"Mini garage door" as bedroom door?

[BellyUpFish]

Ok guys, came across this while surfing today and thought I'd see if the brain trust here at GJ could help him out..

Guy writes:

"Need some ideas and help thinking outside the box. My grandson is in a wheel chair, and he will be 9 soon. He's fascinated with garage doors and I'm trying to conceptualize a way to build a powered roll-up garage door to replace his bedroom door. The thing I can't come up with a solution to is not having a bottom frame in the thing, as it would make an obstacle to his wheel chair to roll over. Unless perhaps I ramped it on both sides ... but still want it in a frame that would open and close like a regular door, for mom and dad, or in case of power failure. Ideas?"

Anyone done anything like this?

 

[softailgarage]

A remote controlled roll up door would be cool. You wouldn't need a bottom frame and I would think as it being aluminum would be fire safe (as long as you had battery back up).

 

[danfromsyr]

yeah no need for a bottom frame, my garage door doesn't have one.
only reason security roll up mini-doors do is for locking and forced entry security.

my concern would be power/fire issues and if it came unsprung and gravity down.
maybe thought of a side sliding (pocket) door, dressed up like a barn/garage door.

 

[66HertzClone]

I would think a pocket door using a servo of some sort to accuate would be easier and safer.

 

[Suburbancharlie]

Seconding the pocket door.
Could use rc car parts probably much cheaper than linear actuator, and the plastic parts would be far easier to "over ride" in the event.
I applaud the concept you were going for, but long term may not be the best. If it was a phase, in a few years he may regret the idea, and all your efforts go to a short lived smile? Not saying its so, but possible. Automatic slider would always be cool.

 

[pmiranda]

I'd put a roll-up door on his closet. Then he has the novelty factor and it won't be a major issue if it gets stuck.

 

[Cypherian]

I'd put a roll-up door on his closet. Then he has the novelty factor and it won't be a major issue if it gets stuck.

This idea is a winner add in the pocket doors air actuated for the Star Trek sound coolness factor and win win :} I do know they make hurricane shutters that roll up and down and look like aluminum garage doors . Not knowing where the house is located if it is in an area prone to hurricanes well might get a insurance discount installing them but they are VERY PRICEY.


Cypher

 

[danfromsyr]

4x7 roll up door
They use them for th 5ft storage units.
https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/0542411

Color:WhiteFinish:Baked Enamel
Length:84"
Material:Steel
Style:Track Mount
Type:Overhead Door
Width:48"
Product Weight: 45 lbs.
Applications: Door coils vertically. Great for spaces that will not allow for a door to swing in or out."
Notes: Great for tight spaces. This door coils up to an 18" diameter above the door opening, inside of the building.
Coils up above the door opening on the interior of the structure
Allows for greater use of floor space directly inside of door opening

 

[dadsEH]

No! ....just no.

 

[danfromsyr]

sometimes maybe a simpler and equally novel idea will satisfy his wants/desires
how about a custom door decal.

This one gets MY vote ;-) (link only to img)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/64/e4/45/64e445933dbeee3d0326eddf59074b08.jpg

 

[Advan]

Don't forget about noisy a roll-up door usually is. May not be the best idea inside a house next to all the bedrooms.....

 

[upndown]

Worst idea I've heard in a long time! Boys already in a wheel chair, so let's potentially lock him in his bedroom. WTF.

Install one on the garage if he really needs to see one...see how much the HOA likes that.

 

[ADSR]

4x7 roll up door
They use them for th 5ft storage units.
https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/0542411

win right there.

 

[bczygan]

I would install a real garage door.

They can be any width.

And properly balanced, they are no harder to open by hand, than any other door, so no worries about power failure.

Bill

 

[Voi]

"Need some ideas and help thinking outside the box. My grandson is in a wheel chair, and he will be 9 soon. He's fascinated with garage doors and I'm trying to conceptualize a way to build a powered roll-up garage door to replace his bedroom door. The thing I can't come up with a solution to is not having a bottom frame in the thing, as it would make an obstacle to his wheel chair to roll over. Unless perhaps I ramped it on both sides ... but still want it in a frame that would open and close like a regular door, for mom and dad, or in case of power failure. Ideas?"

If it were my kid I would install a narrow overhead door that stayed open most of the time and would only close to about what height he could roll his wheelchair under in case of emergency.

I wouldn't want the tracks down on the lower walls/door-james so the wheelchair would have more clearance anyways so limiting how far the door closes solves two problems, IMO.

Then an outswing door that covers everything. Maybe even a Dutch style door with a ledge that the overhead door could close on top of.

I don't think I'd want a wheelchair bound child operating a pocket door in case of emergency.

I guess I'm not sure about the lower frame and if it could be modified or removed.

 

[carotene]

If the kid likes sci fi, how about 2 pocket doors that meet halfway? You could even cut a profile so they finger together with interesting geometry.

 

[KaiserJeep]

To me, the grandfather has an idea of a "garage door" that would fit into the framework of a normally hinged door. "...but still want it in a frame that would open and close like a regular door..." Some fabrication work would be needed, all depending on the type of "garage door" (roll up, one-piece, or sectional). But it could be done. Side tracks built into the outer door frame rails, the top supports attached to the hinged door frame so the entire unit could swing open when needed. Would take some hefty hinges, but it's doable.... Just depends on how deep his pockets are.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I would suggest looking at beverage trailer side loader doors. You could buy them already assembled and only have to install the tracks and counter balance. You could start with a search for Beverage truck doors/ parts. As far as power up and down I would think a small garage door operator could be adapted.

 

[ScottsGT]

I would be more concerned about safety if a fire was to break out in the home. In the dense smoke, do you think a fireman is going to be thinking roll up door? Sorry to be a buzz kill, but I just think this way.

 

[juiced10]

https://www.rollok.com/Aluminum_Tambour_Doors.html

I have installed many on shelving units for security uses. Great product. Would be real easy to install onto a door frame.

 

[zkling]

As someone that has spent much time researching tambour doors for a special build. What he wants is a counter shutter that rolls up upon itself. That is assuming the kid likes tambour doors and not traditional 3 or 4 fold garage doors.

What many people in this thread (except Kaiser) seem to miss is that it will be a standard door with this feature built into it and still not have a piece at the bottom to keep the door itself square. Doable? Yes, but it's going to be costly and or require lots of fab....

To keep it a swinging door, you will need good size hinges to deal with the additional weight of the tambour door attachment.

To keep the "door" without a bottom yet still remain square, the 3 remaining sides (top, left and right, no bottom piece) will need to be pretty stout at the joints and possibly have a counter roller on the outside edge of the door to prevent the door from sagging, but more so the torsion of a non enclosed shape.

Very cool project, if the guy was local I'd be willing to spend the time to help them come up with a solution.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I would install a real garage door. They can be any width. And properly balanced, they are no harder to open by hand, than any other door, so no worries about power failure. Bill

Good idea. Put a LiftMaster 8500 that the kid can control from his smartphone.

If the kid likes sci fi, how about 2 pocket doors that meet halfway? You could even cut a profile so they finger together with interesting geometry.

Our motorhome has two air operated pocket door; one for the toilet room and the other to close off the bedroom. They are really cool when activated and make a cool sound when they open and close. Put the compressor in the basement.

I would suggest looking at beverage trailer side loader doors. You could buy them already assembled and only have to install the tracks and counter balance. You could start with a search for Beverage truck doors/ parts. As far as power up and down I would think a small garage door operator could be adapted.

Check out these aluminum tambur doors by Dynatect.

http://www.dynatect.com/protective-covers/aluminum-roll-up-doors

These are the same aluminum roll up doors that are used on fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and NASCAR pit boxes.

 

[shortykorte]

Sounds like a 4-5' regular door with metal frame and a tambour in the center. Having the extra width on each side could a rigidity since no bottom.

...or sometimes you have to say no or offer an alternative. They have murals of garages so make one of the walls look like a garage.

 

[wrench409]

I can't imagine any roll up door for inside use meeting code.