Thorough planning and accurate measurement are critical precursors to a successful garage door installation. The structural realities of your garage in Sheffield will dictate which door systems are viable.
Measuring the Garage Opening
The primary measurements revolve around the structural opening—often called the daylight opening. This is the clear distance between the left and right brickwork reveals, and from the floor to the underside of the structural lintel. These measurements must be taken at multiple points to account for masonry that is out of plumb or floors that are not perfectly level.
Clearance Requirements
- Headroom: The vertical space from the lintel to the ceiling. Essential for overhead tracks or curtain rolls.
- Side Clearance: Space on the internal walls behind the opening to mount tracks or guide rails.
- Internal Clearance (Backroom): The depth of the garage required for tracking systems to extend inwards without fouling against structural beams or lighting.
- Driveway Space: Essential when planning outward-swinging doors (side-hinged or canopy up-and-over) to ensure they do not strike raised ground or parked vehicles.
Preparation and Removal
Preparing for installation involves ensuring the existing frame condition is sound enough to accept structural fixings. The removal of an old door must be factored in, particularly noting that exact requirements for the new fixing points depend entirely on the selected door system and property. Power availability must also be verified if automation is planned.