Maybe a garage door that rolls up instead of sliding along the ceiling.

The garages around my house are 28' x 20' with ceiling height of 10'. The standard height of garage door is 7'. So if the distance with the garage door open is 7', then you have plenty room. Yes, you have to position it farther back. The SG-7000 is little over 14' in length. The ceiling height is a factor, but depends on the height of the vehicle. 9 feet might be a little tight, but depends on the cars that you plan to store. My neighbor had a corvette underneath and street rod on top. The main reason that he did it, because he couldn't build a garage in back. The better option is to build a garage. Although, I have room to build a 40 x 28. Which is the biggest the city will allow me to build on my 1/2 acre lot.
Another option is add on to your garage. A custom garage builder showed me a home in my area, were they added another garage on the side. They also modified both garages for the new ceiling height of 12'. You would never know from the outside, but it looks nice.

PS.

If you have plans for infrared radiant heating, then that is another factor. My codes state that it has to be 5' feet away from the vehicle. Lighting would have to be more planned out, but I love my T5-HO lighting.

Jeff

My garage measures 9 ft 8in and I have three lifts in it. I have a 98/02 Camaro on/under one lift. 64 chevelle/68 Camaro on/under another and a 68/69 Camaro on/under another. They fit perfect for storage but not quite enough room to raise it high enough to comfortably work under. Also, my garage is deep enough so the doors won't hit the cars on top but even if it wasn't the doors would still clear if I had the cars parked facing the doors. The doors would just go over the hoods. 9ft would work if the cars overall height were low enough but would be real tight

Any pics? Would love to see it.

My garage has a 12' foot ceiling, and I can stand under nearly any car (except minivans and trucks) with comfort. I can't imagine getting a 9 foot garage to work.

I also had to convert my garage door to a high lift design and jack-shift-based opener. it took a lot of work to get everything working.

A lift isn't a waste of money but you will be limited to doing a majority of your work sitting on a rolling seat.

A garage door company can move your garage door all the way to the ceiling. Basically add track at the bottom and move up the the tracks towards the ceiling.


You can then buy a side mount garage door opener that sits to the side of door instead of above it.

http://www.prodoorparts.com/products/167.cfm

Kurt, I know it's your garage BUT you have 8' tall doors,not 7' so that's where he may run into clearance issues!
Oh and buy the way you need to post up more pictures of your projects,personal and customer! We all like to see pictures! We'll be waiting :popcorn2: !

This website here has lot of photos on a garage with a lift. They recommend at least 10' to 14' for a lift, but on page 5, they show raised ceiling height. http://www.ultimategarage.com/homegarage/UltGar2y.htm

Jeff

thanks Jeff, I now have a case of garage envy...its pretty cool to see the transformation of the garage and a mans lifestyle change with time.

Oh, yeah. That doesn't count. He has a vaulted ceiling.