Garage Doors

Garage doors are one of those things that most people don’t think about when purchasing a home or repairing, but they can really be a pain if not installed correctly. The first thing to remember is to buy a garage door that is higher quality. It may cost slightly more now, but will save tons of money and frustration down the road. There are many price ranges and quality levels on garage doors. Typically, when a garage door is broken or needs repair, the problem is one of three things: 1. It has come off its railing system and the door is not moving up and down the tracks evenly, 2. A spring that controls the tension of the garage door is out of balance or has broken, 3. The electronic sensors have become damaged or the wires cut.

Another major factor to consider with your garage door is how safe is it. This is one of the heaviest moving pieces of equipment in your home. A finger can be pinched right off in the slots if a poor design is purchased. Be careful and give safety a major weight when selecting your garage door.

There are two types of garage doors available: tilt-ups and the sectional roll-up doors. The tilt-up type is a single panel that pivots out and up. A sectional roll-up door is made out of four or more horizontal sections. These are then hinged together and mounted with rollers on the tracks at each side so the door can roll straight up and back.

Most of the tilt-up doors cost from 25% to 35% less than the sectional doors. A sectional door, now much more common, is better because it's safer and easier to operate. It can be opened even when a car is parked directly in front of it. It also allows substantially more headroom in the garage. Because sectional doors fit behind, rather than within the opening, they are more weather tight, and they are more secure because they can't be pried open from the sides.

Following are the major factors I would suggest you consider when analyzing what garage door to purchase.

Maintenance Requirements

Strength and Gauge of Track, Hardware and Face Steel

Security and Safety Issues

Warranties

Insulation "R" Values i.e. Polystyrene v. Polyurethane

Styles Available i.e. Raised Panel, Flush, Ribbed, Elongated Panels, etc.

Composition i.e. Steel, Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum, Composite, Fiberglass

Available Colors, Finishes and Window Options

Thickness - Thicker is not always better!

Durability - Will it dent?

Counterbalance Spring Mechanisms i.e. Extension vs. Torsion

Construction of Sections

Available Options i.e. Quiet Glide Rollers, Top Seals, Emergency Disconnect, etc.