One door or two

[Mike481]

I'm getting prepared to build a 30' wide by 24' deep garage. The walls will be 12' due to my plans to install a 2-post lift. My big question is should I go with 2 9'x9' doors or one large double door. It looks like one double door would be cheaper but would it cause me problems in the future with lift placement and getting a second car in without crowding the lift?

Just trying to see what has worked best for others.

Thanks
Mike

 

[Red 17]

Mine is 30' wide. I went with one 9'+ and one near 16'. I can't recall the exact numbers and am too lazy to go measure.

My Simpson Strong Wall sections limited the door width.

I have ridge beam construction and have a nice open area in there, with a 10' plate.

I used the now extinct Wayne Dalton i-Drive openers, so nothing's in the way.

Except the fatal error of a 20' depth.

You will be well served by the larger door.

 

[Mike481]

This is a quick google sketch of what my plan is:

 

[Busted Knucles]

One big door for sure

 

[Mike481]

What size would be best?

 

[Neighbor]

I have a 30' wide and I insisted on two 8' tall x 10' wide doors. 10' wide sufficient to get boat trailer through.

 

[ddurrett896]

Single.

Skip the standard 16’ and jump to 18’ minimum. I did an 18’ on a 22’ wall but if I had 20’, I’d shoot for atleast 20’.

 

[Theruse]

While I prefer the look of two doors, one large door does give you more flexibility in moving cars in and out. If one day you really need space and want to work on the car in the middle of the garage, a large double door is more suitable. Lifts like Bendpak can easily be moved as well.

 

[oldcpecdr]

Move the man door around the corner and use an 18 x 8 (or 10) works very well in my 30 x30..Allows LOTS of flexibility for car placement.


Mike B

 

[Dagny]

i put a 10x 10 and a 14 x 14 but I have a step van for a service truck. It is also desirable to have 4 feet on all sides of the doors.

 

[tff]

I think the lift placement is key as I understand your concern. I’d think you’d want one of the doors lined up with the lift and the other sufficiently far way to space out the cars. I’d go with two doors. It’ll look better as well.

 

[Pate]

I have similar dimensions and went 16x8 and 9x8 on the lift side.

 

[coljar]

Move the man door around the corner and use an 18 x 8 (or 10) works very well in my 30 x30..Allows LOTS of flexibility for car placement.


Mike B

This is exactly what I would do.

 

[gnpenning]

You didn't say what type of vehicles you plan to be bringing in and out. If you go with a quality door you can go 10', 12', 14', 20, 22' etc or wider depending on your shear wall code. More options in door sizes than most people realize. Cheap doors sag over time. Most the doors people here think are great, I view as cheap. Look at product and compare. Don't get sucked into the fantasy of R value claims. Find a door company that will work with you and help you tuck the door as close to the ceiling as you can for lift clearance.

Be aware many door companies have loooonñnggg lead times for delivery right now. Plan ahead.

 

[Racy2]

I installed 2 10 x 10 doors with the man door on the side. I back a 32 foot boat in through that door no problem. I would only take that boat our and in half a dozen times a year. I think the the 2 door system looks better. It will depend on what you are putting in your garage?

 

[mobetta]

with the lift in the plan i'd go with 2 doors
I'd deff move the man door around the corner if possible

 

[puttinonthekritz]

I'd do a 20ft wide door, leaving you with 5ft ends (4' 6" if its a 2x6 wall) which will leave you elbow room and placement of cabinets or benches on either side for flexibility. Only one door opener expense as well. As suggested, move the man door around the corner if possible.

 

[Rod N]

1 big door. Why would you want an obstruction in the middle?

 

[firebirdparts]

I would certainly go with 2 doors because of the lift posts. Ultimately though, as you can see in this thread, lots of people having a thing about 2 doors.

I've never had a house with 1 door, so I don't have any perspective.

 

[yeldogt]

One door looks better in my opinion ... especially vs two mismatched. I also find the one door to be the most convenient.

I would rethink the man door as well ... We tend to copy things w/o ever thinking why things are done a given way .. it's copy / copy / copy.

With a lift -- that placement needs to be figured out and the door sized large enough. With two doors the center section can be made larger to move the doors towards the walls -- or whatever you need. IMO -- paying for an oversized door is well worth the money long term .. you only need one control ..tracks etc. Pay a tad more for HD tracks and BB rollers.

Most people just stick the man door on the front -- I never do. I actually put it in the back if i do one at all.

Most of the time I'm walking out to get my car -- I need the big door open anyway. If I'm just going out to the space I mostly use the big door as well. I have my tools in the back and having the door back there allows me to have the sides usable .... with the door in the front you need a big passage way to the back on one side (wasted space) .. it throws things off ... I use the open center.

It's also nice when I do want the door open (nice weather) -- it's open back were I am. Yes my space is heated ... the door is not open long enough walking in to matter.

 

[unslow1]

Having done it both ways I like the two doors and man door on the side. Once the lift is in place you have the obstruction anyway. Living in the midwest the temperature,humidity and bugs come in or out of that large door much faster when it's open.

 

[infinkc]

my vote is 2 10' doors and move the man door to the side. 8' doors are a pain to pull in and out.

 

[TMcCay]

I have a 40x40 and used two 10'x8' doors. My man door is located on the side as many others.

 

[HoosierMark]

One 18 foot by 10 high if possible. I have a 9x8 and 16 x8 in one garage. I hate backing the trailer into the 9 foot opening as the tires are 8 foot wide. It is easy on the 16 foot. I also have a barn with two 16 foot doors in it. The openings give me so many options to move things in and out.

 

[puttinonthekritz]

On a side note, if you are having the garage doors on the eve side I'd highly recommend a 3ft overhang for rain (gutters or not) and snow reasons, especially with a 12ft wall height. I have 3ft overhangs with 14ft sidewalls and I still wish I would have done 4ft now because the sidewalls height.

 

[dangdude]

Will the garage be climate controlled? One door lets less warm air out.
Do you have a straight drive into the garage or will it be a side or rear entry? If so, a double door lets you cheat the opening while turning in.
I have had both setups and think 2 single doors look better and gives you a place to mount a vacuum / air hose to support both bays if the entrance would be considered a front entrance. However, if you have to turn in, a double door is more convenient for pushing cars that won't start onto the lift.

 

[unslow1]

Will the garage be climate controlled? One door lets less warm air out.
Do you have a straight drive into the garage or will it be a side or rear entry? If so, a double door lets you cheat the opening while turning in.
I have had both setups and think 2 single doors look better and gives you a place to mount a vacuum / air hose to support both bays if the entrance would be considered a front entrance. However, if you have to turn in, a double door is more convenient for pushing cars that won't start onto the lift.

I have a both an air hose and electrical reel in that spot on mine. Then also the garage door openers and alarm panel.

 

[BruceMc]

1 big door. Why would you want an obstruction in the middle?

Yes. I have two 10'x10' doors on a 28' wall and a 4-post lift. I really wish I had gone with one big door instead of crowding in two. Placing the lift with the obstruction in the middle, I really lost a lot of working room on the wall side.

 

[NORDFORD]

In the name of all that is holy, do one big door. I have singles and it is one of the banes of my existence...

 

[driftpin]

I did two doors, being in a HVHZ (high-velocity hurricane zone) in S.E. Florida, though you can get code-compliant single doors for the size of the two car space I have, to my way of thinking, two doors is a stronger alternative. I use jackshaft Liftmaster openers, with the doors in the gable end of an all-concrete wall, yes, no blocks. I'm in an urban area, and having one door open at a time is less visibility to passers-by. I have storage above the OH door tracks, for light but bulky items like Christmas decorations. I also have 4 ft. LED double lights every 4 ft. side-to-side, below the OH door tracks, so it doesn't matter if the OH door is open or closed, for the lighting. No lift. I do have a 240 sq. ft. mezzanine, for storage of heavy items, designed by an engineer, the garage has rafters, not trusses, to provide maximum space. I came-up with a jib crane to lift heavy items into the loft. The jib crane is rated at 2,000 lbs, and the heaviest thing I've lifted is less-than 300 lbs, a motorcycle engine.

Impact-rated single-light 36" exterior door on the garage side wall. The translucent glass passageway door allows entry into the otherwise totally-dark (no windows) garage without having to switch-on a light.

 

[nadogail]

Two Doors, a wide one for cars and a man door for me.