Overhead door size? 2 smaller or 1 large?

[jroddypiper]

I am about to build a 40x60 steel building and would like 3 separate 20x40 ft sections. One end is to be a gym the other end is to be a car/equipment area with a lift. The middle section is going to be an open 20x20 bay in the front and an 20x20 room in the back. I am planning overhead or roll up doors along the long axis. I would like to be able to have 2 car bays next to each other on the car end, should I do 2 doors or would a single 14 or 16ft work? please help.

 

[kbs2244]

With only 20 feet to work with a single 16 foot door makes the best choice

 

[48windsor]

IMO one large . If you ever have any thing large or want to go at a different angle the post between the two limits your options

 

[CraigStu]

One 16 for sure. We had one house w/ two 8s. Never again. That center post is always in the way. I haven't actually done the math but doing one 16 means a little extra framing cost to span the opening, but you only need to pay for one door and one opener so I don't think there would be much difference in overall cost.

 

[BB Sig]

I've got two 8's and hate it. Go higher than standard as well. 8' or higher.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Normally I would go for the two smaller but I think for your set up, the one larger door might be best.

 

[48windsor]

again a wider door just opens so many options . park in the middle or to one side .
If you get a little off there is wiggle room . Who knows when you might want or need to bring in something a little large. Y ou will be glad!!
OPtions!!

 

[HotrodHR]

Go wide... less doors, reduce obstructions.

 

[CraigStu]

Ever try to back a 5.5x10 utility trailer in through a single size door? I did in our previous house and that is why we have a 16 ft door in our 32W x 28D new garage.

 

[driftpin]

We live in an urban area. We live in a hurricane zone. While there are doors which are 16' W meeting hurricane zone building code, my choice was for two 8' doors. I don't regret it for a minute. Also, when you have the 16' W door open, the entire garage is revealed to passers-by. Sure, you could curtain half of it somehow, but I like the concealment of an 8' W door being down, if the other needs to be open. I pretty-much keep the doors down, unless something is going in or out. We do not park cars/trucks in the garage. They park in the driveway.

For your building, I could see why you would want at-least one 16' W door, and possibly two, if you have a drive-through.

You might want to spec OH doors meeting the Florida Building Code for HVHZ (high-velocity hurricane zone) as it will be probably the most-robust residential door you can buy.

 

[R6 Racer]

2, TWO doors for sure!
I think I'm the first one to say 2 but... More doors are always better.
I have had both setups & there were way more occasions when I had 1 door that I wished for 2 doors than there were times I wanted a wider door when I had 2 doors.
If I read this right you will have a 40'wide x 20'deep auto area.
With one door you will not have a straight shot at your lift (see green lift location in my Half Assed drawing).

I would go with 2, 10' x 10' doors. What I have now is 2, 10'wide x 9' tall doors & my shop is only 30' wide. On occasion I have wished for more height but with my shop wall height I could only go with 9' tall doors. Now if your talking about a typical suburban double garage 20 to 22' wide then a single 16' wide door might be an option but...
With 40' of width I would DEFINITELY go with 2 doors.
More doors gives you more options. You let less heat out in the winter & let less heat in in the summer when you need to open a door. If you want to air it out 2 doors lets you vent faster. Security, less opening means less for the bad guys to see when you need to open up. There's many more reasons to go with double doors but you need to think hard about how the set up will affect(effect?) you in your situation. I know from my experience that 2 doors will always be my choice.

I might (MIGHT) consider 1, 16'wide door if you are planing on placing your lift in the middle of the auto area (Red lift location in my H.A. drawing)

Best of luck to you with the build.

Steve

 

[Gentleman Adventurer]

If you can make the building 64' long, I would do that and use all 4' on the car work area.
Then put in 2, 9' wide doors (8' tall or more if 4wd vehicles or trucks and vans are in the mix.) At 20' wide, the car work area will be tight for a second vehicle after a lift is installed.
If a building stretch is not doable, then a single 16' wide would be my choice. Have fun.