40×80 Metal Workshop Building in Weatherford, Texas | WolfSteel Buildings
One of the common questions we get from our clients when discussing the price for their tubular metal building is, “Why do metal garage doors cost more when placed on the side wall compared to the end wall?”
The answer is…. HEADERS are added. In this article, we’ll cover what headers are as well and the reason why placing your metal garage door on the sidewall can impact the cost of your metal building.
What is a Header on a metal building?
When you want to add a door or window to the side of a metal building, you’ll need an opening in the wall. If that opening is in the way of a support column (the vertical metal frame holding up the building), we can’t just leave it unsupported. So, we remove the column and put in a special frame, called a “header,” to carry the weight from above. This frame helps distribute the load from the roof and keeps the building strong and secure.
Metal Garage Door Placement: End Wall vs Sidewall
On Tubular Metal Buildings, the sidewalls are load bearing walls while end walls are non-load bearing walls.
See graphic below:
What do we mean by this?
The sidewalls usually have to support more weight because they hold up the ends of the trusses that hold the roof system. The end walls do not hold any weight above.
This is why it’s often more cost effective to install a garage door on the end wall (the gable end).
Why Do Metal Garage Doors on the Side Cost More?
Headers add extra costs because they require more materials and labor. The price varies based on the size and type of header needed as well as factors like dead loads, live loads, and lateral loads. On average, headers can cost between $250 and $2,500, but this can vary by project.
What does WolfSteel think?
Garage doors are essential to metal buildings, but where you place them can increase costs. If a door is on the side and a leg truss is removed, extra structural support (headers) is needed to handle the weight and ensure stability.
If you are trying to stay within a budget, moving your doors from the side to the front can help cut the costs. Keep in mind that increasing building width also increase the price. Check out more about pricing factors here.
Discuss with our sales team your building needs so we can provide the appropriate recommendation for your Texas metal building project. In addition, use our 3D Tubular Designer to create your Texas metal building so you can visualize the design that you want.