Multiple span beams such as this continuous garage door header shown in figure 8 can become problematic as the wall between the 2 openings typically isn t sufficient to brace the bottom of the beam.
Wood beam over garage door.
The result of this continuous garage door header not being adequately braced led to the wall bowing.
Tables providing size selections for various beam spans and loading combinations for southern pine dimension lumber and southern pine glued laminated timber are available for the following applications.
Usually in a wood frame house there will be a wood header beam supporting the garage door opening the metal lintel supports only the brick facade and is bolted to the beam.
The procedure for constructing a header for 6 inch exterior wall framing can be modified for any wall thickness.
Continuous garage door header.
Window door garage door headers supporting roof loads only.
Window door garage door headers supporting roof wall floor loads.
Rarely a steel or iron if very old house beam would be in there but is more common in solid brick or stone construction but unless the lintel is a substantial.