Roller garage doors can vary widely in quality, design, and use of components. Being aware of the differences is key to making the right choices. Eastern Garage Doors has compiled a list of the top things to look out for:
Green credentials
If you are looking for top-notch insulation, then other garage door types, for instance, sectional are better. Nonetheless, roller garage doors with double-skinned foam filled slats can provide good draft exclusion. The best manufacturers apply robust ‘green credentials’ to the development of parts, using environmentally friendly materials to produce sustainable products. The use of 100% CFC-Free polyurethane insulation foam is an example of this.
Beware the cheapest
Cheapest isn’t always best – often it indicates inferior components. This can equate to false economy in the long-term, as moving parts will need replacing sooner than expected. The materials used can vary in quality and robustness. The use of aluminum is the go-to choice for slats that make-up the curtain, for its corrosion free qualities, however, be cautious if it is wafer-thin as this can dent easily. As a measure of reliability, the typical lifespan of a good roller door is 15 to 25 years.
Create a weather shield
Roller doors can be 80% sealed, with the best designs supplying brush seals to almost completely close around the lintel area. Also, check for brush seals in the side guides to protect against driving rain. Likewise, with better quality the more stable the curtain is in high wind. Intricate details like ‘wind locks’ within the running guides help with door stability and also increase burglar protection. Flexible rubber seals at the bottom of the curtain provide a rigid barrier to water ingress even where garage thresholds are uneven.
Surface protection over time
Regular opening and closing can leave marks due to the intrinsic operation of a roller garage door. However, these are minimised by innovative design of the rollers, belts, and side guides. Garage door surfaces are protected from small scratches caused by soiling in that there is reduced contact between the individual layers of the door curtain, and less chance of dirt touching the surface of the door. The best roller doors have straps that run in between the two surfaces to stop wear and grit accumulating. When rolling up, several belts are placed between the individual layers of the door curtain, thus significantly reducing scratch marks caused by soiling.
Look for the best guarantees
As a minimum requirement, look for a 5 year+ guarantee on the motor drive. It will offer the highest quality, last longer, run quietly, and open and close in good time. Up to 10-year product warranties are available from high quality manufacturers. Inferior motors and lifting gear can give premature failures. So, be wary of guarantees which are not bonified. As previously mentioned, this can lead to false economy – Cheap parts cause hardware to fail, leading to call outs and exorbitant labor fees, and the installation of further low-quality products. Good practice would be to qualify what is covered in the guarantee with the installer.
Better Lifestyle Options
The basic function of a roller garage door is to open vertically and provide maximum space inside and in front of the garage. More of a surprise to people is the extra lifestyle functionality. For example, you can stream daylight into a garage with synthetic glazing or install grilles to improve ventilation. What’s more, high-end manufactures, certify security. When controlling a door with radio systems, interference free encryption is available akin to what you would experience from online banking security. Better quality also equates to more convenience, with hand-held transmitters, or smart Apps enabling homeowners to open, close and lock from inside a car or home.
Don’t accept an unsafe roller garage door.
Well-constructed roller garage doors are some of the safest and most secure. Options come with sensors to reliably stop the door in case of an unexpected obstacle. They can also include emergency release pullies or crank handles operated from inside a garage, and for those garages without a second entrance, provide a secure release in a locked safety box on the outside. In addition, keyless designs make it difficult to break in with no discernible entry points or handles. Furthermore, anti-lift curtains and robust roller guides prevent the door from being prised open. Emergency electricity supplies are also a possibility and can bridge network power failures.
To summarise, not all roller garage doors are made equal. The cheapest single-skin designs are often flimsy with questionable structural integrity. Well-made designs last longer and need less maintenance. The difference in lifespan between lowest cost and premium can be as much as 25 years.
