#26 The Garage Door Won’t Fit… Or Will It?

In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, James looks at one of those problems that can turn a straightforward garage door survey into something much more complicated - **low headroom**. Most homeowners don't think too much about what's above their garage door. They see an opening, choose a door they like and expect it to fit. James talks through why headroom matters, what installers are actually looking for during a survey, and why having limited space above your garage doesn't necessarily mean you've run out of options. There's also a look at the importance of understanding how a customer actually uses their garage. Sometimes the door they've asked for isn't necessarily the best solution for the building - and sometimes a problem that initially looks impossible just needs a slightly different approach. Because a garage door isn't simply a door that fills a hole. It's a system that needs to work properly within the space you've got. And sometimes, when you walk into a garage and think **“there's absolutely no way we're getting a door in here”**, there might still be a solution. In this episode: - Why headroom is so important when surveying a garage - What installers actually mean by “low headroom” - Why measuring the opening alone isn't enough - How beams, pipes, lights and other obstructions can affect an installation - How sectional doors can be adapted for restricted headroom - Where roller doors can provide an alternative - Why side-hinged doors can sometimes solve an overhead space problem completely - When a customer's preferred door genuinely won't work - Why the survey is such an important part of the garage door buying process - Why sometimes the best solution isn't the product the customer originally asked for - And why some of the most interesting installations are the ones that make you stop and think... Got a garage door problem? If there's a garage door problem, product or installation you'd like James to cover in a future episode, get in touch. And if you've got your own story from the garage door industry that you'd like to share on the podcast, we'd love to hear from you. **Garage Door Installers Podcast** Real products. Real installations. Real stories from the garage door industry. Our Sponsors The Garage Door Installers Podcast is proudly supported by our industry partners. The Door Industry Journal The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted specifically towards the garage door industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost, contact the Door Industry Journal to get added to the mailing list. ToolTrade For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. ToolTrade is a leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants for trade professionals. To open a trade account and access customised pricing, contact the ToolTrade team. About The Garage Door Installers Podcast The Garage Door Installers Podcast is built for garage door installers, business owners, manufacturers, suppliers and professionals working within the UK door industry. Hosted by James Williams of Fast Fit Garage Doors, the podcast covers the products, people, challenges and business realities behind the garage door industry. From installation and product knowledge to marketing, sales, customer experience and business growth, each episode is designed to provide practical insight from people working in the industry every day. Whether you're a one-man installer, running a growing garage door company or working within the wider door industry, this is a podcast built to help you learn, improve and grow.