Garage Door Opener

[steve33465]

Hi there,
I am trying to install a garage door opener. But there is a 5x5 support beam going right across my garage parallel to the garage doors. The beam is about 10 ft from the doors but it is just enough to interfer with the drive rail. If I were to install the screw rail for the garage door the only way I can do it is make a hole through the beam for it all to line up. Understandably I am concerned about drilling or cutting notches out of beams. What are my options. Am I able to make the hole or notch then add some kind of strengthening to it. Or should I open the garage door as I have always done. By hand. The beam holds up the rest of the house above.
Any help/advice appreciated
Steve33465

[Rich]

I've got the same situation except my beam is much larger... and I didn't have any problem with clearances. What is your ceiling height versus the garage door height? Apparently less than 5"?
I would be very wary of cutting or notching the edge of any structural member - especially the edge that's in tension.

[doyle]

Gosh, how tall of a door do you have? On an 8ft tall door, there should still be plenty of room in the 2 feet that is left remaining in the open position to install just about any garage door opener out there.

If your opener extends 10ft from the wall on an 8ft door, you should buy another opener that sits closer to the door.

No way should you cut that beam!

Check some of your friends' opener installations and see what kind of clearances their units require.

[mjpliv]

Rule #1 - Never drill, notch, taper or otherwise alter a structural beam without the advice of a structural engineer.

Rule #2 - If You have to drill, notch, taper or otherwise alter a structural beam and cannot find a structural engineer who will sign off the change, then refer to Rule #1.