Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Cut into exterior, load-bearing wall

I’d like to put another entrance into my house (another door).
Is there a way to cut into an external, load-bearing wall to put in a door? (There is no door there currently).
This wall leads into my garage, which is on the bottom level of my house.
The living room is above the garage.
I would want to put the door adjacent to the garage door.
I live in San Francisco, so earthquakes are a consideration.
Thanks!

In general, you would have to open the wall to be able to brace the load from above, unless you could brace it from one side of the wall or the other. Then make the opening, installing a lintel or header to carry the load. Then install the door. Make sure that your work complies with current engineering practices for bracing during construction and permanent installation of the lintel or header, especially in an earthquake area.

I would start by talking to the building permit folks to see what may be required. There may be a requirement for engeering drawing with current stamp for a permit to be issued.

Hope this helps.

Since this is on the Bricks, Masonry & Concrete forum, I assume you have masonry in the wall.

If you have a stick wall with veneer, make sure to guarantee that the veneer is attached to the loadbearing back-up. Considering your seismic zone, I assume you have some sort of bracing or straps to provide longitudinal shear strength. Make sure you have not comprised the stiffness of the wall in any direction.

If you have a masonry wall you will have to make sure you have some vertical reinforcement at either side of the opening and the lintel over the door is tied into the structure for continuity. The vertical load on a small door is minimal even on a loadbearing wall.

In seismic conditions, the vertical loads are magnified up to several times normal. The horizontal loads that normally do not exist can be over 20% of the normal vertical loads. Continuity is the key.

Dick

Shoring a masonry load bearing wall above where you plan on installing a new opening is typically done (in New England anyways) using needle beam and shoring jacks...Holes are cut in the masonry wall just large enough to pass the needle beams through and once the shoring is supporting the needle beam on both sides of the wall youi can then do your demo...Most places that rent scaffolding around here will engineer the shoring for you...at an additional cost of course...I certainly would seek the advise of a licensed structural engineer for reinforcing requirements (rebar locations , grout strenghth, etc.) on this one considering the volatile seismic activity in your area