Garage doors on private properties. How to choose and match the garage door?

29 April 2021 maius

Garage doors on private properties. How to choose and match the garage door? The aesthetics of the garage door is a matter of personal preference – but it is more difficult for us to choose a functional garage door. The functionality of the garage door is associated not only with the convenience of its use, but also with the security measures used (especially anti-burglary) and with thermal insulation properties. There are many types of garage doors on the market, made of various materials. It may turn out to be particularly difficult to choose a suitable garage door with non-standard dimensions.

The main types of garage doors

Garage doors differ in the materials used, the method of construction and the method of opening. The main types of garage doors are up-and-over doors, swing doors, sectional doors and roller doors. Segmentally opening garage doors are available in two types: side-opening and top-opening. Its advantages include good thermal insulation properties and the fact that it takes up little space when opening. Today, sectional doors are chosen by the majority of customers: they account for as much as 80% of the market. Their disadvantage, however, is the difficulty in adjusting to atypical entry openings.

Traditional up-and-over gates are also still very popular. They are characterized by a simple structure (thanks to which there are rarely failures of the mechanism) and a low price. Several other types of gates, such as sectional gates with barriers, are mainly used in industrial applications.In the case of rolling shutters, the door curtain is wound by means of winding shafts. It is made of narrow and relatively thin profiles. Roller shutters allow you to save space not only when opening, but also at the garage ceiling. Their disadvantage, however, are relatively frequent failures of the drives and the delicacy of the curtain, which must be light. Therefore, roller garage doors are less safe than sectional garage doors, and their thermal properties are worse.and their thermal properties are worse.and their thermal properties are worse.

Garage doors: the most commonly used materials

Most garage doors are made of wood or wood-like and wood-based materials (plywood, chipboard). Solid wood gates are the most elegant, but also relatively expensive. On the other hand, wood-like and wood-based materials are not characterized by favorable thermal properties. Steel sheet and lightweight aluminum sheet are also popular materials. The decoration of the house will undoubtedly be an impressive garage door made of copper sheet or covered with a layer of bronze. In the case of heated garages or garages that are an integral part of residential buildings, thermal insulation materials are also used. At the same time, it is not profitable to use expensive materials and thermal insulation in the case of non-insulated detached garages.

Garage door drives

Each rolling and sectional garage door, as well as some up-and-over doors, is equipped with a complex opening mechanism. It consists of an arm pulling an actuator and a control module. Other elements of the system include safety devices (e.g. photocells, optical sensors to prevent people and cars from slamming), emergency opening mechanisms and backup manual opening mechanisms. Garage door drives differ in the speed of movement (the great advantage is the possibility of its adjustment, thanks to which the drive wears out slower) and the force of pulling or pushing. Electric garage doors are more and more often chosen, especially those opened automatically and controlled by a remote control or a mobile phone application. In the case of overhead doors, traditional rail mechanisms are most often used – they are not expensive, however, they must be suitable for the weight of the gate. In the case of sectional doors opening from the top, any mechanism with an appropriate strong will work, however, a sectional garage door opening sideways requires the use of pulling arms with high force. It should also be remembered that the garage door mechanism (especially in the case of gates that open automatically) requires careful maintenance and technical inspections. High-wear components, including springs and rollers, require special attention.

They require frequent use of lubricants to protect them against corrosion and mechanical damage.that the garage door mechanism (especially in the case of automatic gates) requires careful maintenance as well as technical inspections. High-wear components, including springs and rollers, require special attention. They require frequent use of lubricants to protect them against corrosion and mechanical damage.that the garage door mechanism (especially in the case of automatic gates) requires careful maintenance as well as technical inspections. High-wear components, including springs and rollers, require special attention. They require frequent use of lubricants to protect them against corrosion and mechanical damage.

Garage door dimensions. How to adjust the garage door?

Of course, the most affordable are ready-made garage doors with typical dimensions – atypical development conditions, however, require the purchase of custom-made garage doors. The minimum width of a garage door for one car is 2300 mm. The typical height is about 2 meters – it is relatively easy to purchase taller garage doors up to 3 meters high, however, gates greater than 3 meters must be made to order. Also, when you need a garage door for a van or a minivan, you may need to use more expensive individual solutions. Ready-made solutions are also rare in the case of garage doors intended for more than two cars. It should also be remembered that overhead garage doors require additional space before the entrance:it should be at least 1 m long from the edge of the gate.