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How to add doors into the space of current roller door?

Hi,

I am trying to redesign our garage, which currently is all cluttered with crap we don't need. I want to turn it into a workshop of sorts, but would like to add some windows and light to the place. Are there any options to install some simple doors without having to remove the current rolling door. I just want to roll the door up and place the new doors. Is this possible?

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JacobZ

Hi @hanspet,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Sounds like a great idea that I'd love to see develop into a plan and then a finished project.

Do you have any photos of the garage opening that you can share? Let me know if you need assistance with this. I'm happy to help if required.

You wouldn't be making major structural changes to the opening, but you should still reach out to your local council to see if building approval is required. I imagine if the door rolls up and is completely clear of the opening, you will be able to install a wall with windows and a door fairly easily.

Allow me to tag @Nailbag whose award-winning Formal entrance created using single car garage project is similar to what you are trying to achieve.

Depending on circumstances, the sequence of jobs will be as follows.

A timber stud frame is created, windows are installed, the external is clad and weatherproofed, insulation is installed, the inside is sheeted with plasterboard then plastered, and finally finish carpentry and painting. There is a bit to it, so the assistance of a carpenter might be something you'd like to explore.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @Jewelleryrescue and @TedBear for their thoughts and ideas.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

hanspet

Thanks a lot for your reply. It sounds like a great plan, but also one outside of my budget. I’m really just looking of a simple ready built put yourself kind of thing, that can be placed in front of the rolling door, as there is a space there were a door could fit. See picture.

part of the reason of keeping it simple is that this is a rental house, so we can’t really built anything. I’m looking for some door you can just place there without having to drill or anything.

Any ideas?

JacobZ

Hi @hanspet,

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of a product that you could use to add windows and a door to the opening without being able to drill into anything.

Something like bistro blinds might be an option, but without being able to mount them to anything it would be tricky.

Hopefully, the others have some ideas and will respond shortly.

Jacob

hanspet

I’m hoping to find something that works on the same principle of the doggy doors you sell, which are just placed and secured on pressure. My idea is something you ca place in front of the rolling door, and we could open the rolling door when using the garage.

JacobZ

Hi @hanspet,

It certainly sounds like an interesting idea.

The issue is we're dealing with an opening that is much larger than a doggy door that will have much larger forces exerted on it by things like wind and rain. Creating enough pressure to resist these forces would be tricky and in the event of a major weather event, potentially dangerous.

Closing the garage door during weather events could reduce this risk, but not completely erase it. Removing and reinstalling your temporary wall afterwards is certainly recommended.

These Gorilla 155-290cm PIHER Adjustable Multi-Props and Gorilla 1.98-3.35m Galvanised Formwork Props work on the same principle of creating friction through expansion.

Using three of these props with a length of framing pine across the top of the opening to mount bistro blinds on could be a good option.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

hanspet

Hi Jacob,

Thanks a lot for taking the time to look into this challenge.

The proposed idea to build the frame seems very reasonable. The only question is whether the bistro blinds will fit within the structure once built, as they don’t seems to be adjustable.

are all these materials at Bunnings? I might start buying the gorilla props and the wood and see how that looks.

JacobZ

Hi @hanspet,

Please keep in mind that this is not a standard way of installing Bistro Blinds, so I can't guarantee its effectiveness, however, it is the best way I can see of creating a temporary structure like you are describing without drilling into your rental property.

They are not adjustable, but with multiple blinds and a combination of Bistro Blinds 10 x 240cm Clear Outdoor Bistro Blind Zip Joiners and Bistro Blinds 5 x 240cm Clear Outdoor Blind Extenders you can make most widths.

Yes, all of these materials are available at Bunnings.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

Nailbag

Hi @hanspet

If what your wanting to achieve is to roll the door up and in front be another wall with a door and a window in it then following the suggestions on how to build one by @JacobZ would be your solution.

I wouldn’t expect any permit would be required as really what your constructing is standalone and has no structural bearing on the garage itself.

Nailbag

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @hanspet

@JacobZ idea of bistro style blinds is about the best option of creating a work space. and the closed roller door at night is you security.

Plus there are several options for bistro blinds extentions etc.

I learnt from @JacobZ never looked into bistro stuff before. 🙂

jsmith11

@hanspet I’ve seen online some canvas/ fly screen style garage opening ‘tarps’ that attach with magnets across garage door openings. Kind of like the side of a tent, with fly screen and magnetised door openings to keep bugs out, but light and fresh air in. It was a US based ad, and sorry I can’t point you in the right direction except google..

TedBear

Hi @hanspet , can you provide more information on the setting that you are trying work with, please? Is that rollerdoor attached to a brick building that is perhaps part of the house, or is it a stand-alone steel shed?

If it is steel, then there is a possibility to build a timber frame that would sit inside and be clamped to the steel rails that run inside the shed.

On the assumption that this is the case...

I would be looking at running a top and bottom piece across the full (inside) width. Cut 5 uprights to run between those rails, at a length such that the top rail sits under the rollerdoor (inside, under the roll itself) when it is up. The 2 outer uprights sit against the shed wall rails where they can be firmly clamped into place by as many clamps as you can attach it with. (You'll need to have at least 2 steel side rails as part of the shed walls. One won't enable the frame to be held up safely.)

Two of the timber uprights will form the new smaller door frame and the last upright goes halfway across the remaining gap. You will also need a piece to form the top of the new door frame. (Buy a cheap door before starting, or don't fit a door if you are happy to just have an access hole in this removable wall.) Place some noggins (short horizontal pieces) between the uprights to support the new wall cladding. I suggest cladding it with pearl corrugated polycarbonate sheets, as these are lightweight, easy to cut & handle, relatively cheap and will let light through the whole wall (less the door, if fitted) while still providing privacy & light-rain protection while you work. When you are finished working, roll the door down to provide security against weather (the proposed removable wall won't be able to withstand strong winds) and theft.

It could be a good idea if possible to also add 2 angled props from this wall's top rail down each inner wall to the floor (also clamped to the shed's side rails) to help support the new wall, given that it isn't screwed into place as would normally be the case.

(If you do fit a door, make sure that it swings inward.) Normally you would not have the bottom rail run across the doorway opening, but since you can't bolt the bottom rail to the floor it will need to run across the whole width.). Just another option (if it's a steel shed} to consider.

hanspet

Hi Nailbag,

Thanks for your reply.

What I am hoping to achieve is a set of windows that sit in front of the rolling door, such that, when you want to use the garage, you roll up the garage door and you have the windows to give you both privacy and light. I am not familiar with these proposed blinds, so Im not sure this is what I need. But the structure proposed by Jacob seems like a good way to go.

hanspet

Thanks for the tip. I will have to look around if they have this here.

Dave-1

Morning @hanspet

I saw your question and immediately said "yep can be done" 🙂 Only reason I say that is that I had what you describe for awhile before I removed teh roller door from the garage.

Garage converted into library room is the project.

When you look at the frame in the doorway you may think it would block the roller door. Nope. It was a micture of planned and a fluke.

The planend part was installing the door and window within the the garage entrance opening. The Fluke was the door handles not protuding too far to block the roller door. The Frame is healt to the brickwork with concrete screws.

For your effort, you could forgo the glass and just use bistro blinds or anything really. As you will have something to attach all the way around.

I know you are renting but 3 or 6 concrete screws either side into the brickork (Less chance of bricks cracking and mind never did) and then you have your whole rectangular frame in place. From that point you can do any of the designs people have mentioned.

Dave

hanspet

Hi,

It is not steel, its part of the house, and as Im renting, I need to keep it simple, no drilling or actual construction. The idea proposed by Jacob is sound, I think, just build the frame and then place the windows. The only thing is that I would like not all to be windows, just windows on the upper bit, and the rest just something to cover the space. A door might be too complicated. So, will need to look into options.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Image (15).jpeg Image (14).jpeg

hanspet

Hi Dave-1

Wow, thats very impressive work, but way more of what I can do. Anyway, I need to keep the garage door, so I just want something simple to put in front, placed without drilling etc. The props based structure suggested by Jacob seems good and its just thinking how I can put actual windows inside the structure. What I want is just windows on the upper side and plain cover below, not windows all over. So, we can get both privacy and light/air.

Thanks for sharing.

Dave-1

Morning @hanspet

No probs at all. You have timber around the existing edge so a frame can easily be installed and then you can go from there. A few screws and either side can be attached. Then you can do what you like with teh roller door still being able to be used in place if you wish.

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @hanspet

after the latest round of updates and photos the project is not an easy one being it needs to be non-fixed. Regardless of the cladding being solid or bistro blinds etc, the inner outer frame needs to be a press-fit within the garage door opening. Then it will be subject to weathering such as shrinkage this loosing its strength of fitment. It could be strengthened using a Sika product, but this will leave a residue that you will need to make good when you move out. In my opinion, a firm fit timber frame with Sika 11FC will be your strongest removable wall without fixing directly in to the brickwork.

Nailag

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