Could you put a door into the garage that opens in instead of out? It would need to be modified, and wouldn't keep out little critters (but as you said, they find their way in no matter what we do), but it would keep out anything bigger than a squirrel.

Oh, the garage door can't open in because there are steps going UP to the garage, just inside that door. Hmm...can you move the steps? Or is that getting too expensive/losing too much space in the garage? As in, when you step out of the car you fall into a trench? How may steps are there? Can you rotate them so that instead of going straight up from the doorway, there is small square just inside I the door and the steps go up to the right?

There are 4 steps leading up into the garage. I don't see moving them as a good option though, because they'd have to be moved quite a bit to allow the door to open into the garage. You'd need roughly 44" for the steps themselves, plus at least 36-40" for the landing, so you could open the door without backing into the steps. Then you'd need a railing along the side of the trench.

If you do the gate, I'd get a lock with a pass code so you can lock it easily, get in and out without having to remember a key. But, really, I think your need for this depends on your neighborhood and how likely a break-in would be. Do your neighbors have visual sight to that door? If so, extra security may not really be needed.

I don't understand why such a big landing is needed. We have a door at the top of our stairs from basement to main house. The landing is only about 15" wide. We just turn the doorknob when we're on one of the upper steps. Unless I'm seriously missing something, I don't see why a landing is needed at all. I would seriously want a door into the garage so I would make that work. Maybe an automatic opening door with the opener on the first step going up so, if you're packing groceries, you don't need an extra hand to open the door?

All kinds of critters get in my garage if the side door is left open, even in an urban area, so I would suggest a solid door.

I think as long as the door has the hinges on the left it won't get in the way too much. You might be able to extend the jams and hang the door on the next step up if head clearance isn't an issue.

Also, I have no idea whether exterior bifold doors are even a thing but if they do exist this would be a perfect place for one.

Funky, it's the landing at the BOTTOM of the steps, it has to be big enough for the door to swing into. The steps to up into the garage from the door.

Would you ever use that door to carry stuff from the garage to the yard? If you can use the overhead door for that, then hinging the door on the left side (nearer the arch) and swinging the door out might be your best bet. You probably more often carry things between house and garage? But if you think you would carry stuff from garage to yard throught that door, well, hinging on the left would make it impossible.

OK, bpathome. I really need simple 2D drawings or I get super-discombobulated.

How about one of these and don't laugh. We have a small commercial building and one of these is in the alcove just outside the back door. It's somewhere around 36-42" wide, don't recall exactly. Custom sized and fairly inexpensive. It rolls up and down super easy. It coils into a roller at the top. Very lightweight but very secure.

Rolling Steel Doors by Overhead Door · More Info

I was wondering if that would work! Can it have a push-button opener like a regular overhead door?

I dunno. It's so light, we just bend over, grab the handle and give it a fling and it practically floats up and closes itself anyway.

Hmmm. Good thoughts all. Many thanks. This is a perfect example of the usefulness of this forum, because even though I thought we'd collected all possible alternatives, you all offered two quick new ones I hadn't considered.

I don't think moving the steps into the garage will work, because of space & cost. The roll-up door seems crazy at first, but I sort of see where you're going, since it would seal off the garage but avoid possible conflict between the swing of the two doors in the alcove.

At this point, I'm leaning toward just putting a solid door in the same spot it used to be: on the left side of the photo, with a swing into the alcove. That will keep vermin out of the garage. We can live there for a while and see how we use the entrance post-renovation. Since not much else is dependent on this door, we can make adjustments in a year or two when we're more informed.

Thanks everyone!

If possible, I always think it's better to live with something for awhile before making changes. A regular door can be purchased very inexpensively so that's a good plan. If you're unsure if you want to stick with this, you might try any salvage stores or Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores in your area and just get any secure door that fits. Once you decide that a regular door works, or doesn't work, then you can spend more on something nicer that suits the space. Best wishes.

Funky, the roll-up door is a terrific idea! My son built a shed at our church for his Eagle Scout project, and he put in a roll-up door (6 feet wide, I think). It was so simple to install, and it does go up and down very easily. Ours has a padlock on the outside.

In the OP's case, it would only come down as far as the step, but would still keep out larger unwanted guests.

How about taking a regular door and splitting it down the middle vertically? Friends have done this in an old house (interior) and it works well.

Historic House · More Info

4704, see if you can find a door similar to the kitchen door, with glass. Or even with just a single row of panes at the top. It might look more cohesive, but also will give some light in the garage, especially with those concrete steps.

I think your alcove is charming! Though the bricks are scary...glad you're renovating them before those two clonk someone's noggin.

Many thanks. Good idea on getting a garage door with some light. Back door into kitchen has already been replaced with a full-light door. Also, the death-trap bricks have been repaired too. I got nervous anytime anyone walked near those!

Or glass in the entire archway with very heavy glass that would be very hard to break.

Why are you bringing up a thread from Sept 2015?