The Differences Between Materials Used to Make Garage Doors

The different materials used for fabricating garage doors each come with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Steel, for example is affordable, durable, weathers well, stands up to abuse and can be finished in a variety of ways and provides a wide choice of styles, but it is a poor choice for insulation when compared to something like wood.

The benefits of steel when used for a garage door are dependent on the gauge, so all steel is not created equal and buying a steel garage door does not ensure quality just because it is made of steel. Thinner gauge steel cannot stand up to the punishment that garage door may face, also it cannot offer the resistance to an intruder that would be found in a thicker gauge.

Steel garage doors may come as a single skin or as two sheets within which insulation may be sandwiched. The insulation is to help the house hold heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Roller garage doors are usually constructed from lengths of steel connected to form a curtain and may also be insulated.

The Pros And Cons Of Aluminium Garage Doors

Aluminium comes with the same problems as thinner gauge steel and many of the same benefits. It is a light enough metal that it is easy for the homeowner to install an aluminium garage door on their own should they choose to do so, and it does not rust. The weight also makes it a popular material for fabricating roller garage doors, though other types, like roller shutters  can also be made with it. Aluminium can also be finished in any colour that the homeowner desires. Unfortunately, it can show wear if subjected to a punishing environment. Like steel, it is a poor material for insulation.

Fibreglass And Wooden Garage Doors

Fibreglass and wood occupy very small segments of the market as both have issues that make them unappealing to most people. One issue is price. Wood is expensive, not to obtain necessarily, but to maintain. Wooden garage doors are, like most garage doors, constantly exposed to the elements and will need regular upkeep by a homeowner. Due to the fragility of wood they are not suitable to being used as sectional garage door`s, therefore the homeowner is limited in the type of opening mechanism they can use (usually up and over).

Fibreglass is lightweight and resistant to salt air, both of which are good things. The weight makes it suitable for being used as a part of an electric garage door and the resistance to salt air is especially useful in houses that are located on a beach. However, fibreglass does not insulate a house very well, and it does not hold up well in cold weather. It also tends to discolour over time.

Guide to Installing Roller Garage Doors

There is a wide range of choice when it comes to styles and colours for your new roller garage doors. You may prefer a traditional timber or classic colour effect or want something chic and up to the minute to make an attractive feature to the kerb appeal of your home. Sizes up to 5 m wide and 3 m are stocked by most retailers.

By following the simple step by step guide to installing your new roller garage door you will have a smart, secure and safe closure for your garage which will stand the test of time and keep your valuables protected from weather and loss.

Step 1 Preparation

Roller Doors garage doors are easy to fit and come with step by step instructions which are clear and easy to follow.

Be sure to follow the detailed installation guide which takes you through the necessary measuring points and advises on positioning your new garage door for best results.

Step 2 Affixing brackets

You will be provided with a measured diagram for detailed directions where to affix mounting brackets. This is vital to ensure you get the correct location first time and thus eliminate any frustration and time wasting should you later realise you had misread something and carried out the installation incorrectly. We can all be a little bit guilty of not reading instructions thoroughly enough so play smart and check these very carefully.

Step 3 Positioning the door

The correct positioning of the roller door is the key to smooth running of your door once it is installed. Take a little time to ensure you are familiar with the instructions before you start to carry them out so the positioning and securing the axle to the mounted brackets are all correct.

Step 4 Safety instructions

Read these carefully to prevent injury both during installation and whilst the garage door is subsequently in use. Unroll the door carefully and make particular note of any special instructions relating to insulated roller doors if you have chosen this option.

Step 5 Fixing the side tracks

The side tracks ensure your new garage door rolls up evenly and is centred with the opening. A snug fit keeps out the weather and provides stability and efficiency for the door to ensure a long effective life.

Step 6   Final adjustments

Perform those final adjustments to fine tune the smooth and effortless operation of your new roller garage door. Whether you choose the manual or automated version there is less wear and tear on the garage door and fittings when these are correctly installed, balanced and smooth running.

And finally

The last set of guidelines explains how to fit the locking bar to give the most efficient weather seal. A rattling door resulting from a badly fitted bar is both annoying and damaging.

Follow the installation instructions properly and your garage door will provide peace of mind and durability for many years.

Insulate and a little bit more!

There are many different types of garage door available to purchase. One of which, is Insulated roller doors. This is a fantastic door that will not only prevent heat loss from a garage but can also offer that little bit of extra kerb appeal to your property.

The insulated roller garage doors are a high performance garage door manufactured from aluminium foam filled laths designed to provide thermal and acoustic insulation together with security.

Insulated roller doors are supplied with the benefit of being automatic as standard. With one press of a remote control the door curtain opens vertically into a neat roll with next to no sound at all.

Optional Extras

External Manual Release

The electric roller garage door is supplied with an internal manual release as standard, so that providing there is another entrance into the garage space, you can override the system and open the door if there is a temporary power failure. If there is no alternative access point then an external manual release may want to be considered. This is a key operated system that is designed to sit on the outside of the opening. When the key is placed into the barrel and turned, this allows you to pull the barrel which is connected to the release via a cord. This is for temporary use and once the power has returned the motor will once again take charge of opening and closing the door.

Battery Backup

The battery backup offers more convenience than the external manual release. It works so that in the event of a power failure, you can continue to use your door with the remote control. The battery backup will automatically work when the power stops.

Vision Slats

Allow natural light into your garage space by adding vision slats to your door. This gives a modern twist to the door finish you have chosen. You can have as many vision laths as you require.

Full or Half Box

The insulated roller door can be mounted several ways. On the internal face is the most popular choice as this allows the full drive through width of the opening to be used.

If there is no side room available, then the door can be housed between the openings. A half box will be required as a minimum to conceal the door curtain and protect the mechanism and motor from the elements. Between 140-180mm of opening drive through width will be lost to allow for the guides.

Another option if you did not have any side room nor want to lost any drive through width, is to externally mount the door roll. A full box will be required to house the roll.

The full box is also used for cosmetic purposes to hide the door roll neatly,

Keypad

Two remote controls are supplied with this door as standard, allowing the owner complete ease and convenience, when they need to open and close their door. This can be done all from the comfort of their vehicle.

An alternative and secure option to allow access to the garage is a wireless keypad. The keypad is externally mounted and allows access on entering a code into the system. Entry will be given to anyone who has been given the code. This is particularly useful for an entry point used by many people. Rather than many individuals having remote controls each, the keypad is stationery and always available to use.

Anti vandal keypads are also available, which have a harder wearing control panel.

Up and Over Garage Doors Explained

Generally speaking, up and over garage doors can be placed into two distinct categories of lifting mechanism

Canopy Up & Over Garage Doors

Traditionally the most common form of up and over garage door. When fully open, the door protrudes approximately one third of the height of the door thus forming a “canopy”.

Due to the lifting mechanism used in the door hardware, canopy doors provide the maximum drive through width for ease of access. Operation of the door is assisted through the use of torsion springs fixed into the door frame above the opening.

The slight disadvantage of a canopy type door is that the door hardware is only available on doors up to 8ft wide.

Although not ideal for automation, canopy doors can be adapted to open and close through the use of a bow arm convertor and a high quality powerful motor.

Retractable Up & Over Garage Doors

In recent years the popularity of the retractable type door has seen a great increase and is fast becoming the most popular type of garage door. When fully open, the door will retract fully into the garage and be supported on horizontal rails fixed to the ceiling.

Retractable lifting gear incorporates tension springs in the side tracks allowing it to take larger loads making it ideal for doors over 8ft wide or doors constructed from timber panels.

Due to this, all our Woodrite Up & Over Garage Doors are supplied with the benefit of this system as standard.