What You Need to Know When Choosing Garage

Perhaps your garage doors need to be replaced, or maybe you are just tired of your old ones. Whatever the reason, having garage doors installed is a major decision that requires some research and thought. Garage doors are large in size; therefore, their installation requires some careful consideration. There are a variety of style options, as well as options for opening and closing the door. Knowing some basic facts about garage doors and how they work will help you make the best possible choice when selecting the right door for you.

There are a few basic differences worth noting. A door can either consist of one large panel, or several smaller panels that are hinged to allow the door to fold when opening and closing. The mechanism for opening and closing a garage door involves rollers that are guided along tracks. A sectional door made up of multiple panels can avoid the problem of requiring space between the car and door when opening the garage. The hinges on the sectional door allow the door to open without extending beyond the opening of the garage.

The style of door varies, but there are basically three styles that are popular at the moment. The raised panel is popular, but the recessed panel look is more traditional. The carriage house design has become popular more recently. Doors can be made from a variety of materials, including wood (and wood composite), steel, vinyl, and even glass. Insulation is an option worth considering.
There are two types of spring mechanism for physically moving the door. An extension spring mechanism uses two springs along the tracks to lift the door. They usually require a system of pulleys in place to pull the door up when opening. A torsion spring mechanism, on the other hand, features tightly wound springs. The torsion springs untwist as the door is lowered. They are generally considered to be superior, as they are a less complicated mechanism and do not require a safety cable, as the extension spring lift mechanism does. The door may be made be opened and closed manually, although many people prefer to use a garage door opener to remotely open and close the door.

When choosing someone to install your door, be sure that measurement is their first step in the installation process, and be sure to ask about maintenance of the door. The installation of a garage door first requires an accurate measurement of the garage. The maintenance of garage doors will ensure your safety. The springs will need to be lubricated from time to time to keep the door opening and closing without difficulty. It may be necessary at some point to change the springs, but that should be done by a trained professional, preferably the same company that you initially choose to install the door.

As you see, many options exist for anyone interested in having garage doors installed, either for a new garage, or to replace doors which no longer function and cannot be repaired. Knowing what is out there will help you decide what kind of door is right for your garage.