Every inch of space matters in your metal garage or workshop. Imagine having a car lift that you can’t fully use because your overhead garage door blocks it when opening. Or finally getting your equipment and storage organized, only to realize the door tracks limit where you can place shelves, lights, or other equipment.
Even having plenty of headroom doesn’t automatically mean you can use every inch of it. If your overhead door and track system aren’t considered when planning your building, valuable space can become difficult, or even impossible to use the way you intended.
That’s where your overhead door track system comes into play.
Choosing an overhead door for your metal building isn’t just about getting the right size. You also need to think how it opens, where it sits when fully open, and how much space it leaves for everything else. After all, you want your door to work for your space, not force you to work around it.
In this post, we’ll explore the different types of overhead door track systems, how they can impact your building’s usable space, and what to consider when choosing one that works with your building, equipment, and plans.
What Are Overhead Door Tracks?
Overhead door tracks are the steel rails mounted on each side of a door opening and along the ceiling. Rollers attached to the door panels ride inside these tracks, guiding the door as it opens and closes.
A complete track system typically includes:
- Vertical tracks that run up both sides of the opening
- Horizontal tracks that extend back along the ceiling
- Curved sections that connect the two and let the door transition from vertical to horizontal
- Mounting brackets and angle iron that fasten the tracks to the building’s framing
- Rollers and hinges that connect the door sections to the track
In a metal building, tracks are anchored to the steel framing (girts, columns, and purlins) using structural brackets or flag angles, so the door’s load is carried by the building itself.
Tracks do far more than hold a door in place.
- Guide the door’s movement. Rollers follow the track so the door travels in a straight, controlled path every time.
- Support the door’s weight. Combined with springs or an operator, the track system carries the load of the panels, which can be substantial on large commercial or agricultural doors.
- Keep the door aligned and sealed. Properly set tracks hold the door snug against the jambs and weatherstripping when closed.
What are the Benefits of Overhead Door Tracks to Your Metal Building?
There could be several benefits of adding an overhead door track to your metal building but here are the practical ones.
Increased vertical clearance: A high lift track allows the garage door to travel higher along the vertical tracks, maximizing the available headroom. This is particularly beneficial if you have tall vehicles or equipment that need to enter and exit the garage without any clearance issues
Storage space optimization: By raising the garage door higher along the walls, you can create additional overhead storage space in the garage. This can be utilized for storing items like bicycles, kayaks, or other bulky equipment, freeing up floor space.
Smooth, Reliable Operation: A well-installed track system lets a door glide open and shut with minimal effort. That means less wear on rollers, springs, and openers, and fewer service calls.
Durability for Demanding Use: Steel tracks stand up to heavy daily use, which is exactly what farm, industrial, and commercial buildings demand. When sized correctly, they handle the repeated cycles of a busy operation.
What are the Different Overhead Door Track Styles?
Overhead door track systems come in several styles, each designed to accommodate different building layouts, ceiling heights, and clearance requirements. While other styles and variations are available, we’ll focus on the main track configurations we use for most of our projects and explain where each one may be a good fit.
1. Standard Radius
The most common track. The vertical section curves into a horizontal track. Requires a minimum of 15″ of headroom above the door opening.
Generally, this is the most cost-effective track style but provides the least amount of clearance overhead so the doors tend to be more “intrusive”.
2. High Lift
The high lift track extends the vertical path of the door higher than a standard track before curving into the horizontal section. The vertical track extends up to the first obstruction, truss, beam, or ceiling, before curving in. Ideal for tall ceilings where vertical clearance matters.
This can be a practical option if you plan to install a car lift in your garage or workshop to park one car above another or store taller vehicles. It can also help accommodate tall storage racks, shelving, and workshop equipment, allowing you to make better use of your building’s available space.
Since a high lift system requires a more customized track arrangement than a standard radius setup, it may cost more depending on your door specifications and installation requirements. However, if maximizing vertical clearance is your priority, the added investment may be worthwhile for the flexibility it provides.
High Lift Track Style
3. Vertical Lift
This type of track system is the perfect choice if you want to avoid ceiling obstruction as you operate your garage door. Unlike the standard and high lift track styles, this setup guides the overhead door straight up without curving into a horizontal track section.
If your metal garage or workshop has tight width space but sufficient ceiling height, a vertical lift system can help accommodate specialized equipment, overhead lighting, and other features that need additional clearance.
If you want a completely unobstructed ceiling area or if you want to reclaim that unused building space because of the horizontal track then this will be a great option. Keep in mind that vertical lift tracks require enough height to accommodate the entire door in its open position. Otherwise, the track system may not serve its purpose.
4. ROOF PITCH or Follow the Roof Line (FTRL)
Custom cut to follow the roof pitch, running parallel to the roof line for maximum headroom. Can be combined with Vertical Lift for a tighter fit.
This setup is commonly seen when installing overhead doors along the sidewalls of a metal building, where the roof pitch can influence the available headroom and track clearance.
Want to know more about roof pitch on metal buildings?
Watch the full video: What Roof Pitch Should You Choose for a Metal Building?
What does WolfSteel think?
If you’re planning a new metal building, it’s worth discussing your overhead door requirements before finalizing the design.
The overhead door’s dimension is already given but you need to go over also the type of track to be used as this can affect how you use the space immediately above and behind the opening.
Installing Car Lift
Adding a car lift in your metal building would require enough vertical clearance for both the equipment and the vehicles being raised.
Depending on your setup, standard overhead door tracks may occupy space that you would prefer to reserve for the lift or a raised vehicle.
A high-lift configuration may be worth evaluating, but it doesn’t automatically guarantee adequate clearance. Your door, ceiling height, lift dimensions, and vehicle height all need to be considered together.
Learn more about adding car lifts in your metal garage through this blog:
Storing Tall Vehicles or Equipment
If your metal garage has a larger overhead door on the gable end and shorter doors along the sidewalls, plan for how they’ll operate together. Depending on their placement and track configuration, the open side doors could extend into the main door’s access path, reducing clearance for taller vehicles, even when those vehicles fit through the main opening.
A vertical lift combined with a follow the roof line lift can keep the shorter door traveling straight up instead of extending into the building. When there’s enough clearance above the opening, this configuration can help keep nearby door paths clear.
Planning these details early helps you make better use of your space and keeps door paths clear, especially if vehicles and equipment regularly move through the building. Let your builder know how you plan to enter, park, and work inside so the door placement and track configuration support your day-to-day use.
Are Overhead Door Tracks an Upgrade or an Essential Component?
Overhead door tracks are generally an essential component of a sectional overhead door system, not a separate add-on that makes the door function.
What may vary from one project to another is the track configuration, the hardware required, and any additional clearance or installation considerations.
The best choice depends on your building’s dimensions, your overhead door specifications, and how you intend to use the space.
Discussing these requirements during the design process can help you select a door system that fits your project rather than trying to accommodate it after construction.
Talk to us and plan your next metal garage and workshop!
Call us 844-941-0999
Or email us anytime at quotes@wolfsteelbuildings.com