Purchasing a garage door is something you do once every 20 years, if not more. It’s a very important decision, and here at Doors & Things, we understand. With the overwhelming options of different models, styles, colours, and designs, it’s useful to have someone who knows which door may go best with your home.
Our employees are garage door specialists, from repair jobs to picking the right colour, they are the best to advise you. Let us show you what to look for in a garage door:
1. Airtight & Thermal Insulation
An insulated door will keep your garage and its adjacent rooms of the house warmer in winter and cooler in summer. This will allow you to work in comfortable temperatures if you have a workshop or recreational area in your garage. Also, a great thermal insulation factor will allow you to save money on your energy bills!
2. Type of Insulation
There are two types of insulation used for garage doors: polyurethane and polystyrene (Styrofoam). Know that the higher the R-factor on a garage door, the better the insulation. Polyurethane is the best performing insulation. It’s twice as efficient as styrene. Also note that most entry doors manufacturers use the same type of insulation.
3. Method of Insulation Method
Polyurethane foam is injected under pressure between the two surfaces of the door. In the case of polystyrene, it’s simply placed between the metal sheets. The injection of the polyurethane foam solidifies assembly and then sticks to the metal walls to provide a solid grip for a long time. This “composite” assembles significantly reduces air infiltration risks and sheet metal split.
4. Metal Thickness
The thickness of a steel sheet is measured in terms of “gauge”. The more gauge there is, the less thick the steel sheet is. Thickness of the panels is important, mostly for durability and efficiency. Not sure about gauge, ask it in millimeter.
5. Residential Hardware
Hardware (rails and springs) and steel components (hinges, cables, etc.) of a garage door are extremely valuable to the doors’ proper functioning and durability. They do all the heavy lifting for the door. Calibrated ironwork is chosen according to its application, this way it ensures that the garage door mechanism will be strong for several seasons.
6. Thermal Breaks
It’s useless to have an isolated door if the door comes with steel caps at the edge of sections. These galvanized steel caps let in cold air to enter the garage and reduce the quality of insulation in your garage door. If you purchase a great thermal break, you shouldn’t run into any problems during the harsh winter seasons!
7. Rollers
Wheels are the underdogs of every garage door system. They’re the ones who support the weight of your door and if well looked after, provide a quiet and pleasant use every time you open and close your door. When purchasing a new door, you want to make sure the rollers are robust and will last you a long time. There are three types of wheels: nylon (black) without ball bearing, steel with ball bearings and nylon (white) ball bearing. Note that for wheels with ball bearings, it’s always best to ask those with the most marbles. The best have ten.
8. Perimeter weather-stripping of the door
For complete protection against the cold, having a weather-stripping on the exterior frame of your garage door is a necessity. A good weather-stripping allows the door to guard effectively the wind, rain and snow from entering the garage. We need the weather-stripping to remain flexible even at temperatures of -100 C.
9. Garage Door Opener
All door openers are good. Despite popular beliefs, the motor power of a garage door opener does not matter. There are two types of openers: chain drive or a belt drive. Both of which are great. If we were to choose, we’d go with the rubber belt. We would pick this type of opener for its efficiency and quietness. It’s ideal for when you have a room above your garage.
Choosing the right garage door is a difficult choice to make. You want to make sure it’s secure, durable and performs well for many years to come. Here at Doors & Things, we have your best interest at heart and know garage doors more than anyone in the business. Let us show you the ways and guide you through your purchase. Our technicians will present to you the available insulation systems, hardware and colours. Everything to fit your needs and taste!
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