Door Industry Journal - Winter 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 42 THE door industry journal winter 2013 garage doors feature SPECIFYING THE RIGHT GARAGE DOOR There are many things specifiers need to consider when selecting garage doors for a development or project. From size, material, maintenance and security - through to look, finish, energy efficiency and how much space it saves - the guide below has been carefully compiled to give you a full check list of considerations when selecting a garage door. Are the garage doors wide enough? A recent survey conducted by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), revealed that nearly three quarters of new build homes have garage doors that are too small to accommodate some of today’s most popular cars, like the Ford Focus and Honda Civic. To overcome these issues, Garador offers a variety of door widths. Often, the spring-based opening mechanism of a retractable or canopy garage door can be an issue for larger vehicles. To avoid having to tuck in wing-mirrors when parking a wide vehicle inside the garage, Garador has developed the perfect solution. The Retractable Plus gearing option offers specially designed lifting arms including bottom spring brackets for narrow openings which allow for maximum use of the clear passage. So homeowners can utilise the full drive through width of their garage opening. How much maintenance is the customer willing to undertake? For many customers there’s no substitute for a real timber garage door, however given the ongoing issue of maintenance, it is worth considering specifying timber-effect doors which are now far more widely available. Garador’s foil-coated timber-effect finish provides homeowners with the natural appearance of wood whilst retaining the cost and maintenance advantages of a steel door. A door which requires little or no maintenance is also often a preferred option, particularly through the cold winter months. How important a consideration is home-security with the Garage door? Although the garage door is the largest entrance system to the house, it is often overlooked when ensuring a property is secure. As a garage frequently houses expensive vehicles, tools, bikes and other valuable belongings, security is an essential consideration for both owners and specifiers. The ‘Secured by Design’ flagship initiative from the UK police, is supporting the principles of ‘designing out crime’ and Garador is proud to be the only Up & Over Garage Door manufacturer that meets this exacting standard. Garador’s Guardian Range, has undergone rigorous tests which are mandatory to assure they will prevent forced entry and will keep any property completely secure. Achieving a streamlined architectural look... The garage door is a large visual element of any property. Choosing a stylish garage door design that matches other doors on the property, can lend a streamlined architectural look that hugely improves curb side appeal of that home. Garador now offers a PVC range that matches existing PVC doors and windows, along with steel, timber and GRP doors to meet the needs of even the most discerning buyer. Garador has also developed a Design Range to offer new levels of style for any modern property. Some of the Design Range doors have been designed to match entrance doors from the thermally efficient Garador Front Guard range, thus enabling consumers to purchase a perfectly matched designer garage door and front entrance door from one source. Maximising drive-space With typical Up & Over garage doors, cars cannot be parked close to the garage as there is not enough clearance for the door to open. This can mean a considerable amount of space is lost on the driveway causing real issues, particularly when customers need to park a second vehicle on the driveway. Garador’s Sectional Garage Doors and roller doors lift vertically ensuring no loss of driveway space in front of the garage. These sectional doors are probably the best engineered door on the market, they are especially smooth during either electric or manual operation. The range of colours and styles also provides the specifier with almost as many design options as Up & Over doors but with that all important space-saving advantage. Timber effect Garage Door Guardian Range Carlton door Design range with FrontGuard Sectional Overhead Doors