How to Choose the Right Garage Doors for Your Home

Written By: admin on July 1, 2010 No Comment

Your garage is likely to occupy a large area at the front of your house so it’s important to choose the right style of doors to complement your home and suit your practical requirements. Whether you want to replace your existing doors or are looking to invest in a set for the first time, the guide below should help you make the right choice.

Roller Garage Doors

This style is perfect if you want a hassle free, quick way to store your car. A roller door is made up of a single sheet of aluminium or steel and the whole door rises up vertically and rolls in on itself when opened. This style of door is a good option if you have limited space in your garage as the door only needs a small amount of brick work either side to support it. You also don’t need to install a door frame which further helps to increase the width of the garage door, giving you more space to drive your car through. The materials commonly used for roller doors are aluminium and steel which both offer good protection against the weather and high levels of security.

Sectional Garage Doors

This style of door offers great protection from the weather, top security and can come in some very stylish colours and materials. These doors are generally comprised of four separate inter-locking horizontally hinged panels which allow the doors to open and shut vertically. Sectional doors are available in a range of materials with the more popular choices being timber and steel. This is an excellent choice if space is at a premium as the entire door rises upwards in a straight line so you don’t need clearance outside of the garage to accommodate the swing of the door.

Single Hinged Garage Doors

This is the most traditional style of door for garages. The mechanism of the doors is basic as they open outwards as the pivotal point is attached to the frame at each side of the door. Single hinged doors are ideal if there’s limited space inside your garage but you have a large area outside for it to swing out into. The doors can be manufactured in a variety of materials with the most popular being steel, timber and also GRP which is a tough weather proof plastic material so your garage can complement the rest of your property.

Retractable Garage Doors

Retractable doors are similar to the single hinged model but can be automated, so this would be a good option if you want the convenience of being able to operate the door from the comfort of your car. This type of door swings outwards so you need to have room outside your garage to allow for this. When closing, the door slides away horizontally into the garage ceiling. This type of door is now available in a variety of materials and some companies also offer pre-framed versions.

The type of doors you choose for your garage will depend on the size of your garage, the space available on your drive and what your budget is so use this guide as a starting point for your investment.