There are Different Types of Garage Doors?
Before I owned a home, I had no reason to consider the different types of garage doors that are available for sale. If you are like me, there are a lot of things around your home that you don't even notice until you need to consider repairs or someone you know mentions it.
Garage doors are like that. I honestly never gave the garage door a second thought until a neighbor said something about how ours didn't sit quite straight. It had been that way since we bought the house, and although I might have noticed it somewhere in the back of my mind, it didn't really bother me. Once it was pointed out though, the thought was stuck there.
I wanted my garage door fixed at that point and I took a look at the situation, thinking of possibly attempting something on my own. The thing that put me off of that idea was the springs that actually keep tension on the door. I started finding write ups about garage door torsion springs, garage door extension springs...you name it. The one thing that stuck in my mind was that they are not anything for an amateur to mess with (please remember that). I wanted my garage door to close and open correctly, but I didn't want to maul myself for the sake of saving a few bucks. There is a guy who lives down the street from me who installs garage doors, and he was willing to take on some freelance work for me. I love it when I can find deals like that.
Anyway, before I finally decided to turn things over to a professional, I did do a little research. It turns out that there are different types of garage doors and that some people put a lot more thought into the kind of garage door they will have on their home than I ever did!
As I started investigating and exploring the world of garage doors, I found that there are a lot more garage door sizes and types than I ever imagined. There are some standard garage door sizes (most are 7 feet high), but what you are allowed to have on your home can vary from place to place. Some areas that are prone to hurricanes or other high wind conditions have special zoning regulations in place that limit how wide the garage door on a house can be. Of course, unless you are building a new garage, the door size you go with will probably already be pre-determined if you should ever need a replacement garage door. I found this video from a place in Canada that I just had to include here.
Obviously this guy knows his garage doors, but the reason I'm including it is because of his description of available door sizes. I'd say that most professional installers are set up to meet whatever needs you might have. This guy runs through a list of available sizes that could make your head spin!
How often your garage door needs to be replaced and maintained depends on the frequency of your use and the weather that the garage door is exposed to. Familiarizing yourself with the different varieties of garage door materials and lifting systems will help you in deciding which type to have installed.
What are the Different Types of Garage Doors?
If you have never really looked, you should take a minute to figure out what style and size of garage door you currently own. Here are the basics types of garage doors:
Tilt-Up Garage Doors
Just as it sounds, tilt-up garages doors operate on a lifting method. A singule panel pushes the garage door outward and up. Tilt-up garage doors are less of an investment than sectioned roll up garage doors.
Sectional Roll Up Garage Doors
Sectional roll ups most commonly consist of four to five panels that are attached by hinges. The panels are mounted on tracks and rollers on the outer edges. These tracks allow the panels to roll up and back. This is the most common option that home owners choose due to the ease of their operation and safety features.
Sectioned garage doors can have garage door openers installed in them. They also take up less room than some other options, which makes it easier to get your garage organized with the help of garage organizers.
Sectional roll ups are available in a wide variety of materials to best fit your cosmetic needs. You can choose from aluminum, steel, wood and fiberglass at several different price points and durability options.
Wooden Garage Doors
I grew up in a home with a large, sectional wooden garage door. It looked nice as long as it was painted, but I do remember that I put a noticeable mark on it with an errant baseball one day. My parents never did get around to fixing that because of the cost. Wood has to be treated with the proper coating and sealants that best suit your weather exposure and environment. Wood can be easily damaged if not treated properly. Wood is also susceptible to cracking and stress caused by heat and moisture. Wood doors require ongoing maintenance such as repainting and reconditioning every 3-4 years. Wood doors are however a less expensive initial investment than tilt up or the roll up. Wood doors also look great when matched with custom garage cabinets.
Aluminum Garage Doors
Aluminum is a durable option that is best suited to areas that are subject to extreme cold weather. Aluminum is available in either heavy or lightweight options. Aluminum is easy to clean and rust resistant. These can show dings and dents however if they are exposed to any types of abuse.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass doors are a lightweight option ideal for exposure to all four seasons. These are also your best bet if you live in an area that has risk of tornadoes and hurricanes. If you do live in an area prone to such weather events, be sure to check with your local building inspector about any codes that you might be required to follow.
Steel Garage Doors
Steel garage doors
Here is another video that gives a description of various types of garage doors that are commonly available.
If you are getting new door anyway, you may want to also consider looking into insulated garage doors. New homes may offer these as an option if you ask. Personally, I did not end up needing a new door, but when I do get one at some point, I'll probably look into an insulated door as an option since energy efficiency seems like a better idea every time I look at the gas and electric bills. My advice for people looking to buy a new garage door would be to shop around. Ask local professionals about their recommendations based on your house and the climate where you live. They will know what the best fit for your situation is. Narrow it down to a couple of types of garage doors and then start negotiating and comparing prices between the companies giving you bids at that point so that you can get the best garage door at the best price.
