Garage Door Opening Header Size

For an opening 6 to 7 feet wide you will need two 2 by 12 headers.

Garage door opening header size.

Frame the rough opening to 3 inches wider than the garage door size you have selected. Most door frames that are 4 feet wide or less require a 2 by 6 header. Measure the width of your door frame. 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.

Measure the head room the distance between the top. Most vertical track systems. 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. Timberstrand header comes only in 3 widths in depths that range from 4 3 8 to 18.

Notches on the outer thirds must not exceed 1 6 of the width of the board. Window door garage door headers supporting roof loads only. Although single plies are permitted they are not recommended. Their is no notching permitted in the center third of any beam.

Next measure the sideroom or space available on the left and right sides of the opening. Begin by using a tape measure to determine the width and height of the door opening in inches. If you are putting in an opening between 4 and 5 feet wide then you ll need two 2 by 8 headers. If you are installing a 9 wide door the opening will be 9 3 wide.

If the opening will be 5 to 6 feet wide such as for double doors then you will need two 2 by 10 headers. The size of the door will. Window door garage door headers supporting roof wall floor loads. When in doubt use 2 by 12 inch headers.

Both headers and girders are beams that are oriented horizontally and transfer load down to walls piers or posts.