| With so many different styles of garage door to | | | | 1.2 Additionally, unlike an up-and-over door, it does |
| choose from it is important to know the "pros | | | | not project forward or require operating (opening) |
| and cons" of each mechanism and its operation in | | | | space in front of the entrance. This means that |
| order to make an informed choice. | | | | the door can be opened or closed when a car or |
| If you are in the market for a new door, then | | | | any other obstruction is parked within inches of |
| your main choices are as follows: | | | | the door face. |
| Side hinged | | | | 2. Roller doors have an impact free movement. |
| Up and over | | | | This enhances the life of the door and its |
| Sectional | | | | mechanism and it also makes them safer to use |
| Sliding and | | | | than other styles of door. |
| Roller | | | | 3. The roller mechanism is easy to operate and it |
| This article focuses on garage doors where a | | | | can be manually opened or closed with a minimum |
| roller, just above the soffit of the entrance, is | | | | physical effort and without the need to stretch or |
| used to raise and lower the door. This mechanism | | | | reach up or down. This makes them ideal for |
| has many advantages over its alternatives and it | | | | older people, smaller people, or women. They are |
| also uses a tried and tested method of operation. | | | | also quick to operate in inclement conditions. |
| How they work | | | | 4. When considering the different garage door |
| Roller garage doors are typically formed from | | | | operating mechanisms it is the roller variety that |
| between 5 and 10 horizontal hinged sections that | | | | best lends itself to electric operation and remote |
| enable the door to bend or wrap around a | | | | control. No modifications are required and most |
| cylinder. The cylinder turns in one direction to raise | | | | packages come with an option for motorization as |
| the door and in the other to lower it. | | | | standard. |
| The opening and closing operation is smooth and | | | | 5. Roller garage doors look good. They are |
| simple and it can be manually or electrically | | | | considered to be the Rolls Royce of out-building |
| operated. | | | | doors and, aside from their smooth operation and |
| The advantages of roller operation | | | | ease of use, they are always finished to the |
| 1. The biggest advantage of a roller-door is space | | | | highest standard. They also benefit from a |
| utilization. | | | | sectional construction that makes it easy for their |
| 1.1 When open, the door is tidily stored around a | | | | appearance to simulate a natural timber, or highly |
| cylinder in the roof space immediately above the | | | | detailed finish. |
| door's entrance. It does not project backwards | | | | 6. All but the very cheapest roller doors are |
| into the garage, or slide around a side wall, and | | | | insulated making them ideal for garages that are |
| consequently it leaves any roof joists or areas | | | | used as workshops or for integral garages where |
| close to side walls free to use for storage. | | | | heat loss from a house needs to be avoided. |