IN ASSOCIATION WITH HORMANN
THE ULTIMATE BUYER’S GUIDE TO
More than just good looks, garage doors should be secure and practical. Find out what you need to consider to buy the right style and design for your home
Nowadays, garage doors aren’t just flimsy sheets of metal that wobble when you open or close them. There’s an array of materials and models on the market that are much more robust than they used to be. “A few years ago, garage doors tended to be an afterthought with homeowners leaving only a couple of hundred pounds to buy perhaps a steel singleskinned up-and-over door,” says David O’Mara marketing manager at Hörmann UK.
However, as garages today are doubling up as home gyms, utility rooms, workshops or a home office, as well as housing cars, choosing the right type of garage door shouldn’t be down to aesthetics alone. While it’s true that garage doors contribute to the overall kerb appeal of your home (they can make up around 30% of the façade), the doors need to be long-lasting and secure as a minimum. In fact, thermal efficiency, security, operation, material choice and maintenance will all be key factors when it comes to reviewing your options. With such a wide choice of garage doors now on the market, knowing what to consider before you buy will help you pick a model that offers value for money with the budget you have.
WHERE TO START?
Any buying decision that’s an investment purchase – think front doors, windows etc – needs to be researched. If your garage doors are going to be in frequent use then you’ll want them to be long lasting, so it’s important to ascertain what the expected lifespan is of the model and material you choose for your garage door. Most manufacturers offer a warranty but be mindful to check what it covers, as levels can vary. “Make sure a warranty covers design, manufacturing, labour and installation,” says Bevis North, managing director at Crocodile Products Ltd.
If you’re building your own home and including a garage in your design, the doors you pick will be free of constraints like the width, height and configuration — factors you’ll have to bear in mind if you’re replacing doors in situ. But it will pay to start researching options before work starts on site as David O’Mara suggests: “Taking your plans to a garage specialist early on could be the difference between making a small change to your house design and choosing the door you want, or being limited to buying a door that fits.”
WHAT WILL INFLUENCE YOUR CHOICE?
With an array of materials and door types on the market (see more on page 124) there are several areas to factor in when choosing garage doors. It’s wise to ask manufacturers questions about their products to understand more about how the garage door functions — then you can compare and decide on the specifications you want
