The right garage door not only provides superior protection for your precious, personal belongings, but its unique style also adds charm to your home’s exterior. How to Choose a Garage Door?
There are various types of garage doors to select from, which vary by operation, style, and construction, to suit just about any property, including residential homes, businesses, loading docks, and more.
How They are Made
A garage door is constructed using various materials, including wood, wood composite, fiberglass, or vinyl. However, the typical garage door is generally comprised of four aluminum or steel panels, which are treated with a coat of polyester paint for added protection against harsh climates.
The steel or aluminum sheet is then passed through rollers that imprint a texture, such as simulated wood grain, onto the surface. The sheet then goes through a press that imprints a design, or it is simply left plain.
An automated machine then cuts the sheets into various garage door sizes, while another machine simultaneously creases the edges to create 1/2 inch joints for attaching the panels.
Metal plates are then hot glued onto the back of the panels, which will later be used to attach various components, including the hinges, brackets, and the opener mechanism, to the door.
The two sheets are then assembled together to form a panel, which is then injected with polyurethane foam to create a solid core.
Lastly, the final components are installed onto the door, such as windows and weatherstripping. The installation hardware is then packed into a box and then the garage door is ready to be installed.
How They Work
There are two basic types of garage door systems, which operate by counterbalancing the weight of the door while simultaneously using the garage door’s springs to provide assistance.
The torsion spring system is the most common type of garage door system, which utilizes cables attached to the lower part of the door to cause the torsion springs positioned at the top of the door to wind up. This, in turn, creates stored energy, which is then used to help open the garage door.
On the other hand, an extension spring system uses springs that are attached to cables at the bottom corners of the door, which stretch when the door is lifted and uses stored energy to open the door.
Garage Door Styles
There are various garage door styles, including carriage doors, traditional doors, contemporary doors, and raised panel doors.
Carriage-Style Doors
Carriage-style doors duplicate the look of the doors found on old carriage houses. Most carriage-style doors swing open; however, there are some models that fold open with an automatic opener.
Traditional-Style Doors
Traditional-style doors are available in American home-styles, such as Victorian, Ranch, Craftsman, Ranch, and Cape, as well as European styles, such as Mediterranean, Spanish, and French Country, and they can be specially ordered in various colors and materials.
Contemporary-Style Doors
Contemporary doors feature clean lines and state-of-the-art materials to complement modern home designs, such as the popular tempered glass door encased in an aluminum painted frame.
Raised-Panel Doors
The raised-panel garage door is probably the garage door that comes to mind when you think of a garage door, and they are available in original raised-panel door styles as well as modern styles.
How to Choose a Garage Door: Making the Choice
Taking all of these different factors into consideration when looking to purchase a new garage door can be a huge challenge. That’s why we offer a free consultation with our garage door experts. They can tell you if you need to repair or completely replace your door, what kind of door you should look for, and even what styles will look good on your home. Call All 4 Seasons Garage Doors today or fill out an online contact form and you will hear back from us within 24 hours.