Garage Door Opening Header Size

Window door garage door headers supporting roof loads only.

Garage door opening header size.

Tables providing size selections for various beam spans and loading combinations for southern pine dimension lumber and southern pine glued laminated timber are available for the following applications. If you are installing a 9 wide door the opening will be 9 3 wide. Window door garage door headers supporting roof wall floor loads. Their is no notching permitted in the center third of any beam.

Most door frames that are 4 feet wide or less require a 2 by 6 header. For instance if you have a 16 door and are using river stones that are approximately 2 to 2 1 2 you will want the rough opening to be roughly pun intended 16 6. If you are putting in an opening between 4 and 5 feet wide then you ll need two 2 by 8 headers. Both headers and girders are beams that are oriented horizontally and transfer load down to walls piers or posts.

Next measure the sideroom or space available on the left and right sides of the opening. Most vertical track systems. Measure the head room the distance between the top. Although single plies are permitted they are not recommended.

When in doubt use 2 by 12 inch headers. It is worth noting that the 18 foot garage door header application pushed timberstrand beyond its structural limit. Between 4 and 5 feet the header should be built 2 inches wide and 8 inches long while a larger opening needs a header that is 2 by 12. Frame the rough opening to a height that is 1 5 taller than the door that you have selected.

Measure the width of your door frame. For an opening 6 to 7 feet wide you will need two 2 by 12 headers. If the opening will be 5 to 6 feet wide such as for double doors then you will need two 2 by 10 headers. Timberstrand header comes only in 3 widths in depths that range from 4 3 8 to 18.

Begin by using a tape measure to determine the width and height of the door opening in inches.