Automatic garage doors: types, choice

The presence of automatic gates in the garage is not at all necessary, but closing / opening the gate in the rain and snow is so unpleasant that you involuntarily think about automating this process. There are several ways – to automate existing ones or install new ones. We will talk further about what automatic garage doors are, about their device, advantages and disadvantages. 

 We get rid of the main disadvantage

Electric garage doors are good because there is no need to lock them mechanically – with locks or constipation. The drives are designed in such a way that in the closed state they block the opening of the door leaf until a signal is received from the control (button and / or control panel). But automatic garage doors are dependent on the availability of power. There is no light – the mechanisms do not work. Neither open nor close. The problem is solved in two ways:

• Installing an unlocking system that will allow you to open / close the gate manually. This is usually an option that must be ordered separately, so be careful when ordering a complete set.
  

• The presence of a backup power source. Most often, a battery is installed, from which, in the event of a power failure, the engine runs, setting the door leaf in motion. If the problem of power failure is relevant, many acquire power generators. In this case, it is necessary to include garage doors in the backup power circuit.

Moreover, no one denies the possibility of installing two systems at once. Automatic garage doors can be connected to a backup power source and optionally equipped with a manual release system. This will reduce the probability of failure, almost to zero.

Methods of management

Automatic garage doors of any kind can have several types of controls:

• From buttons located on an adjacent wall or somewhere nearby. Not the best option, since in order to open / close the gate you still need to leave the car. Often this option is made as a backup – suddenly the remote control is lost.
  

• From the remote control. Automatic gates with remote control are a popular option. The drive has a receiving device, which, when a signal is received, starts the gate engine in one direction or another (depending on the received signal). The signal is transmitted from a remote control, which may look like a key fob, or it may look like a small remote control. This method is convenient, since you can turn on / off the drive while being within the range of the receiver located in the garage. From the car, from the house, being in the yard – it doesn’t matter. It is important that the remote control is within range of the signal. But there are nuances here. The first is that signals are transmitted over a radio channel, that is, they can be intercepted. Therefore, when choosing, pay attention to the encoding method and the security system. The second is that your neighbors, or even you, may have a remote control from another device operating on the same frequency. This will lead to confusion. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to change the frequency at which the control panel and receiver operate. In addition, this will increase the reliability of the system – you can change the frequency as you wish.
  

• From a mobile device. Modern locking systems can be controlled not only from the remote control, but also from a mobile device with a special program installed. Signals are exchanged via a satellite communication system. In addition to the fact that you do not need an additional device (remote control), but only a mobile phone, you can track the state of the gate at any time. But such a system is expensive, although convenient.

Most often, remote controls are used to control automatic garage doors. They are comfortable and compact. Usually they are installed in tandem with an emergency unlocking system. So that in the event of a power failure, the gate can be opened/closed manually (or with a manual gate).

Automatic swing gates

Most garages are equipped with swing gates. Yes, the solution is not ideal, but everyone is used to the pros / cons. If your garage already has such gates, they can be turned into automatic ones. It is necessary to choose a drive that will open and close the sashes.

Types of drives

In general, the drive for swing doors can be of two types – linear and lever. Linear gates are chosen for the gates – they are more powerful and reliable, they can be with a control panel, they can work from a button or have a double opening system. Lever ones are designed for smaller masses and do not have such wind resistance – they will break in strong winds. After all, they will have to hold a massive door leaf, which is affected by the wind.

There is also an underground system for opening hinged doors, but for this case it is absolutely unprofitable – the cost is high, installation is complicated, and there are many problems with operation in the autumn-winter period. In general, it is better not to consider an underground garage door drive.

Advantages and disadvantages

Swinging automatic garage doors have the same disadvantages as conventional ones:

• Requires a lot of free space in front of the garage. And the space cleared. That is, after a snowfall, you first have to clear the site, so open the gate. The sense in automation in this case disappears.
• There is a chance to damage the car: putting it too close to the gate and not holding the sash, not securing the gate sash, get them “on the body” with a strong gust of wind.
  

• They have a large windage, therefore, when choosing a drive, it is necessary to take it with a solid margin – in order to overcome wind resistance and keep the wings in place.
• Usually they are just a sheet of metal on a frame, that is, they are “cold”. You can insulate them, but this increases the already considerable mass, the drive is needed even more powerful (and expensive).
• Difficult to seal.

The advantages of swinging automatic garage doors are the ease of installation of the drive. In addition, you can not buy a drive, but rather automate a hydraulic lift of sufficient power from some device. There are no other advantages.

In general, swinging automatic garage doors should only be done if the gates themselves are already up and running, and there is not enough budget to purchase another system.

lifting and turning

The design of the up-and-over garage door is not too complicated. This is a sheet of metal in the entire width of the opening, which, with the help of a special mechanism, rises up, in the open position it is fixed under the ceiling.

Types of lifting

There are different types of up-and-over automatic garage doors – for different types of doorways, different weights of the leaf:

• Standard type. Suitable for curtains weighing up to 870 kg, ceiling height from 350 mm and above. The guides have a smooth bend with a radius of 381 mm and 305 mm, which provides a minimum load on the springs. This type of lifting is considered reliable.
• Low rise type. Designed for lintels with a height of 250 mm to 500 mm (web weight no more than 870 kg). To lift the gate, special radius guides are used. The system is even more reliable than the standard one.
• High lift type. For lintels with a height of 500 mm and above, the maximum web weight is 890 kg. With this design, much less space is required to open, but the reliability is lower than that of the previous two.
  

• Inclined rise. Also used for low ceilings – up to 500 mm high, ideal for sloped ceilings. The maximum weight is 1000 kg, the guides are located along the perimeter of the structure.
• Vertical lift. Can be installed on high lintels – at a height of 500 mm. As the name implies, the canvas rises up. The maximum weight is 1000 kg, the guides are installed as close as possible to each other. Characterized by long-term stable operation.

The choice of the type of opening of the up-and-over automatic garage doors is largely determined by the parameters of the opening, mainly by the height of the lintel and the weight of the leaf. When installing this system, it is important to prepare the opening well – drive it out to the nearest millimeter, plaster it on the beacons. In this case, the canvas will fit tightly, there will be no problems with blowing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let’s start with the practical benefits of installing a lift-and-turn mechanism on garage doors compared to swing doors (even if they are automated).

• The space required to open the gate in front of the garage becomes much smaller.
• The performance of the gate does not depend much on the presence / absence of snow in front of the canvas. Of course, if there is a snowdrift at the gate, it is better to throw it away. The power of the mechanism may be enough to move it, but there is no need to overload it. In addition, it is not pleasant if snow falls from the canvas on your head, then melts in the garage.
• The canvas does not interfere with the exit.
  

• The gate is made of a sheet of metal without additional movable joints (welds do not count). With proper preparation of the opening, good thermal insulation can be achieved.
• It is possible to open such canvases either automatically (button or control panel) or manually, which is not bad when the electricity is turned off.
• In the plane, you can make a gate or a window and this will not greatly affect the cost.
• You can use insulated sheets and flashings / seals – for heated garages.

In general, this design is much more convenient, less problematic during operation, but there are also disadvantages.

• You can’t install such a system in very low garages.
• Large windage, which requires more drive power.
• It takes a lot of manual effort.
  

• During opening, however, free space is required in front of the gate, as the lower edge of the gate moves forward. Accordingly, there is a possibility of damage to the car if you put it too close.
• It occupies a large space under the ceiling, it is also impossible to put something on the sides of the passage.

What else can be attributed to the shortcomings? Complicated installation. Up-and-over automatic garage doors require the correct installation of rails, placement of springs and counterweights. All this must be securely fixed and debugged.

Sectional automatic garage doors

Sectional garage doors are similar to overhead doors. The difference is that the canvas is a separate section, movably articulated with each other with the help of loops. These sections rise up along the guides (rollers are fixed on the sections). Although there is a similarity, but due to the fact that the sections have a relatively small height and “fold”, they do not occupy any space in front of the gate when lifting / lowering. On the ceiling, they take up the same amount of space as lift-and-swivel.

Types and properties

There are two types of sectional garage doors – with insulated and cold canvas. Sections without insulation are just metal strips covered with a protective layer and painted. Warm sectional doors are assembled from sandwich panels. The space between the two layers of metal is filled with insulation, which determines the main characteristics of the gate. To reduce heat loss, a sealant (usually elastic rubber) is installed at the junction of the panels. It has the same types of lifting as lifting and turning, only the parameters of the doorway are different (smaller).

Two types of drives can be used for automation. The first is placed on the ceiling behind the ceiling rails. With the help of a cable, it is connected to the canvas. Winding the cable, he pulls up the panel. This option has little power, is cheaper, and is used only for domestic garage doors. The second drive is axial. It is placed on the side on the axis located in the upper part of the structure. It drives the axle, which drives the door leaf. This type of drive is more powerful and can be used for large leaf weights.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage has already been voiced – sectional automatic garage doors for work do not require space in front. In some cases, this is really important. The rest of the benefits look like this:

• Warm models have the same thermal insulation as a one and a half brick wall.
• High reliability. It cannot be compared with a steel sheet with a thickness of 4-5 mm, but it is quite high.
• Sufficient rigidity to resist wind loads.
• Easy installation. The design is assembled from parts that are small in weight and size, which is somewhat longer in time, but much easier physically. You can handle the installation of sectional automatic garage doors in one hand.
  

• A gate can be installed in the door leaf.

In general, it is not surprising that this particular type of garage door is installed more often than the others. Good choice. But there are also disadvantages:

• High price.
• Not too high level of protection. For outdoor use, this is a great option. If the garage doors face the street, you should look for another, more reliable option.

If you need to choose automatic garage doors for a protected area, the best choice is, perhaps, sectional. Of all, they are the most compact, reliable, safe, and have many options. At the same time, for the price, they are not too different from automated swing.

Roller (roller shutters)

What are roller shutters everyone imagines. This is a set of aluminum strips, which, when opened, are wound on a drum located under the ceiling. When moving, the slats slide along the guides installed on the sides of the opening.

There is a manual opening option (a knob on the drum), there is a mechanized one – with the help of a motor that can be controlled from the remote control or from the buttons displayed on the panel next to the gate.

Features of choice

When choosing a roller garage door, pay attention to the following points:

• Lamellas for roller shutters are made by extrusion or rolling. More reliable – made by extrusion, since during production the semi-liquid mass is pressed into special forms. As a result, the outer walls and inner partitions are a single whole, which greatly increases the rigidity and reliability of each individual bar and gate as a whole. All anti-vandal rolling shutters are assembled from extruded strips.
  

• Insulated – with foam filler – lamellas are always made by rolling. To increase the rigidity of these strips, the filler is taken with increased rigidity – to add resistance to mechanical stress.
• Dimensions of slats used for roller shutters: height from 39 mm to 84 mm, thickness – from 8 mm to 13,5 mm.
• The type of lock being used. There are ordinary ones – external ones, which are threaded into hinges welded to the frame, there are internal ones – spacers. If the lock is of a spacer type, in the off-season, when the temperature outside is around 0 ° C, the condensate flowing down the surface enters the lock mechanism and freezes. You can open the gate only after melting the ice (you can use a hair dryer).
  

Please note that the selection of the height of the slats for rolling gates is done based on the width of the opening. A low height can be used for doorways, a large one for the gate itself. For example, lamellas with a height of 84 mm can be used on spans up to 5 meters long.

Advantages and disadvantages

Roller garage doors are considered the most unreliable and cold, but when folded they are the most compact and can be installed at a very low room height and a low ceiling (from 100 mm). And this is their main advantage.

Another plus is that they cost less than lift-and-turn and sectional ones. You can probably find those that will be cheaper than swing ones. But in terms of security, they cannot be compared even with the most unsightly steel gates. Anti-vandal steel profile has a metal thickness of 1 mm. And this is the maximum. It costs a lot. The price is comparable to the same sectional ones.

Retractable (sliding)

Another type of automatic garage door is sliding or sliding. By the name it is already clear that it is tightly shifted to the side. This is their main feature – next to the opening there should be free space 1,5-2 meters larger than the width of the gate. This is where the canvas will move. Since the mass of the web is large, a drive is usually used.

Types of sliding gates

By design, sliding gates are:

• Console. In this design, the main load from the door leaf falls on the cantilever (bearing) beam, which can be located at the top, bottom or in the middle. In cross section, it resembles the letter “P”, rollers are inserted into it, which are fixed on a special stand. When moving, the rollers slide along the beam, the canvas shifts. In this design, good balancing is important, then there are no problems with operation, such automatic gates can be used for decades. The disadvantage of this type of sliding gate is that it is difficult to implement, it is necessary to calculate and manufacture the gate leaf itself with a counterweight, install the supporting structure (concrete).
  

• Suspended. The carrier beam is located at the top, rollers also move along it. But, in this design, the rollers are attached to the door leaf and are on top. That is, the gate actually hangs on a beam. Easy to implement design, well-behaved in operation. In the case of installation in a garage, it has one significant drawback – it is almost impossible to insulate it to a normal degree.
  

• Retractable along the rail. In this system, the opposite is true. The carrier beam/rail is at ground level. The rollers also move along the guide, but are attached to the door leaf from below. This is the simplest design, but also the most problematic in operation: the guide is clogged with dirt, the door leaf often warps when moving.

The door leaf is usually made of a sheet of metal, you can use ordinary sheet steel, profiled sheet, stuff boards on the frame, etc. there are no restrictions here. Another thing is that safety is important for a garage, so sheet metal is most often installed. But at the same time, the gates turn out to be heavy, which must be taken into account when choosing the power of the engine.

Advantages and disadvantages

In general, all sliding / sliding gates are not able to provide the proper degree of thermal insulation. They must move freely along the walls, so a snug fit cannot be ensured. You can put seals, but they must be very elastic. And this is in addition to the fact that next to the gate in the same plane there should be a piece of wall / fence / free space – so that there is an opportunity

Therefore, if we consider sliding gates as garage doors, then only for a cold garage. At the same time, the construction on the rail in the ground should not be used at all. Firstly, it is inconvenient, since you will have to move it and it will clog. Secondly, with such a device, snow will be swept inside, rain will flow in – the rollers have a rather large height and you can’t seal this gap in any way.

They have sliding automatic garage doors and advantages:

• High burglary resistance. The canvas can be made of sheet steel, which is a good protection against penetration.
• Work stability. Failures are possible only if the load-bearing beams are damaged, which is very rare in a cantilever and suspended structure.
• Independence of work from the presence / absence of snow.
  

• Low possibility of failure due to icing of the structure.
• Sliding gates of any system can be made by hand – from the very beginning to the very end. You will only have to buy a drive with a control panel, metal, rollers, parts of the support system. If an automatic gate with a remote control is not needed, any low speed motor can be fitted.

In general, automatic sliding gates are not suitable for all garages. They are ideal if the cold garage has access directly to the street and its opening is flush with the fence. An unheated freestanding one is also suitable (if there is enough free space nearby and the open gates do not interfere with movement around the site). In all other cases, a different design must be selected.