Types of garage doors
Garage doors for a particular room are selected based on the desired characteristics, financial capabilities and space available to the owner of the vehicle.
Types of designs come in 6 varieties:
- Swing;
- Recoil;
- Folded;
- Rolled;
- Lift-and-swivel;
- Sectional.
Swing fences are the very first existing type, appearing along with the first fences. This type of configuration includes two doors that open either inward or outward, depending on the owner’s preferences.
You can build a gate into swing gates, which makes them convenient if you need to repair a car in the garage and it takes a long time to open the doors.
Also, a design of this type has its advantages: relative cheapness, understanding of the techniques of use, repair and restoration, heat preservation. Often, such gates are made of metal, sometimes of wood or corrugated sheets. They are used everywhere, in private homes, factories, warehouses, for fencing, for entering fenced areas. There are also disadvantages: to open, you need a lot of space outside or inside the room, depending on where the doors open, in winter, especially after snowfall, you need to clean the area near the gate, also, the space where the doors open must be level so that do not create an obstacle for them.
Video on the topic
Having considered the main types of garage doors, you can evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of certain designs. If you make it yourself, the simplest option is swing gates. When purchasing ready-made options, decide on the possible options, evaluate the convenience of the mechanisms, and choose high-quality and proven products. By saving on a flimsy design made of thin roller shutters, you will deprive your garage and car of reliable protection.
Sliding automatic garage doors
This type is installed, more often, in industrial areas or in order to block off a wide space in the private sector. This is due to the fact that for high-quality operation of sliding options, a space is required, the same width and length as the leaf in the direction where it is planned to open, since the gate leaf moves to the side and it needs space.
Peculiarities:
- The shift itself occurs using a roller system; they are made from aluminum profiles, which are then covered with enamel, and other structural details are carefully processed.
- Such gates can be decorated with wood, artificial stone, etc.
- Sliding options have the ability to be attached to both the outside of the building and the inside.
Gates of this format can also be made from a profile pipe, similar to a forged product; they will not have thermal insulation properties, but they will look beautiful and unusual. Among the advantages that sliding gates have are: space saving in front and inside the garage, strength, stability, high burglary resistance and no need to clear the snow in front of the garage. Among the disadvantages, again, they require a large and long space along the wall with which they will open. High price.
Double-leaf swing doors
This type of gate has been and remains the most popular because of its cost and reliability. Swing mechanisms consist of two permanent doors attached to hinges to rigid posts. For structural strength, the racks are made in the form of a solid metal frame.
The doors are made in such a way that they can open both outside and inside the garage - it depends on the desire of the owner. For convenience, one of the doors is equipped with a gate.
Double-leaf swing gates are most suitable for creating a warm garage.
These gates have a number of advantages and disadvantages compared to other types. The advantages include the following:
- The cost of this design is much lower than previous types.
- Swing gates can be installed in limited spaces.
- It is possible to install an electric drive on them.
- Gates can be effectively insulated with various materials.
The disadvantages of swing gates include a number of the following criteria:
- The gate design is outdated.
- Periodic inspection of the gate hinges and frame is necessary. Over time, the doors may sag and touch the ground. This may also cause further malfunction of the automatic drive.
- The service life of this type of gate is shorter than that of others due to the loads on the hinges and frame when the leaves are open.
- In front of the garage you need space to open the doors.
Folded types
This type is based on the principle of an accordion; they fold and unfold; it is possible to install it both at the top, so that the gate folds under the ceiling, and on the wall, so that it folds along the wall. The gates consist of sections, and in the spaces between them it is necessary to install sealing gaskets in order to avoid the entry of dust, dirt and moisture, and, most importantly, to retain heat inside the garage.
The most commonly used option is to install such a structure under the ceiling; the point is that when such a structure is installed on the wall, when opened, it takes up part of the size of the opening, and not every car will be able to drive there. If this is used in a private home, then there is no problem.
Main advantages:
- Space saving, both when installed vertically and horizontally.
- In case of vertical installation there is no need to remove snow in front of the gate.
- Sealing gaskets ensure the thermal insulation of the garage, and plastic windows can be installed in sections of such doors.
The disadvantages are that the structure itself is not strong enough, and when opening up to half a meter of additional space is required.
Useful tips
What details should you pay attention to when choosing the right garage door? Take note of some important tips.
- When purchasing, be sure to check the reliability of the polymer coating and find out how the elements were galvanized. These indicators affect the durability of the gate. Galvanization is usually carried out using thermal powder spraying.
- Require only high-quality polyurethane filler if you choose panels. This will allow them to last longer without delamination and maintain their thermal insulation properties.
- Pay attention to the joints - only high-quality and wear-resistant polymer should be used there.
- Ask the seller if the panels are reinforced with metal plates, as this provides additional strength.
- Install a locking device on the torsion springs so that the gate does not fall on you or your car if it breaks.
- Choose a material suitable for your climate. In areas with high humidity or harsh weather conditions, anti-corrosion protection will be required. Ask how the structure will react to extreme cold.
- Check to see if your gate is covered under warranty. Find out how long the structure will last in the event of a break-in, so you know whether it is worth installing additional bolts or locks.
- Remember that “locks are for honest people,” so alarm systems, video surveillance and other means for protecting your garage property have not been canceled.
- The electric automatic opening drive is installed both in plain sight and hidden in the floor. Please note that the maximum distance from which the automatic opening system is activated is 50 meters. The drive consumes from 240 W to 260 W and does not require special maintenance, but it will require automatic locking if a foreign body gets under the sash (or leaf). And with the help of the remote control you can both open the gate and turn on the lights in the garage.
- Please note that when purchasing, they will tell you the price for the basic set, consisting of a canvas, a frame, locks and a manual drive, and all additional accessories and elements will have to be paid separately.
- When choosing a sample, make sure that your fingers are not pinched by the joints of the sections. Different companies have different section mating profiles.
Roll types
They are used for opening heights of no more than 6 meters and a width of 7 m.
Peculiarities:
- The principle of operation is that the drive shaft, closed by a box, rolls the gate upward into a roll when opening, and unfolds downward when closing.
- The canvas consists of lamellas, aluminum horizontal beams connected by special fasteners.
- Such gates are popular in the field of private houses; they do not have sufficient heat resistance and are not shock-resistant, but do not take up usable space, so they are often used in warehouses.
Advantages: space saving, can be used indoors. Disadvantages: they do not retain heat and are easy to hack.
Lift-and-swivel types
Up-and-over gates do not have shutters or a sectional mechanism; they are a large, insulated, dense sheet that covers the entire opening. It opens using a special hinge-lever mechanism. When the web rises, it moves using rollers, which, in turn, move along guide rails. When the gate is open, the canvas is located under the garage ceiling, parallel to the floor.
Up-and-over gates consist, for the most part, of sandwich panels, with insulation and sealing between them. They can come in various colors and designs. Also, it is possible to install windows in such a canvas.
The advantages are:
- Space saving;
- Possibility to install garage doors of any format and size;
- They are made automatic and there is no need to clear the snow.
It is better to check the mechanism regularly. The disadvantages were: ice formation in winter, easy to break into, impossible to open and close constantly, maximum 10 times in 24 hours, replacement of the structure during repairs, only in its entirety, the opening can be rectangular in shape.
Sectional types of automatic gates
This type of configuration is suitable for openings with a height of no more than 4 m.
Design:
- The gate consists of long, narrow sections that fold tightly when closed and are secured to the ceiling.
- Typically, sections are either sandwich panels or made of aluminum.
- Also, a gate and windows can be installed in this design option.
Inconveniences are caused by such factors as complex design and low resistance to burglary. The main advantages are thermal insulation and installation in rooms with high openings, which is convenient for trucks and warehouses.
As you can see, there are a large number of options, for every color, taste and budget. But there are enthusiasts who want to create such a design with their own hands.
A little about sizes
Before you begin, you need to consider the size, design, operation, installation and use of other accessories. There are state standards for gate sizes. GOST 31174-2003 states: for small cars and motorcycles, the recommended width is 1.80–2.20 m, the height is about 2 m. If the car is large, it is recommended to have an opening width of at least 4.80 m. There is a universal algorithm for measuring the size of garage doors under your car. To do this, you need to take the width of the car and add 45 cm to it on each side.
Almost all manufacturers can produce garage doors in the required size. But there are limitations. It's about load. If the material is steel or aluminum, the maximum load should not exceed 15 kg per square meter. In this case, the width of the gate can be up to 5 m and the height up to 3 m.
Attention! Custom-made products will cost you more than buying ready-made garage structures that have standard dimensions.
