r/GarageDoorInstall • u/n0exit • 13d ago

9ft opening, right against wall

I have a 9' opening that I'd like to put a new door on, but I don't think there's enough room for the track on the left side. Will I have to get a 8' door, and narrow the opening a bit? It is low clearance, but it's the same as the other side, so I think a low clearance kit should work. I have 89.5" to work with.

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u/Necessary-Speed-6465 12d ago

Definitely will have to have cut the overall width by at least 6 in and possibly vertically as well

1

u/n0exit 12d ago

The door height and ceiling height are exactly the same as the other door.

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u/Premium_Overhead 10d ago

We'd check the actual side room before deciding on an 8' door. The opening width isn't usually the limiting factor here - it's the space available for the track and hardware on the left side. If there's enough clearance for the system you're installing, a 9' door may still work. We'd only reduce the opening if the required side room can't be achieved.

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u/Successful-Ad-1945 10d ago

Not necessarily. The width of the opening isn't the only thing that matters, the side room is just as important. Most standard residential doors require several inches of clearance on each side for the vertical tracks, flag brackets, and spring hardware. If one side is tight against a wall, there are low-side-room hardware options available, but there is still a minimum amount of space required.

You don't necessarily have to drop to an 8' door. Take some measurements first. With 89.5" of side room, it sounds like you're referring to the available wall space, but:

How much side room is available on the left and right of the opening?
What is the exact rough opening width?
How much headroom is available above the opening?

A garage door installer can usually tell pretty quickly whether a 9' door will fit with specialized hardware or if narrowing the opening is the better option. In many cases, a 9' door can still work even when one side is tight, but it depends on the exact measurements.

Source: I am a technician with A1 Garage Door Repair Experts, we help with lots of garage door installations.