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Home Repair Remodeling

Raising the lintel over the garage door

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I am closing in a patio door and garage door with different heights on the same wall. I'm adding a 32 inch door in the garage opening. Since I had to raise the floor, I have only 77 in height for the door. I think that I would need a mason to raise the lintel up 2 courses to match the height over the patio door. This will give the openings a symmetry look. Before doing this, I need to know if it's possible to actually raise the framing of the door. Who do I get to do this? Do I need a Carpenter or will a Mason handle all of this? This is a 2 story house and the wall in load bearing.

Pic of Lintel and door header to be raised.

.......|Garage door ----------------| wall |-----Patio Door---| ( Door opening are at different heights)

..........9ft ........................................... 3ft.............. 6ft

pic of interior room---

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Comments (8)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
If the wall pictured is load bearing, it's improperly framed. You'll need an experienced carpenter and a brick mason.
PRO
Charles Ross Homes
2 years ago
The scope of work you've proposed will likely require a permit. It will involve coordination of multiple trades. I think you'll be best served by hiring a general contractor/remodeler to take it from start to finish.
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mspearz
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank all for you time and advice.

This is a wish to do with a very small budget. When you start including permits and general contractor, I know it is out of my budget.

Can I just raise the lintel up and

Leave framing in place. I will still have to use a short door, but lintel will be the same height as the other door. Or I can lower the lintel over the other door.

Do I need a permit for just raising or lowing the lintel.

Just want the door height to be symmetric.

Have building permit for project which includes framing in the garage door and framing passed inspection.
PRO
Charles Ross Homes
2 years ago
I don't know what requirements your local municipality has regarding permits. In the areas in which we work, permits are required for structural modifications to residential structures. Raising the height of the steel lintel would require a permit.
mspearz
Original Author
2 years ago
Susan,

First, of all raising the lintel will not bring down the house, maybe a couple rows of bricks and if supported correctly, that will not happen.

Secondly, have you done this type of work? How do you know how much it costs?

Please read the post again , I never said that this will be unpermitted work. Actually, I have a permit to close in the garage door. All I have to do is amend the to include the lintel.

You might not, but I like to gain all the knowledge that I can on my projects. So I can asked the right questions. Not all not contractors are honest and pull permits.

Thanks you for you time.
Stax
2 years ago
SusanGeorge

You've got to be kidding! lol
palimpsest
2 years ago
Could the design leave the lowered floor in an "entryway" so you could retain the existing lintel, with a step up into the raised floor. with a handrail? It would be less expensive, utilize the existing lintel from the old door opening, and not take up more than a couple extra feet in addition to the doorswing.
mspearz
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks palimpsest.

Ive actually thought about that ideal, but I have a similar setup with my stairs going to lower level (tri level) house which cut into my kitchen upstairs wasting a lot of space.

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