Garage Door Size

[tonysellscars]

My new garage is going to be 36 wide by 30 deep

It will have 9 ft walls.

I decided to go with two metal insulated 12ft by 8 doors.


I just thought 10ft seemed kinda of tight and I felt 2 large doors would be better than 3 small doors.

What you think of my choice?

 

[djjsr]

Sounds good. I have a 12 ft wide door on my workshop and I like it. Give some thought to the space between the doors. It's really doesn't have much practical use so the closer you put the doors, the more space you have on the sides where you're more likely to have workbenches or storage.

Also, with an 8' high door and a 9' ceiling you should think about using door openers like the Liftmaster that mounts on the torsion shaft. A conventional chain or belt drive opener might give you clearance problems with the top edge of the top door panel.

 

[tonysellscars]

I decided to go with 4 ft between doors to give vehicles more room to swing doors open.

I appreciate the info about the garage openers as well.

What is the best quality lift system to go with you think?

 

[djjsr]

Liftmaster 3800.

 

[wssix99]

If you are going to heat the garage, I'd recommend to go with a smaller door to conserve heat loss when you open it.

I'm used to small garages in the city where an 8' wide door is normal. 10' is a rare luxury. If you can pull straight in, than the smaller door isn't too bad.

The other thing to think about is the cost of a larger door. It isn't just the door but the structure above it needed to hold up the roof. The wider the door, the stronger and more expensive the beam spanning the opening will be.

If the doors go on a non-load bearing wall, then there may also be complications with the structure standing up to wind loads.

 

[Ray916MN]

If you have not, you might want to consider an 18x8 and a 10x8 or some similar combination that would allow 3 cars to be parked side by side.

 

[tonysellscars]

I planned to go with (2) 12 x 8 insulated metal...with 4 ft spans between.

No window in front. 2 windows on the right side and 3 windows across back 3ft x 4ft vinyl windows.


So whats the pro's and con's of this set up?


I am not opposed to consider a change if it makes sense.

Comments.

 

[Modifieddriver]

On doors go W-I-D-E. I'm doing a build right now and I'm using a pair of 12' wide x 10' high doors. My part of the building (Mrs. gets 1/3) is 60' x 40' deep. Doors are on the long side. 12' wall, 12' door, 12' wall, 12' door and 12' wall.

I'm already in the dry and have been using the interior prior to concrete pouring, which should happen this coming week. The extra navigation room, especially for pickups and my car hauling truck, make getting in and out a breeze.

I'm also installing a similar 8' x 8' door for the lawn mower and golf cart on the Mrs. part. I can't imagine trying to use an 8' wide door for a vehicle. The heat loss isn't worth the worry vs. possible vehicle damage going in and out of that narrow opening. You're going to either backup coming out or going in.

I'm using slatted roll-up (canister style) doors. That way the ceiling won't be a problem for door tracks and lights won't be covered.

I'm not worried about insulation or heat loss where I live.

 

[thetruck454]

I think you made the right choice on going with bigger doors. I'm a fan of as much garage door space as you can. I'm building a 30x40 garage and I just ordered a 9x8 and a 15x8 for the 30ft gable end.

 

[tonysellscars]

OK guys, thanks for all the comments.


Some have suggested to me that i should go 3 doors being its 36 wide..I didn't think so ...

Pros and Cons of 3 doors vs 2?

 

[tonysellscars]

View media item 30435View media item 30438View media item 30437View media item 30442View media item 30443My plan is to place 6 feet to the right side of my garage you see here.

 

[djjsr]

Dang! That's a long driveway! Do you ever get snow there?

 

[tonysellscars]

Yes, we do get snow. Typically when we do its only 2 or 3 inches..sometimes 5 or 6 but rare.

When it does we park at the bottom and walk up.

Isn't that a heck of a note, build a shop and have to park outside in bad weather just so we can get down the hill..

Makes no sense...but hey I got to have my shop

 

[Hustler388]

What is the disadvantage in going with 2 larger doors? as wide as will fit?

Rob

 

[Modifieddriver]

Better hope the brakes work going down the driveway. If not, looks like ya' might take a swim.

Nice layout. house on the hill. Good view.

 

[tonysellscars]

View media item 30439
Another pond at top of my driveway on the right side

 

[Cemoto]

I just had a foundation poured last week 36' x 32'.

I'd suggest going 32' deep so the inside allows you 30' or enough to park two cars deep (depending on the car of course).

My two 10' wide doors with a 2' space between still allows enough space to open both car doors. I went w/ the 10' wide doors so my 8'6" wide trailer can be pulled in if needed.

Having the depth to go two cars deep allows for much more storage. I should be able to fit three cars and my stretched van inside for the winter, as well as motorcycle storage off to the side. The doors will be 9' high to accommodate the trailer.

Here are a couple of my planned layouts - best of luck to you.

BTW, as soon as the footing were poured I wished I went 38" wide.

Regards,

.

 

[budl]

I'm in the finishing stages of a 24dx34w build. I decided on 3 9x8 doors for looks and the convenience of a high rise center door for my lift. Initially the center door will have the liftmaster 3800 opener and the other 2 will be manual. Thought I would "test drive" the 3800 before commiting to it for the other doors. My attached garage has a 16w door and that is nice but a pretty wide span to maintain alignment on.

Bud

 

[rsa]

My new garage is going to be 36 wide by 30 deep

It will have 9 ft walls.

I decided to go with two metal insulated 12ft by 8 doors.


I just thought 10ft seemed kinda of tight and I felt 2 large doors would be better than 3 small doors.

What you think of my choice?

Width of a F-150 with standard mirrors extended is about 8' 1". Is 12" clearance on both sides too tight for you?

Go big/small? 18' and 10' with 3'6" ends and a 12" center. Or whatever other big/small combo suits you best. Lots more flexibility than two 12's. IMO.

 

[tonysellscars]

My son and I were just sitting here discussing the comments made on this thread.

He is 17 and this shop is so important to him. He dreams about it night and day until it starts and doesn't want to make a mistake on it..as I don't either.

Now i am beginning to believe the big door small door set up would make much more sense....

 

[TOOL_MONGER]

I have 2 9x8's and the stall I pull my Silverado 3500 into is tight. haven't measured, but cant be more than a couple inches clearance on the tow mirrors... Gm needs to come out with power folding tow mirrors..

if I would of had a little more room to build I would have went with 10's

 

[tonysellscars]

I was going to say...I knew GM has power folding mirrors and power extending mirrors but not certain about power folding TOW mirrors...

I am 43 and I've sold new GM vehicles since 1986. Lots of changes I have seen in the automotive industry just in my lifetime.

 

[Modifieddriver]

I have 2 9x8's and the stall I pull my Silverado 3500 into is tight. haven't measured, but cant be more than a couple inches clearance on the tow mirrors... Gm needs to come out with power folding tow mirrors..

if I would of had a little more room to build I would have went with 10's

I'd say you need wider doors regardless of folding mirrors.

I have a 9' door on my rented shop building and I have to get out and swing back the Extended California West Coast Mirrors on my C-30 roll back to gain entrance. A pain, but I knew that when I bought the truck.

My replacement building has 12' doors. Concrete floor pouring this week .