There’s no denying the validity of curb appeal, and outside appearances have a massive impact on how you feel about any building–including your own home! That being said, if your home features a garage then you might be thinking about installing a larger, nicer garage door.
If a new garage door is on the horizon for you, then you’re going to want to make sure it’s installed with a stable, dependable frame. If you’re not quite sure how to frame a garage door, then check out these handy tips for getting started!
How to Trim A Garage Door Frame
Determine the proper rough opening width.
A rough opening is, quite literally, the garage door opening size while it’s still rough and unfinished. As you might expect, the rough opening needs to be a bit wider than the garage door in order to allow for some wiggle room and smooth door function.
The most important measurement for you to remember here is that you want your rough opening to be 3 inches wider and about 1 ½ inches taller than your garage door. Remember: Garage door sizes vary, so base your measurements on your specific door!
Measure and cut your trimmer and header boards.
Once you’ve measured your garage door opening height, remembering to add that extra 1 ½ inches to the height of your actual door, cut four pieces of 2×4 lumber to this length to form your garage door trim.
Your header should be 9 inches longer than the measurement of your garage door’s width, or 6 inches wider than that rough opening measurement you took earlier. You’ll also want to cut your header from some solid 2×12 lumber in order to provide structural stability.
Measure and cut your jambs.
Your jambs will essentially need to reach all the way from your garage’s floor to its ceiling and will be affixed to the existing structure in order to provide mounting space for the garage door’s track and assembly.
Measure down starting from where you’ll attach the door jambs to your ceiling, and make sure to cut your jambs slightly short: You’ll want them to stop a quarter of an inch above the floor to allow some airflow and prevent rotting.
Nail or screw in your frame components.
First, start by nailing or screwing in two of your trimmers on either side of your garage door opening. These should be installed on the edge and perpendicular to the wall, just like your studs are.
Top the trimmers off with your header board, centering it directly above the trimmers and screwing it into place. After that, install your jambs on either side of the header and trim. Screw or nail them to the other framing components before affixing them to the structure of your house to ensure that everything sits snugly.
Conclusion
The addition of a new garage door is bound to make your home look great, and framing your garage door well is necessary for its stability and function. Throughout the framing process, be sure to double-check the measurements of your garage door and your lumber to make sure that everything is proportioned correctly and will line up just right.
Once you have your garage door frame in place, contact Ridgeline Overhead Door. We’ll help you pick out the best garage door for your home and install it for you.