Door Questions For New Garage

[kngelv]

I finally got the city to give me a permit for an additional garage. It will be 24' x 24' with 11.5' - 12' ceiling height. I planned on doing an 8' x 18' door. Today a buddy suggested I go with a 10' door height. Any reason to go with this instead of the 8' door. My attached garage has a 7' x 16' door with an 8.5' ceiling. I have a 4-post lift that we use to work on vehicles. The lift will go to the new garage. I'm also debating man door location. I can either have it in the front next to the main door or on the left side toward the front. Any reason to choose one over the other? Thank you.

James

 

[BillK]

My attached garage and my 24x24 detached both have 16x7 doors. I honestly can imagine needing more than that ? Unless maybe you are working on some lifted trucks ? Not sure if I would even want the 18 ft width.

 

[olytdi]

I don't know anyone who has regretted a taller door.

I always like the man door facing the house such that I can see it from there.

 

[b.lucky]

Go tall. Who knows what you will own in the future or possibly the next owner.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

On my garage build I am putting a 16’x10’ high door in so I can pull in my promaster high top van in it

 

[racecougar]

IMO, if you know that you'll never need the additional height, there are some upsides to the shorter door: less protrusion into the room when open, less heat loss, less cost. I went with 8' doors on my building years ago, and I have zero regrets.

 

[dcg9381]

Depends on what you're putting in it. Standard residential doors here are 7' and the "option" is 8'.

Modern trucks (and Jeeps) - they're getting close to that 7' height. For residential I always opt for an 8' door.

Even with the 8' door, I'll admit to having wacked a flag on the back of the Polaris.

And then there is the time where I learned a GJ rule: "garage doors ALWAYS all the way up or all the way down".

I ran the truck camper into my shop door that I had partially opened to 12'....

 

[manwithtools]

I like a bit taller door so I can back a loaded car hauler with my lifted Jeep on it. So I'll be using 10 x 10 doors.

 

[firebirdparts]

Personally, I don't own anything between 8 and 10 feet tall, so I say useless.

 

[DJF3]

I would go with 10ft door, even if you don't need it. The next owner might. When we were looking for a house many years ago, there were so many garages that my 1 ton with a high rise canopy wouldn't fit in.

 

[kngelv]

I think I'll stick with 8' for the main door. What about the man door? Front or side?

James

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think I'd put the man door on the side. If it's on the front along with the overhead door, you'll remove most of the lateral stiffness of the structure. I'd make it at least 36" wide if not wider, so you can move lawnmowers, etc. through it without problems.

 

[RegeSullivan]

If you have the height in the garage I'd go taller. At least frame it so you could go to a taller door if needed in the future. You know if you'll get the rv bug or take up some other hobby requiring a taller vehicle.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I was going to go with 8' high doors.
My friends and the builder pleaded with me to go with 10'
I am glad I listened.
Better to have it and not need it than to wish you had it later.

 

[racecougar]

If you have the height in the garage I'd go taller. At least frame it so you could go to a taller door if needed in the future. You know if you'll get the rv bug or take up some other hobby requiring a taller vehicle.

Parking a RV in a 24'x24' garage is likely going to be a little tight.

 

[CraigStu]

Pay attention to Stuart in MN. My SILL built his garage w/ two 8ft wide doors. Doing that made the walls between and on either side only 2ft wide. It worked out but he had to do things like run the door headers all the way to the side walls and attach them in specific ways. I don't remember the details but the side walls had to be oriented to that front wall a specific way also.

 

[Triumphtriple]

I went with 3 10' doors. I have 14' high ceilings. I don't regret getting tall doors. It wasn't needed though for my use. 9' would be more than enough.