A Guide to the Different Types of Garage Door Lifts

Garage doors are essential to any home or commercial space, providing security and protection for your property. However, when choosing the right garage door lifts, navigating the many options available can be challenging. From standard lift systems to high lift systems and everything in between, each lifting system comes with its benefits and drawbacks. Let us explore garage door lifting systems, their functionalities, unique features, and ideal applications.

What Are Garage Door Lifts?

Garage door lifts are devices that lift and lower garage doors. An electric motor typically powers them, while users can control them with a remote or a wall switch. The lifting mechanism consists of a trolley, and moves along a track that on the ceiling. A motor drives a chain or belt, which in turn lifts and lowers the garage door.

Types of Lifting Systems

Standard

You can usually see standard lifts in residential garage doors. A standard lift system typically consists of a vertical track that runs from the floor to the garage’s ceiling, with horizontal tracks on either side of the door that guide the door as it opens and closes. 

Standard lift systems are popular because they are simple, reliable, and require relatively little maintenance. They are also less expensive than other lifting systems for garage doors with higher ceilings or unusual configurations.

High Lift

High lift refers to a garage door track configuration that raises the door higher off the ground than a standard lift system. A high lift track raises the garage door to the ceiling level, providing additional overhead clearance and potentially increasing storage space. This configuration may be useful for homeowners with high ceilings in their garage or want to maximize the vertical space in their garage.

High lift garage door systems require a higher ceiling than standard lift systems. Thus, they may require additional hardware to support the heavy weight of the door as it travels higher. As such, consult a professional garage door installer to assess if a high lift system suits your garage and identify necessary modifications.

Low Front Headroom

A lift for low front headroom is a garage door lifting system for garages with limited headroom above the door opening. In this system, the door lifts with the help of a special set of tracks at an angle. These tracks lift the door vertically and bend at a sharp angle to guide it horizontally along the garage ceiling.

Low-headroom lifts are mainly for commercial and industrial settings, where space is limited and vertical clearance is crucial. However, low front headroom lifts may cost more than standard lift systems due to their specialized installation hardware.

Low Headroom Rear

In this configuration, the torsion spring and cables are mounted at the rear of the horizontal track, not above the door. That allows the door to lift and then curve back towards the rear of the garage, creating more headroom space.

This system is ideal for garages with low ceilings or obstructions that prevent the use of a standard lift system. High lift systems require more rear clearance than standard lift systems to accommodate the door’s opening curve.

Inclined

Vertical lift garage door systems, or high lift systems, are usually found in industrial and commercial environments. Unlike standard lift or high lift systems, they use a set of vertical tracks to lift and lower the door. In an inclined lift system, the door suspends from cables and pulleys connected to a motorized drive unit. As the motor turns, the cables lift the door along the vertical tracks until it reaches the right height.

Inclined lifts are common in settings where space is at a premium, like parking garages or other industrial facilities. Inclined lifts can be pricier than other garage door lifting systems because they need specific hardware for installation.

Full Vertical

This lifting system is common in settings where the garage door needs to travel the full height of the building. A full vertical lift system lifts the door straight up and down on vertical tracks, like an inclined lift system. However, unlike an inclined lift system, a full vertical lift system opens and closes the door directly to the full height of the building without any horizontal travel required.

Full vertical lift systems are common in places that require maximum clearance, such as industrial warehouses or loading docks. However, a full vertical lift garage door system may cost more because they need special equipment and hardware for installation.

Garage Door Installation Near Me

Are you unsure about the type of lift system appropriate for your garage? Our expert professionals can help. At Omaha Garage Door Repair, we offer garage door installations that require a particular type of lift. We will help determine the best garage door installation approach for you, considering factors like headroom clearance, ceiling height, and other relevant considerations. Call us to schedule a consultation and learn more about our garage door Omaha installation services.