One of the most confusing aspects of home construction can be the

Approximate opening for an overhead garage door. It is one of the

frequently asked questions.

The approximate opening of a garage door, simply put, is the

actual size of the door itself. For example, if the garage

the door is 7’0″ x 16’0″, so that is the size of the rough

the opening must be framed. This is also what the opening

in the foundation should be. The stallions and the cripples

then stop right at the edge of the foundation.

Foundations are typically lowered 8″ to allow the concrete floor to

to be poured over the top of it. This has to be accounted for

because when calculating the length of the cripples to get the

right height of the head of the overhead door. Normally the

the floor is poured 3″ below the top of the foundation wall. If

overhead door measures 7′, then subtract 4 1/2″ from

that height This is the 3″ drop and 1 1/2″ for the bottom

department. The total length of your cripple would be 6′ 7 1/2″.

Once the floor is poured, the gate legs can be installed.

The width of these leg pieces varies with the size of the

wall and wall finishing (brick, siding,

dryvit, etc.). The header piece is installed first, then the

two side pieces. These range from header to finish.

concrete floor. Once the legs are in the door you can

installed. With the door installed, the door stops will

put with or without weather stripping.

If you know the door size of your overhead door, you will know

rough opening. From there is to determine where to start

and stop framing.

(c) Mike Merisko http://www.sawkerfs.com