Garage Door Frame Guidelines

ADM Garage Doors recommends the following specifications for the construction of garage door frames.

Clearance from Ceiling

For Most Garage Doors (e.g. Sectional Doors)

The top of the garage door opening should have at least 14 inches of clearance from the ceiling in order to accommodate a standard, 12-inch radius track and an opener.

For Heavier Garage Doors (e.g. Carriage House Doors)

For steel or wood carriage house doors, the top of the garage door opening should have at least 17 inches of clearance from the garage ceiling. This will provide ample space for a 15-inch radius track, needed for these and other heavier doors.

For Garages with Limited Space

In the event garage door frames cannot be installed with the recommended clearance, a low headroom track may be used instead of a radius track. You can use these special tracks in tight spaces, but you may not be able to open the door completely.

Concrete Stem Walls

The distance between the stem walls on either side of the garage should be a minimum of 3 inches greater than the width of your garage door. You must have at least 1.5 inches of clearance on each side of the door.

If the stem wall does not provide at least 3 inches of clearance, you will need to consider either cutting the concrete back or adding casing that is flush with the concrete.

Rough and Net Finished Opening

The rough opening should be the same width as the garage door.

The net finished opening is the total width after the addition of trimmers, and will be about 3 inches less wide than the garage door, or 1.5-inches on either side of the door. It should also be 1 inch less the height of the door.

Track Mount Heights

Track Mounts must be installed about 12 inches above the top of the garage door opening, and they must be flush both horizontally (with the floor) and vertically (with the spring bracket) for best performance.  

Power Outlets for Openers

Use the following formula to determine how far back from the garage's header to place an opener outlet:

Door Height + 4 Feet

Locate the outlet offset about 1 foot from either side of the garage door opener.

Other notes

For best protection, use a 20 amp GFI circuit.

For extra protection from lighting, also use a single-outlet plug-in surge protector.

Low Voltage Wiring

Wall button Circuit: Located on the ceiling, centered on the door opening, with consideration for setback distance to the operator outlet. To connect to the operator, allow at least a 3' lead. The other end connects to the wallbutton, which should be placed at about 5' above the floor. And be sure to install the wall button where the garage door can be seen when it is used.

Safety/Photo Electric Sensors: There are two circuits, one for each side of the door. Leave a 24" lead, 6" off the floor, and 4 - 6" back or to the side, and both sides of the door opening. These leads come out of the ceiling at the same location as the wire for the wall button with a minimum of 3' lead.