You angle the 8 penny nails.

 

Single cut on a 4X4 vs (2X) 2X4 cuts and a rip and cut on a sheet of OSB or ply plus a bunch of nails? That's an easy call,as long as the 4X4 is good quality.

The problem with 4X4s is a lot of times their dimensions don't match the studs you're using, so you'd be stuck ripping or shimming to get it to come out in wall plane on both sides. They also can twist / bow, depending - if they do, it's bigger problem than with a built up header.

The old rule of thumb was the minimum depth of the header matches the opening. This is too aggressive for much of the wood we see today.

 

I used 4x6 on a few non bearing and narrow 30" windows and inspector failed it. He said no solid timber was allowed because no tables existed that showed strength of solid header. Fortunately I had exactly 5 1/2" above those headers to put a double 2x6 in. I know, he was probably wrong but..... We also used 6x6 girders on crawl spaces with 5'2" centers and that has been disallowed in favor of laminated 2x6 or 2x8. We mainly used 6" dimension there because the step down in block piers is 4" plus a plate giving a total of 5 1/2"

 

That inspector didn't know his A** from a hole in the ground.

 

To be honest I've never used timber for a header, and I almost never use plywood.

Main reason is I can't find 4x that's KD.

 

and safer from a fire standpoint on a number of levels".

Depends on what you're calling safe

 

Collapse of balloon framed structures (under fire load) and fire spread are the two big ones...

Stick framed with 2x lumber is safer. Trusses and engineered lumber still safer?-that's an open question on the NFPA side of life. Ask any fire fighter and they hate trusses...Until it's their house and cost savings is realized over stick framed LOL

 

Collapse of balloon framed structures (under fire load) and fire spread are the two big ones... Stick framed with 2x lumber is safer. Trusses and engineered lumber still safer?-that's an open question on the NFPA side of life. Ask any fire fighter and they hate trusses...Until it's their house and cost savings is realized over stick framed LOL

I'm a fire fighter. I have a stick framed roof, and actually have never used trusses on a house. Have done garages with them, many pole barns, and some porches, but never the main house. I have my own opinions about ballon framed from what I've actually witnessed, but I'll keep those to myself

 

Thanks guys for the help, so need to comment any further.

 

CJ,

I would not worry about "code" on a single 3-0 door or window in a small freestanding garage. Almost anything reasonable and greater than a flat 2 x 4 will work. It would have to be really weak to fail, physically, or inspection.

I personally might pre-frame a headered opening for a future side entry door or window, in case you can't live without it, you can easily add one later, but windows in garages can let people know if someone is home or not without knocking. I think it's smart to not have windows in garages.

Inspectors love to make young carpenters jump to their beckoning, exercise their authority. I used to leave something simple to do right in front of them and let them find it and tell me, or my helper, to "Nail in that fire block, or nail the loose plumbing strap", etc. Let them flex a muscle and they would shorten their visit. I don't recall ever failing, just a little polite jumping, and smiling as they left.

I think the money for a window or door would be better spent on a good garage door and opener. I would however put a few 8 x16 vents in the walls to let possible fumes escape, We call them "suicide vents". They help prevent garages from becoming bombs.

 

I was going to put a small 3'0 x 3'0 silder in the garage.

 

First I would be scared the 4x4 would warp worse the 2, 2x6s. it warps the garage door stops opening proper. trim bows, siding bows......HO not happy and I get a call and this forces me to start drinking, again.

 

First I would be scared the 4x4 would warp worse the 2, 2x6s. it warps the garage door stops opening proper. trim bows, siding bows......HO not happy and I get a call and this forces me to start drinking, again.

CW song in the making right there

 

I have opened many a wall in older homes here in Southern California and can not remember ever seeing a warped or twisted 4 x 4 or 4 x 6.
Of course this is California, there are lots of other things warped and twisted here.

Andy.

 

yeah, I miss read the post. I thought he was trying to span it over a garage door. In my mind I was thinking it was a gable door, so the header may not have much of a barring, but trying to spend a 4×4 that long would scare me, even if it didn't carry anything. :whistling no, I wasn't already hitting the bottle.... Just to tired to be on here.