Anyone who has parked on a short sloping drive knows: the door is as important as the car. That is where sectional garage doors earn their keep, because they rise straight up and never swing into the space you need for parking.
The Moving Parts
Four or five vertical steel panels are hinged together, and guided by rollers in vertical tracks. The panels are curved so the top track brings them all back to lie flat along the garage ceiling. The weight of the door is balanced with torsion springs. If done properly, the door stays put if stopped in any position, which an installer can demonstrate.
Measure Twice
Brickwork isn’t always perfectly square, measure width and height in three places and use the smallest figure. Note how much headroom you have above the opening and how much space there is on either side. Tracks need space to be installed horizontally on either side of the opening. Many single doors are around 2.4 metres wide, however older garage doors may be different, and a made to measure door will cost more than a standard size door.
Warmth and Noise
A 40mm thick foam filled panel keeps more heat in than a single skin of thin steel and also damped the noise of a passing lorry. If your garage wall adjoins your kitchen or garage wall houses a freezer you will definitely feel the difference in the winter.
Keeping Fingers Safe
Good doors have panel joints that prevent hands from getting trapped between door sections. Springs and cables should be contained. On an electric door, it should stop and reverse if it meets an obstruction. Leave adjusting the door springs to trained fitters.
Motors and Power Cuts
If you are adding a motor to the system, you will need to have a socket placed close to the ceiling. Make sure there is a manual release, and a battery backup so that a power cut doesn’t leave the car trapped.
Colour and Finish
Woodgrain and ribbed finishes are some of the more common finishes. Matching your door to your window frames is the safest choice. A darker colour can make a blank garage face less dominating.
Everyday Care
Wash the panels with warm soapy water, sweep leaves out of the tracks, and check the seals once a year. Doors that start to grind or close unevenly need a service, not more force.
Making the Choice
Get quotes that cover fitting, removal of the old door and the insulation rating. Then, compare like for like, because the cheapest quotes often omit the details that matter most.
