One of the key things that must be considered when establishing a residential garage is the door. Note that the usability of any garage heavily relies on the door that you have installed. It is for you to account for any factor that can help you decide on the right door to use for your garage.
Among the key factors in that regard include: size of the garage, location, and cost among others. Aside from that, you must consider the merits and demerits that come with each door type. Doing so will help you make the right decision on the door type to use for your garage.
That said, let us have a close look at the different types of garage doors available in the market:
1. Roller Doors
Just like the name sounds, roller doors actually roll upon being opened. This is made possible by the many panels that such doors have. Each panel is connected to the other, but flexibly. A series of many panels forms a garage door that opens by rolling.
The key advantage of roller doors is that they do not consume a lot of space in the garage. Why? Roller doors reduce in size when opened. They can therefore fit is a small chamber right above the garage.
2. Single Panel Doors
This is the type of door whose operation is based on just a single panel. In short, single panel doors open as a single piece as opposed to many sections/panels. The door lifts ups at a certain angle and then slides at the top of the garage (as a single piece).
The key benefit of choosing this type of door is that its operation is easy since no manpower is required. In most cases, single panel doors use electric power to open automatically.
3. Sectional Doors
This is a very close sister to roller garage doors. The only difference is that roller doors feature many panels while sectional doors only have 4-6 sections. Each section is usually connected to the other by hinges. Instead of rolling, sectional doors fold up with the help of the hinges and rest on the rails at the upper part of the garage.
In most cases, sectional doors are usually opened manually. They are however very easy to open especially if the hinges are properly greased.
4. Swing-Out Doors
This category of garage doors is not very new in the market. Its opening and closing mechanism resembles that of regular house doors. They come in 2 pieces, usually hinged by the sides such that you will be required pulling them outwards in order to open.
The benefit of such doors is that they are very easy to install and operate. However, you must have ample space in front of your garage since the doors open outwards. With ample space, each door piece will be in a position to make a full swing hence allowing easy movement of your car in and out of the garage.
Conclusion
The main difference between the above-mentioned doors is the operation mechanism and the space consumed upon opening. It is always best to consider a door that does not consume a lot of space, especially if your residential compound is not large.