One large 16' door or two 9's ???
- Thread starter moparmatt
- Start date
Shocker
Well-known member
16' imho. 
timewarp
Well-known member
One large is way better than two smalls, that said why not an 18' then you'd have as much opening as the two 9's. I have a 16 and once in a while it would be nice to have those extra 2 feet.
IDASHO
Well-known member
Go with an 18' !
I did on my 24' wide garage. An 18' x9'
I did on my 24' wide garage. An 18' x9'
rieferman
Well-known member
I have the 9 foot wide door on my barn because that's all I could really fit onto the wall I was working with. While it's a huge improvement over what I had before, and it is plenty usable (and cheaper)... if I could design it from scratch, I'd want an 18 footer for sure.
Also, after installing a 9 footer myself, I'm comfortable in saying that I would NOT tackle an 18 footer by myself. I'd pay for the install on a door that large.
Also, after installing a 9 footer myself, I'm comfortable in saying that I would NOT tackle an 18 footer by myself. I'd pay for the install on a door that large.
Beachbum
Active member
Go with the large door. You will be happier in the long run. You can pull a vehicle or project right into the middle of the garage. 9' just isn't that wide. If the exterior or curb appeal is a factor then pay special attention to matching the design of the garage door to the house. Also, get it insulated and wind rated.
I am building a 26' wide myself. I weighed the options and decided to go with two 10 footers - which after using my fathers garage with 9' doors all my life is a minimum IMO. Try getting a full width car trailer in a 9' door, or have to dodge mirrors if you have a truck or suv. In the end the deciding factor for me was the cold winters and the fact that I was going to put in a lift. Of course now I have changed the layout and my doors are not on the 26' end anymore. There is alot of good advice in this thread and others like it if you search, but 2-10' or 1-18' would be as small as I would go.
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I think it depends on how you are going to use the building and the kind of weather you have.
If it a garage where you put the daily drivers every night then one big door is cheaper and makes sense.
But if it is a shop where you may not move a project for weeks, even months, then being able to keep that area closed off may be something to think about.
Personally, if it is a shop, I would put two ten footers on the 26 foot end.
If it a garage where you put the daily drivers every night then one big door is cheaper and makes sense.
But if it is a shop where you may not move a project for weeks, even months, then being able to keep that area closed off may be something to think about.
Personally, if it is a shop, I would put two ten footers on the 26 foot end.
Schtauffer
Well-known member
One 16 is cheaper than two 9's. For cars and bikes, 9' is fine. If you are pulling a pickup truck in, get a 10' door. Theoretically a 16' is fine for two vehicles; have you ever pulled two vehicles through a 16' opening? Its tight.
ironroad 9c1
Banned
yea i like my singe 16, but sometime I really wish I would have just got 2 9' singles.... I had trying to maneuver something over to the side of the shop, when there is already something on one side.
FlameOut
Well-known member
I guess I'm the odd ball, but I prefer the two 9' doors. Looks better than the one big door. On my garage (still under construction) I tossed around 1 big or two smaller. The front of my garage is 28' so I have 3 equal spaces of about 40" with the doors between them. I also really didn't have any desire to squeeze 3 cars into the 28' area.
I guess the other reason I went with the 8'w x 9' high is the one bay really wont be used anywhere near as much at the other. I'll be restoring my Chevelle in there, so the door wont be opening anywhere near the times the door in the other bay will
I guess the other reason I went with the 8'w x 9' high is the one bay really wont be used anywhere near as much at the other. I'll be restoring my Chevelle in there, so the door wont be opening anywhere near the times the door in the other bay will
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logical
Well-known member
If you have room for two 9's, you have more than enough room for an 18'. I went from a single 16' in my previous place to an 18 and an 8. The extra 2' on the big door is night and day better, especially with a side-entry where you are swinging the vehicles in and out.
I guess I;m an oddball too, as I have 2 nines on my 36' facing side. My reasons for doing this were; a door or window is a hole in the wall for warm air to escape, I've seen too many 16-18' headers sag, and larger doors get out of square easier than small ones. Just my opinion.
Mike
Mike
Notch1988
Well-known member
I've got a 24X40 and went with a single 18X9 on the 24' end. Love it
tcianci
Well-known member
I have a 15 on a 22 ft wide garage, Tried for years to call it a 2 car and 2 would fit but barely. I would heavily consider the aesthetics of the building. I'm in MA and traditional style around here seems to favor the 2 smaller doors. Also, if you have a pretty wide building, 2 separate doors may help in getting vehicles in there with some working space around them. And like someone mentioned, a super wide header presents structural considerations to deal with. Not saying it can't be done right, it just may be kinda spendy.
Falcon67
Well-known member
9 minimum, I used a single 8' and it needs to be 9'.
Depends on how you plan to use the space. If you have a vehicle that gets occasional use like a weekend cruiser or you use part of the space for shop stuff with times where you'd like to throw a door open to get stuff out or just let the breeze in - two doors might be a good idea. If you are moving a couple of cars in and out, get the big one. Since we use one vehicle a lot around here, I'd be a two door garage guy.
Depends on how you plan to use the space. If you have a vehicle that gets occasional use like a weekend cruiser or you use part of the space for shop stuff with times where you'd like to throw a door open to get stuff out or just let the breeze in - two doors might be a good idea. If you are moving a couple of cars in and out, get the big one. Since we use one vehicle a lot around here, I'd be a two door garage guy.
I have both kinds of garages ,two 9 footers,at one garage and big wide ones on two other garages and have made mental note to myself,I like the big doors lots better
theres 3 complete novas in a 24 foot garage, this would be difficult without a wide door
theres 3 complete novas in a 24 foot garage, this would be difficult without a wide door
I had planned on a single and a double for my three car, but due to the engineer stamping the plans wanting pre-lams spanning the ceiling to support the room above I had to go with 3 single doors, so that he could get support columns in the wall between the bay doors.
They have worked out fine, and since I am running HVAC in there I will lose alot less air and recover the temperature quicker not opening an 18' wall everytime.
So heating and cooling could be something to factor in if you plan on hvac in there.
They have worked out fine, and since I am running HVAC in there I will lose alot less air and recover the temperature quicker not opening an 18' wall everytime.
So heating and cooling could be something to factor in if you plan on hvac in there.
babzog
Well-known member
My preference would be for individual doors and I would design a building to work with that in mind. It really depends on the design of the structure.. sometimes a single wide door is the better option, even if two 9 or 10 footers would fit.