How to Choose the Right Type of Garage Door for Your Home
Posted on: 15 June 2017
The garage door that is installed on your home's garage is very important; it keeps items in the garage safe and secure, helps to provide insulation against moisture and excessive heat, and can also add to the aesthetics of your property as well. An older door that is in poor condition or that is very poor quality can mean little protection for items you store in the garage and a noisy door that struggles to operate. When your door needs replacing, or you're having a new garage installed and need to choose the door for it, note a few tips to keep in mind so you know you have a door that works well for years to come.
Type of spring
Extension springs and torsion springs are typically the two most popular methods of opening for garage doors; extension springs are at the sides of the door itself, running along a track. Torsion springs are at the top of the door, in the middle, and in a full drum to keep them safe in case of breakage. Torsion springs are actually considered stronger, as they distribute the weight of the door more evenly than extension springs. If you're choosing a heavier material for the door, such as solid steel, be sure you opt for a torsion spring opener rather than extension springs.
Layers
Garage doors often come in layers; a double layer would be a steel skin outside of an insulating material like foam or polyvinyl. A triple layer door will have another steel skin on the inside of the door, helping to protect the insulating material. In many cases, you don't need this inside layer, as the insulating material is very tough and durable. However, you may prefer the look of steel inside the door or be concerned with children and pets causing damage to the insulating material when the garage door is closed, so you may want to invest in a triple-layer door in those cases.
Home automation and security
It's usually good to get a garage door that has built-in automation and security features, as it can be difficult to retrofit them after the door is installed. Look for one with a tilt or movement sensor, so that it alerts when it's opened or ajar. If you have windows installed with the garage, opt for a security feature that alerts when it senses vibration, such as from a shattered window. The garage can also have a separate interior motion detector, so that it engages when there is motion inside the garage, alerting you to a potential intruder.
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