To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Raising garage entry height

Annimaluvr

New member
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
1
Is it at all a possible/reasonable option to raise the height of the garage door entrance by about 7-8"? I want to buy a T@B camper; it says it fits in a "standard" sized garage, and I have plenty of room and height once inside, but it won't clear the top of the garage door to get inside. I don't want to pay for off site storage; I live in an HOA community that won't permit parking it in the driveway. If possible, what would be involved, including time and cost (range)?

Thanks
Tess
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

jkwilson

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Messages
758
Location
SW Indiana
There are several ways. Is it the door itself that is in the way, or the actual opening? Is this a detached garage?
 

jhelrey

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
7,270
Location
MN
I got lucky... The guy that owned my house used to work on Semis. People that bought it remodeled the whole house and put the garage door back to normal height. Header, etc. is still there so if I ever want to move it up, it's not difficult to do.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

James-W

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
Most things are possibly if you have enough money, but sometimes the cost isn't all that reasonable. Since you live in a HOA I would first see exactly what you can and can't do with the garage. Then, if they allow a larger garage door opening, contact a local company that does this type or work, see what they recommend, and get an estimate. Once you have that you will have a much better idea as to the cost and the feasibility of doing this.
 

matt_i

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,767
Location
SE Michigan
Couple of things as I did this (Raised 1 foot)

1. You must buy a new garage door. It is theoretically possible to add another section, but they are not built in nice 1 foot increments. They are more like 19" or 21". Contact your garage door people for full details.

2. You must have room in the wall above to raise the header up. For example, the header supporting the load is probably somewhere between 12" and 18" tall. The top of that has to be able to go upwards the required dimension and still stay under the double top plate in the framing.

3. You have to have some way of supporting the building load while cutting out the header. Most importantly if its on a sidewall with roof trusses bearing down on it. Less temporary structure required for an endwall door.

Its definitely not recommended for average DIYer. I would get construction pros involved. I'm going to guess $2k to $5k to do this job depending on how complex the garage is and what's over top, if the sidewall height does actually exist to do it.

Also, it needs to be stated that if you have an 8 foot wide trailer, a 9 foot door is going to be like threading the eye of a needle with it. A 10 foot wide door would be my minimum, and even that is going to require very careful work with the tow vehicle and a spotter. Putting a trailer into a dark unlighted space in bright daylight outside is akin to shooting in the dark....
 

kbs2244

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
14,065
After you get the legal questions answered....

A lot depends on how the rough carpentry was done.
Sometimes the door header is right at the top of the opening with false wall going up to the top plate.
Sometimes it is at the top plate level with the false wall hanging down to the opening.

The second way will be much easier since no structural carpentry will be needed.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom