Motorized "up and over" garage doors

I posted about automated garage doors a couple of weeks ago and I intend to add some further information about those products now.

Up and over garage doors – electric operation

The most popular style of garage door is the “up and over” action door. This opening and closing mechanism sees the door rise and tilt above the main entrance and occupy a small space just below the lintel that bridges the opening.

With an automated (i.e. electric and remote controlled) garage door the important feature to be aware of is the up and over mechanism.

Up and over doors come in two variations and one is suitable for automation whilst the other type requires significant modification and customizing.

The two options are known as canopy and retractable and the way that they move and store have subtle differences. Differences that make one far more suitable for motorized control than the other.

Canopy garage doors

A canopy garage door is at the budget end of the door opening mechanism scale and it uses a half frame that places the open door 2/3rds of the way inside the garage entrance. The remaining 1/3rd of the door projects outwards beyond the front of the garage wall.

This door mechanism is comparatively crude and jerky and it is not suitable for remote motorization with a conversion kit. These kits literally act to convert a canopy system into a retractable system, so it is far better to by a retractable door if you believe that automation is a prospect at any time in the future.

Retractable garage doors

A retractable garage door has a full frame with a much smoother and more controllable sliding and tilting mechanism. The frame is stronger and more robust, and the levels and points of support are greater and more secure during door transit.

Retractable up and over garage doors lend themselves to automation with a minimum of modification and can be expected to operate smoothly for many years. This door transit mechanism is ideal for controlled motor power and “soft start” and “soft stop” options (which avoid jolts and jerks), work well with this door type.

Research the web for - For more on automated up and over doors, an explanation of the alternative mechanisms etc. You should also find some explanation of automation options and details of the other types (styles) of garage door opening mechanisms.