Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in message
...
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

Only thing is to make sure your health insurance, auto insurance and
personal liability insurance policies are up to date and have high enough
coverage limits before you start cutting into garage door panels that will
rise above your head, your families heads and your car...

On Aug 11, 7:53*am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

Yes, it is "possible" BUT depends on the details.......

Based on your brief description sounds like a steel sectional door
with foam filler.

Also depends on the size of the intake grill relative to the section
height.

All the material you remove is doing a job; strength & stiffness.
You've got the replace the capacity you remove.

Like drilling holes in or notching beams ........ it is doable but you
gotta be careful.

I might attempt it but I would discuss it (& get it eye balled) with
at least one or two technically competent associates.

Why not just pop the door open an inch or two?

cheers
Bob

On Aug 11, 11:42 am, BobK207 wrote:
On Aug 11, 7:53 am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:

Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

Yes, it is "possible" BUT depends on the details.......

Based on your brief description sounds like a steel sectional door
with foam filler.

Also depends on the size of the intake grill relative to the section
height.

All the material you remove is doing a job; strength & stiffness.
You've got the replace the capacity you remove.

Like drilling holes in or notching beams ........ it is doable but you
gotta be careful.

I might attempt it but I would discuss it (& get it eye balled) with
at least one or two technically competent associates.

Why not just pop the door open an inch or two?

cheers
Bob

The doors panels are 18" high and each panel spans the whole 16'
width. My thought was to cut out a 10"x10" square, which should be
small enough to not compromise the panel strength.

So far I have been popping opening the door by about an inch, but I
need a proper vent with a mesh to filter out debris and insects.

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote

So far I have been popping opening the door by about an inch, but I
need a proper vent with a mesh to filter out debris and insects.

http://www.garagedoorsupply.com/vent.html


--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 5/14/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I've seen it done in hangar and garage doors with a fine toothed blade
in a Sawzall. The best example involved plywood, bolted through the
waste section, with the whole sandwich cut as a unit.

On Aug 11, 10:53*am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

I would suggest a circular hole, or two smaller ones some distance
apart.
Circular openings retain much more strength and have no stress risers
in the corners.
If you keep them lower, towards the bottom of the door, the structural
concerns lessen somewhat.
Look for a round device to move your air.

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...
On Aug 11, 10:53 am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

I would suggest a circular hole, or two smaller ones some distance
apart.
Circular openings retain much more strength and have no stress risers
in the corners.
If you keep them lower, towards the bottom of the door, the structural
concerns lessen somewhat.
Look for a round device to move your air.

************************************************** ********************************

I would suggest a little investigation into the amount of fresh air
required. Too small a vent will offer no advantage over just using inside
air.

--

-Mike-

On Aug 11, 9:53 am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

We added several windows to a door that is similar in construction to
yours. I used a cut off wheel on a 4" grinder to do most of the
cutting, and finished off with a sawzall. Drilling 4 holes at the
corners will really help to "keep you honest'.

JK

Big_Jake wrote:
On Aug 11, 9:53 am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

We added several windows to a door that is similar in construction to
yours. I used a cut off wheel on a 4" grinder to do most of the
cutting, and finished off with a sawzall. Drilling 4 holes at the
corners will really help to "keep you honest'.

JK
A real garage door dealer, one that handles commercial doors, will have
purpose-built bubble windows and vent ports designed for a door like
that. The ones I have seen were a 2-piece self-edging setup, round or
rounded on the corners, and had gaskets to keep water from getting into
the insulation layer. As to cutting the hole- careful mapping, and a
couple through-holes for reference points. Jigsaw and a metal blade
(unless you have electric nibblers) to make the holes in the skin, and
fill any voids with stiff foam. You want the edges of the hole to be
solid. Make the holes centered between the hinges, and centered on the
height of the panel, unless you detect an internal rib there or something.

--
aem sends....

On Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:06:49 GMT, aemeijers wrote:

Big_Jake wrote:
On Aug 11, 9:53 am, Andrew Sarangan wrote:
Is it possible to cut out a window on a regular garage door? I need to
install a fresh-air intake grille for an exhaust fan, and the garage
door appears to be the best location.

I am not sure what the construction material is, but the outer skins
appear to be somewhat flexible, so I am thinking it is a thin steel
skin with an open cavity inside (or foam).

Any suggestions?

We added several windows to a door that is similar in construction to
yours. I used a cut off wheel on a 4" grinder to do most of the
cutting, and finished off with a sawzall. Drilling 4 holes at the
corners will really help to "keep you honest'.

JK
A real garage door dealer, one that handles commercial doors, will have
purpose-built bubble windows and vent ports designed for a door like
that. The ones I have seen were a 2-piece self-edging setup, round or
rounded on the corners, and had gaskets to keep water from getting into
the insulation layer. As to cutting the hole- careful mapping, and a
couple through-holes for reference points. Jigsaw and a metal blade
(unless you have electric nibblers) to make the holes in the skin, and
fill any voids with stiff foam. You want the edges of the hole to be
solid. Make the holes centered between the hinges, and centered on the
height of the panel, unless you detect an internal rib there or something.
If y'all have a garage door opener attached, remember to re balance
the door when finished with the door mod.
hth