High Lift Garage Door Systems
Clean, open ceilings designed for car lifts, overhead storage, and modern garage makeovers — our high lift garage door systems free up vertical space, improve functionality, and efficiency.
What We Do
We re-engineer your existing garage door system to travel higher along the wall, creating the vertical clearance needed for car lifts, overhead storage, and a cleaner, more functional space — all installed with precision, safety, and premium hardware.
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Our Process
1. On-Site Assessment & Measurements
We begin by inspecting your current door, tracks, spring system, opener, wiring, and ceiling layout.
Our technician measures headroom, structural clearances, and car lift requirements to determine the safest and most efficient high lift setup for your garage.
2. Custom High Lift Engineering
Every high lift conversion is tailored to your garage.
We design the new track configuration, calculate spring torque, select the correct drums and cables, and ensure your opener system is compatible with the new travel height.
3. Professional Installation & Setup
Our team removes the old hardware, installs new high-lift tracks, updated torsion springs, cables, and drums, and mounts all components with precision.
We fine- tune balance, tension, and operation to ensure smooth, quiet, and safe performance.
4. Final Testing & Calibration
Before we leave, we run a full safety check on the door, sensors, opener compatibility, and lift travel.
You receive a walkthrough of the new system, tips for optimal use, and warranty coverage for added peace of mind.
Why Choose Us.
Reasons to trust Motion Garage Doors for your garage door installation and repair
Same Day Service
Complete Warranty
No Hidden Fees
Quality
Licensed & Insured
Expertise & Knowledge
Service Areas
Proudly Serving the Greater Toronto Area. Same-day consultations available.
Frequent Asked Questions
What is a high lift garage door conversion?
A high-lift garage door conversion is a modification to your existing garage door track system that allows the door to open much closer to the ceiling than a standard setup.
In a normal garage door, the tracks curve horizontally just above the top of the opening; with a high-lift conversion, the vertical tracks are extended so the door travels upward several additional inches (often 12–15 inches or more) before it begins to curve back.
This means when the door is open, it “hugs” the wall higher up, freeing up extra overhead space. Importantly, a high-lift conversion does not increase the actual size of your garage door opening – it won’t make the doorway taller – but it maximizes usable vertical space inside the garage.
The result is a garage door that tucks closer to the ceiling, creating more clearance for storage or projects underneath.
Why would I need a high lift garage door?
High-lift conversions are popular with homeowners and businesses looking to maximize garage space.
If you have a taller vehicle (like an SUV or work van) or plan to install a car lift to stack vehicles, a high-lift track keeps the door out of the way so you have the clearance you need. It’s also great for utilizing vertical storage – you can add overhead racks, lofts, or even hang bicycles and seasonal items in space that would otherwise be blocked by a low-hanging door.
In commercial or workshop settings with high ceilings, a high-lift (or even full vertical lift) door allows you to move tall equipment or stock without the garage door tracks getting in the way.
Overall, the benefits include a more open, airy garage, the ability to park taller vehicles or use vehicle lifts, and better use of overhead space – all of which can add convenience and value to your property.
What’s involved in a high-lift conversion (how does it work)?
Converting to a high-lift system involves replacing and upgrading several components of your garage door’s hardware.
The standard short vertical tracks are swapped out for extended vertical tracks that reach higher up toward the ceiling.
We install specialized high-lift brackets to support the longer track and a pair of appropriately sized torsion springs designed for the new lifting geometry.
The cable drums (the grooved wheels that the cables wrap around) are also replaced with larger high-lift drums, and longer steel cables are fitted so the door can travel the extra distance upward.
Essentially, all the parts – tracks, springs, cables, and drums – are tailored to handle the door’s new path of travel and weight distribution. In many cases, the opener system is reconfigured as well (often moving to a wall-mounted unit) to accommodate the higher position of the door.
All these components work together to ensure your door opens smoothly to the higher position and remains balanced and safe.
Can my existing garage door be converted, or do I need a new door?
In most situations, your existing sectional garage door can be converted to a high- lift system without needing to replace the door itself.
High-lift conversion kits are designed to retrofit standard overhead doors, so as long as your door is in good condition (no significant damage or warping) it should be compatible.
We simply reuse the door panels and swap out the track and spring hardware.
Almost any sectional door – single or double – can be modified for high lift, though very heavy or oversized doors might need special consideration for springs and support.
Our technician will assess your door’s weight and the garage’s structure to ensure it’s suitable.
Many homeowners stick with their current door, but if you were already planning to upgrade to a new door or opener, doing it at the same time as the high-lift conversion can save on labor costs. We’ll give you an honest recommendation, but typically a new door isn’t required solely for a high-lift conversion.
How much headroom is required for a high-lift garage door?
Headroom – the space from the top of the door opening to the ceiling – is the key factor in determining how much high-lift is possible.
Generally, you need some extra clearance beyond the standard 12–18 inches that a normal horizontal track would use.
As a rule of thumb, take your garage ceiling height and subtract the door height – then subtract about one additional foot (30 cm) to account for the curve of the track and hardware.
The remainder is roughly how much vertical lift we can add. For example, if you have a typical 7-foot (84′′) tall door in a garage with a 10-foot ceiling (120′′), you have 36′′ of total headroom; after leaving space for the curve, you might achieve approximately 24′′ of high-lift track added.
The more headroom available, the higher we can lift the door before it levels out. If your headroom is limited (say under a foot), a full high-lift may not be feasible – but we could discuss alternatives like a low-headroom track.
We will carefully measure your space and let you know what options you have. In short, the taller your garage ceiling, the greater the high-lift conversion potential.
How much does a high lift conversion cost?
Pricing for a high-lift garage door conversion depends on the size and weight of your door and the specifics of your garage, but we can give some typical figures. For a single-car garage door (around 8′×7′), the high-lift track conversion including installation usually starts in the ballpark of $700–$850 CAD.
For a larger double door (16′×7′ for example), you might expect a cost around $1,100–$1,200 CAD for the conversion since it requires more material and heavier-duty springs.
These estimates would cover the new tracks, brackets, cables, drums, and the labor to install and balance the system.
On top of that, there is the cost of the torsion springs which is determined by your door’s size/weight – heavier or taller doors need bigger (or multiple) springs, which your installer will size appropriately.
If your existing springs are not sufficient for the new setup (which is often the case), new springs will be factored into the quote.
Finally, if you choose to upgrade to a jackshaft (side-mounted) opener for use with the high-lift system, that can add roughly $800–$1000 (for example, a LiftMaster 8500 series wall- mount opener with installation).
We will provide a detailed, itemized quote upfront so you know the total cost before any work begins.
In summary, a typical high-lift conversion for a Canadian homeowner generally falls around ~$700 plus the cost of springs and any optional opener upgrades, with exact pricing tailored to your door’s specifications.
Do I need to replace my garage door opener for a high-lift system?
In most cases, yes – we recommend switching to a wall-mounted jackshaft opener for a high-lift door.
Traditional garage door openers that sit in the middle of the ceiling and pull the door via a rail will not work well once the door is converted to high-lift, because the door will be traveling higher up and the old opener’s rail would get in the way.
A jackshaft opener (such as the LiftMaster 8500W series) mounts to the side of your garage door (on the wall by the torsion spring bar) and turns the torsion shaft directly, eliminating the need for an overhead rail.
This setup is ideal for high-lift configurations because it frees up your ceiling space completely and operates the door at the higher height with ease. These side-mounted openers are also extremely quiet and have built-in Wi- Fi/smart features in newer models, offering a nice upgrade in convenience.
During our consultation, we’ll check your existing opener – if you already have a newer low-profile or wall-mounted opener, it might be adaptable.
But typically, a high-lift conversion is the perfect time to install a jackshaft opener to ensure everything runs smoothly and nothing obstructs the door’s new path.
Is a high-lift garage door conversion safe and reliable?
Yes – when professionally installed and properly maintained, a high-lift garage door is very safe and just as reliable as a standard setup.
We make sure to use the correct springs and hardware so the door is perfectly balanced at all positions, which means the door won’t be under undue stress.
The conversion is engineered so that the door’s weight is counterbalanced appropriately, and we thoroughly test the system after installation to ensure smooth operation.
It’s important that an expert handle the installation because the torsion springs under high tension must be calibrated correctly – garage door springs can be extremely dangerous if mishandled.
Our technicians are trained for this work, and we prioritize safety at every step. Once installed, using a high-lift door is no different than using any other garage door – it will open and close securely, guided by the tracks and cables.
We also include safety features like properly adjusted sensors (in automatic opener setups) and solid track mounting.
Rest assured, a high-lift conversion done by our team will be safe, reliable, and code-compliant.
Will a high-lift garage door be noisier or louder than a regular door?
Generally, a high-lift system is no louder than a standard garage door – in fact, it can often be quieter.
High-lift conversions typically go hand-in-hand with installing a jackshaft opener, which tends to operate more quietly than traditional chain-drive ceiling openers.
With a wall-mounted opener, you eliminate the long metal rail and chain or belt that can cause vibrations and noise.
The door itself will operate smoothly on the new tracks; we ensure all rollers and hinges are properly lubricated and aligned, which keeps noise to a minimum.
Many homeowners are pleasantly surprised that their new high-lift setup (especially with a modern side- mounted opener) is quieter and less rattling than their old system. If noise is a concern, let us know – we can also recommend nylon rollers or other tweaks to further hush the door’s operation.
But overall, you shouldn’t experience any significant increase in noise from converting to high-lift – it will sound like a normal, if not smoother, garage door.
How long does installation take?
A high-lift garage door conversion is typically a half-day job for a professional installer. For a single door, the whole process – from removing the old hardware to putting up new tracks, springs, cables, and testing the system – usually takes around 2 to 4 hours.
Of course, the exact time can vary depending on the complexity: a larger double door or additional tasks (like installing a new opener concurrently) might push it toward the longer end of that range.
In most cases we can complete the conversion in one visit and have your garage door operational the same day. We know your garage is an important part of your home or business, so we work efficiently to minimize any downtime.
You’ll be able to use your garage again by the end of the installation appointment, with a brand-new high-lift system ready to go.
Do high-lift conversions come with a warranty or guarantee?
Absolutely. We stand behind our work and the products we install.
Our high-lift conversion service includes a warranty on the installation and hardware – for example, we provide around a 3-year warranty on our workmanship (labour/installation) to ensure everything is adjusted and functioning properly.
The specific components we use (tracks, springs, openers, etc.) also come with their own manufacturer warranties.
For instance, if you opt for a new LiftMaster jackshaft opener, it typically includes a multi-year motor warranty from the manufacturer.
Springs and other hardware may have warranties based on their rated lifecycle.
We will explain all warranty details in your quote, so you know how your investment is protected. In short, you can have peace of mind that if anything isn’t right after the conversion, we’ll take care of it.
Our goal is your long-term satisfaction, and we’re only a phone call away if you ever have issues or questions down the line.
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