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11' or 12' wall height?

weatherby460

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Mar 13, 2015
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425
Location
Southern WI
30x40 garage with 6/12 pitch.

I am considering an 8' garage door with 11' wall, or 9' door with 12' wall.

What is the best one to get.

Thanks
 
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thecj3man

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Sep 21, 2009
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190
Location
East TN
It depends on how tall your biggest vehicle is. I went 13' so I could have a 12' tall door,
 

Kevin54

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Jan 12, 2005
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29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
It all depends on what you want to do. But from my past experiences, and what I need now, I want 12' walls so I can use a lift. Life changes, and getting down on the concrete does not happen anymore, so on my addition, If I can get by with it with the township, I'm going 12' walls with a 9' door height. I'll not have anything in there coming through taller than 9'. And with the way the trusses will run, when the dirt is over the top of me, I won't give a **** by then, and someone else can change things out. :lol:
 

Aldershot

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Sep 16, 2014
Messages
17
Go with 9 foot door 12 foot walls with scissor trusses perfect height for having a hoist
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toomany

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Feb 11, 2010
Messages
99
Location
Auburn, Mi
I'm going 14' walls with 10x10 doors. Enough room for a lift and have a mezzanine that I can comfortably stand up in.
 

tarmy

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May 28, 2014
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4,676
Location
Nor Cal
Figure out the tallest likely item you want in the garage. I have a ski boat...so the tower was the item I needed clearance for. Also consider lumber rack on truck (loaded) that you may want in.

Consider roof design issues (header, second story load, truss depth etc) to subtract from height for door as well.
 

akdiesel

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Aug 8, 2008
Messages
2,617
Location
Wasilla, AK
I have 12' 6" interior walls. I wish I had 16' walls for extra height at my mezzanine which only has a 4' clearance.
If any height do it in 2' increments. This allows for less waste of building materials.
I also have 10' tall doors so most of my vehicles fit fine. Most C class motor homes with AC units will be in the 11' 6" range, but A classes are 12'+ Something to consider also.
 

csp

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Mar 23, 2010
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5,719
Location
Franktown, CO
Studs will be 12' whether you build 12' walls or 11' walls.

Minimize your construction waste.
 
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Scott r c

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May 28, 2013
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1,056
I would do a lower wall hall height with a steeper roof and scissor trusses if your trying to match the look of a house. I went with 10' sidewall and 8:12 pitch, which let me put a 12' tall coil up door on the end.
 

gnpenning

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Jan 25, 2015
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Location
I have more questions than answers.
As mentioned decided what the tallest thing you will be bringing in and add some relax space above. Doors can be bought in 3" increaments. 9'"3,9'6",9'9",10 etc. Anything over 8 is considered commercial. You will use the same opener on a 9' door as a 10'. 15" headroom above doors for up to 8' and 18" for anything above 8'.

If your door is going to be over the hoist that will be your height limiter. If you can, use a high lift track to raise your door as high as you can. This will mean that you will have to use a jackshaft opener. It may mean the difference between being able to raise your SUV all the way up or not. Don't forget to thicken the slab where your hoist will bolt down.

The size of building should always be decided by what is going in and what you will be doing in it. Measure it out on the ground and park everything in that space. Use cardboard or what ever is handy for tool boxes, bench's, etc. Walk around and adjust space as needed. Wall height based on how tall is the tallest vehicle you will put on the lift and how high you need to lift it to walk underneath. Don't forget room for lights.

Great thoughts posted about lumber, codes, etc.

Good to see your planning ahead. Have fun.
 
Last edited:

GYPSY400

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Mar 21, 2013
Messages
517
Location
Naughton Ontario
Find out if there are any bylaws in your township.. Mine is 16'5", maximum outside height. and that's what my garage is. I ended up with 10x10 doors, 11ft walls and inside peak is 13ft with scissor trusses.


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DonPowers

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Dec 7, 2014
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4,398
Location
On The Hair At The End Of The Dog's Tail
I have a 32 x 48 with 11 ft ceiling, two 12' wide by 10' high doors and a 4 post lift.

Was originally going to go with 10' wide doors but glad I went with the 12's. The extra room is great for getting stuff around a parked vehicle.

Due to code issues and wanting a second floor, the 11' ceiling height was a compromise. If it wasn't for the building height restriction, 30 ft from natural grade, the ceiling would have been 12'.
 

Nexussian

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Mar 12, 2014
Messages
639
Location
Alaska
As with all things garage, you will not regret any dimension you increase.

To paraphrase an adage, "there is nothing more useless than the space (volume?) you didn't build into your garage."

Paraphrased from a couple aviation adages I'm familiar with ( "nothing as useless as the fuel you didn't put in the tank," and "nothing more useless as the runway behind you.").

If it is within your budget, make the garage as large as you can afford in all dimensions, including height.

Obvious for any kind of vehicle lift use, less obvious for extra storage above the floor (shelving).

Baring both of those, you can pack the ceiling full of more insulation to better hold the heat in, or out (didn't notice where you said this is being built).
 

rburke65

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Nov 10, 2007
Messages
12,349
Location
Canfield, Ohio
There are a lot of lifts that require 12' 2" of ceiling so if ya can do 12' walls atop of a course of block or? Is this a pole barn?
 

boobag

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Aug 15, 2010
Messages
397
go 12'
its a nice even height. it will take a sheet and a half of plywood on the exterior, and 3 rows of drywall if you finish the interior.
 
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