Making A Garage Door Header

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Making a garage door header.

When in doubt use 2 by 12 inch headers. In an attempt to construct portal frames some garages are built with one continuous garage header extending over two or three garage door openings as shown in figure a. Measure the width of your door frame. 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.

Together the headers king studs and trimmers act as a system that transfers weight from above down and around the window and door openings to the floor and foundation below. Cut a 2 x 6 piece of lumber and nail to the face of wall exactly in the center of the garage header. Most door frames that are 4 feet wide or less require a 2 by 6 header. Building a structural header for a garage door opening can be handled on the jobsite and will offer the same structural support as more expensive solid wood beams.

The king studs nailed into the end of each header and the trimmers that butt just under the header combine to create a sturdy vertical support column. Header the header is ideally a minimum 12 wide micro laminated beam that spans the width of the garage door opening. The procedure for constructing a header for 6 inch exterior wall framing can be modified for any wall thickness. This piece of lumber will be used to attach the center bracket of your garage door spring assembly.

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.