Garage roller doors are the types that you will mostly see in commercial buildings, but are also being used in homes more often nowadays. They are the type of doors that are a bit more versatile than regular doors because they take up less space when being opened, and are good for areas with less overhead space as they roll up into a small box overhead.
They are typically made of aluminium, but can also be made of other types of metals, and are made up of a series of horizontally placed slats that wind around a central barrel. That barrel is enclosed in the box that the door rolls up into, and that box can be mounted on the outside of the garage door, or tucked into the ceiling of the garage, and is more often than not the preferred option for aesthetics and adding a bit more security to the garage.
It is more space efficient than other types of garage doors because none of the mechanisms for the door are inside the garage, and it also does not have a pull out mechanism on the outside when the door is opened like other types of garage doors. If this is the case, rollers are often the best option. They are also versatile in that they can adapt to a lot of different situations because we can usually fit rollers in place of other types of garage doors where there are different head room, space, and garage door width constraints.
These days, a majority of roller doors are automated, although you can still get manual ones. The motor is built into the box with the barrel, and you can control it with a remote or wall switch. Some systems can connect to your phone. The doors open and close smoothly and take about 15 seconds to fully open.
When it comes to roller doors, there is a decent level of security. The slats interlock when the door is closed, and the motor provides the main locking mechanism. The better systems have an anti-lift device, which prevents the door from being forced open from the outside. We have installed a lot of roller doors, and almost all of them have had no issues with break-ins.
The one area where roller doors don’t shine is insulation. While you can purchase insulated slats, other options, such as sectional doors or up-and-over doors, are often better. If you are just using your garage to park your cars and store a few things, then this won’t matter to you. However, if you have a garage that you are using as a work area, or if you have converted it to a workshop, you may need to consider a different type of door.
Installation is pretty simple. We size the opening, mount the guides, hang the door, run the motor, test everything, and boom. A couple hours and the job is done. The only thing that takes extra work is getting the door level, and smooth running with out any binding. The motor, and slats can get dented, but the generally keep working. There is a lot of price variation. These doors start at around 600 pounds, but with a decent motor and insulated slats, they can get to 1500 and up. They are less then sectionals, but more then the up-and-over. We lube the guides when the service is due and check the motor to see if its running and that’s about it for maintenance. The slats are roll and do make noise when the door is opening and closing. If your house is near a busy road and the motor is nicer then it won’t be as noisy, but you’ll still hear the slats. So if your garage is next to a window that’s good to keep in mind.
Sure thing! If you buy cheap roller doors, they will be cheap. The slats are thinner, they have noisier motors, and they don’t last very long. We mainly install SWS and SeceuroGlide rollers. Both are reliable, and we have had a good experience with them. They have good warranties and parts availability isn’t a problem.
They fit with modern houses very well, especially if you want a tidy, clean look. They work with older houses as well if you want an unobtrusive look. We’ve had a verreity of them, from new builds to Victorian conversions.
If you think a roller may work for your garage, we can measure and give you a quote. There are no obligations, and if we think a different type of door would work better, we will be honest with you.