Apart from the obvious function of providing a secured exit and entry point, the various garage door types available all provide a level of uniqueness and personality to your house and in the process assist in the transformation of your house into a home. Their shapes and sizes are many and varied as are the materials employed in making them. Garage door can be a major decorative element of the house since they are basically a blank canvas on which you can express your individuality by the colors and design you choose for them .These doors come in different designs and configurations which we shall explore in detail below
What are some of the common garage door types available today?
Retractable doors
These doors open outwards swinging from hinges at the top where they can then be pushed inside into the roof of the garage once they are fully open. Pivot points for the door are at the top. With this kind of mechanism you maybe unable to park your car close to the door. It's easy to install since spring assemblies are fitted on the side-frames with tracks to the top supporting the top of your door. They are among the easiest garage doors to automate as a majority of openers will work with them without problems. They provide fairly good security as they come with several latches. Automation maybe a problem with the latches but there are available work around for this.
Canopy doors
As it opens, the door will swing outwards but not to the same extent as a retractable as they will retract into the roof of the garage halfway through opening. This will leave about 1/3 of the door outside protruding. This may leave you unable to park close to the door. Pivot points will be about halfway down your door a factor that boosts overall door security. They are a lot easier to install compared to other garage door types as the whole door will mount on the frame meaning there is no need for tracks inside your garage. The downside here is that automating these doors is not very easily unless you use special openers which will often cost you more than regular ones.
Sectional doors
These are simply several hinged panels which are all separate and that are arranged horizontally. The whole door works by rising vertically and then sliding backwards into the garage ceiling space. As the entire assembly is light and uncomplicated, you won't need to setup a frame for the door meaning you will have a lot more drive in space. There is need to enhance the security and weather protection by adding sealing all round the door. An advantage with this kind of door is the ease of installation as it will often come in a kit that can be easily installed in as little as 4 hours.
Roller garage doors
These are some of the most common garage doors in Melbourne area. They are simply single curtains that will roll up into your ceiling when it's opened. Installation involves attaching them on the backside on the front bricking of the garage. You should therefore ensure that there is clear space in the ceiling space as the door rolls into a spindle in this space when it's open. The fact that there is no need for a door frame means that installation is not intrusive but you will need to do some extra work on ensuring that the spaces around the door are well proofed against weather and intruders. They are among the garage door types available that allow for either manual or electric operation.
Side hinging doors
These adapt the traditional design of a door as they open outwards and inwards in some special cases. Wood and various metals are some of the materials that are used for these doors. With these garage door types you will need good clearance to open them meaning they can be a headache if you have a small driveway. They provide good security as latches and other lock types can be added with ease
As is obvious above, you will need to be aware of how the garage is constructed before you choose from among the garage door types available.
