Garage doors come in a variety of materials and styles. They also offer features like remote radio control, a built-in retractable motor for automated operation, and window options.
Look for extras, such as a battery backup that operates the door in case of a power outage and a keypad that lets delivery drivers or other people use your garage without a key. Click Here for more information.
Garage doors are designed to allow homeowners to store their cars and personal possessions safely behind a strong door. They may be operated manually or with a motor. An overhead garage door consists of multiple panels or a single unit that rolls up from its vertical position above the opening of the garage doorway when opened.
Unlike traditional swinging garage doors, which have hinges and are difficult to open when they are obstructed by snow or debris, these streamlined systems use a rail track and lift mechanism to move upward when activated. This allows owners to park their vehicles inside without having to struggle with heavy, unwieldy doors that were once used to protect valuable horse-drawn carriages.
Overhead coiling and sectional garage doors are the most popular choices for homes, but there are many different styles available for each type of home. Understanding how each works and what features to look for can help you determine which style is best for your needs.
Residential Overhead Door of Pittsburgh
Adding a new garage door to your home can add value and transform your living space into a functional room that can be utilized for a wide variety of purposes. As you explore your options for new garage doors, it’s important to consider not only the style and appearance of each, but also durability, maintenance, security, installation, and overall lifetime costs.
There are several factors that can affect how your new residential garage door of Pittsburgh works, from the type and quality of materials to the operation and maintenance requirements. Whether you’re looking for a traditional overhead coiling door or a more contemporary sectional garage door, Thomas V. Giel offers a large selection of both styles to meet the unique needs of each home.
The first garage doors were simple swinging doors that relied on massive hinges to swivel open. Over time, these doors became prone to wear and tear and were difficult to open when obstructed by debris or snow. In 1921, a young man named C.G. Johnson invented the upward-operating garage door, changing the course of home entryway design forever. He toured across the country with his small prototype mounted on the back of a Model T, promoting this innovative technology in countless small towns and county fairs.
Sectional Door
The sectional door is a modern take on the classic garage door. The design is made up of a series of 4-5 panels that hinge back inside the garage as they rise vertically within the opening. Once retracted, the sections rest horizontally on and are supported off of horizontal tracking. They can be operated manually or with an automatic opener, depending on your preference.
Compared to roll-up doors, these doors are more efficient and offer greater insulation. They’re also less likely to damage in high winds and are easier to maintain. For this reason, they are a popular choice for commercial applications like car shops and warehouses. Additionally, they are more secure and can be fitted with special locks that prevent them from being jerked up or pushed open by thieves.
Sectional garage doors can be fitted with a variety of different features to enhance the look of your home. They are available in a wide range of colors and finishes, including basic black, white, and gray as well as woodgrain options to give your home a natural and more attractive appearance. Many manufacturers also offer customization options to allow you to personalize the style of your door with a color or finish that matches your home’s overall exterior color scheme.
Like all garage doors, sectional doors come with essential safety features to protect you and your family from accidents and injuries. These include the auto-reverse mechanism, manual release handle, and photoelectric sensors. These sensors continuously monitor the track for obstructions in the path of the door’s closing motion, preventing them from accidentally closing on objects or people and reducing the risk of entrapment.
While the door is in operation, its insulated sections are supported by horizontal tracks that run along the ceiling of your garage. They are connected to each other by C-shaped steel channels that a vertical but curve near the top of the garage opening. The sections are lifted by cables either side attached to the bottom panel, with their pulling power derived from different spring balancing methods. These variations can have a big impact on how easily the door opens and closes, as well as how much effort is needed to operate it.
Slide to the Side Door
A slide-to-the-side garage door is an ideal option for a house with limited space. These doors slide on rails from one side of the opening to the other instead of swinging open or closed like traditional styles. This allows you to save on floor space and utilize more of your ceiling height.
These doors are also more energy efficient, because they do not require large amounts of headroom like conventional overhead garage doors. These doors are available in a variety of colors and designs, so you can find one that complements the architectural style of your home. In addition, they can be customized with window inserts or custom panels for an added touch of elegance and curb appeal.
If you’re looking for a stylish, contemporary look, a glass-panel sliding garage door is a great choice. This type of door lets natural light flood your garage, which is great for enhancing visibility and creating a brighter, more spacious environment. Additionally, this type of garage door can be easily insulated to make it more energy efficient.
Sliding garage doors are often more secure than other types, because they are designed with security features such as steel frames and reinforced corners that make it difficult for intruders to break into your home. These doors can also be fitted with sensors that will alert you if there is an attempt to open the garage door.
When you’re ready to install your new garage door, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for a complete and successful installation. Once your garage door is in place, be sure to test it for smooth operation and proper alignment. If any adjustments are needed, be sure to make them now to prevent future problems.
Once your garage door is installed, it’s a good idea to apply a fresh coat of paint or protective finish. This will protect your garage door from harsh weather conditions and ensure that it looks great for years to come. Be sure to choose a high-quality exterior paint that is designed for metal surfaces and can withstand moisture, rust, and UV rays.
Side-Hinged Door
The side hinged door, or swing garage doors, are a classic and simple option. With a single operating mechanism paired with multi-point locking as standard you can be sure of reliability and safety. They are available in timber, steel or a combination of both and come with either modern butt hinges or traditional strap hinges to suit your home aesthetic.
They can be fitted to open in or out and are supplied as a complete kit for ease of installation. Insulated double skin steel and hardwood timber doors are offered as well as a limited range of GRP composite systems. The doors are designed to be manually operated via a lever handle inside and out and can also be adapted to an electric motor system for opening and closing.
Hinged doors are popular because the average garage has seen a resurgence as a place to store and work from home with an emphasis on easy access, insulation, security and natural light. They are particularly suited for garages that open directly onto a public area such as a pathway and offer a more conventional way of entering the garage than a roller or sectional door.
They require a substantial fixing sub frame which consists of steel or aluminium box sections in a ‘goal post’ arrangement, this is to ensure the correct dimensions are achieved for the installation of the doors and to provide an adequate stop for the door panels to hold against when closed. It is also used to squaring up the structural opening for the doors and provide the best possible weather seals.
These doors open outwards and are normally supplied with equal sized leaves as standard but left or 1/3 – 2/3 leaf configurations are available for specific requirements. They are supplied with a standard handle lock on both leafs but can be upgraded to a lever handle and bar on the outside for enhanced security.
These doors can be manually operated or upgraded to an electric motor to operate them remotely, these are sold separately. They can also be coupled to a ‘turnstile’ entrance system for increased security.
