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Garage Door Buyers Guide

Contents

Garage Door Buyers Guide edit

Find out how you can avoid making a costly decision by choosing an inferior product that doesn’t meet your needs for a new garage door or electric operator.

Discover for the first time ever the valuable industry advice & secrets that will guarantee you choose the right door for you and save you money.

Choosing the right supplier

One way to do this would be to contact the major manufacturers and find their approved dealer in your area. This more or less guarantees that you are recommended to a reputable installer as the manufacturers tend to supply quality, long established businesses directly. However there are always exceptions so doing your homework is always worthwhile before investing your hard earned cash.

Buy cheap, buy twice

Do they have a price promise? This is a good indication as to whether a supplier is confident that their prices are competitive, but remember as with anything cheapest isn’t always best, there’s more to installing a garage door than just putting it in a opening. Quality installations will be carried out to manufacturer approved standards and attention to detail. The fine tuning of the operation of a garage door and UPVC trimming and sealing are what set a quality installation apart from an average job.

If you get a quote that is significantly cheaper than the others, ask yourself why? There is very little difference in the cost price that each garage door supplier pays for the products from the manufacturers so what might they be cutting corners on to undercut the others?


Who will be fitting your door?

Always ask whether your supplier use sub-contract labour? It’s unlikely that any sub-contract installers will have been trained to manufacturer approved standards and they may also be paid per installation which may cause them to cut corners to get as many doors fitted in a day as they can to maximize their earnings.

What about the Cowboys?

Are they a member of a trade organization or register, i.e Check-a Trade or Trust Mark. These organizations vet and monitor their member companies. You can often monitor customer feedback online. Check the comments are up to date and relevant.


Read the small print

Check the Terms & Conditions for clauses, some suppliers may reserve the right to increase prices between the point of taking your deposit and delivery. Make sure the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

Are they quoting shorter delivery times just to get your deposit?

It’s easy for a garage door supplier to say they can get a door quicker than a competitor just to secure your deposit and then let you down by making you wait for delivery. Best practice is to check with your chosen manufacturer for current lead times on your product of choice as these will vary with demand and availability of materials such as steel or timber.

Are they qualified to carry out al the works they are quoting for?

If they are proposing any new electrical installations, ensure they are compliant with the Part P regulations enforced by the NICEIC.

There are so many Automatic Operators to choose from, how do I make the right choice? edit

No-one likes getting out of the car when it's wet and windy or in the middle of the night to open the garage door and automating your garage door adds further convenience, safety and security. There are numerous manufacturers and models available, generally the German manufacturers lead the field in quality and technology.

There are literally hundreds of products to chose from, below is a guide to the considerations you should take into account when selecting your new automatic operator.


Automating your garage door

The key issues to bear in mind when choosing your new garage door for automatic operation are:

1. Ensure you have either retractable (up & over), side hinged, sectional or roller door types, if not you may need to replace the door as well. 2. Do not order a canopy door type if you need a new door and want to automate it. Cardale canopy doors can be automated with an Autoglide Operator but these are clumsy and difficult to install. 3. Ensure that you have at least 40mm clearance between the top of your garage door and the ceiling or obstruction (some openers need slightly more clearance) 4. Ensure you have electricity in your garage, solar panelled and battery operated versions are available where there is no supply. 5. If you are automating your existing garage door, ensure your garage door is in good working order as adding a motor won’t fix a broken door that you are struggling to open. The door may need to be serviced, involving replacement springs and all the moving parts being greased and oiled.

Safety

Garage doors are large heavy objects and the operator must stop immediately if the door is obstructed to avoid personal injury and damage to the door or your car.

European Standards require operators to have a safety stop system that automatically stops the door’s movement if its operation is obstructed. Some cheap Far Eastern imported operators do not have a CEN certificate, always check the operator you choose complies to the European Product Standards BS EN 13241-1, BS EN 12604, BS EN 12453, BS EN 60335-2-95 & BS EN 13241.

External emergency release

European Safety law requires an emergency door-release device to be fitted to automated garage doors where the garage has no alternative pedestrian access. This is in order to allow manual operation of the garage door in case of power failure.

Some garage door operators include a cable operated manual release system which enables operation by means of the door's original locking handle. Most garage door operators require an additional lock to be fitted to the door to enable it to be opened manually from outside.

Make sure you specify whether you have an alternative pedestrian access door when ordering your operator.

Security

Some of the cheaper automatic operators allow your garage door to be forced open at the bottom when in the closed position. This can be prevented with an additional locking system that can be added to your garage door to activate side and bottom locking bolts. The better operators have built in protection against forced entry.

The remote controls transmit using a coded radio signal, this can be a fixed or a rolling signal. The rolling code signal is randomly chosen from 4.3 billion possible codes and the fixed signal is transmitted in 3 parts preventing scanners from picking up the signal.

Pulling Force

To prolong the lifetime of your new operator it’s important to choose one that is capable of lifting in excess of the force required to open and close the door so it’s not constantly working at the limits of its capabilities. The manufacturer's technical specification will state the pulling force of the operator. The force is normally rated from around 550n for a typical single garage door to 1000n for a large double garage door. If you are in doubt choose a more powerful operator.

Warranty

Automatic operator warranties range from 1-5 years. As a general rule the longer the guarantee the more confidence the manufacturer has in their product.

Quiet Operation

Many of the chain driven operators are noisy when running and if quiet operation is important to you, if for example, you have a room above your garage, opt for a garage door operator that has a Kevlar or rope and ball style belt as these run smoothly and quietly.

Soft start & Soft stop

This feature will reduce stress on the drive mechanism of your operator and garage door. This will improve its reliability, it works by gently accelerating the motor to full speed during operation.

Soft start & soft stop motors are particularly beneficial for heavy garage doors and also offer quiet and gentle operation. Having an operator with this feature is particularly beneficial in garages with accommodation above them.

Energy Consumption

The amount of power consumed while the garage door is in motion is minimal as the electric motor only runs for about 15 seconds to operate the door. Operators with low energy consumption during standby mode have the most efficient running costs. High energy consumption when in standby mode can amount to hundreds of pounds over the lifetime of the operator.

Maintenance

Many of the better quality Garage Door Operators can be virtually maintenance free. Operators with self-adjusting drive tensioners can eliminate the need for costly service calls.

Wall Mounted Push-buttons

A wall mounted push-button is an essential, especially if you have an integral garage with direct access to the house. It's worth checking that a good quality push-button is included with your operator as standard as some manufacturers only supply a wall push-buttons as a chargeable extra.

Why it's not a good idea to automate an existing vertically tracked canopy garage door with a 'Bow Arm' or 'Canopy Arm' adaptor.

The canopy door adaptor or "bow arm" was designed to enable a conventional horizontal boom type electric garage door operator to lift a vertically tracked canopy door. It does this by converting some of the motor's horizontal force into a vertical force, enabling it to raise and lower the garage door on its vertical tracks.

The bow arm reduces the headroom as it protrudes approximately 150mm - 200mm (6" - 8") from the underside of the open door. It puts undue strain on the motor and garage door support mechanism resulting in premature failure of the installation.

Safety Issues


Because a canopy garage door fitted with a bow arm adaptor requires a very high level of motor force in order to move the door, the motor's safety-stop device has to be programmed to allow dangerously high levels of push /pulling force, resulting in a higher risk of injury if children or pets become trapped under the moving door.

We do not supply canopy bow arm adaptors because doors fitted with this device are unlikely to meet EU Machinery Directive Safety Regulations for power operated garage doors to which all our installations must comply.

Homelink

Some garage door operators are compatible with the Homelink system that is offered by some of the major car manufacturers. This is a pre-installed button in your vehicle which can be programmed to operate garage doors and gates.

Choosing The Right Garage Door For You edit

What Material Do I Want the Door to be made of?

When choosing a garage door as with any home improvement product, there will be aspects of its looks and maintenance which will influence your decision.

Steel

Steel Garage Doors offer a great combination of robust construction and excellent value for money. They are available in a wide range of attractive styles to suit modern or traditional homes. They are available pre-finished in various colours or can be supplied primed ready for painting by the home owner.

ABS (PVCu)

ABS is the same material that some car bumpers are made from offering great impact resistance. They are currently only available in white which is closely matched to PVCu windows. If you are accident prone or require an exact colour match to your windows ABS is a good option, however because of their dent resistance, the door panels can feel flimsy as they are made from one moulded piece.

Timber

Timber Garage Doors bring the natural beauty of wood to your home and are usually supplied treated with a base stain for further staining to suit your requirements. I would recommend having them factory stained as this not only guarantees the quality of the finish but also sometimes increases the warranty offered by the manufacturer. All the manufacturers recommend and use Sikkens stains.

Cedar is the timber used for these doors and they will require regular care and attention to retain their appearance so if you want something that is low maintenance you may want to look at a GRP Woodgrain door. As well as door made using cedar, Cardale offer a range of doors made from European Oak up to 2438mm wide.

GRP (Fibreglass)

These handmade garage doors come at a premium price in comparison to steel however they offer the user a low maintenance finish and a better strength to weight ratio than steel. With the choice of gloss white or authentic woodgrain GRP garage doors only require an occasional wipe down to retain their quality finish.

The woodgrain range of doors use an original timber door as their mould so the natural woodgrain is replicated in the GRP door panel.

What Size Garage Door Do I Need? edit

Garage doors are available in both standard single and double sizes as well as made to measure. Single doors (for 1 vehicle) are typically between 2134mm (7’0”) and 2438mm (8’0”) wide, and 1981mm (6’6”) and 2134mm (7’0”) high. The majority of styles also come in double sizes (2 vehicles) 4267mm (14’0”) wide.

Depending on the manufacturer, your choice of finish and mechanism, garage doors can be manufactured up to 5500mm wide and 3500mm high.

Most modern vehicles will fit through a 2134mm (7’0”) opening, however you may have to fold your wing mirrors in. I would recommend a minimum opening size of 2286mm (7’6”) if you can achieve it. If you order a retractable up and over door of less than this width, specify lifting arms that are ‘kinked’ creating extra room for the wing mirrors. These are referred to as Maximiser or Retractable Plus dependant on manufacturer.

A good way of maximising the drive through width of your garage door is to mount the frame on the rear of the brickwork opening as opposed to between. This will instantly increase your drive through width by up to 150mm (6”). Note this will effectively reduce the depth of your garage, so make sure you can still get you car in.

What Operating Mechanism do I Want? edit

Canopy Mechanism (Trackless)

The Canopy Up & Over Garage Door operates in vertical tracks on the door’s frame. When fully opened, it forms a canopy above the opening of about one third of the door’s height. This is the cheapest option, is for single doors only and is not recommended for automation. Canopy mechanisms is only available up to 2438mm (8ft).

Retractable Mechanism (Tracked)

Retractable up & over garage doors are guided by horizontal tracks which are suspended from the ceiling inside the garage, the door recedes completely when fully opened. These are ideal for automation. Dependant on manufacturer & material, the maximum available width for a retractable up & over door is 5000mm. Heights up to 2750mm are also available.

Side Hinged Garage Doors

Traditional side hinged garage doors open outwards offering easy personnel access, as one leaf can be opened at a time. They also save valuable space inside your garage as there are no tracks or springs. The area in front of the doors must be kept clear, so short or sloping driveways may be a problem. Side Hinged doors can be automated using an adapted up & over automator but it is a little clumsy. I would recommend door stays for manually operated doors to prevent the doors from blowing open and being damaged.

Side Hinged Garage Doors are available in solid timber or timber faced exterior plywood, steel & GRP. The maximum available width is usually 2438mm (8ft). This is the overall size for the pair not per door leaf. Frames can be steel, GRP or timber depending on the manufacturer.

I would advise fitting a new door frame when side-hinged doors are installed. This provides a solid framework for the new installation, promoting safe and easy operation.

Sectional Garage Door Mechanism

These really are the ultimate in garage doors in terms of value, reliability, length of warranty, safety and security.

Sectional garage doors are opened by a vertical lift action, guided by fixed vertical and horizontal tracks. The sectional garage door has the advantage of no outward swing when opening or closing. This allows for parking right up to either side of the door. It is ideal for use with larger vehicles such as 4x4’s and people carriers. Sectional doors are weather sealed as standard and can be insulated with between 20mm and 40mm of PU Foam, providing excellent heat & noise retention within the garage.

Because they run in a track throughout their operation, sectional doors have a very consistent movement. This reduces wear and tear on the door gear and also prevents warping and twisting of the door panels which is often a problem with up & over doors over time.


Roller Shutter Garage Doors (Roller Doors)

Roller garage doors are ideal for short driveways and oversized vehicles as they are opened with a vertical lift action. The insulated, corrosion resistant aluminium panels offer excellent security. Roller doors are made to measure and come in a variety of colours and finishes.

Garage Doors Available in the UK edit

There are a handful of garage door makers available in the UK, the main ones are:-

  • Cardale (Uk based)
  • Cedar Door (As well as their own brand, they manufacture timber up & over doors for Hormann, Garador & Novoferm)
  • Garador (Owned by Hormann)
  • Hormann (German, family owned. Europe's largest manufacturer)
  • Seceuroglide (UK based roller doors)
  • Silvelox (Italian based, design led exclusive garage & front entrance doors)
  • Wessex Doors (Owned by Cardale)
  • Novoferm (German based)

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