Garage door structural question

My garage currently has 2 overhead doors. I want to knock out the center support and replace the 2 with 1 oversize door. My neighbor had this done to her garage a few years ago. They took out the support, put in a new beam across the opening and everything was kosher. My problem is my garage is built different than hers. Her door is on the side of the roof trusses where it doesn't really bear any roof weight. My garage doors are on the side of the roof where the trusses are supported.

Is it possible to knock out this center support and use a beam to support the weight without my roof sagging over time? (Sorry this is the best picture i could find)

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Only if you want the door or side of garage to fall on something. Main bearing walls need support every X feet apart.

Sure but you will probably need a bigger beam than your neighbor used. Get an engineer to look at it.

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Originally Posted by newracer

Sure but you will probably need a bigger beam than your neighbor used. Get an engineer to look at it.

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This.
See if you can find out what type of foundation support you have too, footings or piers. I'm guessing the roof load is around 55 psf in centennial for calcs.

Probably need a steel beam but yes it can be done, biggest issue will be how much $$$. Call a sructural engineer, they can/will specify what is needed.

sent from a soup can and some string..

Can't you just buy smaller cars?

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Originally Posted by Irving

Can't you just buy smaller cars?

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But I got such a good deal on it!

http://www.uglytruckday.com/wp-conte.../mega-jeep.jpg


Does anyone have a recommendation for an engineer or garage door guy that can do this? I'm in south Aurora/east Centennial.

^^ That's funny! You have enough room to have a full personalized plate of IT5AJ33PTHINGUWLDNTUNDRSTAND.

Go to the building department in Centennial and ask them about it. They cant give structural recommendations but wont steer you wrong and might even have plans of your home on file. Go incognito, (blonde or black fuzzy wig) and dont give any addresses.

This is the kind of modification you want done right, don't take any shortcuts, just my opinion. Pull a permit and do it correctly.

By the looks of it it appears, to me, you have the room to get an adequately size beam to span to the outer bearing points. Probably going to be steel or glue lam but as others have said, it will need to be sized by an engineer. And then be prepared to find 4 or 5 (at least) big friends to get it in.

Structurally anything is possible... just depends on how functional and nice it will look at in the end.

Not sure if it's possible, but whoever looks at the structural portion will need some sort of house design. IE: can you get the blueprints to the house?

If not, the guess work will be more from the engineer's perspective. As said previously, it will most likely take a large beam to support the large bending moment from the span of the garage while supporting the entire room. Find a friend that works with structural engineers who are registered with the state as a PE and do it for a bit cheaper. Remember you will most likely have to pull permits which also cost $$$.

Garage door side, Elizabeth Garage Door has always treated us right and is fairly priced.

After staying in a Holiday Inn Express a few years ago, I acquired a copy of Boise Cascade's BC CALC to check this very issue. For my own planning (not engineered) to see if was possible, I utilized very conservative loads, etc and found there were several glu-lam beam options I could use for a 17' opening.

So, I'd say stop in the building department and find out exactly what they will require and then the advice from above in finding a reasonable engineer.

Keep us posted ... my garage conversion (two 7x8 doors converted to an 8x18) is rising to the top of the list. I am not too proud to plagiarize. [Coffee]

Z

I did a conversion like this in Castle Pines last year. The owner was beating up the side jambs with his new F-250 on those single car openings. It made a huge difference.