Convert 2 bays to single bay?

5 years ago

I tried searching for a similar topic but couldn’t find any so forgive me if another thread exists on the forum. We have two TINY garage doors that annoy me to no end. I don’t have exact measurements but they’re barely wide enough to get a sedan in/out with less than a couple of inches on either side, with side mirrors folded. Our house is spacious but we have a small garage without enough space for a freezer, a hundred strollers, bikes or our tools etc so we only park 1 car inside. I’d love to be able to convert these two doors into a large single door so I could park easily in the middle of the garage and get my kids in/out indoors. We have plans to build a garage with apt in the future (many homes in our neighborhood have 3 car garages) and I wondered if we could take that opportunity to also convert the existing garage doors into a single door. I’m asking this group if such a thing can be done reasonably or would it be cost prohibitive? I am willing to pay for this expense since we would benefit from it literally every time we leave the house but to a reasonable extent. Thanks very much.

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Comments (6)

vicki denson
5 years ago
Get an estimate. The beam to span that entire space maybe too high. You might also consider building in on either size an have a larger garage door, but small than that entire space, or having a door into the garage and a larger garage door.
houssaon
5 years ago
You will, more than likely need a support beam. But it will be much more usable.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
WOW I don’t think you will be able to get one door for that spanI do not find the doors all that small but is there just too much stuff in the way once you are inside that makes it hard to get in? IMO one stroller is all you need and the bikes can be wall hung or maybe a shed for the bikes thats what we have. Waht are the measurements of the doors maybe share that so we have some idea of the actual span.
Lyndee Lee
5 years ago
This is actually a common request as a single door is easier to use. My precious home had garage doors which were 90 inches wide and that was a challenge! There are companies in my metro area who specialize in converting garages with single doors to double door garages. If you look for a specialized firm, they will have the staff or consultants to do the engineering work necessary to size the needed beam.
Mrs. S
5 years ago
I'd want that converted myself. I've always wondered why anyone wanted those small openings. If you have kids you probably don't drive a small sedan anyway.If I lived where it snowed and cars need to be garaged, I'd wish for one large garage door too. Please update and let us know how your bids look.
Sammy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
WOW I don’t think you will be able to get one door for that spanI[sic] Waht[sic] are the measurements of the doors maybe share that so we have some idea of the actual span.

Yes, it can be done. And we don’t need to know the current measurements of the doors. When the new single opening is framed, it’ll be done to accept a commercially available double door.

If you go to the trouble and expense of having this done, I strongly advise you to make the opening taller while you’re at if it’s at all feasible to do so. Think: “Can I get a Suburban that’s riding on 22” all-terrain tires in there?”