Garage Door Size Advice

"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce) 01/26/2018 at 13:17 • Filed to: Shop Talk

0

18

Right now I have a tiny 8'x8' garage door that leads from my shop out into a gravel service yard. 8' wide is barely wide enough to get a pickup truck through. Forget it if you have telescoping mirrors, so it’s currently screwed shut. I’ve decided to enlarge this door so it can actually be used.

I don’t have any specific need to use this door, which is why I’m struggling with the size. Right now I use the main 14x14 door on the street for access, but I could see using this door to make the shop more flexible. Since it’s not the primary door, how much should I invest in this?

Here are the 3 options I am kicking around:

10' wide x 10' tall. This is the most economical, and also the smallest door I would consider installing. It would require the least amount of modifications, and would lose the least amount of heat (I’m well into the snow belt). Most work trailers would fit no problem, but box trucks, etc, would be too tall. This is probably more than enough door for MY use.

10' wide x 12' tall. Minimal extra modifications. Can use the same lintel as the 10x10 door. Will lose more heat, but not much more. Can accommodate taller work trucks like Topkicks, etc, as well as most smaller box trucks.

12' wide x 12' tall. Widest door I can fit between those two I-beams you see at the top of the picture. Depending on how those beams are supported (is there a hidden steel post in that wall?) this width may not be feasible. This size door would accommodate most RVs. Adds most value to building if I ever sell. Loses the most heat, and will require a larger lintel. Opening would be very close to that bathroom on the right. Seems like overkill for a secondary door.

What say you? Do I put in the largest door possible even though I don’t need it currently, or do I just put in a door that fits my current needs and at least get some use from it?

Who here has experience moving trucks, trailers, RVs, etc, through garage doors?

EDIT: Here’s a rough idea of 10x10 vs 12x12. The existing door is not centered, so I would fix that.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 13:52

1

Bigger is always going to be easier...if you have the means I would go with the biggest one just cause you never know. I recently reframed the garage door on our second garage, changed it from a 7' door to an 8' door because the boat we bought wouldn’t fit otherwise. If I had built the garage I would have opted for a 10' door minimum, unfortunately 8' is the tallest i could get without removing the roof.

Echo51 > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 13:54

2

Again, the answer to your question is obvious: MIATA!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 13:55

0

I would probably go with a 10 wide by 8 tall. I’m assuming you realize cutting CUM is going to be a major PIA, like you will have to cut the wall with a concrete cutting saw, and then wood frame it out.

Quadradeuce > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/26/2018 at 14:00

1

This would be the 4th door I have added/modified to the building, including two other garage doors and a pedestrian door. I have a great mason who does all the hard work for me.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 14:01

0

I think it depends on where inside the shop you need to put vehicles. I’ve you’re just doing strait in parking like the photo suggest, one of the 10ft width options will be fine. If you’re going to be putting vehicles in there in some other configuration, that wider door is going to make the angles on entrance and exit a lot more doable.

Quadradeuce > Echo51 01/26/2018 at 14:01

0

If a Miata could tow a 7000lb trailer, that might be the answer!

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 14:01

1

Whatever you choose, do this to your garage door. Its amazing the difference in makes in my one car garage

Quadradeuce > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 01/26/2018 at 14:02

0

I know when I did my personal garage, I did 10' wide by 8' tall and that’s almost too small.

Quadradeuce > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/26/2018 at 14:03

0

It will just be straight in, especially with the bathroom right there.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 14:05

2

More than likely those joists are bearing on the CMU. Enlarging that opening will require a much bigger lintel if it’s feasible at all.

XJDano > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 14:07

0

I personally would go for largest overhead door you can.

To save some money make it manual instead of powered.

Quadradeuce > XJDano 01/26/2018 at 14:17

0

It’s for sure going to manual at first. Other areas need too much work to have such a luxury as powered garage door. The roof and all of the electrical needs updating...

Quadradeuce > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 01/26/2018 at 14:20

0

I assume that is a load bearing wall, and I will have to have a lintel engineered for the opening either way. I’m having my mason come in this afternoon to give his two cents as well. The work will be performed professionally, but your point is well taken. A 12' door might not be feasible.

Quadradeuce > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 01/26/2018 at 14:22

1

I have a 14' door that will need this treatment when I get everything heated.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 14:24

1

The previous owner of our house was a friend and they said after doing this to the garage on the townhome we bought from them, electricity bills went down like 20-30 a month. When you walk out its within 10-15 degrees of inside temp whether its 10 degrees outside or 90

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 15:25

0

Looking at the coursing of the 8x12 CMU those beams are on approximately 11’-6” centers.

Quadradeuce > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 01/26/2018 at 16:05

1

Blocks are 16" wide, so closer to 180" OC. If you look at the bottom of the wall, you will see a bumpout in the foundation that is right below those beams. The open space between those bumpouts is about 160" when I measured it a minute ago. My mason just stopped by and he doesn’t see a technical reason a 12' door can’t be installed. Its more whether I want a door that big or not. For some reason, this choice is buggin me.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Quadradeuce 01/26/2018 at 16:31

0

If you’re gonna do the work I’d go to the bigger door. The cost labor is probably more than the door cost either way.