Is this possible?

[safetyfast]

Newbie here. Considering purchase of a brich ranch house. Approx 1500 unfinished square feet in the basement, and basement at ground level on one end. There are double doors that provides about a 6 foot wide entrance to basement on that end so that the current owners can use the basement for a workshop and place to store lawnmower etc. Of course I would like to be able to get at least one car in there for storage. Is it possible to frame in a garage door where the double doors are?

 

[carb454]

Safetyfast, Sounds like a headache to me, the lentil that is currently holding the house over the 6'door will have to be supprted and replaced with a longer one big enough to accomodate the wider door ... But yes it can be done.

Then you may want to consult with your insurance man about having a car (potential fire etc.) in the basement. Just to make sure your covered

 

[krooser]

I'm sure you could have a 6' door custom ordered for your application...I had a 12X8 built for my shop.

Your insurance guy would probably want to know about storing a car in the area...water heater, furnace and other consideration and all. But it's not uncommon on bi-level and tri-level houses.

Good luck...

 

[safetyfast]

Basement garages are common here. I have one in my current house. I would like to put in at least a 8 foot wide door, but would prefer 9.

 

[logical]

You'll definately need to box it in entirely with at least 5/8 sheetrock and fire-rated doors into the main basement for fire codes. You may even need a short curb around the entire peremiter. I used to be in a bi-level, also called a raised ranch that essentially has a basement level garage under the bedrooms.

 

[Old Moparz]

I don't see any reason why you can't, as long as you follow local codes. Like the others said, separate the new garage area from living space with whatever's needed, like sheetrock, steel fire rated door, insulation, etc. The hardest & most expensive part will be widening the opening in the foundation wall to allow a car to fit. The existing footing at both sides of the existing opening may not be deep enough. (Must be below the frost line, & by widening the opening you will possibly expose the top of the footing.) If you do this, you may need an architect to sign off on the drawings. I think it would still be a lot cheaper to do this than to build a detached garage.

 

[nova65ss]

You can have a garage door made any size, just make sure you have enough headroom above the opening for the garage door to fit. Alot of basements have really low ceilings. The least amount you can have would be 6" w/o a door opener and 9" w/ a door opener.

Jimmy

 

[safetyfast]

Thanks for the info all. I have a garage door with opener in the basement of my present house now, but the opening was already there. I installed the door and opener, but had to use Clopay's low overhead kit.