A Buyer’s Guide to Garage Doors

Advice·Design & Inspiration · 28th April 2017

When shopping for a garage door, you might find that there is even more choice than you first imagined. Finding the best garage door for you can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this buyer’s guide to garage doors, highlighting the different kinds of garage doors available, along with the benefits and properties of each.

Reasons for buying a new garage door

Upgrading your garage door is an investment that can bring many benefits to you and your property. If you haven’t updated your garage door for a number of years, it’s definitely worth analysing your current situation to see how a new door can help you.

The main benefits of a new garage door include:

  • Improved security – this can help to reduce your home insurance premiums
  • More modern operation – i.e. replacing an old manual garage door with an electric one
  • Protection from the elements
  • Improved aesthetic
  • Suited to your requirements – Had a garage conversion/renovation? Installing a new door will be much more suitable than sticking with your old one

There are many choices when searching for a new garage door, and all of them can be designed in a range of colours and sizes to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for something that is easier to handle day-to-day, or are looking to strengthen the base level of security around your home, there is a style of garage door available for you.

Up and over garage doors

A popular and traditional style of garage door which is suitable for many different homes. Up and over garage doors come as either retractable or canopy, and both can be automated for complete convenience.

Canopy doors form a canopy over the front of the garage when opened. This creates maximum space for your car to enter the garage, and you can also manually open and close the door with ease.

Retractable doors fully retract inside your garage, making the outside more compact. You will have to sacrifice some indoor garage space – along the ceiling and around the sides – in order to accommodate the mechanism, but this does allow for a wider garage door in return.

dark red up and over garage door

Insulated roller doors

Roller doors are ever growing in popularity. Design-wise, they don’t demand any extra space either inside your garage or on the driveway. Roller doors allow you to park your car right up to the garage, making them the perfect choice for small driveways, or for those looking to maximise that outside space.

Automation comes as standard with roller doors; if you or a loved one suffers from a disability or mobility issues, reliable remote control can be a valuable benefit. Roller doors provide comprehensive protection from the elements, with weather seals along the bottom and sides – as well as built in insulation to provide thorough climate control in any season. Roller doors are a simple, reliable and secure form of garage door suitable for just about any home or garage.

insulated roller garage door

Sectional garage doors

Sectional garage doors are also perfect for short driveways. Like roller doors, sectional doors open vertically so there’s no outswing to worry about.

Sectional doors are more suitable for garages used as a habitable space than up and over doors, for instance. This includes a garage converted into:

  • An office
  • A gym
  • A playroom
  • A bedroom
  • And more

Windows can be installed for extra visual appeal and convenience, and you can also opt for automation.

Sectional doors open reliably and quickly, focusing largely on functionality. While complex in their construction, sectional doors provide a modern and stylish look to any home, with impressive security features to match.

sectional garage door in showroom

Side hinged garage doors

For garages requiring constant pedestrian access, side hinged doors may be ideal. From an aesthetic standpoint, side hinged doors beautifully complement larger or more expansive driveways. They can be customised to open inwards or outwards, and are incredibly simple to use. Because of this, side hinged doors are particularly useful for anyone with mobility issues.

Side hinged doors are all about convenience; they allow regular access to your garage without any hassle whatsoever. For a traditional feel for your garage, while maximising internal space, side hinged doors are a simple yet immensely effective solution.

side hinged garage door

Coventry Garage Doors are proud to provide a wide range of garage doors for customers throughout Coventry, Rugby, Warwick and throughout the UK. We supply and install garage doors from all leading brands, including Garador, Hormann, Cardale and more. Our experienced specialists are happy to provide all the knowledge and expertise to help you find the perfect garage door for your home. To find out moresimply contact us today.