Roller Garage Door Installation Options: Inside, Outside or Between the Opening?

Choosing the right roller garage door is only part of the process. You also need to consider where the door will be fitted in relation to the garage opening.

The installation position can affect the amount of clear opening you retain, how much space is required inside the garage and the overall appearance of the finished door.

There are three main roller garage door installation options:

1. Internal Face Fit
2. Reveal Fit
3. External Face Fit

Each fitting method has its own unique advantages. The best option will depend on the construction of your garage, available headroom and side room, if you want to maximise the drive-through width and height and how you want the finished door to look.

In this guide, we explain the differences between each roller garage door fitting position and what to consider before ordering.

Why Does the Roller Garage Door Fitting Position Matter?

A roller garage door operates vertically, with the curtain travelling within guide channels before rolling into a box above the opening.

This means you need sufficient space for both the side guides and roller box.

Where these components are positioned can influence:

• The drive-thorugh width of the garage opening
• The drive-through height of the opening
• The internal length inside the garage
• How visible the roller box and guides are
• Whether the existing brickwork or opening is suitable
• The measurements required when ordering the door

Checking the available space before choosing your installation method can help you select a door that fits correctly without unnecessarily reducing access to the garage.

1. Internal Face Fit Roller Garage Doors

The most popular installation type is the internal face fix.  This is where the guide rails and roller box mount to the interior brickwork behind the opening.

The edge of the guide sits behind but in line with the edge of the opening, while the roller box sits above the opening inside the garage, usually behind a lintel.

What Are the Benefits of an Internal Face Fit?

One of the biggest advantages of this installation method is that you retain the full clear drive-through width when the door is open.  

Because the roller box is also positioned behind the opening this helps to preserve the maximum opening height.  

An internal face fit is suitable if you:

• Have sufficient wall space either side behind the opening
• Have headroom above the opening inside the garage
• Want to maximise the clear drive-through width
• Prefer the roller mechanism to sit inside the garage
• Have an opening that is suitable for fixing to the internal wall face

What Should You Consider?

The main consideration is the amount of internal space available around the opening.

Keep an eye out for shelving, pipes, electrical equipment, internal walls or other obstructions can prevent the guides or roller box from sitting flush in the required position.

You should always check both the side room and headroom before deciding on an internal face fit.

2. Reveal Fit Roller Garage Doors

A reveal fit, sometimes described as in-between fit is where the full door including the guides and roller box fits directly within the brick aperture, with the roller box underneath the lintel.  

What Are the Benefits of a Reveal Fit?

It can be the perfect fitting solution where there is limited or no side or head room inside the garage.   

It preserves the maximum internal length of the garage, something to consider if you have a long vehicle 

It offers a neat, integrated look to the property as it can sit almost flush with the outer brick face, sometimes matching the position of a front door if it is close to the garage.  Alternatively, it can also be set slightly back within the opening.  

This fitting method may suit garages where:

• There is insufficient side or head room for an internal face fit
• External mounting is not preferred
• Internal garage length is a priority
• The opening is deep enough to accommodate the door components
• A more recessed finished appearance is desired

Does a Reveal Fit Reduce the Garage Opening?

Yes, this is one of the main considerations to bear in mind. Because the guide channels sit directly within the opening, they will reduce the available drive-through width.  The roller box will also reduce the drive-through height

If you need a specific drive-through width for your car, always measure your vehicle and the overall garage opening. Crucially, remember to check what the final drive-through width will be after deducting the size of the guide rails.  Easyfit’s guides are 65mm wide for the 55mm lath door and either 70mm or 90mm wide for the 77mm lath door.

When considering your vertical clearance, it is equally important to account for both the roll box size and the bottom rail hang-down. When fully open, the bottom slat of the roller door  overhangs by 60mm on 55mm lath doors and 90mm on the 77mm lath doors, reducing your actual clear driving height further than expected

3. External Face Fit Roller Garage Doors

An external face is where the guides and box are fitted to the outside face of the garage wall.  The door and roller box are simply reversed and mounted externally.  

When installing the roller door as an external face fix, it does not matter if you have another entrance into the garage or not for manual override purposes, as a high level manual override is accessible from the outside and is supplied with a lock.

What Are the Benefits of an External Face Fit?

Mounting the roller door externally gives a clear drive-through width and maximises both drive-through height and internal length of the garage.  

An external face fit could be worth considering if:

• Internal headroom is restricted
• There are unmoveable obstacles around the inside of the opening
• You want to retain your full clear drive-through width 
• You want to retain every inch of internal garage length 

What Should You Consider?

The main difference is that the roller box and guides will be more visible from outside the property.

You should therefore consider how the installation will look against the garage façade, including the colour and finish of the door components.  At Easyfit, guides and the roller box are colour matched to the door as standard.

When considering an external face fix, ensure the outside wall is completely clear of obstructions—such as outdoor lights, alarm boxes, or gutter downpipes—where the box and guides needs to be fixed

Which Roller Garage Door Installation Option Is Best for Narrow Openings?

If maximising the opening width is important, a face fit installation (whether internal or external) will usually be preferable. 

With either an internal or external face fit, the guide channels sit completely to the sides of the opening rather than taking up space within it.

This can make a noticeable difference if your garage opening is already relatively narrow or if you drive a larger vehicle such an a van or SUV.  

However, you must ensure sufficient structural wall space must be available for the guides to and roller box be fixed securely.

Which Option Is Best If I Have Limited Headroom?

This depends entirely on where the available space is restricted.  If there is limited room above the opening inside the garage, an external face fit may offer an alternative by positioning the roller box outside.

If there is insufficient space above both the internal and external faces, a reveal installation may be the ideal solution, although the roller box will then occupy part of the garage opening.

As the dimensions of the roller box vary between different 55mm and 77mm roller garage doors,always check the specific space requirements before ordering.

How Do I Know Which Fitting Option My Garage Can Use?

Start by taking a few straightforward measurements of the garage door opening and surrounding space.

You will typically need to measure:

• Opening width
• Opening height
• Available space to the left of the opening
• Available space to the right of the opening
• Headroom available – from the underside of the lintel to the ceiling
• Depth of the garage reveal
• Any pipes, shelving or other obstructions
• The position of doors, windows or guttering nearby

Can I Fit a Roller Garage Door Myself?

Absolutely, roller garage doors are an excellent straightforward choice for a DIY project for anyone with some DIY skills.  Doing it yourself saves a significant amount of money on professional installation fees.   

Achieving a flawless professional finish simply comes down to some basic preparation. Before you begin, take some basic measurements.  To make things as easy as possible, use our dedicated, easy-to-use self-survey form that guides you through the process when measuring and considering the different types of installations.

Every door comes with clear, step-by-step instructions that make positioning the tracks, securing the roller assembly, and connecting the electrical controls straightforward and rewarding.

Choosing the Right Installation Position for Your Roller Garage Door

The ideal fitting position depends on your specific garage layout, allowing you to choose the best balance of aesthetics, internal space, and drive-through clearance.

• Internal Face Fit: This is the most popular choice for maximizing your clear drive-through opening. It mounts the tracks and barrel behind the brickwork, keeping the entire mechanism safely inside and completely hidden from the outside.
• Reveal Fit: Perfect for garages with limited internal wall or head space. By tucking the door directly inside the brick aperture, you get a clean, compact look that completely preserves your internal garage depth—just remember to account for a slight reduction in your final drive-through width and height.
• External Face Fit: The ultimate space-saver for tight garages. By securing the guide rails and roll box directly onto the outside brickwork, you preserve every single millimetre of internal garage space and maintain your full drive-through clearance.

Before ordering your door, simply take a few quick measurements of your opening and the surrounding clearances. Visualising how each position fits will help you choose the perfect setup to maximise your available space and access.

Find the Perfect Roller Garage Door for Your Project

Whether an internal face fit, a reveal fit, or an external face fit is right for your home, choosing the perfect position ensures an easy installation and a flawless finish.

At EasyFit Garage Doors, we supply a premium range of high-quality, made-to-measure roller garage doors engineered specifically for straightforward DIY installation.

Ready to transform your home? Head over to our easy-to-use online quote builder and input your opening dimensions. You’ll get an instant price and will be on your way to transforming your garage while saving serious money.