How To Frame A Garage Door Header

How to build a garage door header step 1.

How to frame a garage door header.

Frame the rough opening to a height that is 1 5 taller than the door that you have selected. You will need to add 1 2 of plywood between the 2x4 s to get the right wall thickness of 3 1 2. Header the header is ideally a minimum 12 wide micro laminated beam that spans the width of the garage door opening. Cut three pieces of 1 inch by 11 inch lumber to the width measurement of the garage door rough opening plus 12.

Measure the distance from the bottom plate of the wall to a point that is 1 1 2 inches higher that the garage door height. Around the sides of your door add enough lumber to support the weight of the garage door header. If the door is 7. Take some 2x4 s and use these to add 3 rows of supporting frames around the sides of the door and just below the header.

Wide window and door openings and in most situations be code compliant for openings up to 6 ft. You need at least 2 rows of wood to hold up the header on each side making up 4 studs on each half of the header. Frame the rough opening for the garage door to 3 inches wider than the garage door you have selected. When in doubt build a double 2 12 header sandwich like we explain next.

Cut four 2 x 4 trimmers to this length and nail two each to either side of the rough opening. Let s get started with your framing 1. This is the actual thickness of a 2x4. Header requirement 2 at minimum the header should be 12 wide with doubled 2 4 at opening and ceiling running the width of the door with a 2 4 in the center of the opening for the center bracket to attach to.

To make the door header the top of the door frame cut two 2x4s to the same length as the width of the original opening and nail them securely together. Push the new header into place. Frame the rough opening to 3 inches wider than the garage door size you have selected. Lay a single piece of the 1 inch by 11 inch lumber cut in.

Wide a common patio door width. These will help to support the new garage door header. In all but the most bizarre situations they ll easily carry the weight for 4 ft. Make the rough opening 3 wider than the garage door also make the rough opening 1 5 taller than the garage door leave a headroom of 14 or 12 minimum install the header jambs and center pad of the frame using a 2 x 6 lumber for the header jambs and center pad leave at least 5 of space on.

Cut the door header. To finish the opening.