Header for garage door

[firefox]

Hi All,
  I need to repair my garage because someone complained that it was in disrepair,
and yes it was, although there are underlying currents that are of no good use hear.

My question stems around wanting to make the door wider so that I can actually get my truck in the garage. I would like to put in an 8' wide door on this 10' x16' gasrage.

According to the leaflet that the glorious city gives out for framing in general, I need to use a 4" x8"
header to span the 8'.  This seems a bit overkill seeing as how it really isn't doing much.

Are garages normally subjected to the same standards as dwelings? I would think that a 4" x6" header
would be more than enough.

Thanks for any insight into this matter. You guys and gals are really terrific!!!
Bruce

[JRR]

Remember that the header is (normally) supporting the roof rafters (or trusses) over this span.  That load can add up, especially if there are snow loads or uplift loads due to wind to consider.

The city might accept a made-up wooden "H" beam of 2 continuous 2x4's on top and bottom sandwiching 8" wide 1/2" plywood.  Pretty beefy, yet easier to handle and obtain perhaps.

[MountainDon]

Around here as far as code requirements go, a building is a building, garage, house or storage shed (if larger than 200 sq ft), and must meet the same criteria. If they state a 4x8 header above an 8 foot door they should also accept a built up header/beam; 2- 2x8 with a 1/2" plywood/OSB spacer. You could always call 'em up to be certain.

[firefox]

Thank you all for answering! This has got to be the best list in the whole world!

The garage is only 10 x 16 so it is 160 sq ft.
It snowed once here about 15 years ago and they let all the kids outside to see it.
I went down to the building dept. and they couldn't do anything except hand me a leaflet
for general framing.

In this case I will probably go as suggested with a built up using the two 2x8 + plywood spacer..

Is there a recommended code book that I should get for future issues with the glorious phantom building department?

[glenn kangiser]

You will find that the codes are also a massive money making scheme --therefore -- the code books are outrageously high.

You may do best with asking for specifics and possibly with a cheaper alternative such as the code check books that have the most common information.

http://www.codecheck.com/index.html

Free framing manual

http://www.awc.org/pdf/WCD1-300.pdf

from our free links section - Seattle 2003 IRC online  -should keep you safe on most requirements - differences in some codes.

http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/Seattle/seattle_residential/res_frameset.htm

[firefox]

Thank you very much Glenn!!!
Bruce