How to install Garage door opener with Main Beam in the way?
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at
9:37 pm
R asked:
I want to install a garage door opener, but in the garage the main beam is in the way. It is a high ranch with a 2 car garage and the beam crosses through the middle of the garage parallel to the garage doors (supported by a pole in the middle of the garage between the cars. To install a ceiling mount garage door opener, I would have to cut a large hole or notch in the beam for the rail to pass through.
I want to install a garage door opener, but in the garage the main beam is in the way. It is a high ranch with a 2 car garage and the beam crosses through the middle of the garage parallel to the garage doors (supported by a pole in the middle of the garage between the cars. To install a ceiling mount garage door opener, I would have to cut a large hole or notch in the beam for the rail to pass through.
Is that OK? What are the alternatives?
Lee
Tagged with: Garage Doors • Garage Opener • Large Hole
Filed under: Do it Yourself Repair
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really don’t want to cut into any main beam.if you went under it would you still have enough Clarance for the car to get in?if you must cut into the beam go no more then one third into it and reinforce across the cut at least 4ft,before you cut.and you should be OK
You may want to look into side mount chain driven openers, more commonly found on commercial overhead doors
hope this helps . .
if possible, you can get Extension girders (small metal beams with holes) that will lower the installation. that only works if you have the vertical clearance.
if not, and you are willing to spend a few hundred, get a Jackshaft opener. It installs on the springrod that is above the door when closed. no tracks or ***** rods are needed. here is a link to an example:
It’s difficult to say without actually seeing/measuring the beam’s distance from the front wall, the beams depth, etc. but there is sometimes the option of cutting down the opener’s rail and shortening the chain so that the opener fits in front of the beam. Of course, the shorter the rail gets the less upward travel the door can make. You have to make sure that there is still enough rail left to lift the door high enough to get your vehicle inside.
Jackshaft openers (side mounted) are good alternatives but you must have torsion springs (mounted on a shaft) for them to be an option. They are not compatible with extension spring set ups (springs stretch down alongside the tracks).