Garage Doors II

[Garrett Lowell]

I posted this down in the bilge, but perhaps this is a better place.

I'm interested in building some garage doors, the folding, overhead type, but I can't find anything concerning the building methods. Anybody have any ideas or places to look?

[Garrett Lowell]

Thanks, Mike. The width I'm looking at will be only 8'; has this width had the sagging problems too?

[Alan D. Hyde]

Garrett, if it's really a GARAGE door, you'll likely be sorry if you don't go wider than eight feet...

Alan

[Garrett Lowell]

True, Alan. I have two 8' openings, so the doors will need to be larger by a few inches each.

[Mike Vogdes]

Overhead garage doors are a marvel of engineering if properly installed and adjusted. Lots of parts, tracks, springs, cables, rollers, hinges, pulleys, theres lots going on for sure. They can also be very dangerous if not installed correctly, the propper tensioning and track adjustment is key to a good installation otherwise the door can become a heavy hazard.
I would also echo what Alan said, many boat trailers will not even go through an 8' door.

[Ron Williamson]

I did the mortising on a couple,a few years ago.
The customer couldn't find a design that he liked,so he made them himself,but didn't have the capacity to mortise them efficiently.
They were done just like people doors.
R

[Garrett Lowell]

Okay, Ron. Frame and floating panel? And where the panels fold together, was it done flat, or was there a lip, such as you would see on a folding table top?

[Pete Dorr]

We ended up buying wood ones but they were expensive.

My initial plan was to get a decent set of fglass or aluminum flat panel doors and add an exterior skin on to give them a barndoor look.

If you go the above route make sure you let the door company know what you are doing so they can size the springs correctly.

Pete

[hikingchrs]

I hate my overhead garage door...I would prefer barn doorstyle.... I do not use my garage to park my car in.
Chris

[Ron Williamson]

Garrett
They are 8w x10h,two section,6/4 WR Cedar(a bit light,finished out to 1 3/8").
The section joint is a shiplap to shed water to the outside.
The lower section has 5-6 vertical MDO panels,the uppers are glass.
The joints are butts with mortised floating tenons,about 2 1/2"x5"x 5/8",epoxy glued.
The panels are held with a plant-on panel moulding.
I'll see if I can manage a pic.
R