Drive-thru Garage

[jflo269]

Id like to get some feedback on the difficulty level and cost of modifying my existing two car garage. I have two 8' openings with a brick veneer column between the two. I'm unsure if this would be a major/complicated task to complete. lastly, I would like to install a garage door on the back wall creating a drive thru garage. any help would be appreciated. home is on a slab, and front of home is brick veneer, while the remainder is vinyl siding. thanks

 

[Jinks]

Pretty simple, remove the vinyl siding, create headers for the rear garage doors, remove the studs to create the openings, install doors, trim, enjoy.

 

[ddawg16]

Welcome to GJ.

Please put your profile in your info...it helps us help you better.

It's done...but you will need permits and most likely some engineering...unless there is nothing above. You are going to need a header and you need to make sure you have the proper foundation support for the jack studs.

 

[kbs2244]

Is this two separate projects?
If so, the adding the rear door will be the easiest.
It is a somewhat easy carpenter project.

You build a temp supporting wall.
Open up the wall the to the door width.
Frame in a header.
Install the door.

If you want to go to a single front door the basic procedure is the same.
You build the temp wall, remove the center pillar, remove the two short headers over the door openings, frame in the new longer header, and install the new door.

The biggest concern is what is above the garage.
You may get some drywall cracks doing all this.

 

[ddawg16]

I missed the part about wanting to take out the center support for your existing garage...I thought you were just describing what you had.

KBS covered the basic steps....but we aware, you are talking about a substantially bigger header....at a min, an LVL or PSL beam. For reference, mine is a PSL, 7" thick....16" high by 17'. But I also have a 2-story garage.

I personally don't think the gain is worth the effort. And I think 2 garage doors look better than one big one.

 

[jflo269]

Thanks for the advice. KBS, you would be correct, this would be two different projects. i noticed in my initial post i wasn't clear on knocking out the center column in the front of the garage, i apologize. ddawg, i agree with you about two doors looking better than one; however, it would be so much easier getting my boat in and out. I'm still not 100% positive i want to go through with the front part....we'll see. As far as the opening up the rear, I need to do this. Can yall point me in the best direction on how to build a temporary support wall. thanks again

 

[RVDan]

Hmmm. I opened up the wall. Built a header and frame that emulates the front of the garage, installed a door.

 

[jflo269]

and.....

 

[jflo269]

got any advice, tips???

 

[mikegt4]

I have a rear door on my 26w x 48d garage. I can drive through but the best part is opening the back door for flow through ventilation on hot days.

 

[Skiff Builder]

Jflo, is this a detached garage , on side of the house or under the house. Next question would be are the doors in a load bearing wall ? Makes a big difference in header size needed.
I have a drive through garage for the boat. Sort of the Same as your planning, You will like it. It,s great to be able to control airflow in nice weather with opposing doors.

 

[RVDan]

got any advice, tips???

Not really. It is that easy. Look at how the front is built and build the rear the same. If you think the roof might collapse in the meantime get a beam and some jackposts to support it.

 

[CNGsaves]

Welcome to GJ. Can you post up some Pictures ?? We love pics and it helps you get the best advice.

HOW TO: Edit 1st post, Go Advanced, Link up to 7 pictures from computer harddrive, Upload, Save.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

You need to consider the shear for the back wall. Think about a cardboard box with 2 open ends compared to the same box with 1 end taped closed. The whole box is a lot easier to flatten sideways with 2 open ends. Today we also worry about the shear for the front opening, although a lot of older garages don't appear to have enough wall beside the door to provide it.

If you open both ends of the garage you need to provide shear so it doesn't want to collapse to the side. Will the new door be all the way across, or only a single 8' door? They make products to provide shear in a narrow space, like Simpson's Strong Wall. Typically they are installed according to the engineering, with the bottom anchored securely to a foundation designed for it.

 

[ddawg16]

fjflo.....you are going to need permits....the permit office will be able to tell you what you really need for a header.

Don't be afraid of them.....they want to help more than hurt....

 

[Orionrising]

in charleston SC... probably not that easy... hurricane codes most likely

 

[ADSR]

When I read the thread title, I pictured a menu board and a speaker before you pull in to your shop.

 

[VintageVeloce]

FullRaceMerc's post above is correct. You will need a shear wall.

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