Garage Door Header Detail

The irc details related to the header are often misunderstood and misapplied leading to an installation with unintended structural consequences.

Garage door header detail.

A typical header width with single jack studs is cut 3 larger than the rough opening. Also be aware double or triple jack studs may be required based on the opening width and the load the header carries. For those who are not familiar with what this is. Portal frames are constructed with braced wall panels and full length headers assembled in accordance with the international residential code irc section 602 10 6 for use adjacent to window or door.

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. Header the header is ideally a minimum 12 wide micro laminated beam that spans the width of the garage door opening. Loading conditions are detailed below. Also see assumptions for table development.

The procedure for constructing a header for 6 inch exterior wall framing can be modified for any wall thickness. 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. For each application a pdf download is available. A rough opening refers to the space left inside a door or window frame door in this case where the actual door will be fitted.

Window door garage door headers supporting roof loads only. This piece of. A 36 door has a rough opening width of 38 so your header is cut at 41. Last pull a measurement from the top of the 2 x 6 piece of lumber that you just installed to the ceiling of the garage.

The longer the distance a header spans and the heavier the load it supports the more substantial it needs to be. Attach lumber to the face of the garage wall to the edge of the garage door header. 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. Rough opening of garage door.