Understanding which type of garage door you currently have installed can prove very important when looking to replace your current model. Below we will help you identify some of the more common types which are commonly found within the UK:

Sectional Doors

These types of doors are reasonably new to the UK and offer the most benefits over any other type of garage door. They are constructed using an insulated modular panel which varies in thickness from supplier to supplier. Ryterna sectional doors are fully insulated and constructed with a 40mm standard thickness panel using twin steel skinned walls insulated with cfc-free insulation. Other thicknesses such as 20mm are common among other suppliers.

This type of door is usually referred to as an ‘up and around’ styler door. Sectional doors can be manufactured in both manual ‘push up’ style and electric operation. Ryterna manual doors can be converted to electric operation with relatively little effort at a later date if required. Manual doors are made easy to operate with added torsion springs or extension balanced springs.

Sectional doors operate differently to roller shutter type doors and canopy type doors. This is due to the modular panel formation which allows the door to rise totally vertically from a closed position as the panels are ‘pulled’ around a 90 degree track which has a slight curve (commonly referred to as the horn).

Ryterna sectional doors can be installed in extremely confined spaces offering major advantages over any other type of garage door model. Ryterna sectional garage doors can be installed in as little as 80mm of headroom and side room.

One of the major advantages of sectional garage doors is excellent insulation properties. Insulation can be an extremely important factor for many people as many garages are used as playrooms, workshops and even offices for many individuals. Even when used as a conventional garage, the added insulation keeps heat loss to a minimum and stops cold air from entering the garage ensuring damp is kept to a minimum. The added insulation also helps reduce a temperature barrier from any party walls between your garage a main dwelling (integral garages only).

Sectional doors also benefit from a wide range of styles, finishes and window options. Unlike other single skinned doors the selection of accessories are more varied due to the construction of the thicker sectional panel. Ryterna even offer stainless steel double glazed windows for your sectional garage door.

Another key feature of sectional products is security. Unlike canopy type doors, sectional doors are notoriously difficult for intruders to gain unauthorised access. Trying to lever a door upward is almost impossible and will simply result in the panels resisting any unwanted upward pressure. Due to the panel thickness and solid construction, sectional door locks are also extremely secure due to the way in which they can be installed directly into the door panels.

Roller Shutter Doors

This type of door is more common in shop fronts however has proven popular in some residential areas due to the low cost.  Typically operation of this type of door is either manual ‘push up’ or electric. Electric operation is usually made possible with the introduction of a tubular motor and manual operation is usually made possible by way of a tensioned spring.

Sectional doors use roller plates which are installed either inside or outside of the garage. As roller shutter doors can require considerable headroom (the higher the door the greater to headroom required) they sometimes can only be installed outside. When this is the case a canopy cover must be installed which proves both unsightly and can a security risk as intruders can tamper with the door mechanism.

Roller shutters do not have the same scope for design as sectional doors however they can provide a good level of security when installed inside.

Canopy Doors

The canopy style ‘up and over’ door is the most common type of garage door available in the UK. This type of door is favoured by the majority of building contractors due to the very low budget approach. Canopy garage doors are commonly constructed from either a single steel skin, pressed to form a pattern/style. Other materials such as glass reinforced plastic (GRP) are also used in manufacturing this type of door.

Due to the thin, lightweight design of this type of garage door, operation is very easy in either manual or electric versions. Manual models are assisted by either the use of small torsion springs (usually identified by cables and drums above the garage door) or extension springs (usually identified by large springs on either side of the door). This type of door offers extremely poor insulation and acoustic properties. More importantly up and over doors offer very little resistance to intruders and is by far the easiest garage door to gain access, usually within seconds.

For further help and advice on identifying the type of garage door you have installed please contact us for professional friendly advice.