Anyone got any home made ways to hurricane proof or at least strengthen a DOUBLE wide (16 ft?) garage door? maybe with a pic or two?
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You can buy (or make) the posts to support it and install bracing but honestly, its just as cost effective and easier to just install an impact rated door.
The non-profit I do consutling for has done extensive research here in Florida as part of the My Safe Florida Home program and nothing beats just installing a new code-approved door. Shoot for something with a Miami-Dade approval and you can't beat it.
Edited 9/7/2008 9:46 am ET by Oak River Mike
I'm with Mike. Ever seen the struts that go on a rated door? The doors that we use on Sanibel Island have to be Zone 1 or 150 MPH rated. The struts are probably 8 inches deep and made of what must be 14 gage steel. Where are you in Charleston?
I have a Clopay W5 (150MPH) rated 16' door. I think it was about $2700 in the box from Home Depot. The ribs are 2.5" x 4" box, one per panel plus a heavier track and increased anchoring where the track attaches to the wall. The assembled door weighs about 800 pounds. Even after balancing as well as I could get it, my old 1/3hp opener would not run the door. I ended up with a new 3/4 hp opener.
If one of those springs breaks this door is coming down so don't stand under it when it is moving.
Edited 9/7/2008 11:33 pm ET by gfretwell
Ouch. I just had a 150 mph, 18' X 8' footer installed on Sanibel for less than that. I am getting ready to replace mine but I don't guess I'll get it from HD.
I needed the low headroom kit and I imagine that cost a bit more.
Before I bought my heavy duty door I managed to get through Charley and Wilma (and a bunch that came close) with two 4x4s and a sheet of plywood. I put two 1/2" read heads in the tie beam above the door at the 1/3d points across the opening. Use a rod connector and some 1/2" all thread to extend this through a hole in a 4x4 that goes to the floor
Screw a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" ply across the 4x4s centered about half way up on the door side and connect to the red heads.
Screw an HGAM10 simpson angle clip on the 4x4 at the floor Tapcon it to the floor so everything is snug. That door shouldn't go anywhere.
whats a red head? Thanks
red head is an expanding masonry anchor.
There are other similar brandshttp://www.itwredhead.com/rh_as_intro.asp
thanks