Garage Lean-to: Bifold Overhead or Barn-style Sliding Doors?

LifeLongWNYer · Feb 17, 2015

I have a lean-to on my garage that is open on the side facing away from the garage. There are 3 "bays" to it, but the one on the north end also provides access into the garage so I can't block it for long. Currently anyone driving by can look in and see what is in the lean-to, and the leaves and snow blow into it, so I really don't use it much. I would like to put doors on the open side so that I can park the mower, sprayer, etc in there with out them getting either swiped or buried.

I was thinking about sliding barn-style doors, but when I open both of the proposed doors, they would cover the third opening, which as I said, leads into the garage.

I thought I discovered a "find" when I saw an ad for bifold overhead doors, which are commonly used on small aircraft hangars. BUT, one a little research disclosed that these are REALLY expensive. Too expensive for me!

So, my first question, is does anybody know of a different style door that I could use?

Secondly, has anyone built a bifold overhead door? If so, where do you get the hardware and is there anything special that I need to know? They don't look to be hard to built, IF you can get the hardware. Finally, do they need anything special at the header, where there are hung?

JBP

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mikegt4 · Feb 17, 2015

If you are only using 2 of the 3 bays for storage it would seem to me that doors on those 2 bays would always be shut and not interfere with the entrance to the garage (3rd bay). With the building being in an extreme snow area I would think that whatever type door you use it would have to open by lifting up or sliding to avoid being rendered inoperable by snow drifts, ie. no carriage style doors. Another possibility would be Barn Curtain type roll up fabric "doors" although they won't be as durable as solid doors at your location.

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1;ft_livestock_supplies;ft_barn_curtain.html

Do a search of this forum for "bifold" and you will get 68 threads that mention them, several involving builds.

Voi · Feb 17, 2015

There are a handful of Youtube videos on DIY bi-fold type doors. I don't have any of them bookmarked.

There are also the swing up type canopy doors.

If I'm picture the lean to correctly, could you do typical overhead door but have the track angled to follow the slope of the roof? A lot of examples of that here on this site.

LifeLongWNYer · Feb 17, 2015

Thanks MikeGT4, I appreciate the suggestion on the fabric doors but want something "solid." I do get quite a bit of wind, and while they may last, I really want wood, or something similar.

VOI, I'll look on both Youtube and the GJ for videos of bifolds. I get in a rut on GJ and look at what everyone is talking about NOW, and forget about the older stuff. It is complicated and would take too much typing to explain it, but a standard sectional overhead won't work. The lean-too wasn't built with that in mind.

Thanks guys,

JBP

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bgarrett · Feb 17, 2015

make your own bifold doors. I will make mine.

Charles (in GA) · Feb 17, 2015

Lift type doors, bifold, put some unusual stresses on the building when they are up, so the header needs proper bracing to handle the weight hanging out there in the breeze.

StevenMorgan · Feb 18, 2015

Sounds like several of these might fit your needs.

http://ultimatedoor.homestead.com/ultimate.html

They are DIY, I've seen one in action and its really neat, but the cable and track rigging is complicated. Once set up right, it works nice for occasional opening on a aircraft hangar. I'd prefer an electric bifold if it will be used daily, but for your lean to, how often are they going to be operated?

Lippyp · Feb 18, 2015

Why not bifold carriage doors? minimises the amount the stick out with regards to clearing snow and would only fold to 90 degrees from the building so won't interfere with the other bays when open.

kansei · Feb 18, 2015

I'm not sure I am calling them by their proper name, but what about building your own accordion-style doors? You could make the leaves/sections as wide or narrow as works best for you. The upper track could be fabbed out of unistrut or similar, and if a bottom track is a no-go, just devise a way to reinforce the bottom once closed, such as a few locking pins that anchor into holes in the ground.

Neal.

dfiler2 · Feb 18, 2015

I remodeled a double car garage one time that had sliding doors on track, like a pole barn, one door and track were on the outside and the other door and track were on the inside. It actually looked pretty good and worked well. Depending on how your lean to is built this may work.

dfiler2 · Feb 18, 2015

dfiler2 said:
I remodeled a double car garage one time that had sliding doors on track, like a pole barn, one door and track were on the outside and the other door and track were on the inside. It actually looked pretty good and worked well. Depending on how your lean to is built this may work.

Was able to find a pic of the garage on google earth.

willy (traer) · Feb 18, 2015

I've made about a dozen of these doors - a lot simpler and safer than a bifold in my opinion...let me know if you would like any more info or pics!

bgarrett · Feb 18, 2015

willy (traer) said:
I've made about a dozen of these doors - a lot simpler and safer than a bifold in my opinion...let me know if you would like any more info or pics!

I like these. How are they powered?

willy (traer) · Feb 18, 2015

110/220V Hydraulic pump and two big *** cylinders. One of these doors is 16' tall , 24' wide and the other is 16'x30'. smaller door - smaller cylinder. No good way around the hydraulic pump.....

Charles (in GA) · Feb 18, 2015

Bifold door thread.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28795

Charles

LifeLongWNYer · Feb 19, 2015

bgarrett said:
make your own bifold doors. I will make mine.

Hey, BGarrett, I was about building them once I learned a little about them.

Any idea where to get the hardware? The only places that I found which advertise the doors don't mention selling the hardware only, they want to sell everything as a package. I guess I'll blast off a couple of emails asking about a "hardware only" deal, but in the mean time, if anybody know of a source, please let me know.

Spring is only a few months away ( in Western NY ) and the home shows will start soon. I'll ask some of the conventional garage door guys who are exhibiting what they know about bifolds.

JBP

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broncorick · Feb 20, 2015

Roll up doors are great. I installed two 10x10ft roll ups myself in a couple of hours. And no overhead interference

accokeekwoods · Feb 20, 2015

broncorick said:
Roll up doors are great. I installed two 10x10ft roll ups myself in a couple of hours. And no overhead interference

second the suggestion on roll up doors! I have used both a 6' wide and 12' wide unit, with great success. The only thing to keep in mind is that the header for the door assembly needs to be strong enough to support the weight. While not an issue in your application they are also much easier to make weather tight than conventional garage doors.

bgarrett · Feb 20, 2015

extremely flimsy and no insulation. I suspect that you could push hard enough with your bare hands to throw these off of the track

bgarrett · Feb 20, 2015

LifeLongWNYer said:
Hey, BGarrett, I was about building them once I learned a little about them.

Any idea where to get the hardware?
JBP.

what hardware? You need upper and midpoint hinges, maybe a pipe inside a pipe, The bifold websites show a long pipe winding up truckers straps http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kinedyne-4-...228?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f5529014 hooked to an electric motor to lift and lower
Might need a lock

look at the 6th picture down here, labeled proven lift strap. http://www.bifold.com/

LifeLongWNYer · Feb 20, 2015

bgarrett said:
what hardware? You need upper and midpoint hinges, maybe a pipe inside a pipe, The bifold websites show a long pipe winding up truckers straps http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kinedyne-4-...228?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f5529014 hooked to an electric motor to lift and lower
Might need a lock

Okay I was thinking about upper hinges and hinges between the leaves, but don't they need a gear box of some sort to run the shaft that winds up the lower door leaf? How about some thing like a track to keep the leaves from blowing in the wind?

It MIGHT be as easy as you say, but I am not convinced yet.

Anybody else want to weigh in?

JBP

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James-W · Feb 20, 2015

Am I missing something here? Why can't you use a regular garage door?

Garage Lean-to: Bifold Overhead or Barn-style Sliding Doors?

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