Think it is a dry topic? Think again. Whether you are looking for a new or replacement garage door or just need to make a few repairs, there is nothing wrong with knowing the terminology. Sure, you’ll likely have a garage door repairman handle the work, but you also need to understand the terms. Our homes are investments, and garage doors are a critical part of them.
We get it. It might seem intimidating. After all, there are so many moving parts and so many different types of garage doors. Fortunately, we are here to provide you with a simple road map. It isn’t difficult to learn about the good ole’ garage door. Trust us.
Various Types of Garage Doors
There are many types of garage doors. They handle specific tasks and weather and operate differently depending on the application. Each garage door type has different features. Let’s take a closer look at these unsung heroes of the modern house.
Steel Garage Doors. Steel garage doors are a great option for people living in the Uniontown and Akron, Ohio areas. You can count on plenty of snow and ice in the harsh winter months. Have a family? Expect baseballs to be hitting that garage door. You can mitigate the risk of damage or worse by going with a steel garage door. They are incredibly durable.
Aluminum Garage Doors. While steel is still more popular than aluminum for garage door applications, they can still be found in the marketplace. For people living in Northeastern Ohio, aluminum is a great option because it is rust-proof and is a great conductor of heat. While this could be a problem during the summer, there is plenty to like about an aluminum garage door in the winter.
Vinyl Garage Doors. It may not sound like the most luxurious of options, but do not discount the utility of vinyl garage doors. They do not require much maintenance, but to offer a high level of durability. If there are any bangs or dents in the door, they are not difficult to fix. If there are any downsides to vinyl garage doors, it would be that they are generally not well-insulated.
Wooden Garage Doors. If there is one go-to option for beauty, it would be wooden garage doors. Unfortunately, there are some major concerns beyond the aesthetic. Wooden garage doors need to be repainted and are prone to rot or warp. But if you can afford the upkeep and are in it for looks, you can’t beat wooden varieties.
Fiberglass Garage Doors. While fiberglass garage doors will not warp or rot like a wooden garage door, their inexpensive nature comes with some problems. Unless they are well insulated, don’t expect fiberglass to hold much heat during the cold winter months. In fact, fiberglass has a tendency to become brittle at extremely low temperatures. No bueno for those living in the Akron-area.
How Does a Garage Door Open?
While it is easy to picture garage doors opening in a finite number of ways, in fact, there are six different ways a garage door can open. The first way is through a hinge on the sides of the garage door. In this scenario, both doors swing out, which is what those doors are called. Garage doors can also swing up. Commercial garage door varieties often roll up. A slide to the side garage door does just that. But the most common type is the sectional, where a garage door is broken into sections and raised by a garage door opener held onto a rack.
Garage Door Components At-A-Glance
We were just referring to sectionals. These doors have panels and panels are what you see from the outside as you are looking at the garage door. Panels are the primary component of a garage door. Depending on what you are aiming for, whether it be aesthetic, utility, or none of the above, the garage door panels play an important role in the look and function of the door itself.
Garage doors with a modern design often employ flush panels. An artistic flourish lends to not being able to see the panel. Long and short panels are rectangular patterns along the garage door. Raised panels are also rectangular, but follow a specific pattern along the length of the garage door. Recessed panels also have a pattern, but instead are recessed into the door. In some instances, you may see a panel style that has lines running through the rectangular pattern. These are called bead-board panels. Whether they are long or short, the design aesthetic is the same.
Other components of your garage door include torsion springs, vertical tracks, rollers, hinges, retainers and inserts. Ready for a smile? That rubber bottom seal on the garage door is an astragal. How’s that for a weird name for a simple rubber seal? Garage door openers themselves operate by chain, belt, or screw drive. Even the garage door opener is made up of several components, from the drive unit to the chain and carriage on the track. The emergency release rope and any sensors also make up the opener.
It must seem like a ton of things to remember, but worry not. If there is ever anything wrong with your garage door and you live in the Akron or Uniontown area, you need not go far to call for help. Simply click or tap on this link to set up a consultation!