Garage Door height restriction - creative solution suggestions?

[dcg9381]

Asking for a friend. He's trying to get a 12-14' door into a neighborhood with 1970s restriction that states doors may be no higher than 10'. Already applied for a variance, but was denied.

I seem to recall seeing someone else's shop that had a "swing away" top / ledger that sat in front of a garage door. With that ledger down, the garage door was 2-3 feet lower, but it could be raised so you could temporarily get a taller opening on the garage door.

Anyone seen this? Photos? Know what such a design is called?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dustball]

Wouldn't the framing inspection and the sidewall height give it away?

Tall door next to standard door-

 

[dcg9381]

Not necessarily (framing/inspection). It's an HOA function. I believe the requirement is a 10' height opening and you can disguise these - be compliant with what the HOA is looking for - which is what we're after here...

 

[dcg9381]

Found this:
https://www.bifold.com/assets/photooftheday/rv-hidden-garage-door-hare-4.jpg

 

[Roadster J]

Similar design to the photo above (May be the same actually), but link has photo of door in various positions.


https://www.bifold.com/photo-of-the-day-washington-rv-garage-door.php


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Wrench97]

If he has already applied for a variance and had it denied he won't get away with that, HOA Karen will spot the "larger" opening during construction and bring it up at the meeting. You want larger then 10' move out of the HOA they don't want you there.

 

[Bsimster]

Need to find the verbage of the "ordinance" if it states visually maintaining the 10foot then you're set. If it explicitly restricts the size of the opening, then i would say you're SOL.

Awesome design/idea tho! That's slick

 

[The Cobbler]

how would "doors may be no higher than 10'" allow for a door opened at 10' with a "trap door" that opens to 12" ?
before you get into this project, are you positive they will accept it, especially since he has already tried for a variance & lost ?

 

[Innovate1]

Does it state that doors must be no higher than 10 ft or openings must be no higher than 10 feet? You would probably have a big fight on your hands but if it states doors then you could make the top a separate section and the door would still be 10 ft. Does it state where the measurement is from? If it doesn't define the bottom there is wiggle room there too. For comparison, most rules that restrict height of buildings define how that is measured both at the bottom and the top.

As much as I hate to say it, if you are set on trying to do that there you should probably talk to a lawyer because if you attempt it you will likely need one before you are done.

 

[infinkc]

Make the whole front lift
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lu...ll-porch-turning-lifted-garage-door/88004?amp

 

[Redwngr]

I've seen a video of one in the last month.

Not sure if it was on this forum.

Owner had restrictions about the 'appearance' of the doors in his neighborhood.
Building had was looked like a regular size door, and a decorative overhand above -- but the overhang pivoted up, so he could get the Class A RV in/out.

EDIT: Still don't know where i saw it first, but google found it again...

The door is actually a bi-fold.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm amazed the "HOA? Move out" comments haven't come.

Me? I'd do the fake 2' panel. Flip it up when you need the space.

Oh, be sure to use a

 

[Don1357]

I have two doors, one door bigger than the other. Right now I don't have a need for the extra clearance so I just framed a rectangle so I can build the two doors the same height which will be visually more appealing. It is not hinged, it is screwed in place; you can see a discreet line where the siding is cut but as it stands right now it is indeed a permanent fixture. Maybe you can frame it like that and eventually sneak in the hinges.

 

[Zmann]

I'm amazed the "HOA? Move out" comments haven't come.

post #6

move out of the HOA they don't want you there

 

[MushCreek]

Put the whole garage on a hydraulic lift with a two foot travel.

 

[Don1357]

The bottom line is that standard framing would put one fat structural member right on top of the garage door hole. If nothing else have the hole initially framed to your desired height and then have the filter piece framed in. This will buy you a possibility, if you just did the standard framing with the structural beam on top it would be a whole lot harder to do something else later

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Your "friend" will be SOL if someone complains about the exceptionally tall door.

 

[imjustdave]

Asking for a friend. He's trying to get a 12-14' door into a neighborhood with 1970s restriction that states doors may be no higher than 10'. Already applied for a variance, but was denied.

I seem to recall seeing someone else's shop that had a "swing away" top / ledger that sat in front of a garage door. With that ledge down, the garage door was 2-3 feet lower, but it could be raised so you could temporarily get a taller opening on the garage door.

Anyone seen this? Photos? Know what such a design is called?

Thanks in advance.

Like what has already been said go do a schweiss door and have the top half of the door blend into the natural look of the home. They can even make it look like a 10 foot door on the bottom half.

Then you give the HOA your plans with a front look and let them approve it and off you go. At a certain point you may have to get an attorney involved and or push issues in the rule book especially is someone is stuck on looks VS door. I suspect the limitation is about looks if that's the case you meeting the goal. If a lot of your rules are for looks then you show them looks.

Here is the full article about the home some of us are referring to.

https://www.bifold.com/photo-of-the-day-washington-rv-garage-door.php

 

[ddawg16]

post #6

I read that.....and still missed it. I'm blaming that one on Stela

 

[ScottsGT]

This was almost a year ago. Wonder what the outcome was?? I was going to suggest putting the garage on hydraulics and lift the garage 2’ when needed.