage door, it’s helpful to understand why the garage door opening is so significant. The opening must be properly sized and framed to accommodate the specific dimensions of the door you plan to install. A correctly framed opening ensures that the door operates smoothly, seals well, and provides insulation to your property.
The garage door opening size is typically determined by the type of garage door you want, as well as the overall structure of your garage. Whether you’re installing a single or double garage door, it’s essential to ensure that the opening is square and level, with no obstructions or damage that could interfere with the installation process.
Consider the Garage Floor
Your first consideration must be the garage floor. We know it sounds counterintuitive since we are preparing the opening of the garage but hear us out.
The floor of a garage should slope outward. If you have the floor sloping in or a slight dip in the middle of the flooring, water cannot escape the garage. In the Midwest, our cars will bring in a lot of snow during winter. You must have your garage designed to allow the snowmelt to flow outward.
How to Measure a Garage
What is the amount of space you need to use your garage? To get the answer to this question, you must consider some garage door framing details.
Car Size
If you have a larger car, you will need a large opening. Just the addition of a roof rack could alter the required opening size. A vehicle fitting into a garage is almost so obvious that it’s easily overlooked.
How to Determine the Correct Garage Door Size
When installing a new door, a great deal of focus is placed on how much space is required for the door itself to be installed. Garage doors are designed and built in various ways. These are the garage measurements you need to determine if you should rebuild or remodel the opening:
- Door opening (height and width)
- Headroom (top of garage door to the ceiling)
- Side room (outside of door jamb to the wall)
- Backroom (along the ceiling, from garage opening to back wall)
The door manufacturer will have guidelines available for the opening size needed for each door make and model. If you find that the existing garage opening does not measure up to the amount of space required, you can build a new opening or remodel the old one.
How to Prepare Garage Door Framing
After you have the correct opening cut out, installing the door frame is next. A high-quality door frame will fit snugly against the opening. The secure fit is important because it allows you to attach elements like the track and springs.
The garage door you select will fit perfectly into the remaining open space after the door frame is installed. It’s essential to know how much space the frame will take up and add that into your rough cut-out measurements.
Here are the terms you need to know:
- Vertical jambs – These are the two 2 x 6 pieces of wood on either side of the opening.
- Horizontal jamb – This is the horizontal 2 x 6 piece of wood at the top of the opening.
- Center pad – This is the square piece of wood centered above the horizontal jamb.
The vertical jambs should always go from the floor to the ceiling. Meanwhile, the horizontal jamb should span from the vertical jamb to the vertical jamb. These 2 x 6 pieces of wood should be flush with one another for the track and hardware to function. For the center pad, you must use a good piece of wood. This piece is where the spring and motor are attached from pad to door. Make sure the center pad is securely fastened.
Fun fact: Doors will always be square, and the opening needs to match. Anything with a curve is decoration.
Choosing the Right Garage Door Style
The style of your garage door can affect the garage door framing. Different styles of garage doors may require varying levels of clearance, framing adjustments, and even specific track installations. For instance, a traditional sectional garage door with a normal headroom track may require more vertical clearance for the tracks. A low headroom track will require less headroom, but additional framing support along the sides. The size and weight of the door can also influence the structural reinforcement needed in the framing to ensure proper operation and stability.
You should also consider what sort of garage door opener keypad you want installed. Now there are garage door opener remote keypad options that enable you to use your phone as your garage door control. Discuss your garage door keypad needs with a Omaha garage door opener expert and they’ll be happy to recommend the best option for your home.
When selecting a garage door style, it’s vital to factor in the dimensions of the opening and the required framing modifications. A professional installer can help assess whether adjustments are needed based on your chosen door style.
Build a New Opening or Remodel the Old Garage Door Opening
If you’ve upgraded to an SUV in preparation for this winter season, you may want to take a second look at increasing your garage door opening. Contact Omaha Door & Window for advice and to see our wide range of garage doors and openers.