Garage with no exit door

[Blue2]

I recently purchased a new home with an attached garage but no exit other than the garage door. There is no door to the house and no exit to the outside. I've never seen anything like this before.

The garage door is automatic so, if the motor ever breaks, there is no way in to the garage. I'm not even sure how I would get into the garage if the motor broke, but I assume it would cause some catastrophic damage!

This seems insane. I can't believe the house was built like this.

So this leaves me with two questions:

1. Short of building an exterior door (cost prohibitive plus 4-6 months waiting for a permit) Is the best idea to simply pull the red disconnect rope, unplug the motor, and use the door manually?

2. To make matters more complicated, the ceiling is very high so I cannot reach the garage door when it's open. I have no real way to pull it down. Is there a solution for this?

Thanks, everyone.

 

[nadogail]

Welcome to the forum. The more you can tell us about yourself; the better we can provide semi competent information and advice. Your location makes a difference because many issues are dealing with your local authorities.

Not all of us are in the same Climate zones.

I would bring this to the attention of the building inspector of the Authority having jurisdiction in your community.

 

[billconner]

How often do you loose power that it would be a serious problem? I think I would plan on adding a door asap. You could add a small backup power supply. I see quite a few under $100 when I Google. Less than a door. Power goes out, open once and disconnect drive. Add a pull rope to close or stick with hook

 

[Walkers]

If this is a new house, then simply push the button to close the door while you are inside, and unplug the unit. Then pull the release rope to open the door (make sure your car is outside), then raise the door, go outside, and close the door until it latches. Then call the builder and tell him your door doesn’t work. You will then find out how to get inside.
Then you can complain to the builder about the lack of a door. It is even better if ’you think your cat is in there’ and it is very hot.

 

[Blue2]

Thanks, all. This is not a new house.

Building a side exit door will be a very expensive and slow process and I don't really mind using the door manually. Is there any harm in doing this long-term with the motor disconnected? Is there an easy pull rope to install?

 

[larry4406]

They offer keys that mount in the door which releases the trolley allowing you to open the door from the outside in the event of loss of power.

One such device

Chamberlain Quick Release Key for Garage Doors G7702CB-P - The Home Depot

Amp up a comfortable addition to the garage doors in your home with the selection of this adorable and amazing Chamberlain Quick Release Key for Garage Doors.

www.homedepot.com

 

[joe_padavano]

2. To make matters more complicated, the ceiling is very high so I cannot reach the garage door when it's open. I have no real way to pull it down. Is there a solution for this?

Yeah, the solution is that you attach a length of rope to the bottom of the door to give you something you can reach to pull it down.

 

[Blue2]

They offer keys that mount in the door which releases the trolley allowing you to open the door from the outside in the event of loss of power.

One such device

Chamberlain Quick Release Key for Garage Doors G7702CB-P - The Home Depot

Amp up a comfortable addition to the garage doors in your home with the selection of this adorable and amazing Chamberlain Quick Release Key for Garage Doors.

www.homedepot.com

Yeah, the solution is that you attach a length of rope to the bottom of the door to give you something you can reach to pull it down.

Thank you both. I'll probably get both of these solutions.

 

[CombatNinja]

I have a hard time believing that:

a) it takes a long time to frame in a door, and
b) any municipality that allowed a garage to get built in such a way would give a rat's *** about whether you got a permit or not

 

[CombatNinja]

Oh, and pics of this house. No way it was built like that. The garage has to be a half-assed addition, probably unpermitted.

 

[Doug]

Maybe I'm wrong, but don't building codes require at least 2 ways in and out?

 

[Blue2]

Maybe I'm wrong, but don't building codes require at least 2 ways in and out?

I would think so. I'm really shocked that it's built like this.

And it was part of the original construction (not a half assed addition) and there are other homes in the neighborhood that seem to have this weird flaw. I have no idea how they got a certificate of occupancy.

 

[Walkers]

Since it is not a new house, post a few pics inside and out. Adding a door is not a huge deal. If we know what you have we can probably guide you through adding a door. It would probably take you a day to do it, then paint the next day.

 

[SALIV8]

Overhead Door Man Door

If you don’t want to open your bay door every time you use the passage, adding a man door or wicket door to your overhead sectional door is the right solution.

americandoor.com

 

[Neggy]

how hard is it to put a door in, even if it is concrete block or other masonry construction?

My next question is IF you could put a door into the house (best case IMHO) are the floors different elevations?

In almost everyplace I've been, the garage floor has to be X many inches below the height of the house floor.

Windows? They can also be used to get out in a hurry, but you have to make sure they are not blocked on either side among other things

 

[larry4406]

Only reason I know of the outside garage door release I posted was I had a new build construction of a detached garage with zero other entrance. This was 10-15 years ago

 

[nadogail]

The OP wrote he recently purchased a new home; he did not indicate it was previously owned.

New is new, a resale is not "a new home".

 

[slowtwitch73]

I put a man door in my old garage. Easy weekend job, no permit. <500 bucks, could have been cheaper.

 

[65ranchero]

Hardest part would be the framing. Pre hung exterior doors can be found as scratch and dent

 

[Jagmandave]

Is this a troll? can't figure out how to reach the door when it's up? No location given or pics of said garage? No man door or window in a garage? I do know they build them like this in England, tho usually with side opening doors, not overheads.

 

[65ranchero]

Is this a troll? can't figure out how to reach the door when it's up? No location given or pics of said garage? No man door or window in a garage? I do know they build them like this in England, tho usually with side opening doors, not overheads.

I kinda thought the same thing but you never know.
I did find it strange that a attached garage has no entry door unless the the house was built in the 1st part of the 20th century.
And also odd that the OP says its a automatic door.
How is it opened and closed when he want in? does it have a app on his phone or does he carry the remote every where he goes?

 

[Jagmandave]

Good point, I guess his garage is just to store his car, unlike most folks in the US, for whom the garage is nothing but a huge storage closet! But he also could have a keypad.....I do. Not that it works most of the time.....

 

[ericm]

Long term I'd put in a man door. The garage attached to my house does not have one. To go in or out I have to go through the mud room of the house. It's a pain.

 

[rayra]

Thanks, all. This is not a new house.

Building a side exit door will be a very expensive and slow process and I don't really mind using the door manually. Is there any harm in doing this long-term with the motor disconnected? Is there an easy pull rope to install?

Another ludicrous and seemingly intractable problem posted by a new account.
It's EASY to cut in a door.
It is only as difficult or expensive as you make it.

And this really isn't a forum for folks who can't or won't DIY.

A pre-hung exterior door is ballpark $500 on the low end.

Maybe double that to include various interior and exterior re-work.

 

[Jinks]

No location, no pictures, unrealistic permit times (& not really needed), afraid of cost, etc. etc. etc. If the O.P. really wants help he'll become more reasonable, if not he'll go away.........

 

[jkuro]

$500.00 if someone does it for you.

JELD-WEN 32 in. x 80 in. 6-Panel Primed Steel Prehung Right-Hand Inswing Front Door THDJW166100289 - The Home Depot

Leave your friends and family in awe by installing this durable JELD-WEN Six-Panel Primed Premium Steel Prehung Front Door.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Sumboodie]

Yeah, the solution is that you attach a length of rope to the bottom of the door to give you something you can reach to pull it down.

Or use a ladder.

 

[Sumboodie]

$500.00 if someone does it for you.

JELD-WEN 32 in. x 80 in. 6-Panel Primed Steel Prehung Right-Hand Inswing Front Door THDJW166100289 - The Home Depot

Leave your friends and family in awe by installing this durable JELD-WEN Six-Panel Primed Premium Steel Prehung Front Door.

www.homedepot.com

I actually just had a door added to my garage. It was about $750 total. The door was about $200.
I used a fairly standard 36" Jen-Weld steel door with a window.

 

[billconner]

Too many unknowns to know if adding a door is simple or not. No idea what is against that wall in house - bath, kitchen cabinets, etc. - and could be grouted masonry on edge of a steep drop off. Definitely not to code but doubt that would assure much than him being forced to add it. As far as new, we moved into a new home 2 years ago. It was 25 years old then, but new to us (especially considering previous home was built in 1904).

Key pad and battery back up. Too easy imho.

 

[Sumboodie]

Maybe I'm wrong, but don't building codes require at least 2 ways in and out?

Yes.

 

[billconner]

I think just one way, up to 50 occupants usually. But I'm pretty sure an overhead garage door is not permitted I the required means of egress.

Just for fun, what do you think it would cost to put a door - that you could use - I the "side" of this garage?

Modscape Cliff house | Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building

inhabitat.com

 

[FMB4]

Wife and I looked at a new build in '08 or so in ID. Garage had a door to the house and no other door, except the G door of course, leading to the exterior. We decided that we would have 2nd door installed that lead to the back yard/patio. Didn't buy it in the end, but that was our plan.

That said, not sure about the code time frame, but installing a door in previously framed wall is not a big deal to a contractor that knows what they're doing. Contractors do much more serious stuff all the time (like removing entire 'non load bearing' interior walls).

 

[p00p]

you could install an UPS Backup for those power outage times.

Genie Model GBB-BX Open & Close Your Garage Door During Power Outages Compaitible Branded 140V DC Motors Only - Electronics - Amazon.com

Genie Model GBB-BX Open & Close Your Garage Door During Power Outages Compaitible Branded 140V DC Motors Only - Electronics - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Extend the pull release lanyard to your comfort heights.

Doing those two above should give you the ability to open the door to a point under an emergency.

Would it be easier to install a window that you can secure & unlock from inside & outside? It would also serve as a fire escape in a time of need.

 

[slowtwitch73]

It's not that hard even if you have no idea what you're doing. Plenty of info out there. I did my first one having had zero door experience. just did another one at new house. There's stuff to watch out for, but it ain't rocket science.

 

[Showkey]

Similarly, it is asked, does a garage need a side door?


No, the IRC (International Residential Code) does not require a person door from a garage. A garage is not considered "habitable space" and is used for "vehicle storage", which is its primary intended use, so the vehicle door which is provided for that purpose is all that is required.

 

[quickfarms]

Here in California that would be an over the counter, or email permit, using a standard plan unless there is something crazy about the construction

the only place I have seen a garage without a second means of egress is a garage constructed prior to WW2

if the garage is not permitted that could explain the timing.

the first thing I would do is to look at the construction to see if there was once a door or window that was removed

 

[Viper98912]

I lived in an apartment complex years ago (and a relatively newer build too) where the first floor had some garages built into the building. They had no other access door other than the actual garage door itself. I wondered the same thing; if the door opener ever broke, I don't know how we'd get in short of trying to jimmy through the top seal. At the end of the day, it'd be the apartment complex's problem when they'd just need to break the door down

I'd definitely put in a man door into the house.

 

[username2]

If it's a one piece door, a person could sleaze a man door in the garage door lickety split I'll bet.

 

[firebirdparts]

If you live somewhere that you'd need a 6 month permit period to buy a stupid door, it seems like you'd also have to lock the garage. Can you lock the garage? Have a key? I think it's pretty rare that people could find keys to their own garage doors, but of course that's not your fault.

My house was built that way also, with an attached garage that you had to access from outside. I thought it was pretty curious. I would never ask somebody else where to put a door in my own house, and honestly I would never tell you where to put a door. But I couldn't help answering since my house was the same way.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Our Southern CA 1961 home was not built with a man door in our attached 2 car garage. Since the back and partial side walls **** up against bedrooms, you cannot add one that leads into the house. Something about CO emissions and fumes will not all that to pass code. I did add one to face the side of the house, but that was only 3 years ago, so it went 50 + years without one.