In just the last 10 years, garage ceilings have only gotten higher and higher. Today, most garages are easily higher than nine feet, in many cases, and some top out at 12 or 14 feet. With conventional garage doors only standing between eight and nine feet high, this leaves a lot of space over the garage door that is wasted.
Fortunately, Chamberlain and LiftMaster have noticed the need for a solution and adapted their commercial opener for use in residential garage door applications. This opener has a secondary wall‑mounted shaft and is known as the jackshaft opener.
What’s a jackshaft design?
In most installations, the garage door opener is installed in the center of the ceiling, with a metal tray and tracks. In comparison, jackshaft openers are mounted beside the garage door. This makes them easier to reach and maintain properly throughout their lifespan. They are usually used on standard‑sized garage doors and require 24 inches or more of space over the door for installation.
It’s becoming increasingly normal for home builders to design additional storage in the garage. Others create cathedral ceilings to offer unique aesthetics. Both of those make it difficult or impossible to use a standard garage door opener without serious modifications and/or the loss of usable space.
When you move the garage door opener as close to the ceiling as you can, it will free up plenty of storage space. Plus, with a higher door, you will have that extra wall space where you can put hooks, shelves, or other storage systems.
Keep in mind, there are some situations where the jackshaft opener cannot be used.
- For garages with limited headroom above the garage door, a jackshaft opener may be able to be installed beside the door.
- In the event that there is a false panel or transom window above your garage door, you can’t put in an overhead opener. Some designers prefer to put windows in this area rather than actually on the door. Fortunately, if your tracks are on a high‑lift system, you won’t be able to see them through the garage window.
Jackshaft openers can work doors up to 14 feet high and 18 feet wide, which makes it a good solution for oversized garages storing RVs or other larger vehicles.
What you need...
The minimum requirements for installing a jackshaft opener include the following:
- A minimum of eight inches on either side of the garage door
- A minimum of three inches of headroom over the garage door
- A nearby electrical outlet (at least six feet away)
- 16 inches of space for installing the housing
Note that jackshaft openers work with all types of spring systems, including torsion springs.
What are the advantages?
Jackshaft garage door openers offer quite a few advantages over traditional options, including the fact that you get more storage space above the door. The motors are DC, which gives you quieter operation, too. They are safer for garages with cathedral ceilings, and you also gain protection from prying eyes. You’ll also find that they can include backup batteries (8500W).
Other features
Of course, there are other important features that you should know about. These include the following:
- MyQ technology allows you to connect your smartphone to your garage door.
- A photo‑eye system is now a standard part of building a garage door opener.
Find the right jackshaft model for you
Ready to learn more about jackshaft garage door openers? Get in touch with us at 616-453-0164. We serve customers in and around Grand Rapids area.
Add new comment