Garage doors, experiences etc.

[dc]

Been looking to replace wooden retractable. No issue with drive length so that's not a deciding factor. The garage isn't insulated so the thermal benefit of a "double" skinned sectional isn't a prime concern right now but a sectional will help with drafts as the driveway is prone to wind gusts that do penetrate gaps round the current door. I am leaning towards sectional because of the neat appearance, perceived security (but if someone wants in, they will get in somewhere), better gust protection and perhaps improved thermal element if anything more is done to the garage in the future. It's not an internal garage.

There are probably 4 four names in the mix, Hormann, Garador(now part of Hormann with the same product bar the handle if you want one), Novoferm and Teckentrup (Cartek).

Operation wise, a lot relies on the installation being good but I wondered if any of you have experience of any of these doors, faults, longevity etc.

I was originally looking at a retractable and still haven't discounted it, sometimes you can lower them a little for a canopy effect if raining but a specific canopy door isn't ideal if a motor is fitted.

Couple of things I know.

Cartek legs are 100mm in total with the seal but so is a neighbour's Hormann, that will mean more entrance width than the current retractable as no arms.

Cartek springs are encased above the roller tracks, the others seem to be nestled down the sides, a little more prone to dust but less bulk in the garage head space area.

[dusty350]

I used to have a steel "up and over " door on my garage. Really not a great door - loads of gaps that let drafts in, and encroaches into the garage space when open. Would also cut out light from the fluorescent tube on the ceiling.
We had a firm fit a double skinned, insulated roller shutter door, and it made a huge difference. No drafts, less outside noise, no gaps anywhere and the door shuts onto a rubber seal so no water ingress if it's raining against the door. Plus you can hang stuff from the ceiling, or have shelving near the door as there is no problem with space. It's got a motor that brings the door up and down and once shut the motor locks the mechanism in place, so you would have to literally wreck the door to get it even partly open. There is a manual winding handle that will operate the door in the event of a power cut. When I lined and insulated the garage a few years back, I covered the roller mechanism with a basic box to hide the mechanism. Opens from the outside with a keyfob, so no handle.Money very well spent in my opinion;

20230930_213210 by dusty miller, on Flickr

[donkeychomp]

I agree with Dusty. His garage door is very well made and as burglar proof as they get. I'd have one.

Alex

[dc]

Thank you Dusty, I once looked into a roller door, at the time of the "free survey" the guy said there was insufficient space to allow it to roll up. I liked the idea because whilst a sectional has benefits, you still end up with a good portion of door within the garage when it's raised. I expect an alteration could be carried out but there isn't anything like the space you have up behind your door. That's really why I haven't bothered since that visit. It's really that one of the legs is rotting, I could repair it, did this on another garage by cutting and slicing the 70mm square piece, you couldn't tell but I just fancied a new installation, motor and look. I will give it some thought because the roller style solves all really. 👍

[dusty350]

Just found the paperwork. Mine is a "Seceuroglide" Roller garage door;

seceuroglide.co.uk/


Really good to deal with.

[4l04ever]

My door is an insulated roller shutter door. It is the high security version. Europa Elite. It is "Secured by Design - Police Preferred Specification"

It is remote controlled with remotes or an app on your phone.

It has a built in Alarm.

It has a manual winder for use if there is a power cut, which I had fitted inside my hallway, so no external access. This has a locked cover which needs a key to open it.

hvpshutters.co.uk/files/manufacturers/Brochure-HVP-Shutters-Europa-Roller-Garage-Doors.pdf

www.priory-group.co.uk/

[4l04ever]

For extra security, I had my door mechanism fitted behind the wall, so my door is set back. Slightly less space in my garage, but slightly more security :-) I also have slightly more head clearance as the mechanism is up above the opening.

[dc]

Oct 1, 2023 10:23:29 GMT 1 4l04ever said:

For extra security, I had my door mechanism fitted behind the wall, so my door is set back. Slightly less space in my garage, but slightly more security :-) I also have slightly more head clearance as the mechanism is up above the opening.

Ideally,I could do without losing any length on this one because of modular storage the other end. It would all fit but I would lose " tinkering" space on the worktop if a car is in there. When the survey guy came to assess for a roller years ago, IIRC, he didn't even think there was room at all but that may have been his brand. I can't remember the name, think it began with C, they used to advertise a lot. Might be a bit like Everest, the best 😂, we can't do what you want so nobody can.

I will have a look again myself, kind of discounted roller due to that past experience but certainly worth looking at.

The reason I asked about sectional experiences is because there are a few trust pilot reviews for Garador and Hormann that are not great. Folk typically go on there to complain but I do keep some of what seem logical experiences in mind. Quite often they are referred back to the fitter which is likely the first place to go but sometimes the fitter has taken no notice or gone bust.

[dusty350]

The other bonus with the roller shutter door is you can back your vehicle right up against the door for added security, and still open the door for light and ventilation. It was always a pain before with the old door - if I wanted to open it I would have to move the car forward first

[dc]

The retractable I have now is OK in that respect but the car is low. I have a marker on the wall, my wing mirror just passes it and I am fine but sometimes if the car rolls back a little, it's really close to the spindle that turns the current lock rods, so close, I have a dummy close. Maybe a higher vehicle would be an issue.

But yes, the straight up aspect of roller of sectional will negate any issue. 👍

It's turned into a bit of a headache, partly because I am trying to sort out pension and ISA stuff alongside it.😣
I don't want to make a decision I regret, it's just a garage door but I want to do the best I can and these this tips are helpful.🙏