720s width question

[AndM]

I have a 12C currently and am considering converting two single garage doors into one long door by removing a central pillar. Im intending to change to a 720s. Partly just convenience but in no small part due to width concerns for a 720s for a standard garage door.

My 12C is very very slightly narrower than the opening with mirrors fully out. It is ok going in and out with the mirrors folded. Not a lot of room but not a major problem.

12C is (I think) 1.908m with folded mirrors, 2.093m with mirrorsfully out.

I believe, but can't get confirmation, that the 720s mirrors don't reduce width as much when folded.

Does anyone know the definitive width of a 720s with mirrors folded?

General experience with the 720s and single garage doors very welcome!

[Malcolm E Boo]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[AndM]

Many thanks but not good news for me.

Nearly 2.06 with mirrors folded! Very nearly as wide as the 12C with mirrors unfolded.

That will be properly tight!

[xcentric]

Can you make cutouts in the pillars at wingmirror height to give yourself some more room? (bit cartoon car-goes-through-wall look, but might actually make some sense?)

[Superleg48]

If you remove the central pillar between the two single doors you will need a steel lintel to go full width and you will need an architect to calculate the strength required. Building control will need to be informed and you may actually need planning permission, as it changes the look...this sounds ludicrous but I know it to be true.

Essentially not a job for the weekend.

You cannot notch out the garage door frames, as you will weaken them. They are a structural part of the garage door assembly.

[AndM]

Thank you all!

Certainly, I could run with a temporary 'fix' involving mirror height cut-outs (perhaps with makeshift flaps to disguise the appearance. I will get a builder to look at the set up and tell me what he understands re the situation for builiding control etc. There is no upper storey (just a roof) so structurally its a simple enough job.

The existing doors each have their own RSJs and I'll take a closer look in daylight to see if the wooden frames appear to be structural or just decorative. However a quick look tonight and I was able to slide a sheet of paper under the bottom of the wooden uprights! So its not obvious what structural role they fulfil They are also pretty lightweight and I strongly suspect they are decorative only.

Edited by AndM on Monday 15th February 22:24

[AstonExige720]

I have two single doors, it is tight as you reverse in but there is room to do so with the mirrors out. Visibility is so good it is never an issue, even though there’s probably only 10mm gap either side.

Where abouts are you based? Maybe see if a local member on here the one of the clubs would bring theirs over to try?

[speedick]

I've seen similar problems with fitting aircraft through very tight hangar doors.

We fixed some metal channels to the floor as a guide - wingspan 38', clearance 1" each side - 5 years on and never a single problem.

[AndM]

AstonExige720 said:

I have two single doors, it is tight as you reverse in but there is room to do so with the mirrors out. Visibility is so good it is never an issue, even though there’s probably only 10mm gap either side.

Where abouts are you based? Maybe see if a local member on here the one of the clubs would bring theirs over to try?

Belfast. So not many 720s around. Im going out shortly to do a full measurement and appraisal. Im pretty set on the single door conversion for other reasons too (wife doesn't like using current doors, allows me to park car centrally and work both sides indoors etc).

But I do need the short term sorted as I 've pulled the trigger on the 720 and will be sadly parting with my lovely 12c.

[drcarrera]

AndM said:

Thank you all!

Certainly, I could run with a temporary 'fix' involving mirror height cut-outs (perhaps with makeshift flaps to disguise the appearance. I will get a builder to look at the set up and tell me what he understands re the situation for builiding control etc. There is no upper storey (just a roof) so structurally its a simple enough job.

The existing doors each have their own RSJs and I'll take a closer look in daylight to see if the wooden frames appear to be structural or just decorative. However a quick look tonight and I was able to slide a sheet of paper under the bottom of the wooden uprights! So its not obvious what structural role they fulfil They are also pretty lightweight and I strongly suspect they are decorative only.

Edited by AndM on Monday 15th February 22:24

As I posted in another thread, I did just this a while ago. Whether you'll need a new steel depends on the roof layout but it sounds like your central pillar may be load bearing if there are RJSs above the doors.
In my case, the work involved acrow propping the roof structure first (obviously!), then removing the central brick pillar and door lintels. Inserting padstones, then an RSJ across the full width, fitting a single roller type door and tidying up. Took about three days IIRC and has made the garage so much more usable.
As, like yours, it was just a single story garage we didn't need building control or planning to be involved although it's not a listed building and we're not in a conservation area.
We used a specialist garage door company who do this a lot so knew exactly what was required.

[AndM]

Many thanks!