Garage door size

[Cb-man]

Planning on building a 30x48
The builder stopped over today to go over plans.
I wanted two 12x10 doors. He had an issue with minimal space between doors
He suggested one big 18x10.
I was thinking two small doors to minimize heat loss in winter.
Also one door with a lift can drive through when no car is on it.
And the other door will be clear to drive thru if lift is in use.
Doors on gable end.

What are your thoughts and opinions ?

 

[pattenp]

How about two 10x10?

 

[ctgoodman]

I would want two doors myself. How high is your ceiling? What hind of things are you going to be bringing in and out. My first thought is no less than 10' wide and as high as your ceiling will allow.

 

[matt_i]

Is it a post-frame? 30-24 = 6/3 = 2 ft between doors, 2ft to each sidewall.

Can you go plywood on that endwall, 3/4" thick, polyurethane construction adhesive, nail on 3" centers? While more labor and material intensive, it should give you a good shear plane. Still worried? Do rough electrical on that wall and duplicate the same exact thing on the inside.

 

[Cb-man]

It will be a pole barn construction.
He is pricing out two 10x10

It's mainly going to be automotive work.
I have a 30x32 for storage.
So pole barn doors on gable end.
Lift toward the front

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I wanted 12' wide doors. The contractor poured the foundation for 10' wide doors.
Ever time I back a trailer in I think about how nice it would be to have 2' more width.

 

[Cb-man]

Seems like with a pole barn you would have to have poles right next to each other at the corners to make 12 wide work with only 30ft wide

 

[chaosracing]

Unless you are planning on opening the doors alot during the winter (ie, 6x per day) you really wont have to worry to much about heat loss if you go with a single large door vs 2 doors. You will loose heat just as quick with either size door.

Plus aesthetically, the very narrow strip of building in between probably wont look right. If it were my building, I would go with the larger door.

 

[RobSmith]

You can get a removable track between the two doors. then you have the best of both worlds...two doors or one big door gap.

 

[pattenp]

Just like deodorant, 6 took stick, 6 took spray.

 

[MagKarl]

Consider the shelving, tools, benches, etc. that you plan to have along the walls when deciding on the placement of doors. 2 feet is pretty shallow.

3 feet works out well for a full panel of metal sheeting.

 

[astroracer]

Is it a post-frame? 30-24 = 6/3 = 2 ft between doors, 2ft to each sidewall.

Matt did the math. 2' is not enough space to the walls if you want a lift. It's actually only 1 1/2' when you subtract the thickness of the wall. 30' minus the 6" wall thickness leaves you with about 29' on the inside for working room.
My rule of thumb is 4' is minimum from door opening to the inside wall. 6' would be much better. Try working around a lift when you can't get from front to back and have to continuously walk all the way around the car to do anything, very frustrating.
Take your builders advice and do the 18' door in the middle of the wall. That will give you 6' on either side of the door. Set the lift to one side or the other and still have room for benches, storage and working space along the wall.
Also, set the lift back from the door far enough so you can open the door fully when a car is on the lift. OR go with high lift tracks when the doors are put in.
Mark

 

[gnpenning]

You can also go with a 20' wide door.

 

[tjdux]

Go two doors 12 ft wide each and make the building wider. 32x32

Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703

 

[tjdux]

Go two doors 12 ft wide each and make the building wider. 32x32

Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703

Ops wrong size in my head, 48x48

Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703

 

[kbs2244]

I have seen double doors less than a foot apart for the reasons you gave.
If hat is what you want remind him who is paying who.

 

[kwb]

I wanted 12' wide doors. The contractor poured the foundation for 10' wide doors.
Ever time I back a trailer in I think about how nice it would be to have 2' more width.

+1
10' wide doors ****

 

[Cb-man]

I may just do the 18ft door. That's one big door but nice in open if back out or pulling something in at an angle. Plus yes the edge of the door will be about 6 ft from the side just about where the lift will go.
Not exactly what I want but since my budget won't allow a wider building I will make do

 

[Mike.VA]

I went with a 18' x 10' and it is working out very well.
Had to pull my boat in this weekend and jockey it around to get it just right, and the 18' really came into it's own in this situation.
I feel you would really enjoy having that large space open in the summer and when pulling in large things like I did.

 

[Scout3918]

I'm doing a 30x40. I am doing (2) 12' doors on 30' end.

 

[astroracer]

I'm doing a 30x40. I am doing (2) 12' doors on 30' end.

And I guarantee you will not like it once you get into the building. You would do well to reconsider like the OP did.
Mark

 

[Cb-man]

thanks for all the opinions. this place is great for putting things in prespective. Specially the post about opening the shop up in the summer.
18ft seems to work out best. distance from the wall for a lift. larger area to back in a trailer and large open door for those hot summers