carpentry question

[stevej37]

I have a 8X12 ft wood utility shed with a door opening of 60 inches (pictured below)
I need to get a 66 inch door opening.

Is there any way to refab the door opening?...or am I sol?
The second pic shows how the hinges are attached. (door height needs to remain the same.)

[MBAtarga]

Where there's a will - there's a way.
You'll have to beef up the structure when you move each side of the door frame studs out the 3".
Maybe a double layer of the plywood truss/reinforcement plate.

[MBAtarga]

I'd also suggest doubling up the header over the door - perhaps adding another layer to overlap the added plywood plates on each side.
Also - add the extra 3" door width to the non-hinge side of each door - assuming you won't be building new doors from scratch.

[stevej37]

So you are saying...remove the frame studs...cut the opening wider and re-install the studs (after cutting them shorter)
Then put new wider doors on?
I'm trying to picture the plate when the jamb is moved over three inches.

[asphaltgambler]

So I need ask - why does the opening need to be 6" wider?

[stevej37]

Ok....your last post came after I posted above.
You're saying that I could just extend each doors width...instead of scrapping them?

You can prob tell by my questions that I'm not a builder!

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

So I need ask - why does the opening need to be 6" wider?

Eyeing a new JD
The total width of the deck is 60" I'm figuring a min of 3" each side to clear.

[masraum]

Possibly, use the same doors, but add a board to the edge of one of them that is just slightly wider than the gap between them. Then it will look like 2 doors with a strip of wood down the center, but the strip of wood will be part of one of the doors.



I think this will still look good, and will be easier than trying to alter both doors.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Eyeing a new JD
The total width of the deck is 60" I'm figuring a min of 3" each side to clear.

If you're sure that the max width is 60", then 6" extra is probably more than you need, but wouldn't hurt.

I assume there's no discharge chute to worry about.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yes..that would be a lot easier than building two new doors.
And it would be barely noticeable.
Even though the building is almost 20 years old...the wood is in excellent shape yet.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

I assume there's no discharge chute to worry about.

The chute will not be needed..it will come off.

[mgatepi]

Maybe consider a 54" deck on the new JD?

Or just go really fast into the shed a couple of times, that will be all it takes!

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by mgatepi

Maybe consider a 54" deck on the new JD?

Or just go really fast into the shed a couple of times, that will be all it takes!

That's what it has...a 54" deck. The brochure says "Min storage width (deflector up) 59.4 inches." (I can't get by with .3 inch clearance on each side!)

I thought about just enlarging the bottom foot of the doorway...lol

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Yes..that would be a lot easier than building two new doors.
And it would be barely noticeable.
Even though the building is almost 20 years old...the wood is in excellent shape yet.

That was my thought. I've seen a similar setup in double doors in furniture or maybe closets or something.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

That's what it has...a 54" deck. The brochure says "Min storage width (deflector up) 59.4 inches."

I thought about just enlarging the bottom foot of the doorway...lol

Something to think about, with the "deflector up" it still probably sticks out past the deck, so if you remove it completely, the actual width may be even less.

I'm pretty sure the discharge chute on the deck of my zero turn sticks out even when it's up (although probably not by 6").

I assume it's a 54" cut, and therefore the inside of the deck is probably something like 54.5 or 55" and then there's probably a lip on the outside of the deck that sticks out a bit or maybe double layers. You may, before you make modifications, want to go to a store with the mower and take a measuring tape and helper when you go.

[stevej37]

^^^ Good idea. I'll prob do that. Would save a lot of trouble if it would fit.
Yes, it's a 54"

[flipper35]

Two "doggy door" style flaps for the deck?

[MBAtarga]

Realizing now you are only concerned about the deck - move the bottom hinges up about 4" and then just cut out slots on each side of the frame and doors like in the picture below!

[stevej37]

Here's a pic of it.
AWS with their new deep accel deck.

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=MBAtarga;11345176]Realizing now you are only concerned about the deck - move the bottom hinges up about 4" and then just cut out slots on each side of the frame and doors like in the picture below!


The ground squirrels would love that!