Garage doors are an essential component of contemporary living, offering a host of benefits that extend beyond functionality.
While your garage door serves a primary functional purpose, which is to provide secure access to your vehicles and belongings, it should also encompass aspects of safety, convenience, aesthetics and energy efficiency.
Are you considering upgrading your garage door? Prepare to be faced with a wide range of options, each with its own unique set of strengths and weaknesses.
Here’s our comprehensive guide to navigating the various types of garage doors on the market and to choosing the most appropriate style for your home and needs.
Types of Garage Doors Explained
Up and Over Garage Doors
Up and over garage doors offer a straightforward and cost-effective solution to garage access.
The defining feature of this traditional type of garage door is a large panel that pivots upwards to open and descends to close.
Pros of up and over garage doors
- One of the most affordable types of garage door
- A practical choice for homeowners who prioritise ease of maintenance
- Durable and long-lasting
Cons of up and over garage doors
- Ample clearance is required for the garage door to open and close
- Up and over garage doors are stored inside the garage when open, which reduces the amount of usable space
- Widely regarded as being insecure, with criminals able to use outer clearance to pry doors open
- Reduced insulation capabilities and increased susceptibility to weather exposure make them less energy-efficient than other garage door types
- Often involve manual lifting, so increasingly unsuitable for older homeowners
- Access space is required to lift and lower the garage door, which means you can’t park a car right up to it
Side Hinged Garage Doors
Side hinged garage doors are another traditional type of garage door.
Unlike up and over garage doors that open vertically, side hinged garage doors feature two large panels that swing open outwards from the centre of the garage door opening.
Pros of side hinged garage doors
- Another cost-effective option for budget-conscious homeowners
- Their traditional design contributes to a classic and stylish appearance
- Convenient and user-friendly
Cons of side hinged garage doors
- Similar drawbacks to those associated with up and over garage doors in relation to security concerns and energy efficiency
- Requires a large amount of clearance space to open doors on to the driveway; might not be suitable for homes with small driveways where a car is also kept
- Less design flexibility in comparison to more contemporary garage door types
Sectional Garage Doors
Sectional garage doors offer a combination of functionality and security.
They are composed of multiple panels that slide up and down along tracks, opening and closing vertically, and can be operated manually or electronically.
Pros of sectional garage doors
- Adaptable and versatile, allowing them to be customised to fit almost any garage opening
- Their robust construction and design offers a greater level of security
- Increased insulation capabilities and minimised weather exposure make them more energy-efficient than other garage door types
Cons of sectional garage doors
- They carry a higher upfront cost compared to their traditional counterparts
- Their complex design may necessitate a greater level of maintenance
- They rely on an internal metal framework to ‘store’ the door inside the garage when open, thus reducing the available ceiling and wall storage space in your garage by 25% compared to electric garage doors
Electric Roller Garage Doors
Electric roller garage doors are a convenient, safe and stylish option for homeowners – and this is where Garolla come in!
Here’s just a handful of of the ways an electric roller garage door from Garolla can transform the look and functionality of your garage:
Pros of roller garage doors:
- Offers enhanced convenience by allowing you to operate the garage door from up to 20m away - including inside your vehicle
- Provides improved security with advanced safety features such as auto locks,anti-clone remote controls and a sturdy side guide system
- Improves the energy efficiency of your home by reducing heat transfer between the garage and outside environment
- Fixed guide rails and a heavy duty rubber seal help improve insulation from draughts and prevent water ingress
- Unlocks 25% more garage space, compared to up and over or sectional garage doors, by rolling neatly into an enclosed top box
- Offers unlimited customisation options, enhancing your home’s overall aesthetic with a wide range of styles, materials and finishes
Find out which one of our products is the most suitable for your home by booking a survey with Garolla today!
Selecting the right garage door
When choosing the right garage door for your home you'll need to consider a number of other factors...
- Clearance or opening type - as covered above, different garage doors open differently and much will depend on the available space inside and outside of your garage. It's undeniable that roller garage doors offer the most efficient use of space.
- Material - in most cases, the type of garage door you choose will impact the choice of material you go for. Side hinged doors are often made from wood or PVC, while our roller garage doors feature twin-walled aluminium insulated with polyurethane. This makes them light, rigid and resistant to the elements.
- Automation - do you want to be manually lifting or opening your garage door? Or do you want to enjoy the benefits of electric garage door automation, where the door will lift and close at the touch of a button?
- Appearance - appearances are obviously important when it comes to your garage door; you want to add kerb appeal to your property. But make sure you don't sacrifice usability and convenience in the process.