Which garage doors are most suitable for my home?

In this overview, we will outline the features of each type of garage door. Think about what is important for you – security? Energy-saving insulation? Draught sealing? Design and colour? Soundproofing? Ease of operation? Windows? All things that will impact on which door is right for your home…

Insulated Sectional Garage Doors

There are numerous advantages to selecting a Sectional garage door for your home. In addition to their exceptional aesthetic appeal, Sectional garage doors are an incredibly practical option for homes in general and for those with limited space. Ideal for families with larger vehicles, these doors offer maximum drive-through height and width. Furthermore, they are an excellent choice for short driveways, as Sectional garage doors operate vertically along a track, allowing you to park right up to the door. 

Made from robust, secure, insulated panels with a comprehensive draught seal, Sectional garage doors are ideal for those who wish to utilise their garage as a workspace or gym, offering significant savings on heating costs compared to uninsulated garage doors. To protect your belongings, insulated sectional garage doors are very strong and held in their guides at multiple points, with the automation providing an additional layer of security by actively holding the door closed. 

While Sectional garage doors can be operated manually, they are designed for, and we strongly recommend, automatic operation for garage access. All of this can be done at the touch of a button… from the comfort of your vehicle! 

Sleek matching personnel designs are also offered, providing an additional entry point to your garage. There are many door styles, surface textures, and colours, including wood effects, to choose from in our range of Sectional garage doors, along with a wide choice of window designs, resulting in a very versatile, high-performance door.

Insulated Side Hinged Garage Doors

Side-hinged garage doors function precisely as their name suggests: opening from the side hinges! These doors swing outward easily and are operated by hand, allowing quick, effortless access to your garage. When both leaves of the side-hinged garage door are open, they provide full access for a vehicle. Alternatively, you can open a single leaf for pedestrian entry. Insulation provides thermal performance that is not far behind that of insulated sectional garage doors, making them a good choice for a garage that is used as an extra room in your home rather than a home for your car!  This design is also advantageous for those with obstructions within the garage, as Side Hinged garage doors open outward, thus preserving interior space. 

To further enhance the garage’s interior, incorporating window options can introduce natural light while adding an attractive design element to your Side Hinged garage door. Insulated Side Hinged garage doors are constructed from solid panels, engineered hollow section aluminium frames, and high-grade fittings. These insulated doors provide exceptional strength and rigidity and are crafted from corrosion-resistant materials. They are ideal for homeowners seeking a beautiful modern design coupled with unparalleled quality.

Choose from a wide selection of Insulated Side Hinged garage door designs, matching personnel doors, and surface textures to personalise your door to your style. A wide range of colours and wood-effect finishes is also available. Create a cottage-style ambience by adding Cross-Mullion windows or enhance the contemporary look of the door by incorporating pull handles and aluminium window designs; the decision is yours!

Roller Garage Doors

Roller garage doors are generally chosen for homes with restricted driveway and garage space. They roll up above the garage entrance, providing a good space-saving solution. There is no requirement for a frame to reduce the drive-through width, and roller garage doors are installed behind the brickwork opening, making them suitable for arched garages. The aluminium slats, filled with insulation, come in various colours; however, the design is limited to the horizontal ribbing of the door slats. While they offer considerably less thermal insulation than insulated sectional and side-hinged garage doors, they perform better than up-and-over garage doors. Standard features include remote control electric automation.

Up and Over Garage Doors 

Up-and-over garage doors are a traditional option and are often manually operated with spring assistance. Bigger doors can be heavy, although manageable, but automation is recommended. They are simple to operate and offer a reasonable drive-through width and height. Draught resistance and thermal performance are low because the doors are uninsulated and have limited edge and threshold sealing. 

Up-and-over doors are equipped with either a canopy or a retractable opening mechanism. When opened, the garage door swings outward before retracting into the garage (with retractable gear) or forming a canopy over the opening (with canopy gear). It is important to consider the outswing feature if parking close to the door is necessary, particularly on short driveways, as a parked vehicle may obstruct the door’s opening. Retractable up-and-over doors are suitable for automation (unlike canopy doors) and can be easily operated via various remote-control options. Up-and-over garage doors come in a variety of materials, including timber, steel, and composite, and in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, with many featuring windows. 

So, there you have it! A guide to garage doors. Insulated sectional and insulated side hinged garage doors are our clear favourites and generally meet almost everyone’s wish list for performance, style and price.