Garage Door Size Question 8' vs 7'

[tuph8]

In the process of getting permits for detached 27'x34' garage built. The garage door will be on the 27' side.

I'd like to get a head start on ordering material and I've been looking at Cloplay and C.H.I. and would like some guidance. I read on GJ that try to get standard dimension so replacement of panels can be easy for when and if you accidentally damage the door.

The garage will be used for woodworking hobby, squat rack area for working out and storage. We don't have large trucks, a mid size suv and a civic.

Most of the doors I see are 16'x7' (~$700 at big orange box store for cloplay).
The plans have 16'x8'.

1. Is it better to go 18'x8' or keep it as 16'x8'? What are some pros and cons?

2. If you've gotten 16'x 8' tall doors how much did you pay? (looking for Steel, white, with no windows). Nothing fancy.

3. Is it replacing a panel more expensive for 7' vs 8' tall?

Thank you

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Having lived in houses with garages with 7' tall doors which were installed before I lived there... I almost want to say it should be code that all garage doors should be at least 8 feet.

7' leaves no room for sooo many vehicles.

Wanted to go back in time and give some choice words to the person that decided those doors would be adequate. No forward thinking at all. I don't even live at that house anymore and I'm honestly annoyed just thinking about it.

 

[csp]

If you ever foresee the need to pull a full-size pickup of SUV into that door opening, get the 8' tall.

Mine are 18'x8' and I would never go to a 16' wide door again, just because of clearance around vehicles going in and out.

I can't recall the cost as I didn't care. Stop shopping the big box stores too. You're limiting your choices and quality.

 

[Black300zx]

I have a 16' x 7' door. My F150 fits through it, but the antenna drags. Someday I hope to upgrade to a 16x8

Regarding width, my wife's 4-door wrangler and my nissan 300zx are normally parked in the garage. Space between the cars is snug, but it really made a big difference when we started parking the Jeep on the left (pulled in) and the 300zx on the right (backed in) which results in both driver's doors opening towards the perimeter of the space. It also puts the garage door edge in clear view which allows us to pull in with ~1" to spare.

 

[Innovate1]

You will never regret getting a slightly bigger door - you may regret the smaller door when something doesn't fit. I always have thought 7' tall garage doors are a dumb idea. I went with 8' even though we have small vehicles. I have needed the extra height a few times when I had stuff on the top or in the pickup.

I wouldn't expect the panels for an 8' high door to be much different cost than for a 7' door. Each one will be a few inches bigger so slightly more.

 

[pattenp]

I have the 18X8 steel insulated door and it's nice for pulling in two cars. Personally I would not have a 7ft tall door. I've had a couple of jacked up pickups to work on and they would have been a tight fit. The only issue I've had is the door sagging in the middle when raised and I had to beef up the stiffener brace across the top to keep the door flat when closed. Over time it developed a bit of a bow and was not sealing against the weather stripping at the top.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Go with the 16x8 door. Most want the 18 over the 16 due to having two larger vehicles getting parked in the garage.

For what you have and are doing, the 16x8 will do just fine and give you two more feet of usable wall space.

 

[tarmy]

I have two 16x8. No way would I recommend anything less than the 8’...my next build will have 10-12 min. Tractors fit in an 8...boats with towers do not. Any large truck/SUV with a ski rack or similar will likely not fit in a 7’ either.

As others have stated...on garages...go big or go away...

 

[TuxThePenguin]

As others have stated...on garages...go big or go away...

Perfectly stated.

 

[kwb]

I have two 16x8. Now way would I recommend anything less than the 8’...my next build will have 10-12 min. Tractors fit in an 8...boats with towers do not. Any large truck/SUV with a ski rack or similar will likely not fit in a 7’ either.

As others have stated...on garages...go big or go away...

Garages don't add value to many people, low garages limit those that it does value to an even smaller pool.

If you haven't framed it yet, make the adjustment to at least 10'.

 

[Bodycount_NJ]

The price difference is negligible at this point.
As has been said before, you’ll regret the 7’ door over the 8’.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Chevy-SS]

No-brainer............... go big

 

[North Dakota]

You can't even get a Kubota bx series in a garage with a 7 foot door

 

[santagary]

Having lived in houses with garages with 7' tall doors which were installed before I lived there... I almost want to say it should be code that all garage doors should be at least 8 feet.

7' leaves no room for sooo many vehicles.

Wanted to go back in time and give some choice words to the person that decided those doors would be adequate. No forward thinking at all. I don't even live at that house anymore and I'm honestly annoyed just thinking about it.

I'd go at least 10' high on your walls and you door...you'll thank us later...ask me how I know.

 

[tuph8]

Thank you everyone for your input! I'll definitely stick to at least 8' tall doors. We plan on living here for a while, but it makes sense to think of the resell value.

 

[nadogail]

I think you should get the biggest door you can visualize you might need.

 

[spudley]

Looks like you've been convinced to go with the 8'. That's wise, you'll be happy.

Haven't checked on prices for a replacement panel yet but I believe it'd be cheaper on a standard 5 panel 8' door rather than on a standard 4 panel 7' door as the 5 panel door sections are slightly smaller.