An almost overwhelming number of features and specifications can be found when looking for garage doors. A few of these characteristics make a difference in the functionality of the door in everyday operations. Many, however, are optional and are, to a large degree, useless. Some of these features, though, are worth your consideration.
Insulation: More Important Than You’d Think
One of the individual characteristics that are often overlooked is insulation. Most individuals assume insulation is a non-issue until winter when the garage is freezing, and summer when the garage is boiling. If the garage is used for things other than parking a vehicle, insulation is greatly needed.
What most garage door insulation consists of is polyurethane foam that is sandwiched between steel or aluminum panels. This foam comes in varying degrees of thickness. A 40 mm thickness is standard and 50 mm or more insulation quality is good. This insulation greatly affects the temperature of the garage and is crucial if the garage is used for a workshop or gym.
Noise reduction is another added benefit. When garage doors are insulated, they are much quieter overall when shutting and opening, and insulated garage doors also block noise from the outside more. If the garage is attached to the house or if the neighbors are close, this can prevent the garage door from becoming a loud and annoying alarm clock in the early morning hours.
Energy bills have to be taken into consideration as well. If your garage is connected to your house, an uninsulated garage door is also an uninsulated gaping hole in your house, which is something your heating system will have to work against. This is especially relevant to older homes where the garage has a wall that connects to a living room or a bedroom. Installing an insulated door will cut down heating costs.
There is nothing wrong with single-skin, uninsulated garage doors, especially if the garage is detached and is just used for car storage. These types of garage doors also tend to be more affordable, and they are uninsulated, which is just fine as you are not losing anything of value.
In the past, installation of electric garage door openers used to be an expensive addition to a garage door. However, they are now a garage door requirement and for good reason: once you’ve had an electric garage door opener, using a garage door manually reverts you back to a pre-historic age.
The average layout of an automatic garage door opener consists of a motor that is mounted to the ceiling or a door mechanism that does the heavy lifting. To open or close the door, you press a button on a remote control and most of these openers will come with two remote controls, and extras can be purchased if you need more.
Current garage door systems include automatic safety measures. Doors have an auto-reverse function where they stop and reverse if they encounter an obstruction. This helps prevent injuries to individuals and pets. Advanced systems have the ability to detect objects before the door even makes contact, activating auto-reverse early.
Having battery backups is a consideration if you live in an area where power outages are a concern. In the case of power outages, you will still be able to open and close the door, meaning you will not be stuck outside or be trapped in the garage. This functionality is included in some systems, while in others, it is an add-on feature.
More and more systems are offering smart technology to integrate garage door systems with smart home devices. It allows you to open or close the garage door from an app on your phone, receive notifications when the door is opened or closed, and provides peace of mind when you are able to check on the status of the door. Some systems are even compatible with voice control devices like Alexa or Google Home. Just be sure to set voice privacy and control features.
Federal regulations require manual overrides to be accessible and easy to use. In case of power outages and when the motor malfunctions or breaks, you should have the ability to manually open and close the garage door. Be sure that you know where the manual bypass is located and how to use it.
Materials: What the Door’s Actually Made Of
The material impacts the appearance of the door, the longevity, and the requirements for upkeep. Each one has its pros and cons.
For modern garage doors, the most popular option is steel, due to its strength, affordability, and relatively low upkeep (just occasional cleaning is required). Steel doors can also be insulated and they have a variety of colors and finishes for you to choose from. Cheaper steel doors, however, can get dents and rust if they get damaged and the coating gets damaged.
Aluminium doesn’t rust, making it the better option for coastal areas. It also has the added benefit of mostly low upkeep and staying decent for a long time, however it is also more expensive and dents more easily than steel. It is also lighter, so it is more practical for a large door. We’ve also seen that is due to the weight, it is also more expensive than the steel option.
Timber looks great with traditional designs and gives that old school garage door charm! Naturally, it is is also a good insulator. The downside with maintenance is timber doors need treating and painting regularly or else they will rot or warp. For material looks, timber better than the rest. If maintaining it is off your schedule, go with other materials.
It looks like with GRP. It’s also a glass reinforced plastic that is tough and contains no rust and rot, and is maintanence free with the look of timber. For coastal or any extreme weather, it is great. It is a bit more than steel, but less than a good timber so it is mid-range.
Windows and Glazing Options
The topic of garage door windows is a divisive issue. Some people enjoy the light they let in, while others are concerned about security and visibility.
If you’re going for windows, top panel placement is the most common option, letting light in without the ability to see fully inside. It is also total height windows that are modern designs, but they sacrifice a lot in the privacy area unless frosting or blinds are added.
The kind and range of glazing affect insulation and security features within the building. The cheapest glazing is single but has poor insulation. More expensive is double which greatly contributes to heat retention as well as the attenuation of sound. If security is concerned, toughened or laminated is a good consideration as this type of glass is significantly more difficult to shatter compared to tempered glass.
Frosted or tinted glass provides luminance within the interior but without visibility from the outside of the building. There are also retro glass patterns obscuring view of the interior. While these glass bespoke patterns are mostly used to illuminate the interiors, they are also a good artistic solution for uniting light and privacy.
## Color and Finish
Typical stock range of a garage door includes white, cream, grey, brown, black which represent a main palette. These also match to the majority of house colors without having to pay extra for garage doors. Custom color matching for houses tends to be available, but this may increase the price of the garage door considerably.
Timber look without having to maintain actual wood is possible with woodgrain finishes on steel or GRP doors. These finishes respected the industry more in recent years, but with a good quality door, you may find these finishes are difficult to distinguish from a real wood finish, particularly on sectional doors where the design of the door.
Smooth finishes align with contemporary aesthetics. They are cleaner and have a sharper appearance than textured finishes. However, doors in heavy-use areas may need a textured finish, since these are better at concealing wear such as scratches or scuffs.
Steel doors with a powder coat finish are more resilient than painted ones since powder coating offers better protection plus color retention. The more expensive powder coating is more economical in the long run, as it is chip and scratch resistant and lasts longer.
Safety Features
In the UK, CE marking is a legal requirement for the powered garage doors, since it provides proof that the door complies with the legal framework on emergency release and force limitation safety standards. It is only a matter of formality, but safety marking is something you need to verify.
Finger safety is a standard feature in modern sectional doors. There is no gap at the pivoting hinges and gaps, so no one should get their fingers stuck when the door is closing.
In terms of safety, slow closing is also a feature of modern doors. No one wants a door to slam. Smoother and more quiet operation is also a large safety feature, since it is more considerate to nearby people and less wear and tear on the doors.
Emergency exits must consider security. Some doors have manual outdoor overrides (typically a key) that are useful during a power outage, but pose security threats. Consider this during selection.
What is Worth Paying For
Good insulation is worthwhile if you use the garage frequently or if it’s attached to the home. The increased comfort is noticeable and heating costs are a savings.
Automation is also a worthwhile expense, assuming you’re not on a severely limited budget. The convenience is noticeable on a daily basis and the price has become reasonable.
Value is lost if the materials and construction are disregarded in favor of extravagant features. For instance, a high-quality steel door will outlast a timber door of all the high-priced features.
All else is situational. Windows may be essential if the garage is dark, or may be unnecessary if good lighting is available. Matching custom colors to your home may be important, but if standard colors are available, they may be wasted money.
Figure out what you really need as opposed to what a brochure says you should buy, and you will have a door that will properly do its job without you having to pay for features that you will never need.