Why are sectional garage doors so popular? They are simply more comfortable and warmer than swing ones, while at the same time, they look stylish and modern. However, not all sectional doors are able to please the car owner with proper operation. After all, there are different designs on the market – high-quality and not so good. If you are looking for a garage door repair and installation services company, then this article about the main mistakes when choosing sectional garage doors will help you make the right choice.
Cold Gate Installation
Often, when ordering gates, owners of unheated garages are not interested in their thermal insulation properties. However, over time, this building, especially if it is adjacent to or located under the house, turns into a workshop and storage room. In addition, the owner begins to understand the benefits of storing the car at above-zero temperatures. This means a higher level of comfort and an increase in the service life of the machine.
But with cold garages, heating it is useless, which means you can forget about a truly cozy garage. The only way out is to look for a warmer garage, and this is an extra expense that could be avoided by ordering energy-efficient structures right away. Sp what can you do?
- When choosing sectional garage doors, we advise you to pay attention to the thickness of the panels from which they are made. We recommend paying attention to sandwich panels measuring 45 mm. In terms of thermal insulation, such a canvas is comparable to a 60 cm thick brick wall.
- Next is the seal contour. Ideally, the seals should not be made of ordinary rubber or soft PVC, but of ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), which remains elastic in cold weather and does not tear or crack due to temperature changes.
- In addition, sectional doors must have the ability to adjust the door leaf pressure, for example, using special brackets. This will ensure that they fit tightly to the opening and will help eliminate the gaps that appear as a result of the shrinkage of the garage.
Ignoring The Protection Of Sandwich Panels From Delamination And Swelling
Even with the most careful operation, it may happen that the owner closes the garage door too abruptly. The result is the delamination of panels and expensive repairs. In addition, the integrity of the sandwich panels may be compromised if the gate gets very hot in the sun (especially when the panel is dark in color).
This problem with garage door installation can be avoided if you order products in which steel sheets are interconnected into a lock. In addition, it is very good if a special adhesive varnish is used to adhere the foam and sheets.
Ignoring The Smooth Operation Of The Garage Door
High-quality sectional doors open quietly and smoothly, without sudden jerks. Vibrations and unpleasant sounds during product operation indicate the use of outdated solutions in the design, for example, all-metal rollers. Often soft rubber rollers are also used, which do not make noise, but wear out quickly, as well as wheels with rolling bearings, which require frequent lubrication.
The ideal option is a gate with double rollers, which ensures smooth and almost silent movement of the door leaf. Do you remember how difficult and creaking it was to close the drawers in old furniture and how quietly modern furniture fittings work? Likewise, double rollers in the gates bring a completely new level of comfort. When returning home late, you can safely open and close the gate, your loved ones will not hear the noise.
Ignoring Checking The Gate’s Corrosion Protection
The service life of garage doors largely depends on whether they are protected from corrosion. Rust on the canvas and other structural elements spoils the appearance of the products and causes malfunctions in their operation.
Taking this into account, some manufacturers use stainless steel elements in their gates. Due to its high chromium content, it is more resistant to corrosion than galvanized steel.
But the coating of the panels with zinc and primer is responsible for protecting the door leaf itself from rust (and at the same time from minor damage, temperature changes, and exposure to household chemicals).
Ignoring Safety When Operating The Gate
Unfortunately, customers are often not interested in safety devices, believing that it is enough to simply monitor the performance of the main gate mechanisms. But even a working mechanism can cause injuries during operation.
Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that the manufacturer has included protection in the garage door against pinching fingers between the panels. It is also important that the cables responsible for raising and lowering the canvas have a significant margin of strength (that is, they are able to withstand a load exceeding the weight of the canvas).
To eliminate the risk of the canvas falling if the spring breaks, the structures must have safety springs or braking devices (ratchet clutches).
Refusal Of Additional Options
The garage often stores not only the car, but also tools, bicycles, and gardening equipment. If you forget about the additional door, you will have to lift the garage doors much more often, and, therefore, use up the service life of the garage doors. In addition, in winter, an additional door is also an opportunity to reduce heat loss.
Two more useful options that many people overlook are windows built into the canvas, which provide better illumination of the garage, as well as a deadbolt lock, which is used to securely lock the gate.
Wrapping It Up
Sectional doors open and close easily using a motor and remote control. This makes them easy to use, especially in bad weather or when moving in and out of a garage. We recommend that you approach the choice of garage doors responsibly and do not ignore the possibility of using additional functions. If you are looking for a reliable company that provides garage door repair and installation services, contact STI Garage Doors.
