Measure more than width and height
Width and height are where most people stop, and they are the easy part. Headroom, side room, backroom, spring pad, ceiling obstructions, and slab condition are what decide which tracks and operators you can actually have. Standard track wants about twelve inches above the opening; less than that and you are into low-headroom track or a wall-mount operator, both of which cost more.
- Opening width and height
- Headroom
- Side room
- Backroom
- Spring pad
- Ceiling obstructions
Choose the door with the elevation in front of you
Pick the panel style and finish with your elevation in front of you — the stone, the stucco, the roof colour, the window rhythm, and the angle the driveway is seen from. On most custom homes the garage face is the largest single surface on the front, which makes it too big to treat as a neutral detail.
Plan operator power and controls
Wall stations, remotes, keypads, smart access, jackshaft operators, and safety devices all need power and somewhere to mount. Settle them while the electrician is still on site and the ceiling is still open — waiting until trim-out does not save you anything, it just removes options.