Single or double doors for maximize use?

[samduhspam]

Hello-

I am building a new garage that is limited to 23' wide x 22' deep and deciding on a large single door or smaller double doors. I will have one four post lift hugging the right side wall to maximize space. This will allow the driver side door to open freely, not passenger side though. The other side would most likely park another car but not on a lift. Door height will be 10' door and side mounted (ideally).

Single door would be 18' wide but still leave total of 5' side garage space or space that is not drive-through. This I am told is a very heavy door to lift and more wear and tear on tracks and equipment.

Double door has more useable space per door opening but adds min. 8" column between doors. With two 10' doors plus the column, it would leave about only 1' on each side, which best maximizes the sides.

Thoughts and suggestions on which door layout to go with?

Thanks!

 

[HoosierMark]

It depends on personal preference and use. I would definitely do one single door. It allows easier backing of trailers in. I pull a lot of trailers so it would be a no brainer for me. I would not worry about weight or wear and tear, just get yourself a good opener and forget it. If you can put windows in it. I have one door that is virtually all windows but I live in an area that I do not need to worry about privacy or security. I love the light and the view from the windows.

 

[icthruu74]

I’d go single large door too. My garage is 20x24ish and has 2 single 9’ doors. They really limit what I can fit in the garage. There have been a few times I would have liked to put a car in the center of the garage to be able to work from both sides, but it just isn’t possible.

 

[Jlbc212]

An 18' wide door should not be heavy to lift. The correct springs will counterbalance the weight of the door making lifting it as easy as lifting a single car door.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you're putting in a 4 post lift, and you can line it up with the center post of the door, maybe off set the door, the center post of the door really won't be wasted space.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Single 18' wide door will give you a LOT of flexibility

 

[Firefighter1406]

Single door here too. My garage had two singles and it was a pain to try and do anything. Put a single 16’ door in and love it.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

I am not a fan of having a pier in the middle of garage doors and sometimes they get in the way....





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Buckgnarly]

I was talked into a single 18' door for my garage...sooooo glad I went with one door.

 

[nelstomlinson]

If you're putting in a 4 post lift, and you can line it up with the center post of the door, maybe off set the door, the center post of the door really won't be wasted space.

I would favor the single door, but that lift is going to remove some of the flexibilty you get from it. Two 9' doors gives you the same opening width as one 18' door, but your two vehicles don't have to squeeze quite so close together.

As far as heavy, my 12'x12' wooden door goes up with one hand. Just get your springs set right. It's not hard.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I am not a fan of having a pier in the middle of garage doors and sometimes they get in the way....





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd guess either someone slid on the snow/ice. . . . or elderly person that shouldn't be driving or on the opposite end, a young novice driver.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

I'd guess either someone slid on the snow/ice. . . . or elderly person that shouldn't be driving or on the opposite end, a young novice driver.

Neither!

Bobcat cleaning snow after the snowstorm

Unfortunately he did a ton of damage and i had to rip alot down




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[unslow1]

I've had both and prefer two smaller doors vs one large. Doing automotive, auto body and parking a boat in one is easier. When used to park cars in it I like one much better. It also doesn't heat up or cool down the whole garage to open one side.

 

[samduhspam]

Thanks guys. I'm still torn. The 4 post lift will stay in there pretty much permanently so I'm not sure if I'll benefit from a single door but having that future flexibility is nice.

 

[gnpenning]

You can go 20' or 22' wide if that works for you. Just make sure you buy quality doors and the sections have struts

 

[Mikeske]

I have double garage doors on my steel pole building which is 24' and it has two 10' doors on the end. This steel pole building was built before I bought the property and only had a single 10' door on it. I had the 2nd door added when I had the dirt floor concreted and if I had it over to do again I would had the end reengineered and had a single door 18' door put in. It has worked fine for me but when I bring my pickup truck in I have to remember to bring the mirrors in from the camping position. Don't ask it cost me $200.00 for a new mirror and that was half the price the dealer wanted.

 

[readhead]

Everyone is talking about the door and not the structure. A single 16' door will be the easiest and least expensive. 18' will start to present problems with shear value. Two doors will require some kind of portal frame, probably steel, and the cost of two doors, two installs and two operators. With doors that close to the side walls you won't have much usable space on those walls. Of course anything is possible but at what cost.

You are asking a lot from a small space. If the lift is an absolute necessity then go for the 18' or double door option and be ready for the extra cost. Is the lift for storage? Will it need to be accessed often? If it isn't going to be accessed often I would lean toward the double door option.

 

[driftpin]

If you're in a snow belt, you might want to consider this thread about door sag:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25055

I am in a HVHZ (high-velocity hurricane zone) area, and decided that two doors would resist wind loading better than-a single door, even-if the single door met the current code.

 

[gnpenning]

If you're in a snow belt, you might want to consider this thread about door sag:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25055

I am in a HVHZ (high-velocity hurricane zone) area, and decided that two doors would resist wind loading better than-a single door, even-if the single door met the current code.

It's examples like that thread why I mentioned buying quality doors and using struts. Learn from others mistakes.

 

[Bretny]

I have a 24ftx24ft garage with two doors. Get one single door. Also dont put a lolly colum in the garage. The center space is just wasted. I didnt build this garage

 

[yeldogt]

Unless a necessity -- I would never go two doors. Never had the bow issues -- maybe colder climates vs mid-atlantic.

My last couple have been the thick clopay w/ foam inside -- no issues with openers. Get HD commercial tracks and guides -- don't go with standard tracks. I use the green hinge as well.

 

[Handyandy23]

Looks like you already have plenty of opinions, but definitely a single (wide) door!

I have almost the same setup as you, except slightly smaller garage (about 20ft wide). With my 2-post lift all the way to one side, it is still wider than the individual doors. The result is that I have to kind of drive the cars into the lift on a bit of an angle, to get around the post in between the doors. This isn't a huge problem with small cars, but it is quite inconvenient with larger vehicles.

At 23 feet wide you might be able to get away with the pair of doors, but having one large door will just make everything so much easier. You can freely reposition vehicles to get them dead center of the lift, no matter how large.

 

[Mortimer452]

I'll go ahead and chime in as well, I'd definitely go with a single large door. Our garage is about the same size, when we bought the home it had two doors and I thought it was a pain in the *** getting larger vehicles in and out.

Years later when it came time to replace, I knocked out the center column and installed a single 18' door, it made such a huge difference in usability of the garage. Makes for MUCH easier positioning of vehicles and pulling them in and out.

Best part was, a single 18ft door actually ended up being cheaper than replacing both the smaller doors. Only requires one opener, one set of tracks and less labor. The only added cost was my time and some lumber to beef up the header after removing that center column.

 

[samduhspam]

You can go 20' or 22' wide if that works for you. Just make sure you buy quality doors and the sections have struts

Any suggestions on what company to look into and avoid? I'm getting quoted $12,000 for parts and labor for the door I want.

 

[fastmnstealth]

As other's have mentioned, an 18' door should be of no concern. I went 18'x8' door when we built our house 16 years ago on the attached garage. It is a double sided steel insulated door and it is great. In that time, I have replaced the opener (Craftsman), but likely not the fault of the door.

On my new shop (36x50x12), I went with two doors on the gable end with a service door. The doors are 12Wx10H. The lift will be centered in the right door. The doors are offset to make room for service door (36"). This will also allow plenty of room for benches, tool boxes, etc. I did portal frame this end of the building. This configuration works for what I want to do with it.

 

[f150skidoo]

my garage is 22 x 24 and it had 2 8'x8' doors with 32" columns and this past fall I removed the center column and bricked in the sides so now I have a single 16' x 8' door and its so nice not to have to worry about smashing up the side of the doors.

 

[samduhspam]

Single door it is! Now finding one that is oversized and reasonable is another problem.

 

[gnpenning]

Any suggestions on what company to look into and avoid? I'm getting quoted $12,000 for parts and labor for the door I want.

I would need to know what doors are available in your area. What I consider the best door manufacturer products are not available in your area. As a rule anything the box stores sell I would stay away from.

That is a nice looking door from the road. Full glass panel doors create other issues and make a jump in price. Some manufacturers give a number of glass frosting options.

 

[samduhspam]

I would need to know what doors are available in your area. What I consider the best door manufacturer products are not available in your area. As a rule anything the box stores sell I would stay away from.

That is a nice looking door from the road. Full glass panel doors create other issues and make a jump in price. Some manufacturers give a number of glass frosting options.

I'm in Northern California. I've been seeing Northwest and Clopay. How are those? Northwest is on the pricier side. Clopay they carry at Home Depot?

 

[gnpenning]

The upper line of Northwest doors are better than Clopay to me.

 

[haneyrm]

My new place has 2 - 18x8 doors that are hurricane rated for impact resistance and insulated. No issues with sagging, strength, diaphragm stiffness, etc. and a basic liftmaster opener operates them perfectly. They have pretty heavy bracing on the interior of the door and are easy to handle manually if needed.

I decided on larger single doors for flexibility and ease of moving tractor, boat, etc. in and out of the garage.