What are the Different Types of Garage Doors?

If you are in the market for a new garage door, you will find that there are several different styles available. When it comes to the curb appeal of your home, you do not want to forget your garage door. Far too often, people just have whatever door put on, and they do not pay attention to how it looks. If your home has a front-facing garage, the first thing people will see when they pull up into your driveway is that garage. You will want to make sure that it looks great and that it enhances your property.

You can choose from several different styles, and once you have chosen your style, you will have to choose things like the color, finish, and if you want any special options like hardware, windows, and insulation. Taking your time and choosing the right garage door for your garage will help you to have the best-looking home on the block. This will also help to increase the value of your home.

Six Types of Garage Doors

Here are the most common types of garage doors that you will find in the Richmond area.

1. Sectional Garage Doors

Sectional garage doors are the most popular in the United States. They are created out of panel sections and are then connected with hinges. The door is closed and opened by wheels that are in each panel. They roll on a vertical track that sits inside the door opening on either side. The hinges that are on the panels will bend over the curved portion of the track. This helps the door sit parallel to the ceiling. There are also a set of high tension springs. These are located above the opening and are attached via cables. This allows the door to be operated and held when the door is in a partially open position. These doors are known to be low maintenance, and they are created out of steel. There are several different options that you can get with these types of garage doors, including different textures, colors, hardware, and window inserts. If you want your garage door insulated, these can come insulated.

2. Roll-Up Garage Doors

Roll-up garage doors are typically seen more in commercial applications than residential. However, people with space issues sometimes opt for roll-up garage doors at their homes. If you have limited ceiling space, this may be the option for you. Typically, these are made with steel slat sections, and they roll around a drum when opened. These doors are made to be high-performance and can withstand even the heaviest of usage. They can be built without springs if freezing, corrosion, and rust are a concern. Since this is a heavy-duty model, you can expect to pay more for this style of garage door.

3. Slide to the Side Garage Doors

This style of garage doors slides to the side just like the name says. When they are opened, they bend to one side of the garage. These were one of the first styles of garage doors ever used. They were created for people who had limited ceiling space in their garage. In order to function, they have lower trolleys that are built to be flexible. This helps the garage door move over any slopes on the floor. This type of door does not have springs and has a motor that allows for automated operation.

4. Side-Hinged Garage Doors

Side-hinged garage doors are an old-fashioned design that swings opened and closed from a frame where they have been hinged. They will remind you of barn doors. The construction materials used for this type of garage door are wood. Some heavier duty models for commercial applications use a galvanized steel. Over the past few years, the popularity of these style doors has increased. This is especially true if the garage does not have a whole lot of headroom or if there is some kind of obstruction in the garage. These style doors can be automated, and they can be purchased to fit inside existing openings.

5. Tilt-Up/Up and Over Canopy Garage Doors

These style garage doors are made in one solid piece instead of sections like other garage doors. They are built with a hinge mechanism that can pivot. This allows them to tilt up more into the garage. When you have one of these styles of garage doors, they will sit out past the house when the door is open.

6. Tilt-Up/Up and Over Retractable Garage Doors

This design is similar to the tilt-up canopy design, but the garage doors lift up and go completely into the garage. There is a frame that suspends them independently, so there is no garage door going out past the front of your home. However, this type of door will require that you have a lot of space. They can also be difficult to operate in comparison with the other garage door styles out there, and they are generally more expensive.

If you are in the Virginia Beach area and you are looking to replace your garage door, please give Commonwealth Garage Door a call. We can help you to determine what style of garage door will work best for your home and for your budget. Our team has years of experience with garage doors and can help to ensure that you have the proper functionality you want and the curb appeal you need.