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Home HOMES DIY

How to make a garage door frame

If you’re retrofitting a new door to your garage opening, you may need to install a frame for a snug fit.
Better Homes and Gardens

Gather your supplies

  • Side support (2) 138 x 42mm H3 primed treated pine
  • Post (2) 88 x 88mm H3 primed treated pine
  • Bulkhead stud frame 90 x 45mm H2 treated pine
  • Trim 92 x 18mm H3 primed treated pine
  • Lining boards 138 x 11mm H3 primed treated pine

You’ll also need

Measuring tape; pencil; power saw with fence attachment; drill; 25mm spade bit; 12mm and 6.5mm drill bits; spirit level; 10mm and 16mm masonry drill bits; Ramset MultiFit Sieves, Ultrafix Plus and ChemSet M10 Anchor Studs; caulking gun; angle grinder; socket wrench; 125mm galvanised batten screws; nail gun and nails; 10mm plastic packer; flexible gap filler; wood filler; painting equipment; Dulux 1 Step Primer, Sealer & Undercoat; Dulux Weathershield (exterior paint) in Bearsuit.

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Note

Prime cut ends of treated pine using exterior paint.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Cut 1 side support to match height of opening. For fixings, mark out 130mm from each end and others spaced evenly between, approximately 600mm apart. Centre holes 60mm from inside edge of support.

STEP 2 Using a 25mm spade bit, drill 15mm-deep holes to countersink nuts on anchors. Switch to a 12mm drill bit and drill through side support.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)
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STEP 3 Place side support against wall and make plumb. Using drill fitted with 10mm masonry bit, drill through holes to mark position on bricks. Remove side support. Switch to 16mm masonry bit. Where bricks are marked, drill a hole 100mm deep.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 4 Insert MultiFit Sieve into holes.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)
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STEP 5 With the tube of Ultrafix Plus fitted in caulking gun, insert nozzle into sieve and inject adhesive. Repeat for remaining holes.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 6 Place side support back on wall. With supplied nut and washer attached, push anchor studs through all holes in side support and into sieve. Turn anchor studs a few times to ensure adhesive is fully mixed. Leave to set.

STEP 7 Tighten 1 nut until sitting in countersunk hole. Use angle grinder to cut off end of anchor stud flush with support. Fully tighten nut using socket wrench. Repeat for all remaining anchor studs.

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(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 8 Cut 1 post to same length as side support. Position on side support so edge of post is flush with inside edge. Drill an even spread of 6.5mm clearance holes through post then attach using 125mm galvanised batten screws, 2 at each point.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 9 Repeat Steps 1–8 to construct and attach side support and post to wall on other side of garage.

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STEP 10 Construct bulkhead stud frame to fit between posts. Make overall height of frame the distance from ceiling to top of opening, as specified by the garage door manufacturer. Space studs a maximum of 450mm apart.

STEP 11 With a helper, lift stud frame up into opening. Make level and flush with outside face of posts. Nail to hold, then attach using batten screws.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 12 Measure and cut trim to fit underside of bulkhead. Nail flush with front edge.

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(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 13 Using a power saw with fence attachment, cut lower lining board to width of garage, cutting off grooved edge. (It will have a 10mm overhang at bottom of bulkhead.) Nail 1 end to bulkhead then use 10mm plastic packer to maintain even 10mm overhang of board along trim as you continue to nail.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

Tip

Have a helper hold board in place.

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STEP 14 Measure and cut remaining lining boards as done in Step 13. Butt each together and nail in position. Measure and cut final lining board to fit in remaining gap.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens) (Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

STEP 15 Fill all gaps using flexible gap filler. Fill nail and screw holes with wood filler, let dry, then sand smooth. Using undercoat, spot-prime filled areas, let dry, then apply 2 coats of exterior paint.

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