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Garage doors?????? Looking

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by jarends, Jul 18, 2004.

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  1. jarends

    jarends Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2001
    567
    Princeton, NJ
    Full Name:
    John Arends
    #1 jarends, Jul 18, 2004
    I'm only one approval away from finally building the new space for the cars, it will be great when it's done. Turns out that I can build a 1700 sf room but with only one garage door due to the house having three already.

    The one was to be a 16 foot door, but I began to think about what kind of door as the area will be finished with a small kitchenet and living space (love to sit with the cars). A regular door would require the rails and I've rarely seen one that fits as close as I would like to make this part of the house.

    There's a place in the UK that has a rollup, but that would change the look of the fourth door. Just looking for ideas from the wealth of input I'm sure it out there.

    thanks in advance.
    John
     
  2. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

    Nov 16, 2001
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    #2 Doody, Jul 18, 2004
    i've never seen roll-up doors that look decent (and i've searched!). in theory you could do it if you didn't mind a HUGE area up above where the door rolls into (BIG slats), but in practice i've only ever seen the tiny slat jobbies (1.5" to 3"). and i've never seen a garage door roll-up done nicely in wood or anything - just vinyl/metal stuffs.

    if you're against rails overhead, you could try two other options. one would be the door that just flips up - a common west-coast jobbie, but quite impractical where it snows. the second would be barn doors, hinged on the side. they can motorize those - though i have no clue how/where the motor setup fits or operates. again, not practical for snow.

    if you have that much space and you're only going to have one door for access, i guess the door doesn't need to open out - you could have barn doors open in or you could have it slide out of the way (that can be motorized too).

    good luck!

    doody.
     
  3. MILotus

    MILotus Karting

    May 20, 2004
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    Lansing, Michigan
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    Matthew
    #3 MILotus, Jul 18, 2004
    Someone on here has the overhead door go up into the rafters... If I could have that is what I would have done on mine. I did get the solid wood door and it is about to be stained this week. Makes the garage a bit darker but nothing lots of good lighting can't fix.
     
  4. whart

    whart F1 Veteran
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    #4 whart, Jul 18, 2004
    Have you checked "Designer Doors"? www.designerdoors.com They are in Wisconsin, i think, but operate in the tri-state area, do custom work, most of which is intended to look like old-fashioned sliding wooden doors that are actually overheads. I had them make two sets for my recently renovated garage: one door is huge, takes the place of a pair of doors. I'll post pictures: they are fabulously made, and are mounted with industrial strength hardware. Ain't cheap, but nothing good is, except for perhaps, coming in the backdoor at the Paris Hilton.
     
  5. whart

    whart F1 Veteran
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    #5 whart, Jul 18, 2004
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  6. ultgar

    ultgar Karting

    Nov 21, 2003
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    #6 ultgar, Jul 18, 2004
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  7. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,142
    Orange County, CA
    #7 SrfCity, Jul 18, 2004
    Very nice, "coach house" look. Real classy......
     
  8. jarends

    jarends Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2001
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    Princeton, NJ
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    John Arends
    #8 jarends, Jul 18, 2004
    Doody I agree completely, have to go another route.

    Mr Whart, those doors look great, I'm sorry that I can't change over, but they wouldn't look to good on our home. I'll post some pictures when I can.

    I'm tending towards a rail going up towards the peaked ceiling, similiar to the pocket door, but exposed as the room will have a cathedral ceiling. My other concern is the insulation or the ability to seal the door when closed. This room is going to be a living room not just a garage.
     
  9. zjpj

    zjpj F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,124
    USA
    #9 zjpj, Jul 18, 2004
    My parents' new house has the barn-style doors hinged on the side that open automatically. They swing outwards. I don't see what the problem is with snow, unless you are trying to drive down your driveway with feet of snow on it. Just have it ploughed whenever it snows... Anyway, I think they look really good.
     
  10. zjpj

    zjpj F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,124
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    #10 zjpj, Jul 18, 2004
    Also, there's this company in England that specializes in outbuilding garages that look like barns, country cottages, etc., very natrual. I love them. I'll go look for some of my cuttings of their ads from Country Life and tell you their name.

    Edit: got it. English Heritage Buildings: http://www.ehbp.com/

    I like this one, for example, with the fold-out doors. http://www.ehbp.com/tours/court.html
     
  11. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 DGS, Jul 19, 2004
    If you're trying to get one large door, a flexible option might be something like we had on our hangar building: overlapping sliding panels.
    They were motorized panels that would move from side to side, allowing different size gaps to be generated at different places in the opening.

    Okay, granted that the hangar panels were ten feet wide, over a foot thick, and three stories tall, but the principle would be the same.
    Of course, smaller doors would be more susceptable to dirt and pebbles in the tracks. (The hangar track slots were a inch across and not much would stop several tons of door.)

    I think NASA's VAB uses similar doors. And a working garage would also be a "Vehicle Assembly Building" of sorts, eh? ;)
     
  12. jarends

    jarends Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2001
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    #12 jarends, Jul 19, 2004
    DGS: I could just see those doors opening, my neighbors would be waiting for the space shuttle to come out.

    Snow isn't a problem as I never take the cars out when the road are wet much less snow covered. The doors would never open when those conditions are around.

    Attached is an older picture, the drawing shows where the new building will be attached. I think that I'm heading towards a high end 16 footer, carefully installed to seal, with the tracks going up the wall along the ceiling. I'll post pictures if the town ever approves of the construction.

    thanks for all your help.
     
  13. whart

    whart F1 Veteran
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    #13 whart, Jul 19, 2004
    Why bother with conventional "garage" doors? Given the aesthetic, and the fact that it will be a "playroom" as well as a garage, why not get some multiple, glass panelled "french-style" doors that hinge and collapse on each other when open? You know the type; you see them in restaurants that have a dining room opening onto an outdoor seating area; i would suspect that these things are fabricated in standard sizes. If you don't get what i am talking about, and want clarification, i will try to find some pictures on the web. For example, look here: http://www.nanawallsystems.com/products/Info_Wood_Description.htm
     
  14. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    #14 MarkPDX, Jul 19, 2004
    Very funny :D
     
  15. calbear

    calbear Rookie

    Jul 3, 2004
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    Pleasanton, CA
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    Joon Lee
    #15 calbear, Jul 20, 2004
    Hi John,
    Your plans look great. I hope you get it finished without any further complications.
    There is a local place here in the SF Bay Area, and they sell very nice "Carriage House" doors. Check out www.sousasgaragedoors.com. I'm thinking about getting these as well for my 6 car garage, although I've not stopped by their showroom. We in the framing phase, so don't need to decide this yet.
    However, if you want me to stop by Sousa's, let me know and I'll investigate for you.

    Take Care.
     

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