Thread: Making a garage door

Arron,
Its not all that old fashioned. There are still companies installing tilt doors, even on new homes. For your particular application, with an access door, it probably would be your best option. Other suitable materials would be aluminium or steel. A "C" or box section frame with colorbond sheeting makes a nice door. The small profile sheeting looks the best.

Which do you reckon would be lighter - C section metal or timber ?

Cheers
Arron

I reckon metal will be lighter than timber and could have a longer life span.
The disadvantage is being able to make up the frame that will not work loose over time. If you can weld or have some one make up the frame you will be well in front, and then you can clad with metal (eg colorbond) or timber as you desire.

A couple of years ago I had to re-clad the bottom third of a tilt door that had rot in the timber (ply) cladding, but it was a square section metal frame.

I'm also going to opt for the steel solution. Unless you have some pretty nifty skills, the best way to get a light structure that wont fall apart is a frame with sheet cladding of some sort like you already have. All the strength of the door is in the cladding. Because of this, you can get away with light(er) gauge frame material. You could possibly clad the inside with some thin, decent grade ply to provide an air gap in the door for insulation, noise reduction and a bit more rigidity in the door.

All the best (and don't forget the photo's when it's done)!

Tom.

Light gauge "C" section would be the lightest. it would also be easier to form joints if welding is not your thing. "C" section can be tek screwed or pop riveted at the corners. Wouldnt be a bad idea to add a triangle of flat sheet to the inside face of each corner, say 300x300, to give a bit of rigidity to the frame and help keep the corners together. The cladding will do the rest.