INTRODUCTION

When shopping for garage doors, the task of choosing the right product that fits your budget and technical requirements could be quite daunting. To help you simplify the task, this article answers four commonly asked questions about these.

What material should I choose?

For some, this is the essential question that needs to be addressed when shopping for a garage door. This is because, often, the material will dictate the look, strength, and overall performance of the door. There are five different kinds of materials to choose from: timber, aluminum, GRP/fiberglass, ABS/PVC, and steel. Among them, steel is the most popular since it is relatively cheap, durable, and stylish. On the other hand, it could be prone to corrosion. Meanwhile, regarding garage door prices, you could pay a heftier sum for timber doors but get a classy and elegant look for your home. At the same time, timber doors are known to be highly durable; however, these could also be prone to fungus and warping especially when it is not properly treated with chemicals.

Which of the various mechanisms is suitable for my home?

Another basic question that must be considered is what type of operating mechanism you should choose depending on garage and driveway specifications. For starters, canopy doors belong to the ‘up and above’ type of doors. Although they are usually cheaper regarding garage door prices, these cannot be automated. Next comes the sectional mechanism, which also belongs to ‘up and above’ type of doors.

These are popular but may require a high headroom and space outside the garage for it to wing out and above the ceiling. However, if you do have limited space, like most homes in the UK, a roller door may just be the right choice for you. These require virtually no extra space inside and outside the garage; this is because its mechanism only consists of a curtain of paneled material that rolls up and gathers on top of the garage entryway. See more.

Is it possible that I perform personally the installation of an electric garage door opener?

Installing or replacing it, is not that taxing and is quite simple if you just follow instructions from the manufacturer manual that comes with itself. Majority of these are available in both do-it-yourself and professional models. The DIY versions usually come with a step-by-step instruction guide and are compact enough to fit into the trunk of a car.

How long would the installation of a new electric garage door opener take?

Typically, full installation will take you in average half a day. If you would be replacing an old one with a similar model, you could install it faster since you don’t need to replace the existing brackets.

Will it be much cheaper if I install it myself?

Yes, it would be much cheaper, and you could save money if you do the installation yourself. To know how much money you can save, you can research for prevailing rates that professional installers charge. Compare the rates to the estimated monetary value you put on the amount of time (on average half a day) you would spend if you install it yourself and you would get a good picture on expected savings.

CONCLUSION

Professional models use a single piece rail which can be installed faster and can be on average a bit more durable. So, in this regard yes, professional garage doors may be a notch better than DIY ones.