Roll Up Garage Door FAQs
Straight answers on sizing, clearances, openers, ordering, installation, and warranty for TruGlide roll up doors.
Key Takeaways
The short version of the questions we are asked most often.
- Sizes run 3' to 16' wide and 7' to 16' tall, in 7 standard colors, on both the Model 171 and Model 180.
- Plan on 18"–20" of headroom above the opening and 8"–12" of sideroom per side, depending on door size.
- Every door is built to order and assembled in Mount Airy, North Carolina; your lead time is confirmed with your quote.
- Side-mounted electric openers mount on either the right or left side; ordering an opener replaces the chain hoist.
- Doors and hardware carry a one-year limited warranty; report visible freight damage within 5 business days.
- No specialty tools needed to install — standard hand tools, and two or more people on larger doors.
Sizing & Fit
Getting the opening measured right is the single biggest factor in a smooth install. These answers cover sizes, clearances, and how to check your building before ordering.
TruGlide roll up doors are built to order in widths from 3 feet to 16 feet and heights from 7 feet to 16 feet. Common sizes include 5x7, 6x6, 6x7, 8x7, 8x8, 9x8, 10x8, 10x10, 10x12, 12x12, 12x14, 14x14, 16x14, and 16x16. Both the Model 171 and Model 180 are available across that range, and custom sizes in between are quoted on request. Full dimensions by application are in the roll up garage door size guide.
Most TruGlide doors need 18 to 20 inches of unobstructed headroom above the opening: 18 inches for 5x7 through 8x8, 19 inches for a 9x8, and 20 inches for a 10x8. Larger doors may need more depending on configuration and whether an opener or chain hoist is fitted. Measure from the top of the finished opening to the lowest obstruction above it — a purlin, truss chord, light, or sprinkler line all count. The size guide has the full headroom and sideroom tables.
Doors up to 10 feet wide need 8 inches of clear sideroom on each side. Doors 12 feet wide and larger — 12x12, 14x14, 16x16 — need 12 inches per side. That space has to be flat, plumb, and free of conduit, framing, and trim so the guides mount solidly against the jamb.
Measure the rough opening width at the top, middle, and bottom and use the smallest number. Do the same for height on both jambs and the center. Then measure headroom above and sideroom on each side. Compare the two diagonals to confirm the opening is square — more than a half inch out should be corrected first. Always order by the opening size, not by the size of the door coming out. Step-by-step measuring instructions are in the size guide, our how to measure a roll up door opening guide, and the installation manual.
Yes. Most replacements are straightforward as long as the door is ordered to the opening size and the building still has the required headroom and sideroom once the old guides and brackets come off. Take fresh measurements of the bare opening rather than reusing the old door's dimensions — previous installs are frequently over or undersized.
Products & Options
TruGlide builds two models on the same heavy-duty hardware platform. These answers cover how they differ and what you can add.
Both models share the same heavy-duty hardware platform: a 26-gauge minimum steel curtain, steel stamped drums, radial ball bearings, an 18-gauge galvanized guide assembly, and a 12-gauge 1 5/16" galvanized tubular axle. The Model 171 adds a nylon sound-dampening system that cuts noise on every cycle. The Model 180 adds an enhanced bottom seal for tighter closure and better weather protection. Full specs for both are on the products page.
Seven standard colors are available on both models with no color upcharge: White, Black, Earth Brown, Evergreen, Barn Red, Quaker Gray, and Pewter Gray. Color swatches are shown on the products page.
Yes. TruGlide doors use compact side-mounted openers built for drum systems, not the trolley operators used on sectional doors. Doors 12 feet wide and smaller use the EasyRoller 14 with a 9.5" drum; 14 and 16 foot doors use the Hiro with a 12" drum. The opener mounts on the right-hand or left-hand side — the installer sets motor orientation during setup. See the openers page for models and wiring requirements.
A chain hoist is standard on all 14 and 16 foot wide doors, and on 12 foot wide doors taller than 10 feet such as 12x12 and 12x14. It can be added to smaller doors on request — when it is, exterior latches are removed and internal kick latches go in instead. If an electric opener is ordered on the same door, the chain hoist is not installed. Details are on the openers and locking page.
Manual doors ship with exterior slide latches on the bottom bar that lock the curtain to the guides. Doors with a chain hoist or electric opener use internal kick latches instead, because the operator holds curtain position. Locking is configured when the door is built, so tell us how the door will be operated on your quote request.
Ordering & Shipping
Every door is built to order and assembled in the USA. Here is what to expect between placing an order and receiving freight.
Every door is built to order, so lead time depends on size, quantity, and current production volume. Your confirmed lead time comes with your quote and again on the order acknowledgment, with freight transit on top of that. TruGlide ships across an 800-mile service area from Mount Airy, North Carolina. See the shipping page for the full process.
Doors ship by freight carrier, usually curbside, so plan for someone on site with a way to unload. Inspect the shipment before signing the delivery receipt, note any damage on the paperwork, and report visible shipping damage to sales@truglidedoors.com within 5 business days. Full receiving checklist: shipping and delivery.
Yes. Volume pricing is available for builders, contractors, self-storage operators, and dealers ordering multiple units. Send your sizes, colors, quantities, and delivery address through the quote form and we will return package pricing.
Yes — the dealer network is actively expanding. Dealers get volume pricing, territory consideration, and direct support from our Mount Airy, NC facility. Apply on the become a dealer page or call (877) 220-2322.
Installation
TruGlide doors are designed to be installed by a contractor or an experienced DIY owner with standard hand tools.
No specialty tools. A drill and driver bits, wrenches or sockets, a level, a tape measure, and a ladder or lift sized to the opening cover the job. Larger doors are heavy and awkward — plan on at least two people, more for 14 and 16 foot doors. The full installation manual is on the resources page.
Yes. The installation manual is a free PDF on the resources page, covering opening prep, guide mounting, curtain and drum installation, spring tension, and final testing. Finished installs are shown in the gallery.
Out-of-square or out-of-level openings are the most common cause of a door that binds, drifts, or will not seal at the floor. Correct and shim the opening before mounting guides. Damage from improper installation — including out-of-square openings and insufficient headroom or sideroom — is excluded from the warranty.
Warranty & Support
TruGlide doors are assembled in the USA and backed by a one-year limited warranty.
A one-year limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship on doors and hardware. Repair or replacement of the defective part is the sole remedy — labor, removal, reinstallation, and return freight are not covered. It applies to the original purchaser and is not transferable without written approval. Full terms: warranty page.
Email sales@truglidedoors.com with your order number, installation address, and clear photos. Visible shipping damage must be reported within 5 business days of delivery and noted on the delivery receipt at the time of delivery. See returns for non-warranty situations.
TruGlide doors are assembled in the USA at our Mount Airy, North Carolina facility, which is also the shipping point for our 800-mile service area. More on how we build: why TruGlide.
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