Garage Doors

Choosing a garage door may seem simpler than it is. There are five main types of doors, over a dozen brands, and quite a variance in UK installation costs. This guide will help you understand what you need to know.

There are a few things you ought to know. The most common type is the Up-and-over.

These types of garage doors are quite often found on British homes and especially the older ones. The reason is they are simple, cost effective, and people are quite familiar with how they operate. The main issue is they require adequate space in front in order to be able to be opened. This is especially a problem for short driveways, or when cars are parked up against the door.

A roller door coils up in the clear space above the door frame and requires absolutely no space in front. Because of this they are quite a bit more expensive than Up-and-Over doors, but a lot of people opt for them when space is an issue. They are also the new standard in most doors to have an electric motor integrated.

Sectional doors operate much the same, but instead of coiling up, they are divided into horizontal panels that each fold upwards. They are quite common in the newer builds and are also an effective way of saving space. Sectional doors also are built quite well to be insulated and are generally quite silent.

Side-hinged doors function like gates, opening outward. These doors are ideal for garages that serve as workshops or storage areas rather than as parking bays. This is partly due to the easy maintenance of the door mechanism and partly due to the doors opening easily to allow the entrance to be peeked through.

Insulation & Security

If you have a room over the garage, or especially if the garage is attached to the house, insulating the garage door is very important. Uninsulated garage doors let cold air flow directly in and it is uncomfortable for the rooms adjacent and above. Luckily, modern garage doors now have U-values or thermal ratings and it is common for them to be rated over 1.5 W/m²K, and rated below 1.0 are considered excellent.

The stronger the door, the better the security. Look for doors that are rated to at least LPS 1175 or PAS 24. All three companies, Hörmann, Garador and Carteck, have a variety of sectional and roller doors in steel that are rated at the above security ratings, making them a much better choice than an up-and-over door with a lock.

Getting Quotes

As a rough guide to costs, an up-and-over garage door with manual operation can be priced at £600, while a sectional door with insulation and a motor from Hörmann can be £1,500 – £2,500, with the final cost being determined by the size and level of finish. Be sure to get at least two quotes, and that both include the replacing of the old door, and the warranty for both the door and the operator.