How to Frame a Garage Door

Carriage House Doors are best described as a pair ofcorner attachments of the frame will be with 3"
doors that access an enclosed parking garage. Thewood screws and wood glue. The screws will be
traditional design of these doors includes windowcountersunk to 1/4�" and these will be filled
lights across the upper section of each door thatwith wood dowels and sanded flush.
provide natural daylight within the garage and alsoTo assemble each door measure and cut the (2) side
add accent to the design.pieces to the height of the doors. Lay these pieces
To frame these doors begin by measuring the sizeon a flat surface at the correct width and cut the
of the opening where the doors will reside. Specificallytop and bottom pieces to fit across these, from
the overall width of the opening from one trimmer oroutside to outside.
side to the opposite as well as the height from theNext miter-cut all corners to 45 degrees and
driveway surface to the head or top of the opening.assemble the frame using screws and wood glue. Be
In the event the opening is not finished with woodsure to pre-drill any attachments near the outer
trimmers at each side and a wood header across theedges to guard against splitting of the frame. Check
top these will need to be installed to providethe frame for square and accurate dimensions.
mounting for the Carriage House Doors and weatherCut the cross-piece that will define the window
strip. Trimmers and headers should be minimum 1-1/2"opening across the top section of the door. Install
thick surfaced lumber that will withstand the weatherthis piece by pre-drilling from the outside of the
even when sealed and painted. Ideally the lumberframe and attaching with glue and wood screws.
should be Douglas fir or Redwood as both areCountersink the screws and fill with wood dowels
adequate in this regard. In addition the width of thesanded flush.
trimmers and header should exceed the width of theFor the recessed door panels begin by cutting
building wall by at least 1" in order to allow for�3/4" x 3/4�" pieces of stock to
complete weatherproofing of the building to doorthe dimension of the inside of the recessed panel
frame seams.area and install these to the frame as stops. These
To frame the doors begin by measuring the width ofmay be glued and nailed in place using #6 galvanized
the opening between the trimmers and deduct 3".finish nails. Cut pieces of the 3/4�" x 8"
This will allow 1" at each side of the opening for hingelumber to fit securely in the recessed area and install
clearance and approximately 1/2�" at eachthese by attaching to the doorframe with #6
door at the center point where the paired doorsgalvanized nails and wood glue. Caulk all seams on the
meet. These clearances are critical for ease infront and back sides of the door.
operation of the doors and door hardware.For the window lights cut pieces of 3/4�" x
Divide the total dimension by 2 and this number will2" glass stop and install these vertically in the opening
be the width of each door. To determine the heightacross the upper section of the door. The dimension
of the doors measure the distance from thebetween these pieces will depend on the desired size
driveway surface to the underside of the header andof the individual window openings. Install the window
deduct 1" for clearance.glass and complete the installation with a weather
The materials for the doors will be a similar alltight sealant at all edges.
weather lumber such as Douglas fir or Redwood andThe doors should be primed with an all weather
these pieces will be 1-1/2" thickness x 8" width forprimer and finish painted with (2) coats of exterior
the door stiles and 3/4�" thickness x 8"paint to the desired color. The doors are now ready
width for the recessed door panels. All joint andfor installation and finish hardware.