Widening Garage Opening

[carolineschultz233]

How can you widen garage door openings? Mine is only 8 feet wide and it is really nerve-racking to try and park and SUV or truck in there, especially because of the 90 degree angle you must take on the driveway before getting into the garage. My wife has already done 1 paint exchange between the car and the garage so I need to get this fixed ASAP!

 

[carolineschultz233]

Wow

 

[fury9]

It's pretty extensive and will cost alot of money if you have no carpentry skills

 

[CNGsaves]

Welcome to GJ . . . . lots of gurus on here to help you out.

Post up some pictures to get the best replies.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I suspect it can be done. But it would be lots of work. probably a new header and door.

 

[ddawg16]

Yes...we really need pics.....

Just one thought....if you have 2 single bay doors....if your going to go through the effort of widening one door....then just rip out both of them...put in the right size header and go with a single double wide door.

 

[Justanoldguy]

probably a new header and door.

A new door??? Kidding right ????

 

[mstewart]

A little OT,

One of my complaints on the new house contruction w/ three car garages is that the third garage (the first two being one 16' wide door) is an 8'-0" wide door, it looks like an after thought to the house and it has no depth.

In hindsight, I was fortunate to have a builder who does 9' wide third door and 24' deep.

The old house had 8' doors and we had to collapse the mirrors to get a Tahoe in the garage.

 

[happy]

When I bought my new truck a few years ago it came with a trailer package and these dumbo ear mirrors. Checking with the dealer I found that it would cost a little over a thousand to get the proper mirrors. So I decided that it would be much cheaper to change the header and door. Total cost to go to a 10 foot wide door was a little over 600. I did the header change and had the door company install the door. Total time to change the header was about 4 hours. If you have some skill and the siding is not to complicated it can be done.

Much cheaper than repainting the car.

 

[kbs2244]

Decide which way you want to expand too.
Take off any inside wall covering.
Build a temp wall inside the current one to carry the weight.
Remove the door and all the hardware.
Remove the current header. (This will be a job for two people.)
Remove the supporting studs on the side you are going to.
Re-install the supporting studs in their new position.
Remove the plate a the floor to match the new opening.
Install the new, longer header. (Again, a tow person job.)
Trim the sheathing and siding to fit the new framework.
Install new door and hardware.

(A Sawsall is a handy tool for getting rid of nails in strange places.)