WOODEN GARAGE DOORS

Garage Doors and Automation

Garage doors

Enhance your home’s curb appeal/Open and shut case

The right garage doors can enhance your home’s curb appeal and value. When choosing a new garage door or replacing an old one, think of it as an extension of your home, rather than an afterthought.

By Lynne Yates

Materials and systems
Garage doors are available in a host of different materials and systems. According to Werner, the three most popular doors on the market are wooden overhead sectional doors, steel overhead sectional doors and chromadek roll-up doors. Aluminium and glass garage doors, although less common and more expensive, are also available. “When considering the type of door you require, bear in mind that, in general, wood adds more value in terms of warmth and an appearance of quality, whereas steel and chromadek doors are more convenient in terms of maintenance,” advises Werner.
 
Werner explains that the type of mechanism or system is often related to the type of material from which the door is made. For example, roll-up mechanisms are restricted to chromadek roll-up doors while overhead sectional mechanisms can be used for most other types of doors. Overhead sectional systems are the most popular because they allow for greater drive through space and parking space in front of the door. These systems also allow less wear and tear as the weight of the door is distributed evenly over 12 wheels. Tip-up mechanisms are generally used in situations with limited headroom.

* Wood
Wooden garage doors are most appropriate for tip-up and sectional overhead systems. They are available in various designs and types of wood. “Usually meranti is used for wooden doors. Ensure that the wood used is of a high grade, which means that it will be more dense than the cheaper options, making it more resistant to weather conditions,” advises Werner.

Wooden doors should be treated regularly to ensure longevity,  “Wood has to be oiled at least once a year, so there is some maintenance involved, but aesthetically there is no comparison between wood and other materials. Wood is also the product with the lowest carbon footprint,”.

* Steel
Affordable and requiring little maintenance, steel doors are available as sectional, overhead, tip-up or roll-up systems (double roll-up doors are generally not recommended as they are too heavy). They can also be automated on tracks.

* Chromadek
Chromadek doors are made from galvanised, pre-painted steel. They are available as roll-up systems and come in a variety of colours, are durable and require little maintenance.

* Aluminium
Aluminium garage doors are expensive, but require little maintenance and are suitable for coastal areas. Usually available as sectional overhead doors, they give a contemporary look and suit a modern or minimalist style home.

* Glass
Glass doors are highly priced as they are usually custom made. They are generally made from sectional armour plated glass panels.

* Fibreglass
Maintenance free and ideal for coastal regions, fibreglass doors are available in a range of colours and wood grain finishes. They usually come as sectional overhead doors.

Colour choice
Because your garage doors play such an important role in the look of your home’s exterior, give a lot of thought to the colour you choose. Allow your home’s architecture and style to influence your choice. It is best to choose a colour that matches your window frames, so go for wood if your frames are wooden, or white if you have white painted window frames and burglar bars; or one that will match the colour of your home’s walls or roof. Neutral colours, such as black, brown, charcoal, white or dark green will blend with most colours. Brightly coloured garage doors will become a focal point, so only go for bright colours if your doors have a lot of character.