SIDE-MOUNT GARAGE DOOR OPENERS

When we built our Getaway vacation home for the September 2021 issue, we used a roll-up garage door in lieu of a sliding door to the deck. But we didn’t want a traditional overhead opener track in our kitchen and living space, so we used a jackshaft opener (also called wall-mount or side-mount) that sits discreetly to the side of the door. Now, almost everyone on staff wants a similar opener at home. And why not? Our garage door on the loading dock at the workshop has one. But is a jackshaft opener right for your garage?

Surprisingly small and quiet, a jackshaft opener connects directly to the torsion bar above a garage door. No long chain or belt is needed, eliminating much of the noise you get with an overheadmount opener. The side-mount opener also has no need for a trolley or track system running across the garage ceiling. That can be the biggest benefit of all, especially for a garage with a cathedral ceiling or otherwise high ceiling.

To install a jackshaft opener, you need at least 8 in. of wall space on one side of your garage door and 4 in. above the torsion bar; that’s not a problem for most homeowners. To purchase one of these openers, you’ll need about an extra $150 compared to a standard overhead door. You decide if that additional expense is worth it, but consider lower maintenance as well. You’ll also need a three-prong electrical outlet near the opener.

Jackshaft openers can feature all the niceties of newer overhead openers, including battery backup, Wi-Fi connectivity for smartphone use, safety reversal systems, emergency cord disengagement, LED lighting and more, depending on the manufacturer and model.

At our Getaway home, we installed a Genie 6170 Wall Mount opener. It uses a 24V DC motor and checks all the boxes we look for in an opener: smart connectivity, LED lighting, security features, wireless wall remote and a battery backup system.