Do you want to free up more usable space in your garage without having to undergo major renovations? If so, a high-lift garage door conversion is a great option. Here’s everything you need to know about retrofitting your garage door system.

What’s A High-Lift Conversion?

A high-lift conversion extends your existing garage door’s track so that the door hugs the wall and operates at a higher level that’s closer to the ceiling. A high-lift garage door allows you to make better use of the vertical space in your garage by giving you at least 12 to 15 more inches of headroom. This extra space can be used for additional storage or to accommodate a car lift.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about high-lift conversions is that they provide more clearance to accommodate high-profile vehicles, such as RVs. However, that isn’t true. A high-lift conversion doesn’t increase the height of your garage, it simply frees up more usable space.

What’s Included In A High-Lift Conversion?

A high-lift garage door conversion involves replacing your garage door’s existing tracks, drums, cables, and springs to accommodate the new door trajectory. For example, the tracks will need to be extended, the torsion springs will need to be swapped out for heavier duty models and the cables will need to wind differently around the drum to maintain consistent tension.

After converting to a high-lift door, you may also need to replace your ceiling-mounted garage door opener as it may no longer fit in the space above the door. For example, jackshaft openers are mounted on the wall of your garage as opposed to the ceiling, allowing you to free up headroom by eliminating the need for an opener rail. Genie's 2128 Connected Pro garage door opener is a great option as it offers speed, strength, and maximum lifting power in one compact package. This model even has wifi and the Aladdin® Connect smart system built into the powerhead.

Professional High-Lift Conversion Services

High-lift conversions tend to be complicated and should be left to professionals. Among other things, trying to replace the torsion springs on your garage door can be extremely dangerous as they’re under high tension. Consequently, if you don’t have the right tools and sufficient know-how, you could damage your property or even break your limbs if something were to go wrong.

Fortunately, the expert technicians at Creative Door Services™ have the knowledge and skills to perform garage door high-lift conversions quickly and safely. We’ll come to your home, measure your garage, and perform a series of precise calculations to determine which components are needed for your conversion. We’ll identify the correct drums, cable lengths, springs, and tracks required. Once the conversion is complete, we’ll thoroughly test and calibrate the system to ensure it works.

While you can certainly use your existing garage door, you may also want to consider upgrading. For example, if you’re already thinking about getting a new garage door opener, you might want to consider a high-lift door at the same time to save some money on labour costs.

Routine Maintenance

A high-lift garage door requires routine maintenance to ensure it works optimally year-round. Garage doors are complex systems with several moving parts. Consequently, if something breaks, your garage door could become stuck or fail to operate.

Fortunately, at Creative Door Services™, we offer a comprehensive planned maintenance program. Our team of technicians can regularly visit your home when it’s most convenient for you to inspect, lubricate, and adjust the door components. We’ll also examine the weather strip for wear, shrinkage, and damage, and adjust the balance of the door to ensure it continues to work optimally for years to come. It’s our goal to catch any minor problems before they become major issues and help you avoid the need to prematurely invest in a completely new system.

Reliable High-Lift Garage Doors and Conversions

If you’re thinking about upgrading to a high-lift garage door, Creative Door Services™ has you covered. Plus, we have one of the most extensive catalogues of garage door and garage door openers in Western Canada and source products from industry-leading brands like Wayne Dalton, Richards-Wilcox, and Martin Door. Our expert technicians can also install, repair, and maintain your existing garage door system.

Contact us today to learn about how you can benefit from improved functionality by investing in a high-lift garage door. We have eight locations from which we’re happy to serve you. You can find us in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.