When it comes to choosing a new garage door, there are many points to consider; from which mechanism can offer the functionalities needed, to the material and design of door that will work best with the aesthetic features of your home.
With that in mind, the following points outline the main elements that should be considered when approaching your purchasing decision.
Types of door and mechanisms to consider
Up and over
As one of the most frequently used garage door types, those falling within the up and over category are usually easy to implement and offer a good level of security; often featuring numerous locking points to protect against intrusion.
Available in a variety of materials including wood, steel, plastic and fiberglass, these doors also offer a wide range of designs to match properties both new and old, contemporary or traditional. When it comes the mechanisms used for this type of door, there are two options to choose from:
Canopy
A classic and popular choice for many home owners, a canopy mechanism is used for up and over, one piece garage doors up to around 8 ft wide.
A canopy door works off a simple system whereby a torsion spring located above the door panel lifts it from either side with the use of a pair of steel cables. The name ‘canopy’ comes from the fact that once open, a third of the door remains visible outside the entrance overhanging the doorway below.
Allowing use of the full width of the entrance way in comparison to that of the retractable mechanism (which requires space for its retractable arms at either side of the door), the canopy mechanism takes up little space, allowing homeowners to utilise more of their garage for storage purposes.
Examples of up and over canopy garage doors:
Garador Beaumont steel up and over garage door
Style: Panelled
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 10 years
Optional extras: Maintenance free steel frame, 4 point locking upgrade
Hormann 2001 Vertical steel garage door
Style: Ribbed
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 10 years
Optional extras: Maintenance free steel frame, 4 point locking upgrade
Retractable
Offering a stronger solution to that of the canopy variety, a retractable mechanism also caters for up and over, one piece doors but with the ability to handle larger and heavier doors; lifting them using side mounted lifting arms and attached tension springs. This allows the door in use to be swung out and up using horizontal runners and rollers at each corner of the door.
Providing a secure choice when implementing a heavier door, retractable mechanisms are one of the most popular and frequently used on the market currently; also offering the ability to easily implement remote control access.
Examples of retractable up and over garage doors:
Garador Salisbury steel up and over garage door
Style: Ribbed
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 10 years
Optional extras: Maintenance free steel frame, 4 point locking upgrade
Doorfit Range’ Knowle fibreglass up and over garage door
Style: Ribbed
Material: Fibreglass
Guarantee: 2 years
Optional extras: Maintenance free steel frame, high security euro locking
Sectional
A sectional garage door presents a more security conscious option for your home, whilst also often benefitting from greater insulation and the ability for the door to be opened without it swinging out during use.
Running on two horizontal tracks, this type of mechanism will be accompanied by a sectional door that is broken up in to a number of panels that simply withdraw up on a curve into the garage roofline above in a smooth like motion.
Easily automated, this type of garage door and mechanism will often be chosen by those looking for additional functionality, such as remote access.
Sectional garage door examples:
Hormann M Ribbed Silkgrain sectional garage door
Style: Ribbed
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 10 years
Additional benefits: Weather seals all round the door, 42mm insulation
Garador Georgian Medium sectional garage door
Style: Sectional
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 10 years
Additional benefits: Available both as a single skin or with 42mm insulation – both options offer the possibility of rubber weather seals around the door.
Roller
Similar to that of the sectional door and mechanism; a roller door is created using a number of slats fitting together securely when the door is closed. Using a spring assisted barrel mechanism, the door smoothly rolls up and around the barrel located within the roofline of your garage; allowing maximum use of the height and width of the entrance.
Roller garage door examples:
Garador GaraRoll insulated roller shutter door
Style: Ribbed
Material: Aluminium
Guarantee: 10 years
Additional benefits: Automated as standard
Hormann Rollmatic insulated roller garage door
Style: Ribbed
Material: Aluminium
Guarantee: 10 years
Additional benefits: Automated as standard
Side hinged
Still a popular choice for many homeowners, side hinged garage doors are often made to measure and offer one of the most uncomplicated mechanisms for implementation; simply hanging off a pair of side hinged panels within a sub frame.
With no lifting involved during operation; the main advantages associated with this form of door is it’s flexibility, often allowing for just half the door to open when accessing the garage on foot, as well as the option with some designs to add a separate pedestrian door.
Side hinged garage door examples:
Garador Cathedral side hinged garage door
Style: Panelled
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 10 years
Additional benefits: Maintenance free steel frame as standard
Select Langdale steel side hinged garage door
Style: Panelled
Material: Steel
Guarantee: 2 years
Additional options: Maintenance free steel frame, high security euro locking
For further help or advice on the best choice of garage door or mechanism for your property please do not hesitate to get in touch, or alternatively why not drop into our Birmingham showroom where our helpful staff are on hand to talk you through the best choice of product for you.