Garage Door (opening)

Question

I currently have a carport but i want to make it a garage (close the sides, build the walls etc) Now, the door that i see online or in the stores come in 8x7 or 16x7 (i have a 2 car space) the problem that im having is that now i'm doing the framing and i can barely fit my car in the opening (the opening is 8 ft) is this the standard size?, i just know that my wife will have a very hard time putting her van inside... help please!!!! What can i do???

Answer 1

For a single door use a 9' wide door, if you plan on a large SUV get the 8' height. If you are framing a garage we always make the rough opening for a 9' wide door 9'3" wide, then we run a 2" x 6" jamb (one on each side which equals total of 3". We let the 2" x 6" stick out past the framed wall on the outside then cover it with aluminum. This gives you a band to run the siding up to.

On the height allow 1'1/2" from the concrete at the door opening higher than the door. So if it is a 7' door (this is standard height) make the bottom of your overhead door header 7' + 1-1/2" above the concrete. If you decide to use the 8' door, make your rough opening 8' + 1/1/2" or 97-1/2" above the concrete. You put a 2" x 6" jamb head like you did the sides. Then we install 2" x 6" track nailers up each side of the door to the ceiling, they are even with the sides of the 2" x 6" jambs, then fill in across the top of the door with another 2" x 6" flush with the bottom of the jamb liner and between the 2 side track nailer.

Make sure you use a large enough header above the doors.

A 16' wide overhead door will need a substantial header, especially if it is supporting the bearing end of trusses or rafters, if it is on a gable end of a trussed building, it will still have some weight but not as much as an end bearing load. Local lumber yards should have some pre-made headers called "glue lam headers" .

Answer 2

Generally the openings you see are 9x7 and 16x7.  8x7 is used sometimes, but you've seen the issue with it.  Those are often used when you are using 2 single doors instead of one double.  9x8 is becoming common for a 3rd door when the wall with the 3rd door is slightly recessed from the main front wall.  

If you want to install a 16' door, you will need to verify the size of the header your local building code requires.  We usually use a double 1-3/4 x 13-7/8 Microlam.  Hope this helps.

Answer 3

you can buy a garage door any width any height. the widths come in

2" increments,the heights in 3" increments like 14'2"x 9'6" watch your (headroom) the distance from floor to your lowest point on ceiling. you can work with as little as three inches