How To Measure a Garage Door
When taking the measurements of any garage door it is important not only to remember most garage doors require a fixing sub frame of some description, and that has to be taken in to consideration with the measurements, but also manufacturers ordering size references can vary from one to another.
When taking measurements for a new garage or a replacement door it is important to realise that different garage door types use very different criteria to specify, order and price the overall door. If you are looking for a new garage door then the most basic measurements to take down to begin discussions are:
Width and Height of the existing brickwork opening
Internal Headroom (measuring the clear space from underneath the lintel to the ceiling)
Internal Reveals (the width of the face showing either side when you stand in your garage looking out)
Make a note of any obvious obstructions in the garage and you can then begin looking for an appropriate garage door with your measurements at hand - most handy if you are speaking to us rather than the favourite phrase 'it's a standard size door'.
How To Measure a Garage Door - Below are some basic tips and facts:
Up and Over Garage Doors
Important: ALL up and over garage doors require a fixing sub frame for installation and this must be taken into consideration when measuring, ordering and installing.
Up and over garage doors are always ordered by their internal fixing sub frame dimensions in the U.K. - in other words the internal width and height of the sub frame opening which is usually either timber or steel box section.
Measure your existing up and over garage door inbetween the sub frame (open the garage door) and for example you may get a measurement of 7'0" (2134mm) for the width and then 7'0" (2134mm) from the floor to the frame head. This is then ordered as a 7' x 7' garage door (7070) and the door panel measurement itself is irrelevant as different manufacturers allow different tolerances in the panel depending on other factors.
If you do measure the actual panel itself it will always be just under the ordering size width and height - for example 2115mm x 2115mm equates to a 7070 door (2134mm x 2134mm) for ordering, it is smaller to allow for the door panel tolerance inside the sub frame
(Up and over garage doors are still ordered in imperial measurements even though the imperial size may not be exactly the same measurements of the internal sub frame)
When a garage door is fitted inbetween a brickwork opening the measurements are much more critical than when fitted behind (inside) the garage opening as operating gear and springs will vary from one manufacturer to another meaning you cannot always just replace an old up and over with a new one with new gear as it may require a wider frame than the old one has - general rule of thumb is you will require timber frame legs of at least 60mm wide and a timber head of at least 60mm in depth to allow for the tracks, springs, etc
General rule of thumb: The ordering size is the fixing sub frame daylight opening size (allow for the sub frame in your calculations!)
How To Measure Sectional Garage Doors
Important: ALL sectional garage doors are ordered by the internal dimensions of the steel fixing frame opening and all sectional doors have a steel framework for installation and this must be taken into account. A timber sub frame is often used to create a reveal structure if you do not have piers to install behind.Hormann, Garador, Gliderol and Carteck do offer an inbetween fit kit for this purpose as well but make sure you have the potential colour differences taken care of when doing this.
Do not order a 14' x 7' (4267 x 2134) sectional door and expect it to fit INBETWEEN your 14' x 7' garage opening, there is always a frame system to accomodate!!
Most sectional garage doors are installed behind (inside) the garage opening to maximise drivethrough dimensions and most have quite large space requirements for the frame legs and the height required for the curved part of the track the door panels move in. However because a sectional garage door does not go through the opening it is possible to install sizes larger and smaller than your actual opening on the width and height. Very rarely will a standard size sectional door be the exact size when replacing an old door.
Generally most sectional domestic garage doors require 90mm each side for installation and between 100 and 210mm of headroom above the top panel of the door. (Check each manufacturer carefully before committing)
A sectional door will also come into the garage a lot further on the horizontal rails so it is essential you have clear room at least the height of the door plus 350 - 600mm (on average) into the garage.
(Oddly, most sectional garage doors are ordered in either imperial or metric measurements but quite often the imperial measurement is not quite the actual size of the door, but a near order reference size)
General rule of thumb: The ordering size is the inbetween daylight frame opening size (allow for the frame and springs in your calculations)
Download our sectional garage door survey form >
How To Measure Roller Shutter Garage Doors
Important: Roller shutter doors are ordered by different dimension depending on different manufacturers. BEWARE, some use the daylight opening size and others the overall size, some also order the width by the roller curtain width.
Generally for a roller garage door you install the tracks and the support brackets for the curtain roll inside the garage opening for maximum use and in many cases because the average curtain roll size for a roller door is between 300 and 450mm it needs to go behind the lintel to maintain drive through height. Some smaller 'Compact' roller curtain sizes are available by using smaller slats and this can get the roll size down to 205mm (8")
Modern roller shutters do not require a sub frame as the tracks fit directly to the garage structure. Insulated roller doors can fit inbetween a structural opening where as most non insulated steel roller doors must fit behind a structure as the track guides are very different in construction.
Download our roller shutter survey form >
(Most roller garage door manufacturers now produce roller doors to exact sizes and you only ever tend to see standard sizes shown in special offers)
General rule of thumb: The ordering size for the width includes the side guides but the height does not include the door roll (check carefully with each different manufacturer type)
How To Measure Side Hinged Garage Doors
Important: Side hinged garage doors always need a timber or steel sub frame and with a timber sub frame they need 'hanging' correctly, usually by a skilled carpenter or competent person. Steel framed side hinged doors usually come pre assembled so are far easier to install on site.
Measurement for side hinged doors for ordering are like up and over doors where the sub frame internal opening size is the reference, NOT the actual door leaves which have a tolerance built in depending on panel thickness, etc.
Most side hinged garage doors are installed inbetween the structural opening but can be installed in front (with appropriate weather sealing to frame head) of a garage to maximise length, width and height.
(Side hinged garage doors in timber are very versatile in out of square garage openings although timber framework is equally versatile enabling steel, GRP, ABS or timber side hinged doors to be installed)
General rule of thumb: The ordering size is the fixing frame daylight opening size (allow for the frame in your calculations)
You can find a lot more information and technical specifications from manufacturers own brochures in our downloads section. Some of these PDF files are very large so be prepared to wait if your broadband speed is a bit slow.
Please do not hesitate to contact us as obviously the sizing of garage doors of any type is the most important factor to ensure your installation is simple and the garage door can be used for its intended purpose.
Email: info@garagedoorsonline.co.uk
