Guys, I have been asked to build a set of swinging garage doors. They will be painted so besides something like cedar or white oak, what choices of lumber would hold up better/best. Of course MONEY is a deterrent, but the opening is a custom size and won't fit a standard door.  The existing doors were just glued and nailed from the back, I'm thinking of doing tongue and groove between the boards before glue and adding the bracing??  Thanks for any input.

Most of the older wooden garage doors were straight grain fir.  Since they are vertical they dry out quickly after a rain.  Design them to shed the rain well and of course maintenance is key to longevity. 

Douglas Fir works well.  Do not use white pine.  

If you are being paid good money to make the wooden doors, go for it.  Stop reading.

 

I just replaced my old wood gar door with a new sandwich style 2" (25 ga clads, foam insulation between).  Weighs about 1/2 of the wood, and the wood had no insulation value.  You can get factory doors in 2" width increments, and it is possible to further tailor them (according to my door guy) to narrower widths.  Also, metal cladding takes much less maintenance, rides out weather conditions and sun light much better.  Doesn't rot.  Just sayin'.

Quote

 

I read about an interesting technique for making a shed door, on my docket for this summer if the skunk does not come back to spend the summer under the shed.

 

The guy used 1by material and face glued to pieces together.   The interior version narrower than the exterior, in effect making a rabbet on the back where you could insert a panel, then nail trim in place to hold it.  It also gives you a nice half-lap on the corners.

I would use a 4'X 8" 3/4" Extr. Plywood sandwiched between 2 -1X4 cedar frames with an X on both sides. It can either be hinged or an a barn door track. I prefer a barn door track if there is room to slide both ways. if it is 16' wide make a bifold out of it.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Bi+Fold+Gaage+doors&t=ffsb&atb=v80-5&iax=images&ia=images

Just saying,

Herb

Edited April 18, 20188 yr by Dadio

Scroll down until you see "sandwich doors" https://www.familyhandyman.com/sheds/diy-storage-shed-building-tips/view-all/

I'm thinking Douglas Fir would be my choice, lighter (maybe, at least versus WO) and just as weather resistant as the others. May be a little tricky to find.

 

 

Keith...throw some mothballs under the shed.

2 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Keith...throw some mothballs under the shed.

That seems to work for mice. We hang mesh bags in the engine compartments of our vehicles and it keeps the mice away....so far. 

Never thought of using moth balls to deter other critters. Thanks, Fred.

Drilled a hole in my shed floor and pour ammonia down through.  I'm not the only one who can't stand the smell of ammonia.

57 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

That seems to work for mice. We hang mesh bags in the engine compartments of our vehicles and it keeps the mice away....so far. 

Never thought of using moth balls to deter other critters. Thanks, Fred.

Tried that with chipmunks, they carried them out.    Destructive little buggers.   Rat trap 10, chipmunks 0.  Neighbor at the old house use to feed all sorts of nuisances.   They redid their patio 2x and shed 2x.   Not me.

True, some critters will figure out a way to move loose mothballs. I always tie mine up in fabric bags. The toe of an old sock, or a kerchief. Put several balls in there and throw them under. The  mothballs I've bought for the last few years came prepackaged in a breathable plastic bag...though that bag was 1/2 of the box...so i usually pack them in smaller anounts.

We seem to have an infestation of prairie dogs. Been using cyanide pellets in peanut butter and that pretty much just kills one or two in their burrows. They breed like rabbits so, it's a constant battle. In the summer, I may poison 8-10 new burrows every day. Been considering the moth balls and/or ammonia but, they'd just dig a new burrow. 

The cyanide is working because we see ravens congregating around the holes. Ravens can detect carrion, even underground. 

Do you live in Iraq? Weapons of Mass Destruction !!  2-4D, now Cyanide................

Sounds like rifle practice time.

Herb

Edited April 19, 20188 yr by Dadio

Best  for rot resistance  Mahogany  real mahogany.  Next  Cedar then Oak.

But you said sumpin about money

 

 PRESSURE TREAT.

Hands down.

Once it is dried off it sets pretty well and doesn't change shape. Takes glue well and paint too.

Gotta be dry though

 

22 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

We seem to have an infestation of prairie dogs. Been using cyanide pellets in peanut butter and that pretty much just kills one or two in their burrows. They breed like rabbits so, it's a constant battle. In the summer, I may poison 8-10 new burrows every day. Been considering the moth balls and/or ammonia but, they'd just dig a new burrow. 

The cyanide is working because we see ravens congregating around the holes. Ravens can detect carrion, even underground. 

YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING YOU WANT AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT.  The rest is on the Internet.  One item on the IOT:

 

Ingredients

5 Fresh prairie dog (caught in the early spring)  [So this is really timely Gene!!]

Onions

Pepper

Salt

Garlic

Directions

Clean and quarter prairie dog, pat dry add onions, pepper, salt and garlic as you would any other seasoning.
Place on grill and cook slowly for about 1/2 hour.
Be careful not to over cook.

Note: If you like, you can add smoke chips to add that wonderful out door flavor

Pete, I don't catch the little bas&£¿s. And, shooting them means waiting till they appear. But, I'd guess they'd taste a lot like squirrel. Both rodents, after all.

I cook mine on a cedar plank. when they are done, I throw them away and eat the plank.

Herb

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Pete, I don't catch the little bas&£¿s. And, shooting them means waiting till they appear. But, I'd guess they'd taste a lot like squirrel. Both rodents, after all.

Nope! Taste like chicken.

18 minutes ago, schnewj said:

Nope! Taste like chicken.

Another reason for not eating them. Fowl is not real meat.