Garage Door Header Framing

The width of the lumber should be between 6 and 8.

Garage door header framing.

All doors are set into a frame an opening inside the wall. Framing nails are highly recommended. The procedure for constructing a header for 6 inch exterior wall framing can be modified for any wall thickness. Local and national building codes have specific structural requirements pertaining to beam sizes to span specific wall openings relative to the wall loads so consult your local building department before beginning this.

Frame the rough opening to 3 inches wider than the garage door size you have selected. Frame the rough opening to a height that is 1 5 taller than the door that you have selected. Ideally 2 x6 is the most used header size. 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.

Layout the bottom plate and one of the top plates at 16 on center. Use 2 inch lumber for the jambs as well and ensure they are appropriately nailed to the door opening with the help of a nail gun or hammer. The first thing to know when framing and building walls is that you will need a bottom plate and two top plates to attach the wall studs to. Framing for a non load bearing door header.

If the door is 7 tall frame the opening 7 1 5. Interior and exterior doors are framed basically the same way but interior doors are. If you go with a raised panel door it is even more noticeable if there s any sag. Header the header is ideally a minimum 12 wide micro laminated beam that spans the width of the garage door opening.

Code requires a double top plate for load bearing walls. Normally deflection isn t too noticeable but with a garage door header you have the reference of the door.