When deciding on a new garage door for your home, you may think there are only one or maybe two options to choose from. However, garage doors have evolved and the technology available has given homeowners more variety of doors to choose between.
In this blog, we will explore the 6 different types of garage doors for your home. To find out if you need to replace your garage door, or if it would be more cost-effective to have it repaired, ready last month’s blog here.
Up and Over Garage Doors
Starting with one of the most popular types of garage door, the up-and-over. This is a simple design, with one piece of the panel making them easy to use – all you have to do is pull up or down in one swift motion! It’s also known as an over-canopy garage door.
These are available in a variety of styles and materials, including steel, GRP, and timber. There are two different designs to choose from: ribbed or panelled, including the option to add in “glass” effect panels.
Roller Garage Doors
For those with limited garage space, a roller garage door is a great solution. It opens vertically and rolls into a compact box at the top of the garage door opening. There’s no internal tracking mechanism required inside your garage, making it one of the tidier options. Ideal for larger vehicles such as 4×4 or people carriers.
The roller garage door is the most diverse type of door in regards to installation positioning and is suitable for almost any size of garage. There’s also the added feature of remote-control electronic operation, or you can stick with a manual opening if you prefer.
Sectional Garage Doors
These are a hugely popular choice for garage doors as they offer fantastic security and insulation. A sectional garage door is made up of panel sections that are connected with hinges. Due to its thick double-skin steel section that is evenly filled with CFC-free PU foam, it is the perfect choice of garage door for integral garages or workshops.
In order for the door to open and close, wheels at the edge of each panel roll inside a vertical track. This bends the hinges between each section, over a curved portion of the track. It’s because of this that the door can sit parallel to the ceiling when completely open, or in line with the walls when completely closed.
Side Hinged Garage Doors
This design is traditional but incredibly versatile. It provides solutions to problems that wouldn’t be possible with any other type of garage door. They are simple in design and operation, making them easy to maintain as there are minimal moving parts.
They operate by swinging open from a hinged frame on either side of the opening. Like that of barn doors. This type of garage door looks great in timber but is also available in materials such as steel. Typically, they open outwards, leaving the maximum amount of space available inside the garage.
Round the Corner Garage Doors
This type of garage door operates as the name would imply, by bending to one side of the garage and sitting parallel to the wall. The design makes it a great option for garages with very little headroom, or for those with tall vehicles, like vans.
Another benefit of round-the-corner garage doors is that they can still be effective on slight slopes. They also do not require balancing springs and have a built-in retractable motor.
Sliding and Folding Garage Doors
Wooden bi-fold garage doors with glass panel at San Francisco, California. Garage exterior with plants at the side of the concrete driveway and a brown shingle sidings on the wall.
Sliding and folding garage doors work well for larger fronted garages and are available in materials such as aluminum, steel, and timber. They also offer great freedom for design as there are no limitations on the thickness, weight, or size of the panels used.
An added advantage to this type of garage door is it can be fitted externally or internally.
If you would like more information on the types of garage doors available at Hipwoods, you can browse the range here.