My 8 foot wide garage door opening is beginning to look ugly. The top of the opening (the header) sags approximately 1 inch in the middle. To solve the problem, I think I need to place a jack in the middle, force it up till there's no sag (I've already done this with my hydraulic jack and a sturdy wooden column), then fasten, say, an 8 foot long steel plate to the inside wall face of the opening. My problem: What width and thickness should the steel plate be in order to withstand those bending forces? I could place some type of weight scale between the jack and the column but don't have one other than our bathroom scale. I suspect I need something in the order of 2000 pounds or so capacity. Once this "strain gage" is used I think I could crack open my 30-year-old "strength of materials" handbook and calculate the width and thickness that the plate needs to be. Any suggestions? Len
My sagging garage door opening needs help
by Fatfreek 5 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
jgnat
I'l be right over. I'll hold it up until you get a scale from the local research facility.
-
Caedes
Does your doctor work for free? Engineering consultancy costs you know!
-
SixofNine
I had to do this on a two car garage once, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that a building supplier (who catered to new home builders) would take my dimensions and facts (like that there was a second level above the garage) and cut and deliver the steel plate to the driveway for an amazingly low price... I think it was somewhere around 125.00 or so; this was three years ago. In your case, I wouldn't be surprised if a layer (or two) of good 3/4 plywood wouldn't do the job. Jack it up, and then nail and glue it really good.
-
The Missus
I find that duct tape and staples work for almost any job
-
Fatfreek
Ha! I'm glad everyone's sense of humor is peaking today.
Jgnat, I'm gonna miss you when we move.
The Missus: Yes, they do. And don't forget the baling wire and velcro.
Caedes: No he doesn't. That's why I'm so glad Sixy showed up with some practical stuff. He's been down this road before. Thanks, my friend. Hope to see you on November 1 where we can all break some bread together.
Len