The advantages of a sliding garage door

If you’re considering investing in a new garage door, but want something different from conventional side-hinged or tilt-hinged options, a sliding, roll-up or sectional door may be the answer.

The main door opening mechanisms available for the domestic market are:

side-hinged
up and over
Sliding
sectional and
Roller

This article will look at the sliding door that causes the door to slide from the garage entrance to a resting point on the side of the door opening.

How does it work

A sliding door is made up of several vertical sections (panels), all of which are hinged to allow them to swing around corners.

The door rests at the top and bottom on tracks that are guided by a track that leads away from the door opening to a convenient storage point. This storage position may be directly adjacent to the opening, or it may be some distance away on an opposite wall. There is no limit to the length of the track that can be used.

The advantages of a sliding door.

1. Unlike an overhead door, a sliding door does not take up ceiling space that could otherwise be used for storage. You also don’t have an “opening zone” inside the garage that needs to be kept clear.

2. Sliding operation also means no “clearance” is required in front of the door. This means the gate can still be opened if a vehicle or other obstacle is parked within inches of it.

3. Sliding garage doors on tracks are very easy to operate because the weight of the door is always on the track. This means that they require minimal effort to open and close. This makes them ideal for people of all ages and genders. They can also be secured internally or externally.

4. This form of gate is very easy to automate with a motor and remote control and most people who own one select this option. The fact that the door does not lift means that only low powered motors are required and the wear on these motors is minimal.

5. Unlike any other type of door, there is no limit or restriction on the width of the garage opening. A single sliding door will work in all situations without the need to divide the door into two or more sections. There are also no weight/load issues, as can be the case with sectional and roll-up doors that rest on the door opening.

6. Most roll-up doors are available with a layer of insulation and can have finishes that mimic natural wood or paneled hardware.

7. Sliding doors for garages, warehouses and outbuildings are very popular in the commercial sector. In fact, they are probably the most widely used system and this is due to their reliability, ease of use, speed of use and toughness.

8. A separate side hinged human access door may be included in a sliding door. This makes it easy to get in and out, even when the front door is closed and locked.