Here’s a short write up on side mount garage door opener, and side mount garage door opener conversion that you could do if you prefer using this garage door design. While we’re talking about side mount garage door opener vs ceiling mount, there are people who prefer side mount over ceiling mount and vice-versa. Let’s dive in, and see what could be a better choice for your garage door.
A side-mount garage door opener, also known as a wall mount. These are mounted on either side of the garage door. The most popular LiftMaster wall mount garage door opener models are 8500W and 8500. Although there are differences within, they share overall design and they’re sold as a wall-mount garage door opener. For those people who prefer the Chamberlain brand, and want to buy a wall-mount garage door opener, I suggest looking for either RJO20 or RJO70. A wall mount garage door opener has some notable advantages over a ceiling mount garage door opener.
Side Mount Garage Door Opener Vs Ceiling Mount
As you can see in this photo, a side mount garage door openers installed on the side of a garage door. In this way, the homeowner saves ceiling space for garage lighting or some other extra storage space.
Extra space comes as a notable advantage while talking about wall mount garage door opener vs ceiling mount.
Another great advantage is smooth and quiet operation. The noise created by a ceiling mounted door isn’t an issue with side mounts openers. If your garage is close to a living space its recommended you install a side mount opener.
A wall mount design secures your garage and gives you the perks of a smooth and quiet operation. I’m going to write about these advantages in a detailed explanation. Let me explain why you should choose a wall-mounted door opener.
Side Mount Saves Space
A side-mount or wall mount opener saves your garage space. This design is also known as a jackshaft opener, so don’t be confused if you run into that term also. The side mount opener has a slim design and needs installed on either side of the door. Homeowners can now use the overhead space in their garages. What your going do with that extra ceiling space is up to you, but usually, the extra space is used for storage, lights or fans.
Ultra-Quiet
Ultra-quiet operation is important especially if you’re using a unit on a garage door near the living space or bedroom. In case your garage is attached to or near your house, or if you share a wall with your neighbor, you should consider installing a side-mount garage door opener that operates with minimal noise and vibration. The wall mount ensures quiet operation. When the garage door opens or closes, the opener will not create unnecessary disturbance for other house occupants.
How to Install a Wall-Mount Garage Door Opener?
Although many people can install a garage door opener by themself, if you’re not comfortable doing it, I suggest calling a professional to do it instead. No matter if the garage door opener needs mounted on the side or ceiling mounted, if you feel uncomfortable with an installation don’t do it.
Are side mount garage door openers easier to install? Well, the answer is yes and no. It depends on your skills and knowledge, which is why I suggest calling a professional if necessary.
If you’re confident that you can do it yourself, here’s a short answer on how to install a side mount garage door opener. Watch the video showing how to install wall-mounted RJO20 from Chamberlain. The installation process is quite similar for other brands, with some differences you should know before ordering the model that you prefer.
Make sure you have all the tools needed to install a garage door opener. I’ve made a picture for the LiftMaster wall-mount garage door opener. Each brand gives you exact specifications and installation guides to complete the job. It depends on the brand and model you’ve chosen. Just make sure you follow all the steps and the installation process should be a success.
Don’t forget to see what the TOP 3 wall-mounted garage door opener models in the U.S. are. I’ve written on that topic before, and still, I find them the most desirable openers available today.
How Does a Side Mount Garage Door Opener Work?
A side-mounted opener needs mounted on either side of the garage door. Meaning that it’s mounted on either the left or the right side of the garage. This type of garage door opener doesn’t use rail tracks, and vibrations are imperceptible. Instead of using rail tracks, a wall-mounted openers connected to the torsion bar of the garage door.
The main advantage of this approach is that these openers can be used in garages that don’t have much overhead space or otherwise don’t have space to store the garage door parallel to the ceiling. An example would be if you have vertical lift door in a narrow garage, then a wall mount opener is ideal for you. The jackshafts directly connected to the torsion bar and there are no other joints to potentially create any noise, vibrations, or interference of any kind.
More on this topic here – Wall mount vs overhead garage door opener.