Sectional garage doors: types, device, manufacturers

The convenience of its operation largely depends on the type of gate in the garage. One popular option is sectional garage doors. You can’t call them cheap, but they retain heat better than all other designs and, perhaps, are the most convenient to use. 

Sectional door device

In sectional doors, the main difference is that the leaf does not consist of a single leaf, but of a set of movably interconnected sections. The sections are fastened together with special loops, providing the proper degree of freedom. There are usually three loops for each connection – along the edges and in the middle (with a large gate width, there may be more). Rollers are installed along the edges of each section. Guides are installed on the sides of the gate opening, which, smoothly curving, pass into the ceiling guide. The guides have recesses into which the rollers are tucked.

When opening a sectional garage door, the leaf rollers move along the grooves in the guides. They rise up, pass through a smooth bend due to the movable joint and, one after the other, rise to the ceiling. When closing, everything happens in the opposite direction. That’s the whole device and the principle of operation, but there are many options and variations, so you have to understand specifically for each component.

Door leaf: device, dimensions, materials

Sections for gates of this type are “cold” and “warm”. The cold option is used very rarely, since even for unheated garages it is better if there is at least some difference with the outside temperature. This difference is provided by insulation.

What are they made of and design features

Warm sectional doors are assembled from structures that are commonly called “sandwich”. Two outer metal walls are separated by a layer of insulation. Made from steel strip. Steel can be black galvanized or stainless steel.

The second option is usually used for expensive industrial options. Galvanized steel (galvanized galvanizing method) is more widely used. The front surface, for increased resistance to corrosion, is covered with two layers of modified polyurethane (after primer treatment for better adhesion). Cold single-walled sections are also made of steel with a protective coating. The minimum metal thickness is 0,6 mm (but thicker ones are better).

The German company Hörmann also makes sectional doors from solid wood. They are delivered only and exclusively under the order.

For some manufacturers (ALUTECH – Alutech), the outer contour of the sandwich is closed with a lock of complex shape. This increases the reliability of the design and eliminates breaks when the temperature changes. Other manufacturers do not close the circuit, thereby leaving a temperature gap, which improves thermal insulation characteristics and reduces the likelihood of freezing. Who among them is right is hard to say. Probably both approaches make sense, but which one you prefer is up to you.

Insulation is most often polyurethane foam, but mineral wool can also be used. Since it is in a hermetically closed circuit, the type of insulation is not important, its characteristics are important. And in terms of thermal insulation characteristics, polyurethane is better than mineral wool.

When applying polyurethane, the inner surface of the sandwich is covered with a layer of protective varnish, which protects the metal from corrosion and improves the adhesion of the zinc layer to the insulation.

dimensions

It is difficult to say exactly about the dimensions of sectional doors: different manufacturers have different technologies, different dimensions. We describe the standard options that are usually available:

• section height – 40-60 cm;
• section thickness – 35-40 mm, there are 45 mm (Hörmann / Hermann);

Of these, gates are assembled with a height of 1,25 m to 4 m, a length of 1,90 m to 6,40 m. The maximum length / height depends on the type of sections you have chosen.

There are usually a number of ready-made overhead sectional doors available. But these are not standard sizes, but the most “running”, those that are in frequent demand. For example, the most “requested” height starts from 2400 mm, and the width starts from 2150 mm. Further, the height and width change in increments of 25 cm. The advantage of them is that there is almost no need to wait – they are either at the point of sale or in the manufacturer’s warehouse. The maximum waiting time is a couple of days. When ordering “your” size, you will have to wait longer.

There are several solutions. The first is to fit the opening to these dimensions, the second is to order the required dimensions. Delivery time depends on the manufacturer and your location. The waiting time for Russian (Sedona, Sauber, Dorkhan) is one to three weeks. Belarusian (Alutech) travel a little longer – up to one and a half months, German or Swiss (Tecsedo) – from two months.

There is another option – to get the desired dimensions, that is, cut the “standard” to the required length. This possibility must be coordinated – so that there are no problems with the guarantee.

Section connection

As already mentioned, the sandwich panels are connected to each other with the help of loops. In order to prevent cracks from forming at the junction and no blowing, the edges are made curly, in the form of a spike / groove lock, which reduces the possibility of blowing.

To nullify it completely, an elastic seal is installed in the joint. Based on operating experience, it can be argued that good sectional garage doors do not let in dust, snow, moisture, or wind. They are even able to withstand the cold. On the thermal imager, they look “warmer” than windows.

The shape of the lock, methods of strengthening the structure for the hinges, the installation location of the seal for each manufacturer are different. For example, Hermann developed a system that prevents pinching of fingers, Alutech installs fasteners in the rolling seam – where the steel strip is connected and turns into a closed loop.

lift type

For sectional garage doors, the type of lift is determined by the height of the lintel (the distance from the top of the opening to the ceiling). He can be:

• Standard. The height of the lintel is from 350 mm to 600 mm. It is with this rise that the standard equipment comes. The maximum width of doors with this type of lifting is 7 meters, height – up to 9,7 m. Advantages – the lowest cost compared to other types, low load on the springs, which increases the stability of work.
• Reduced. Ceiling – from 150 mm to 350 mm. In this case, in the open state, the lower section hangs down by 80-150 mm, blocking the upper part of the opening. There are two options – a drum in the back and in front. The drum in front is placed on lintels with a height of 220 mm to 350 mm, a special radial guide is used, because of this, the price is higher than for a standard lift. When placing the drum at the rear, end brackets are installed on a conventional rail, on which the shaft is mounted. With a low lift, it is possible to install the drive to automate the gate only on the ceiling.
  

• High. The headroom is at least 600 mm (the maximum headroom height is 4,6 m), only an axial drive can be installed for automation. Advantage – you can compactly place the guides, higher reliability compared to the inclined lift. But more expensive springs, a drum are used, they are large, therefore – more complex installation, higher price (both for the system and for installation).
• Inclined (standard or high). This is for the case when the ceiling rises from the gate to the back wall. The height of the lintel is from 500 to 1500 mm. The most expensive and unstable option. This does not mean that it cannot be used, but if possible, it is better to choose another one.
• Vertical lift. There are two types – with a spring at the top (height of the lintel = height of the gate opening +700 mm) and at the bottom (height of the lintel = height of the gate opening +370 mm). In both cases, an axial drive is installed during automation. This type of lifting is set with a web weight of not more than 1000 kg. Advantage – the possibility of compact placement of guides, stable operation – disadvantage – high price (larger guides, more expensive materials).

Actually, the type of lift is determined by the measurer when ordering or a consultant. You just need to carefully measure everything. If you are going to order, draw the existing opening and put down all the dimensions. That will be much easier.

With an insufficient height of the lintel, but a large opening height, the lintel can be artificially increased. To do this, a false panel of the required size is mounted in the upper part of the opening. In the future, the calculation of the lintel is taking into account it. This is a simple and effective way to reduce costs, since non-standard options cost significantly more.

lifting mechanism

Sectional garage doors are lifted by the tension of the springs. There are two types of mechanisms:

• With torsion springs mounted on the shaft. The shaft is located in the upper part of the structure – above the opening. When a sectional garage door is closed, the torsion springs are at rest. When the canvas begins to rise, they twist, accumulating the force of elasticity. It is released when the canvas goes down.
  

• With extension springs. The springs are installed in the side racks (guides). When the canvas is raised, they stretch, when lowered, they return to their original position.

Which lifting mechanism for sectional garage doors to choose? It all depends on whether the garage is heated or not. There are more adjustments in torsion mechanisms that allow you to adjust the tightness of the web. So for heated garages, a torsion mechanism is more suitable.

But the torsion lifting mechanism requires a higher lintel and is much more expensive than the configuration option based on extension springs. But it is more reliable – designed for more intensive use can be installed in garages with heavy traffic.

Automation options

Manually opening and closing the garage door in the rain or during a snowfall is still a pleasure. Every car owner knows this. The desire to automate the process is quite natural. Automatic lifting of sectional type gates can be implemented in two ways:

• By means of a drive mounted on the ceiling. It is connected to the lifting mechanism by cables or chains (depending on manufacturers). It is put at the standard, lowered and inclined rise. This option is cheaper, since the drive itself is the most common, it does not require a lot of power.
  

• Axial drive. It is installed on the side of the upper axle, causing it to rotate. More powerful and more expensive option. It is installed if the lintel is high enough – for an increased vertical, standard lift.

As you can see, the choice is only subject to the basic configuration with a standard (medium) type of lift. In all other cases, the mechanism type is determined by the opening parameters.

Automatic opening / closing of sectional garage doors can be “started” from various devices:

• Remote located on the wall. This is implemented simply – using standard buttons through which power is supplied. The point in such automation is the absence of physical effort, although you still need to get out of the car in the rain.
  

• Key fob / remote control. In this case, a radio transmitter is built into the control panel, and a receiver is built into the drive. They work at a certain frequency. When choosing, pay attention to the frequency range – it should not overlap devices of this type already in use.
• Computer, smartphone. In this case, a microprocessor is built into the drive, which receives and processes the signals.

Of all these types, key chains are the most common. It is relatively inexpensive, gives the required degree of freedom.

Appearance

Sections of this type of lifting gate can have a different appearance. There are several main types of outer surface – S, L and M profile, as well as fine wave and panel. In this assortment there are sandwiches from any manufacturer. Some also have non-standard ones – with various decorative elements or transparent inserts (this is usually polycarbonate sheet). But their price is significantly different from the “basic” models.

Adds design variations for several types of surfaces – smooth, rough, with imitation of the surface of wood. In addition, sectional garage doors are usually painted with protective paints, which give the canvas a more attractive look. But the main function of painting is protection against corrosion and the effects of climatic factors.

Locking methods

Sectional garage doors have three different locking methods:

1. With the help of a valve (spring bolt). This method is suitable if they are locked from the inside and there is another passage to the garage – in the door leaf or somewhere in the wall. Usually comes in the basic configuration, other constipation is put on request.
2. With integrated lock. Most often it is a bolt-type lock with two handles and a key hole. Handles are installed in the center of the leaf, so that by pulling them, you can open / close the gate. On the inside, a cable is attached to the handle, which, when turned, pulls the crossbar.
   

3. Automatic sectional garage doors are locked with an automatic locking mechanism that is activated when the leaf is lowered. For emergency unlocking, there are two ways:
   • from the inside, you can remove the lock by pulling a special cable;
   • to unlock from the outside, a key hole is made in the canvas, turning the key, pull out the lock cylinder (everything is very easy), to which the unlocking cable is attached.

As you understand, the first two methods are suitable if the canvas is lifted manually, the third is for an automated version. You can always ask to install a latch to a crossbar lock or auto-lock – in case of a long absence.

 Additional options

This is not all the possibilities to diversify the design or its appearance. They rock the appearance, enhance the usability of the gate.

Glazing and ventilation grilles

Sectional garage doors can be with windows. They are usually located in the upper third of the sash, although it can be in the middle and somewhere else. If you spend a lot of time in the garage during the day, it makes sense to order large-area glazing so that there is enough light. This will save on electricity bills – during the daytime, you can not use electric light.

A special profile is inserted into the section for fixing sheets of transparent polyurethane or acrylic. Acrylic is cheaper, but it quickly changes color, loses transparency. So this is not an option. Sheet polycarbonate will live longer – it does not grow cloudy for a long time, but it costs more.

When deciding whether or not you need glazing, take into account the effect of sunlight on the paint – most likely, the paint on the car will fade.

With ventilation grilles, it’s easy to solve. The garage must be ventilated. If during construction, vents were made for the entry / removal of air in the walls, additional ventilation grilles are useless. If you forgot about ventilation, it is easier to install grilles in the door leaf (but hardly cheaper) than to make holes in the walls.

Built-in gate (door)

Raising a sectional door every time you need to enter / exit the garage is very inconvenient. Well, if there are doors somewhere on the side. If not, you can make a gate in the plane of the canvas. But it is worth knowing that this will greatly affect the cost: the system is complex and expensive.

The gate can be with or without a threshold. The second option is more convenient: you can roll out a bicycle, garden equipment without opening the gate. But it is offered not always and not by all manufacturers.

Security and automation

When installing an automatic drive, the kit usually comes with one (sometimes two) control panels / key fob). If you need additional ones, they can be ordered.

Automatic sectional garage doors have a lot of advantages, but they also have a lot of disadvantages and the main one is that their performance depends on the availability of power. To get rid of this problem, you can install a battery or install a manual unlock system (described above).

Another point: automatic gates carry a potential threat. Animals and children are most often affected, sometimes the elderly get it. You can increase safety by installing photocells. If a moving object appears in their field of vision, they will turn off the power and the movement of the canvas will stop.

Another possibility is to install a signal lamp. It turns on and gives light signals all the time while the drive is running.

Manual gate lifting unit

If you do not put an electric drive on large sectional garage doors, you have to make serious efforts when opening and closing. To reduce the effort, they put a manual gate lifting unit (usually a chain reducer).

It is recommended for installation on a canvas with a height of more than 2 meters, the maximum area is 15 square meters. m.

Manufacturers

The market is mainly represented by three large companies that produce sectional garage doors:

• German company Hörmann (Hermann);
• Belarusian Alutex (Alutech);
• Russian DoorHan (Dorkhan).

There are also Garaga (Canada), Tecsedo (Switzerland). There are also three Russian firms:

• Sedona, Sauber is the same Dorhan, only assembly in a different region;
• Zaiger (Novosibirsk) – uses Swiss sandwich panels and Russian-Chinese automation, and assembly takes place in Novosibirsk.
  

So far, these are all manufacturers that are worthy of attention. It is better not to consider products from China – although they are cheap, they are very problematic in terms of operation. Which manufacturer is better? If you take from the top three, then according to reviews:

• Hörmann (Hermann) – there are no problems. There are almost no negative reviews, as well as shortcomings. But these are the most expensive sectional garage doors.
• Alutex (Alutech) is quite a worthy option if there is not enough money for the “German”.
• DoorHan (Dorkhan) and his clones. The most budgetary of the top three, but has the most claims.

Still Novosibirsk Zaiger (Zaiger) has good reviews, but they still do not have a very developed dealer network and few representative offices in other regions. For those close by, this is a good choice.