Garage door structural question

[mightiestmouse]

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 $$$.

[fairrpe86]

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

[Zman]

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.

Z

[flogger]

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.