Things To Know Before Choosing A Garage Door

Things To Know Before Choosing A Garage Door

A good garage door will last decades, maybe even a lifetime. So it makes sense to spend a little extra time and effort making the best choice possible. We get some advice from Mike van Arkel from leading garage door and automation supplier, Specialised Building Supplies (SBS).

“SBS is the latest addition to Swartland’s offering that sells Hydro garage doors and Digi automation,” says Van Arkel.

“Hydro garage doors and Digi automation have been synonymous with reliability, security, attention to detail and superior finishes since 1983. Hydro is the only end-to-end garage door manufacturer in South Africa with a national footprint that specialises in doors, automation and spares to suit. This means we can offer a full range of quality products through our SBS branches nationwide, supported by comprehensive after-sales service and spares. Our products have been used everywhere, from factories to fire stations, to luxury homes and affordable housing.”

Van Arkel notes that there is more to garage doors than merely being an entryway – garage doors can improve a building’s curb appeal, safety and insulation. There are a number of factors that need to be considered before making your final choice, such as:

Decide on how the space will be used

Firstly, decide what the garage will be used for: will it be for parking cars, a storage unit, a workshop or a living space? The application will play an important role in determining what features the chosen garage door should have. For example, if the room is going to be used for anything other than storing a vehicle, perhaps you would like to include glazing in the garage door for added natural light. Hydro garage doors can be customised with a variety of window designs that can enhance appearances, whilst allowing in light from the outdoors.

Check for added insulation

No matter how the space is used, it is important to consider insulation. “For attached garages, choosing a well insulated garage door will improve the energy efficiency of the entire home,” says Van Arkel. “Even for a detached garage, you’ll want to increase the insulation to protect the contents.

Hydro’s sectional steel garage doors can be fitted with a foam-filled backing which improves their thermal efficiency – keeping the space cool in summer and warm in winter – with the added benefits of increased security due to the double skin strength of the door. The insulation also helps absorb vibration, resulting in a quieter environment.”

Customise with colour

The colour of your garage door is an important factor, and you should be able to choose something other than white, notes Mike: “Choosing a colourful garage door will add character, and enhance curb appeal. It’s always better to opt for more muted tones for longevity of style. Hydro’s steel section garage doors for example are available in Bronze, Snow White, Chalk, Rustic Bark and Thunderstorm, and they can also be painted to match your specific requirements. The powder-coated finish requires virtually no maintenance and is easy to clean – offering long-lasting and durable good looks.”

The difference is in the detail

In addition to good looks, any garage door worth its salt should be packed with numerous under-the-skin strength, safety and security features. Garage doors are an important part of the appearance of a property – but they should also offer a lot more. You really need to look at the quality of the hardware and inner workings of the door – not just its aesthetic appeal. Hydro Garage doors for example, aren’t just visually pleasing and exceptionally secure, but they also offer top-end inner workings, such as double-throw locks, and long-life counterbalance springs.

Different types of garage doors

The most popular types of garage doors comprise section and roll-up doors:

Sectional garage doors are made up of steel or wood panel sections that are connected with hinges. As the door opens and closes, wheels at the edge of each panel roll inside a vertical track on each side of the door opening. The hinges between each panel section bend over a curved portion of the track. This feature allows the door to sit parallel to the ceiling when completely open, or in line with the walls when completely closed. A pair of high-tension springs above the opening are attached to cables that operate the door and hold it from drifting down when only partially open.

“These doors have many advantages over traditional solid (up and over) doors, such as maximising the drive-through width of a garage opening, allowing for close parking inside, and providing increased headroom clearance to accommodate vehicles such as 4X4’s and MPV’s,” continues Van Arkel. “We’re proud to say that Hydro’s steel sectional doors have been described as ‘over-engineered’ and ‘the Rolls-Royce of garage doors’. The value for money is unparalleled – with features like true anti-pinch hinging, quality hardware, and long service life counter-balance springs.”

Roll-up garage doors are used in both commercial and residential applications – they are a no-frills design option built for areas with limited ceiling space. This style is made with steel slat sections that roll around a drum above the door opening. Roll-up or coiling doors are built to withstand heavy usage and high-performance units can be built without springs or enclosed to prevent rust, corrosion and freezing.

“Strong and secure, Hydro roll-up doors provide compact and attractive solutions, especially in smaller spaces. Hydro steel Roll-Up doors are stronger, more durable and have a superior design to other roll-up garage doors on the market. Made from 0.4 mm Aluzinc for superior corrosion resistance, our doors include a unique “roll-over lip” built into the tracking that makes them significantly stronger in heavy winds and prevents intruders from forcing the door open, which can quite easily be done with cheaper doors.

The lock is also far stronger – a high quality, double-throw unit fitted with a 10 mm round steel tube, instead of the thin flat bar commonly used on lower cost doors. These doors are also fully encased when closed, making them more attractive but more importantly – longer-lasting and more reliable. They install easily making them the go to DIY choice.

Garage door automation

Automating your garage door is an essential consideration – from both a practical and convenience point of view, as well as for added security. It is far better from a security perspective to be able to press a button and the door opens for you, without you having to get out and leave your car. From a security viewpoint it is highly advisable to automate any garage door.

Garage door automation is quick, easy and affordable: “At SBS, we pride ourselves on many years in the garage door automation field with proven technology, as well as long term spares availability for our products, assisted by our large distribution footprint,” says Van Arkel. “Digi-One for example, features a powerful 1,000Nm lifting capacity, which is a very reliable and affordable automation system is ideal for all types of sectional garage doors. It is supplied standard with two Digi-E-key transmitters with secure Keeloq® technology, as well as electronic obstacle sensing optional battery backup, which allows for trouble-free operation during power failures.”

Contact details:

Contact Number: 021 933 5556

Address: Unit 8&9, Brasant Park, 21 Jan Smuts Road, Beaconvale, Parow