Working on a Century-Old Columbus Garage
The historic core of this city has a garage stock that almost nothing in the suburbs prepares you for, and the constraints are real rather than romantic.
What is actually there
Detached structures at the rear of deep lots, reached from an alley, often brick, frequently built for a car two-thirds the width of a modern one. Openings of seven or eight feet wide and under seven feet tall are normal rather than exceptional.
Why measuring is the whole first half of the job
Non-stock sizes are the rule here, and a door has to be made to size. Ordering from a nominal measurement is how a project loses three weeks. Jambs that have moved for a century are rarely square, so the opening has to be assessed as it actually is.
Anchoring into brick and old timber
Modern track expects to bolt into sound framing. In this stock what is behind the trim is often masonry, or timber that has softened at the base. That changes the fixings and sometimes means repair before installation.
Alley access
Our truck cannot always park at the door, and in winter some alleys are not passable at all. Telling us when you book rather than when we arrive changes how the visit is scheduled and what gets carried in.
Historic district expectations
Several of these neighbourhoods have design review covering exterior appearance, and a garage door facing an alley may still fall within it. Establish what applies to your address before ordering, because a made-to-size door is not returnable.
Free estimate — no charge for the visit
Tell us what the door is doing and we will tell you what it normally means in Columbus. Every job is quoted in person and in writing before any work starts.