Enjoy The Advantages Of Sectional Garage Doors

If you are not a fan of the traditional garage door and would like to protect your car behind a wall of style and class, then perhaps you should look at the variety of sectional garage doors available. Rather than be made up of one rigid section like traditional doors, sectional garage doors have several moveable sections as the name suggests. This results in much easier access, particularly when an electric door is being used. The door is able to glide through tight curves which ensures that it rules the roost over regular up and down doors.

These doors trump regular ones in a variety of other ways. One of the most obvious is the fact that you could park your car right up against it without having to worry about it getting damaged. This makes it ideal for small driveways and there is the added bonus of not having to fret about a passing pedestrian who strays too close to your garage door getting hit. They are a perfect fit for absolutely any shape of garage doorway. Sectional garage doors also get the most out of your garage’s width which makes it that much easier to drive into. They also offer better height than other doors which is terrific news for anyone driving a large vehicle such as a 4×4. You can also seal these doors for protection against wear and tear from inclement weather.

You will need to have these doors professionally installed however as it is a complicated process. DIY lovers need to resist the urge to try and fit them in themselves because a mistake could cost you an awful lot more in the long run. If you buy from a reputable dealer, they may include the cost of installation in the price of the door. Sectional garage doors could have problems with balance if you install them yourself because they have several doors that are individually connected by hinges which means that their continuous opening and closing could cause them to become unbalanced. Take advantage of any money-back guarantee offer and always keep in mind the retailer’s estimate of how long the parts will last.

While sectional garage doors are a great way to protect your car, you also need to take precautions when small children are involved. Always keep your locks and keys away from them and ensure that the remote control for your sectional garage doors are too high for kids to reach. A remote control should also be locked away and you need to be aware where it is at all times.

If you’re in need of something that can protect your vehicle and perhaps some expensive tools but would rather not have a dull, steel monstrosity staring out into the road, try wooden sectional garage doors for size. They come in an array of colours, and you can choose from regular or insulated panels. They protect your car better and are safer to use than regular garage doors. Just ensure that you get a professional company to install them and always make sure that children cannot interfere with these doors.

Finding the Right Garage Door

Purchasing a garage door for your home is a major investment.  While it doesn’t compare with something like adding a pool or replacing carpet and paint, the garage door that is on your home provides you with years of safety and convenience.  In doing this, you are rewarded year after year for a one time purchase.

When looking at getting a new door for a home, garage door prices are likely the first aspect that a person may take into consideration.  The price that you pay for your garage door is important, yes; but it shouldn’t be the only driving factor in helping you to choose the right garage door to fit your home and your needs.

Garage door prices can vary based on materials, size and style.  Because of this, you can find a nice range of garage door prices that fit your budget while still giving you a nice door that will accent your home and work properly.  It is important that you keep this in mind as you go through your search, because if it is garage door prices only that drive you, there is the risk that you will find an unbelievable deal only to end up with a poorly made door that poses a safety hazard.

The different types of doors include the canopy type of door, the sectional type of door, and the roller door.  These are just a few of the popular styles that are available at great prices.

The canopy door with a sliding mechanism is the least expensive option and is very easy to fit to most garage door openings.  However, this is not the ideal door if you want to be able to operate it automatically.  There are conversion kits available to automate a canopy style door; but these kits take up room and reduce the overall height of your garage, leaving you less space for taller vehicles.

Sectional garage doors can also be fitted to most garage door sizes.  This type of garage door is typically available in Steel, Timber & GRP.  Because the sectional garage door is mounted on the inside of the garage door opening and not on the frame itself, this type of door can accommodate structural openings that are angled or arched; not only square openings.  Because this type of door does not open out like a canopy door, you have the ability to drive right up to it and open it with your electronic remote.  This is ideal for people with a short driveway.

Roller doors are also great for short driveways, because the door simply rolls up into a coil.  Because of the mechanism used with roller doors, there is a specific amount of clearance needed on the inside of the garage door opening.  The clearance needed for a compact roller door is 205mm.  For a standard roller garage door, 300mm of clearance is needed inside the garage door opening at the ceiling.  If you do not have this type of clearance, however, do not fret.  If you really want a roller door for your garage there is the option for an external mount.

Garage doors come in so many shapes and sizes that it only takes a bit of searching to find the right garage door to fit your needs.

Garage Doors for Your Home

When talking about garage door sizes, one may initially think only of the opening of the garage itself.  But there are more factors to take into consideration than just the size of the opening when considering the different garage door sizes available.

While measuring the opening is important, you also need to take into account the inside of your garage, the length of your driveway, and the size of your vehicle.  You want to ask yourself how close you want to or need to be able to park in front of your garage door without having to move it to open or close the door.  You want to ask yourself if your garage is far enough away from the property line to allow a door that opens out.

The type of garage door you get is as important as the garage door sizes you think may work for your home.  There are several types of garage doors to choose from, each offering its own style and function to make your life as easy as possible.

If space is important to you, then you may love the roller style of garage door for your home.  This type of door rolls right up into a coil at the ceiling when the door is open.  The door rises vertically and does not open out into the driveway, which makes it ideal for shorter driveways.  However, with a roller door, there is space needed where the ceiling meets the inside of the garage door opening.  If the required amount of space is not met, the roller mechanism can be mounted to the exterior of the home.  This is very functional but some people just don’t like the look of the exterior roll.  Roller doors are insulated and weather-sealed as well as low maintenance.

Sectional doors are also space savers when it comes to the garage.  This type of garage door also opens vertically.  This type of garage door provides you with a secure, weather sealed option that can be chosen in the perfect colour to match your home.  Sectional doors can feature fully insulated panels that keep the air inside your garage comfortable at all times.  This is important if your garage features a workbench or laundry area.  They are also available in single-skin as well, which does not feature insulation.

Both of these types of garage doors can be automated to work with a remote control.  Automating your garage door is something that brings you a load of convenience.  With a remote opener, you never have to get out of your car in cold or rainy weather to open and close a hefty garage door.  There is no risk of slipping around in snow and ice if all you have to do is push a button.

Comfort is one great reason to automate your garage door; and safety is another.  When you must exit your vehicle to open and close your garage door at home, it is likely that you have a perception of safety and so you do not look around the way you might if you were in a parking garage or parking lot.  To stay inside of your vehicle is always the safest bet and an automated garage door is the best way to do that at home.

Garage doors can be purchased online with the help of expert advice and guidance.  This makes purchasing your next garage door a simple task that takes only a few minutes.

Going Green With Garage Doors

Fortunately for the environment, “going green” in all aspects of life has become a bit of a trend in recent years. Though it may not be first in people’s minds when it comes to protecting the earth, garage doors can play an important role in keeping your home environmentally friendly. Whether you are thinking of replacing your garage doors, building a new house, or just trying to be environmentally trendy, this article gives good tips for “going green” with garage doors. Lots of different factors affect the level of environmental friendliness that a door holds. Different materials, levels of cost efficiency and insulation, and garage door prices are all very important when it comes to saving the world (and money for you!)

It’s All About the Material.

Okay, maybe not all about it… but the material garage doors are made of is very important to how environmentally friendly it will be. The most obvious step you can take in making garage doors environmentally friendlier is to buy one made of recyclable or renewable materials. The best example of this is wooden garage doors made of sustainably sourced timber, because wood is found in nature. Other materials are a toss-up. Some man-made materials can be recycled and some cannot. For example, some steel garage doors are made from recyclable materials, but some are not. A good way to make sure that your door is made of recycled material or will be eligible to be recycled in the future is to simply ask the company who makes it.

…And Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is determined by several different factors with garage doors. The most important one is how insulated the garage door is. This depends on what you use your garage door for. If you have a room above the garage that is heated or cooled in different seasons, it is much more important to conserve energy by making sure that the garage doors are properly insulated. Before you choose between garage doors, check their U-value. U-values indicate how good of an insulator garage doors will be. The lower the U-value, the better insulator it will be.

Beyond Choosing Garage Doors…

Make sure that the company that manufactures garage doors is being environmentally friendly in the processes that occur before you buy. The materials that companies use to coat garage doors and the way they dispose of waste will make a big difference in the eventual efficiency of the garage door. The most powerful statement to a business is your money—you can get started on your environmental friendliness by some simple research and choosing carefully where to spend your money.

Obviously, other factors beside environmental friendliness will come into play as you choose, such as garage door prices and sizes and curb appeal. However, if you are looking for a simple way to help the environment, think carefully about choosing garage doors. After all, after it’s installed, you will be helping the future of the earth without even thinking about it.

What’s the Most Secure Garage Door Type?

Who else doesn’t really care about their garage door? Why not? You should, just because it might look a bit aged and it’s not that easy to open anymore. Your garage door protects all the household products that you store in a garage or the thing that protects your second largest purchase, your much-needed car.

If your garage is integral to your house, your garage door is often the last line of defence that stands between burglars having the opportunity to work unnoticed in gaining access to your home. So maybe you should pay some attention to that old garage door, maybe you should take your garage door security seriously.

Unfortunately, no matter how many extra locks you fit to your existing door, it may not increase the security enough as some older door types are made from low gauge steel and are so flimsy that an intruder could peel the door open like a tin of beans.  Older locking latches can easily be released from the outside with a screwdriver in a matter of seconds.

Even a solid door is only as good as the frame it is fitted to, so if this has started to rot or rust then these can be forced relatively easily.

So what are your options? What’s the easiest way to secure your garage door?

In all honesty, a new garage door is the only complete solution and although basic up and over garage door design has improved over the years, sectional garage doors and roller garage doors are increasingly popular because of their superior security benefits.

How to Choose a Garage Door with the Right Level of Security for You

Sectional and Roller Garage Doors offer the best security currently available for domestic garages. Hormann, Carteck & Novoferm Sectional doors come with TUV approval which is a stringent German product testing house.

Seceuroglide roller doors are available with the Excel upgrade which gives you the UK Police & Insurance ‘Secured by Design’ approval.

If there isn’t the headroom for a sectional or roller door then a good quality up and over door is the next best choice. Garador & Hormann offer the best security when it comes to these as they have rigid locking bars rather than flimsy cables. They also offer the option of upgrading from 2 to 4 point locking on doors up to 3048mm wide.

If you are going for an up and over door, it is definitely a good idea to have it with a factory steel frame as these give a tighter seal between the door and the frame than a timber frame. This will reduce the risk of the door being levered open.

With any of the above options it’s a good idea to fit the frame behind the brickwork opening, this will not only give you a better drive through width but will increase the security as there are no gaps to lever the frame off the brickwork.

Garage Door Sizes To Consider During Construction

After a new home or garage is built, it’s too late to think about which garage door sizes are going to work best for your family. Assuming that a standard sized door is going to be right for you can be a serious mistake, because once you’ve made that decision, it will take thousands of pounds of remodeling to unmake it. It’s difficult to understate the advantages of an over sized garage.

Even if you’re currently driving a single VW Golf and little else, you need to look further down the line. Standard garage doors run seven feet by seven feet — you might fit a normal medium-sized car in there without a problem, but what if you have a family before you move out of the house? A standard garage door is going to be tough to deal with in a people carrier or a 4×4 vehicle. Similarly, if you need something to be delivered to your home, an 8-foot clearance just isn’t enough for an everyday pickup truck with, say, a normal piano or a decently-sized bookshelf in the back.

On the other hand, if you work with your architect and builder beforehand, you’ll find that it’s not terribly expensive to add a foot to the width of your garage, and you’ll have a lot more options if you have a nine-foot garage door. A 4×4 with luggage or a canoe on the top wouldn’t make it through the normal garage door sizes, but an extra foot will make all of the difference. Eight feet might be a bit tall for some people to open and close by hand, but that’s why we have automatic garage door openers.

If you own a utility trailer or a boat, you know from experience that they are usually significantly wider than the car or van you tow them with — sometimes close to nine feet wide! Unless you think ahead and take the possibility that you’ll end up with one of these items into consideration during construction, you’ll have to leave your pretty toys out in the elements.

Anyone who has to back a trailer of any size into a garage will be grateful for the extra width of a 10- or 12-foot wide door. Also, widths of 14 feet and over are invaluably important if you have multiple cars, especially if they are both expensive, as it prevents dings and mirror bumping.

Talk to your builder and/or architect about designing an over sized garage and the effect that it will have on your life in addition to it’s value to the home. Even if you never use the garage for anything special, the larger garage door sizes will help add curb appeal and interest to anyone looking to buy your home in the future. The cost might seem like a bit up front, but the increase in your property value could be substantial. This is particularly true if your over sized garage comes equipped with high-end sectional garage doors, with insulation, weatherproofing, and automated garage door openers as well.

How to Insulate Your Existing Garage Door

The Best Way to Fit Your New Garage Door

There are two ways to fit a garage door, between or behind your structural opening but which is better?

Mounting the frame behind the opening will give you a wider drive-through width so it’s easier to get your car in and out of your garage.  This is the standard option for roller doors and sectional garage doors although they can be fitted between the opening if necessaary, i.e. when there is no room internally to fix the frame legs.

The only disadvantage with a behind opening installation is that the internal depth of your garage is shortened which may only be a problem if you’ve got a particularly long car to park in it.

Traditionally up and over garage door frames are fixed between the structural opening which reduces the potential drive-through width by around 6 inches (150mm).  The better thing to do is mount the frame on the face of the internal brickwork allowing enough of an instep for the door to comfortably swing through the opening as it opens without scraping on the brickwork.  This is shown in the diagram below.

My recommendation is to always mount the door and frame on the back of the structural opening wherever possible as the wider the drive through width you give yourself, the better, to avoid any chance of damaging your car and garage door. The easiest and most secure way to do this is with sectional garage doors.

How to Turn Your Garage into an Extra Room

Who else can’t actually keep their car in their garage because it’s being used as an extra living space? More and more people are using their garage for extra storage, a workshop, a home gym or even a study and not for their car, in fact only around 22% of garages are used to park cars in. Any estate agent will tell you that garages add value to your property.  By taking advantage of the great features offered by a sectional garage door or roller garage door you can achieve this increased value.

They are not only the most secure garage door designs but can also keep draughts out of your garage and the heat in, as both sectional and roller doors have an insulated core and are weather sealed on all four sides. Because sectional and roller doors  are weather sealed on all sides, they prevent leaves and driving rain from blowing in, easily allowing you to convert your garage into that extra living space that will not only be warmer but also draught free. By adding windows you can allow natural light into your garage making the space more usable for hobbies.

Garage Door Types Comparison Table

	Retractable Up & Over	Canopy Up & Over	Sectional	Roller Garage Doors	Side Hinged Garage Doors
Easy to automate?	Yes	No (except Cardale doors)	Yes	Yes	Yes with converter bars
Good security	OK	Not bad	Very good – door held in C channel down each side	Very good – door held in C channel down each side	Depends how many bolts are fitted
Materials available?	Steel, Timber, GRP, ABS	Steel, Timber, GRP, ABS	Steel, Timber, GRP, ABS	Steel or Aluminium	Steel, Timber, GRP, ABS
Draft proof?	No	No	Good (can also be insulated)	Good (can also be insulated)	No
Drive through width?	Frame needed – normally 75mm x 75mm	Frame needed – normally 75mm x 75mm	No frame needed mounts to rear of brickwork	No frame needed mounts to rear of brickwork	Frame needed – normally 75mm x 75mm plus the thickness of the door on each side
Space needed inside garage to accommodate the open door?	The whole of the door height	Approx’ 2/3’s of the door height	The whole of the door height	varies: 200 x 200mm 300 x 300mm 450 x 450mm	None
Park on drive close to the door?	Approx 1m clearance required in front of garage	Approx 0.8m clearance required in front of garage	Yes, no clearance required	Yes, no clearance required	Open outwards

Next Page »