Two single garage doors can make parking and vehicle access less convenient, particularly when larger cars, SUVs or utes need to enter and exit the garage. Replacing them with one wider double garage door can create a more open entrance and give the garage a cleaner, more streamlined appearance.
However, convert two garage doors into one is not simply a matter of removing the existing doors and installing a larger one. The centre pier, structural loads, wall framing, foundations, ceiling space, door clearances and approval requirements all need to be considered before work begins.
Can You Convert Two Garage Doors Into One?
In many homes, it is possible to replace two single garage doors with one double door. Whether it is suitable for a particular property depends on how the existing garage has been constructed.
The centre brick pier or framed section between the doors may support:
- The wall above the garage
- Existing lintels
- Roof loads
- A floor or room above
- Other structural elements of the home
Removing it without first understanding its purpose can cause cracking, movement or structural failure.
Where the centre support is structural, a structural engineer may need to design a new beam or lintel spanning the proposed opening. The supports at each end may also need to be strengthened to carry the additional loads transferred by the new beam.
The garage door specialist can assess the door system and installation requirements, while structural alterations should be designed and carried out by appropriately qualified professionals.
Why Does the Centre Pier Matter?
The centre pier is the section of wall between the two existing garage doors. Although it may appear to be wasted space, it can be an important part of the building’s structure.
Before it is removed, an engineer needs to establish what the pier supports and how those loads will be transferred once the opening is widened.
A new beam may transfer greater loads onto the side supports than the existing arrangement. This means the engineer may also need to assess the surrounding masonry, framing and footings.
Temporary structural support may be required while the existing doors, lintels and centre pier are removed and the new structural support is installed.
This is why widening the opening should not be treated as a DIY garage-door replacement.
Start With a Complete Site Assessment
Before choosing the new door, the proposed opening and surrounding garage should be measured and inspected.
Important considerations include:
- Finished opening width and height
- Available headroom
- Side room for tracks, brackets and hardware
- Ceiling depth
- Space for an opener and drive mechanism
- Existing beams and structural elements
- Lights, pipes, storage racks and other ceiling obstructions
- Floor levels and driveway slope
- Existing power points and electrical requirements
- Wall finishes, brickwork, render or cladding
- Space required for the new door to operate safely
These measurements help determine which door system can be installed successfully.
The structural engineer, builder and garage door installer should work from the same proposed dimensions. It is generally better to coordinate the opening and door before ordering the new system rather than manufacturing a door before structural changes have been finalised.
Which Double Garage Door Is Suitable?
The most suitable door depends on the finished opening, available operating space, garage layout and the appearance you want to achieve.
Sectional or Panel Lift Garage Doors
Sectional and panel lift doors are common choices for residential garages. The door travels vertically before moving horizontally along tracks beneath the ceiling.
They can provide a clean appearance and good use of the garage opening, but sufficient headroom, side room and ceiling depth are required.
Roller Garage Doors
Roller doors roll into a curtain above the opening rather than travelling along horizontal ceiling tracks.
They can be useful where ceiling space is important, although the available opening width, headroom and roll size need to be checked against the manufacturer’s specifications.
Tilt Garage Doors
Tilt doors operate as one large panel. They can suit certain homes and façade styles, but their operating movement means the available space inside and outside the garage needs to be considered carefully.
When you convert two garage doors into one, the best door type is determined by the finished opening and the site’s physical limitations rather than simply choosing the widest available door.
One Double Door vs Two Single Garage Doors
A double door provides one wide, uninterrupted entrance.
Potential advantages include:
- Easier access for larger vehicles
- More room when manoeuvring into the garage
- Greater flexibility when positioning vehicles
- Easier movement of bikes, equipment and bulky items
- A simpler appearance across the front façade
- One opening instead of two separate door systems
There are also trade-offs.
If the double door becomes unusable because of a mechanical fault, the entire garage entrance may be affected. With two independent doors, one side can sometimes remain operational when the other requires repair.
A larger door also has larger and potentially heavier operating components. The springs, tracks, brackets and opener need to be correctly specified for the finished door.
Can the Existing Motors and Tracks Be Reused?
Existing components from two single doors should not automatically be assumed suitable for one larger double door.
The new system needs to be assessed as a complete installation. The installer will determine the appropriate:
- Door panels or curtain
- Tracks and guides
- Springs and lifting components
- Brackets
- Rollers
- Opener and drive system
- Mounting points
The existing electrical supply may also need to be repositioned.
If desired, the new installation can be discussed with options such as smartphone control, remote access, battery backup and other motorisation features.
Do You Need Approval to Remove the Centre Pier?
Possibly.
Removing a structural section of wall and changing the size and appearance of a garage opening can involve more than a standard door replacement.
The applicable approval pathway depends on the property, location, scope of work and relevant planning and building requirements.
Before demolition begins, ask the relevant council, certifier or qualified planning professional what approvals or certification may apply to the proposed work.
Additional considerations may apply if the property is:
- In a strata scheme
- Heritage-listed or within a heritage conservation area
- Subject to specific development controls
- Part of a development with restrictions on external alterations
For strata properties, the garage, external walls, façade or structural elements may involve common property. Owners corporation approval and compliance with applicable by-laws may therefore be required.
Where engineering drawings or structural documentation are required, these should be arranged before construction begins.
What Affects the Cost of Converting Two Garage Doors Into One?
The cost involves much more than the new garage door itself.
Depending on the property, the project may include:
- Structural engineering
- Approvals and certification
- New beam or lintel
- Strengthening of side supports
- Footing modifications
- Temporary structural support
- Removal of the centre pier
- Demolition and disposal
- Brickwork or blockwork repairs
- Render, cladding or façade repairs
- Electrical work
- New garage door and hardware
- New motor or opener
- Removal of the existing doors
- Internal finishing and making good
The complexity can increase significantly if there is another storey, living space or substantial roof load above the garage.
A site inspection and coordinated quotation will usually provide a more useful indication of the overall project cost than pricing the replacement door alone.
What Is the Best Order for the Project?
Good coordination between the structural and garage-door work can help prevent costly mistakes.
A typical process may involve:
- Site inspection
The garage door specialist and relevant building professionals assess the existing doors, opening and surrounding structure. - Structural assessment
Where the centre pier is structural, an engineer determines how the opening can be safely widened and what new support is required. - Approval checks
The appropriate approval or certification pathway is confirmed before demolition or structural work begins. - Door selection
The finished opening is considered alongside the preferred door type, operating mechanism, appearance and motor. - Structural work
The existing doors and centre support are removed as required, with temporary support used where necessary and the new structural support installed. - Final measurements
The garage door installer confirms the finished opening dimensions before manufacturing or installing the new door. - Door installation
The new double garage door, hardware and opener are installed and tested. - Finishing work
Brickwork, render, cladding, paintwork and other affected areas are completed to match the existing façade as closely as practical.
Coordinating these stages helps avoid ordering a door before the final opening dimensions are known.
When Might Converting Two Doors Into One Not Be Practical?
Not every garage is suitable for this type of conversion.
The project may become difficult or impractical where:
- The centre pier carries significant structural loads
- There is insufficient space for the proposed door
- The existing footings cannot support the new loads without substantial work
- Services run through the centre pier
- The driveway geometry creates access problems
- There is insufficient headroom or side room
- Planning or heritage restrictions apply
- Strata approval cannot be obtained
- Structural modifications become disproportionately expensive
In these circumstances, keeping two separate garage doors may be more practical.
The existing doors can still be replaced with newer models, upgraded with modern motors or improved for convenience and appearance without removing the centre support.
Should You Choose the Door Before Removing the Pier?
Ideally, the structural opening and garage door should be designed together.
The finished opening needs to accommodate the manufacturer’s requirements for the selected door system, including clearances, tracks, brackets, springs and opener installation.
At the same time, the engineer needs to know the proposed opening dimensions to design the structural solution correctly.
Coordinating these requirements early can reduce the risk of ending up with an opening that is structurally suitable but unsuitable for the intended garage door.
Plan the Structural Opening and Garage Door Together
It is often possible to convert two garage doors into one, but the project should be treated as a coordinated structural and garage-door upgrade rather than a simple door replacement.
The key questions are:
- What does the centre pier support?
- How will the loads be transferred after it is removed?
- Are the side supports and footings adequate?
- What approvals are required?
- Which double garage door suits the finished opening?
- Is there enough headroom and ceiling space?
- Can the existing opener be reused?
- How will the façade be finished after the conversion?
Having the garage door specialist, engineer and builder involved before demolition allows these issues to be addressed together.
With accurate measurements, an appropriate structural design and a door selected for the finished opening, replacing two single garage doors with one double door can create a more functional entrance and a cleaner overall appearance.
About OzStrong
OzStrong supplies, installs, replaces and repairs garage doors across Sydney. Since 2018, the team has worked with homeowners, builders and businesses on roller doors, sectional and panel lift doors, tilt doors, automatic openers, remotes and motorisation.
OzStrong provides free measures and detailed quotes, with practical advice on door types, operating clearances and installation requirements.
If you are considering replacing two single garage doors with one wider double door, contact OzStrong to arrange an assessment and discuss the most suitable garage door solution for your property.