What are the different types of garage doors?

We often receive questions about the different garage door options available. Generally, there are three primary types of garage doors that fit nearly all garages and sheds:

1) Roller doors

2) Sectional Garage Door

3) Side-hinged garage doors

 In this article, we will explore these three common door styles, which are the most suitable and widely used for garages and sheds.

One of the easiest ways to distinguish between the three types of garage doors mentioned above is by observing how they open. This method works well for both manual and automatic doors.

A Roller Garage Door opens by sliding the door curtain upward along tracks and rolling it around a drum or “barrel,” similar to rolling up a carpet into a cylinder that rests above the garage opening.

Sectional Garage Doors are made up of multiple panels—typically four to five—that are connected by hinges. As the door opens, these sections fold and slide up, resting parallel to the garage ceiling.

A Counterweight Garage Door, also known as a Tilt Garage Door, opens as a single solid panel that swings outward and upward. This style is often used for more custom or traditional garage door designs.

Now that you understand how to identify each type by their opening mechanism, let’s take a closer look at the features of each garage door style.

Roller garage doors

Roller garage doors are an ideal choice for buildings with challenging construction conditions or where saving space is a priority. They are versatile and can be used not only in garages but also in utility rooms, industrial facilities, and commercial sales or service areas. These doors can be installed in both existing structures and new constructions. The design of Nitus roller doors allows for flexible installation options, whether mounted inside or outside the building or within the doorway itself. Because the door operates solely in a vertical direction, with the shutter rolling up around a shaft concealed in a roller housing, none of its parts take up space inside the garage or on the driveway. Roller garage doors are perfect for those who prioritize functionality, safety, convenience, and style. Each Nitus roller door is custom-made to order, allowing for tailored dimensions, colors, and a variety of automatic control options to meet the specific needs and preferences of the customer.

The roller door comes in a single profile style and is offered in approximately 10 to 15 different color options. It is a straightforward and budget-friendly door choice but does have some size limitations, particularly regarding the headroom needed to accommodate the door roll. Standard roller doors typically measure between 2.1 to 2.4 meters in height and 2.4 to 3.6 meters in width. Due to their construction, it is generally not advisable to exceed a width of 4.00 meters. These doors are available with either manual locking or automatic opener mechanisms. When planning for a roller door, the following space requirements should be considered: - Headroom: at least 450mm - Side clearance: 90mm on each side, plus 150mm on the motor side if automated - Back space: 500-600mm, which works well for installations between floor joists, such as in basement garages. In summary, roller doors offer a simple and cost-effective solution but are best suited for garages and sheds that meet their specific spatial requirements.

Sectional Garage Door

Sectional garage doors consist of horizontally divided panels that lift upward and slide along curved tracks mounted on the garage ceiling. This design allows the door to rest parallel to the ceiling when fully open, maximizing overhead space. These doors come in a wide variety of styles and colors, giving homeowners endless options to create a personalized look that complements their home. Available in steel, aluminium, and timber, sectional garage doors can be customized with different designs and finishes to perfectly match your property’s aesthetic. Additionally, their insulated construction makes them durable, energy-efficient, and effective at reducing noise.

Advantages:

Space Efficiency

Sectional doors open by moving vertically and rest beneath the ceiling, allowing you to make full use of both the interior and exterior garage space.

Versatile Installation

Since the door doesn’t need to pass through the opening itself, sectional doors can be fitted to a variety of shapes—including arched, angled, or irregularly shaped entrances.

Maximum Clearance

The design of sectional doors provides the greatest possible width and height for vehicle access when fully open, offering more clearance than many other garage door types.

Complete Weather Protection

Equipped with flexible, weather-resistant seals on all four sides, these doors effectively block out wind, rain, and dust to keep your garage well-protected.

Compared to the traditional Up & Over door, sectional doors are generally easier to operate because their spring mechanisms provide assistance throughout almost the entire opening process. These doors use either torsion or tension springs, located on the sides or above the door, to aid smooth movement. Hörmann offers both spring types, with the choice depending on the total weight of the door panels.

Sectional doors are especially beneficial for properties with short driveways. Typically, standard-height domestic sectional doors are made up of four panels and can be manufactured up to 5500mm wide. For heights exceeding 2250mm, the door consists of five panels, increasing as the height grows, up to around 3000mm.

Thanks to their unique operation, sectional doors can be installed in garage openings that are slightly smaller in width or height than standard door sizes. This also ensures that the rubber weather seals fitted around the frame work effectively to keep out drafts and moisture when the door is closed. The bottom seal is particularly large and works well on smooth concrete floors, providing protection against dust, leaves, and even small pests like mice.

Most sectional garage doors are constructed with double-skinned steel panels filled with insulating foam, creating strong, well-insulated sections. This design offers excellent thermal insulation, enhanced security, and superior impact resistance compared to single-skinned doors. Additionally, each panel includes patented anti-finger trap protection and a rubber seal at the top edge, ensuring a tight seal between the horizontal sections for safety and weatherproofing.

The price of sectional garage doors varies based on factors such as size, design, material, and any extra customization choices. Although the upfront cost might appear steep, purchasing a sectional garage door can be cost-effective over time due to lower maintenance requirements and energy-efficient insulation that helps keep your garage warm, ultimately reducing energy bills. While security is invaluable and cannot be measured in dollars, investing in a high-quality sectional garage door is a smart decision that provides significant long-term benefits and peace of mind that far exceed the initial expense.

Sectional side-hinged garage doors

Sectional side-hinged doors are designed similarly to traditional side-hinged doors that have been on the market for many years. However, their design, functionality, and appearance have recently been enhanced by incorporating features from sectional doors. Double-leaf side-hinged doors represent a modern and advanced type of garage door, available from only a few manufacturers. They are ideal for utility rooms, residential properties, and standalone garages. These doors are particularly well-suited for renovated buildings that lack external reveals or lintels. At Nitus, we customize sectional side-hinged doors to meet individual customer specifications, producing them in bespoke sizes. The maximum dimensions for a sectional double-leaf door are 2600mm wide by 2250mm high.