Is it worth buying and installing a sectional garage door?
Sectional garage doors today are one of the most optimal options for arranging such buildings. They have their own differences, which, in the end, will be reflected in the price. Therefore, it is worth getting to know this product better.
Design features
Sectional garage doors consist of:
- cloth - has two steel sheets, between which there is polyurethane foam, which acts as a heat insulator;
- a guide steel profile with brackets and hangers - the former ensure the raising and lowering of the gate, and the latter fix them in the extreme upper position;
- spring system - it helps to balance the leaf, and also provides manual gate control.
The design of the gate is quite simple, so there will be no difficulties in operation. But the main convenience is automatic control. That is, the owner does not need to constantly leave the car in order to open and close the gate, and this significantly reduces the time.
Varieties
Choosing a garage door is a responsible event, because not only walls protect the car from unwanted weather and human impact. Therefore, before buying a design, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the available selection of products.
Sectional garage doors can be:
- Made of sandwich panels. This option in its design has an additional layer of sealant to provide protection against freezing. The thickness of the panels directly affects the level of burglary protection and energy efficiency. The sandwich panel consists of two sheets of steel with polyurethane foam sandwiched between them. This type of gate has a fairly wide assortment, both in size and texture with color.
- Made of panoramic canvas. In this embodiment, an extruded aluminum profile is used in the manufacture. The canvas has translucent inserts.
Sectional garage doors can be combined. Such models combine both sandwich panels and panoramic canvases.
There is also another classification - by the type of management. The gate can be fully automatic, remote or manual. The first type has an electric drive mechanism in its design, the second type can have a remote (using a remote control or a mobile phone) or stationary control, but the third type will require physical effort to open the garage.
The more automated the system is, the more expensive it will be. It is also important to pay attention to the manufacturer, since the more famous the brand, the higher the price will be.
Benefits of installing sectional doors
Sectional lifting garage doors are gaining more and more popularity. And there are reasons for this. Some buyers may at first be scared off by a somewhat high price, but if you familiarize yourself with the advantages of such installations, then it becomes clear that the money will not be spent in vain.
Among the strengths it is worth paying attention to the following points:
- by lifting the canvas into the ceiling space, a lot of useful space is saved;
- this installation provides good sound and noise insulation, thanks to which the garage can be used not only for storing a car, but as a utility room;
- modern models have high protection against burglary;
- simplicity and safety of operation;
- when properly installed, the gate will provide a high level of thermal insulation and room sealing.
Today manufacturers offer a wide color palette and a choice of textured design. As for the price, it is directly related to the size of the canvas and the firm.
Dimensions and price
The garage opening is sized so that a particular vehicle can get inside. Accordingly, the gate is also matched to these dimensions. Usually these are standard sizes - width - 2.5 m, height - 2-2.5 m. If desired and possible, you can select individual sizes. In addition, some manufacturers offer a dimensional grid in advance, in which the most popular and demanded sizes are indicated.
The dimensions of the sectional doors to the garage are selected according to certain parameters and recommendations:
- It is worth thinking for the future, that is, if the family now has a passenger car, then in the future it can change to an SUV or even a family-type van. Also, the family will burn not one car, but two or more at once. In this case, it is better to buy a gate with dimensions of 3 x 2.5 m.
- The installation depth depends on the type of door. For example, if the structure has an electric drive, then it will need additional space, due to which the depth will be more than 3 meters. The mechanism located in the ceiling space also requires space, which means it will affect the height of the gate. The upper headroom must be at least 2.1 m. Only in this case, the lifting gate will move freely. Automatic gates require 1-1.2 m on each side of the opening, so it is better not to carry out any communications on the walls in these places.
- The gate size is also affected by the swing angle and incline on the access road.
Gate dimensions are selected depending on the size of the garage itself. But it also happens that you have to get upset, and this applies not only to the walls, but also to the gates themselves. Therefore, it is worth thinking about this moment even at the stage of building a garage and maybe even making a "reserve" to expand the family's car park. Also, do not forget that parking may require maneuvering, and this will also require a place.
There are general recommendations regarding the size of garage doors in relation to the dimensions of the car:
- sedan, hatchback - 2500 x 2100 mm;
- minivan - 2700 x 2500 mm;
- pickup - 3000 x 2500 mm;
- minibus - from 3090 x 2520 to 3225 x 3220 mm.
Experts recommend making the entrance 60 mm (or even better, 120 mm) wider, and 30 mm (or even better, 60 mm) in height more than the dimensions of the existing car.
You can buy sectional garage doors both in specialized stores and on websites. As for the cost in size, it is approximately as follows:
- minimum size (1870 x 2500 mm) - about $ 600;
- medium size (2540 x 3000 mm) - about $ 720;
- maximum size (3040 x 5000 mm) - approximately $ 1195.
Sectional doors can also be ordered according to individual measurements. Also, the final cost is influenced by the final configuration, for example, whether there are locking locks or not.
It will be extremely difficult to install a sectional door in a garage with your own hands. But many firms offer such services. And if you order a product and install it with it, you can get a good discount.
Today, the most popular manufacturers are Alutech (Belarus), DoorHan (Czech Republic), Ryterna (Lithuania), Vishnjovski (Poland) and Hormann (Germany). These companies have a fairly wide range of products.
As you can see from all of the above, when buying a sectional garage door, the size and price are completely interconnected. Therefore, first you need to solve the issue with the dimensions of the room itself, and then select the design parameters for it.