The concept of an automatic garage door is nothing new, however few people realise just how many variations there are on the motorized door theme.
Garage doors can open and close using a variety of methods and movements, but all are based on one of the following.
Conventional hinged doors, where side hinges allow the doors to swing outward horizontally.
Up and over garage doors, where the door lift upwards and backwards and stores above the main garage door void.
Sliding garage doors, where the door slides on tracks or runners and is pulled to one side of the door opening.
Sectional and rolling garage doors, where the door is able to bend through a 90 degree angle, or roll around a drum, due to sectional and hinged panel construction.
There are variations on each of these garage door concepts, but all can be fitted with a motor to allow power assisted movement of the door. The type of door determines the power output and the system used for opening and closing the door, but drive chains and drive belts working with boom operated systems are the most common.
Control of a motor powered garage door is usually by a small remote that can be carried in a pocket or attached to a set of keys. These remotes increase the ease of use and security of the garage door by allowing the opening and closing to be performed without the need to leave the car, van or pick-up.
Not surprisingly, a motor powered garage door costs more than a manual door, but the additional cost is less than most would anticipate. The conversion from powerless to powered is also comparatively simple and will take a professional fitter no more than half a day for most door types.
For further information about powered garage doors and the different types of garage doors, you can check out http://www.garage-door-automation.co.uk/guide.htm (which is a general buyers guide with basic advice and tips).
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Garage doors - electric options
This is a pre-curser to my next blog addition which will look at motorised garage doors.
Garage doors come in a variety of different forms, some lifting up and over the garage door opening and other sliding around to the side of the opening. There are even doors that will roll up, or bend into the space above the garage door void.
The most common garage doors used to be those with hinges, but these are now less popular, largely because of the reduced cost and ease of use of many of the metal and plastic coated garage doors.
Currently, up and over garage doors are the biggest sellers.
What virtually every garage door has in common though, is the ability to add remote control and motorization. This can be done with a simple conversion kit which turns a standard garage door into something a little bit more impressive.
For more on electric garage doors, how they work, their adaptability and suitability to different door types, see the next post. I will also include some useful links.
Garage doors come in a variety of different forms, some lifting up and over the garage door opening and other sliding around to the side of the opening. There are even doors that will roll up, or bend into the space above the garage door void.
The most common garage doors used to be those with hinges, but these are now less popular, largely because of the reduced cost and ease of use of many of the metal and plastic coated garage doors.
Currently, up and over garage doors are the biggest sellers.
What virtually every garage door has in common though, is the ability to add remote control and motorization. This can be done with a simple conversion kit which turns a standard garage door into something a little bit more impressive.
For more on electric garage doors, how they work, their adaptability and suitability to different door types, see the next post. I will also include some useful links.
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