Convert 16 ft door to two smaller doors

[doodlebug]

I'd like to change my current 16 ft garage door to two smaller doors, 8ft and 7ft or maybe 9 ft and 6 ft. I've been told this is a bad idea because the garage floor "floats" and will move the center post up/down and bind the doors. Any thoughts from the construction savy? Thanks........Jack.

 

[rwhite692]

I don't think there is any reason why you couldn't do it....the idea of having problems with the slab "floating" and causing binding of the doors, is ridiculous.

Just curious, why would you want to do this?

 

[93L#3008]

Pull off the 16' and frame up anything you want. I would assume the 16' needs replaced and this is a good opportunity to do it how you want? Sounds like you dont need the smaller door to be very large. Maybe use a standard man door.

 

[upndown]

Hi jack.. Welcome. not much info. to work with! Concrete should not be an issue or your 16' door would not have sealed at the bottom. Caution on going too narrow on a door, unless you want to tuck in your mirrors to get in! Around here they use 6' as golf cart doors.. but to me they just look odd sitting next to any door.

 

[doodlebug]

Thanks for the input. The idea of the floor "floating" seemed absurd to me but thought I'd check with folks more knowledgeable than me. The reasoning for the two smaller doors is one side for parking and the other for my shop area. I didn't want everyone driving buy to see my shop and toys (motorcycles and hence the smaller door) when I opened the garage door. I might also partition it for better climate control. Thanks for the advice..........Jack.

 

[Gary S]

I have two 9' doors on my "floating" concrete pad, and they haven't moved yet. Temperatures here vary from -45 in winter to +110 in summer. If they don't float here, I doubt they can float anywhere on this earth.
I'd do it if that is what works for you.

 

[Kevin54]

I'd like to change my current 16 ft garage door to two smaller doors, 8ft and 7ft or maybe 9 ft and 6 ft. I've been told this is a bad idea because the garage floor "floats" and will move the center post up/down and bind the doors. Any thoughts from the construction savy? Thanks........Jack.

It all depends on how the foundation was put in. If you were going to have trouble with heaving it would show problems with the 16' door already.

Now the problem is that if you are going to use the same size opening (16') you will have a hell of a time getting anything through the door. I have two 9' wide doors and my fullsize Dodge truck comes close to hitting the mirrors if I don't watch real close. As far as backing my car hauling trailer in, I have literally 2" on each side.

If it were me, and I had a 16' door, I would leave it at that.

 

[Rickenbackerman]

Keep us updated on what you come up with. I want to do the same thing, only I want the left door to follow my 5/12 roof pitch since that bay is vaulted for my lift. The right door will have regular level tracks that follow the ceiling.

 

[71flh]

This seems like the idea of coating a floor. No maintenance floor as opposed to one that will wear quickly if used. Are the wheels on your floor jack more, or less hard than paint?

You're choosing a less reliable solution for cosmetic reasons. Two doors cost more and are more work.

 

[montero1dfw]

How about real carriage doors. If you could have twin opening 8 foot doors you would have the best of both worlds. Maybe something like this. http://www.realcarriagedoors.com/gallery.php

 

[wintermute]

10' door and a double man door? My garage has a 10' x 8' door (in my avatar too)

 

[doodlebug]

Rickenbackerman, I'll keep you posted and load pics when I get it figured out.
Montero1dfw, wow, those are some great looking doors but I don't have the slide room on the side.
71FLH, I'm sorry but I don't see the connection between floor jacks, coatings and garage doors, but then, I'm old and tired.
I hope to have this (whatever I decide) done next week and will post a follow up. Thanks for the interest and help..........Jack.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I wish I had the room...I've got a 3 car (two doors-one single, one double)...I'd love to have 3 singles...

 

[71flh]

Sorry, I was drinking and only my addled brain would somehow equate garage floors and doors.

I'd vote for one bigger door, but I like a larger opening (to the garage), and drive erratically, which poses a danger to that center post.

 

[Joe Reed]

How about leaving the door as is and adding a moveable screen or panels inside the area where you want the privacy. Maybe a pink shower curtain

 

[montero1dfw]

Montero1dfw, wow, those are some great looking doors but I don't have the slide room on the side.

Look further down on the site. The true carriage doors swing out instead of slide so you could open 1 side for 8 ft or both for 16.

 

[bczygan]

The person who had a concern about the floor supporting the framing for the door was basing his concern on the idea that you would have a load transferred from the garage door header beam down through doubled studs at the side of the door (Effectively a column) and into the slab. With a large opening and a lot of weight from a bearing roof or second story then, yes, you should have a footing or foundation adequate for the loads. But here you already have a header beam spanning the entire 16' and the loads are transferred into the walls on each side of this opening. You are simply adding a filler panel in the middle of this opening. It adds little load, even with the doors.

 

[doodlebug]

How about leaving the door as is and adding a moveable screen or panels inside the area where you want the privacy. Maybe a pink shower curtain

Joe, great idea but the pink will clash with my yellow & purple floor. Oh, what to do!?

Montero, thanks for the additional info but I'm going to go with traditional roll up doors.

71flh, drinking while posting?? Whatever happened to sharing? Maybe we can do some road together sometime...Jack. '92 K75RT

After a lot of relfection on the great ideas you've given me, I've decided to go with a 9' door and 6' door, both with openers. I'll extend my shop area into the parking side a little bit but will still have the access in the future if I get a truck or SUV. I expect to have this done in the next week or so along with decking, either garage deck or Race Deck and will post follow up pics. I'm new here on the forum and y'all are fantastic. Thanks..........Jack.

 

[cgvaters]

I am trying to decide on something similar. i have a 14' door and am currently using it for my elantra. i am looking at buying a pickup and am considering taking out the old 14' door and putting in (2) 8' doors each with its own opener. how hard would this be and would it be worth doing? any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Colin

 

[DeliveryGuy]

Garage door technician here...

You'll never regret going too big on a garage door. The problem with converting a 16' door into two 8s is, now your cars are too close to even open the doors. Unless it's more wall space you're after...Then you could frame half the opening in, and install one small garage door to suit your needs, and gain 8ft of usable wall space.

If you do go through with a 9ft and a 6ft wide door, make every effort to make the gap between as wide as possible...

Funny story time...

I installed two 8ft wide doors for a new local court house. The architect reduced the garage size for whatever reason, and deleted all the room between the two overhead doors. The intention of the garage was to have a paddy wagon and a crown vic parked side by side. Now they have to move both vehicles to access one, because they are only 8 inches apart when parked, and no one can open the driver's door.