A guide to buying used garage doors

Often, your garage door can be somewhat more significant than the front door of the house. Therefore, if your garage door is looking a bit shabby or has been badly damaged, you might want to consider replacing it. Used garage doors are always available, but you need to make sure that you know which type to choose first. Here is a guide.

Overview

Most modern garage doors are of up-and-over design, sliding up into the roof of the garage with a system of tracks, springs, door rollers or hinges when open rather than swinging outwards on conventional hinges. The different designs need varying amounts of clearance in front of the garage and space inside for the open door.

Retractable doors

This retractable-type door essentially operates by using a system of pivots and rails that are mounted in the roof of the garage. The system enables this type of door to be tucked out of sight when open. This is the greatest advantage of choosing a retractable garage door type. However, on the downside, this type of door requires the greatest clearance space outside. So, if you are pushed for space in front of your garage, this type of door will not be the best option.

Canopy door

In these types of garage door systems, a section of the door overhangs the opening - literally like a canopy - when it is open. The required clearance in front of the garage is less than for a retractable door. Furthermore, the door and mechanism take up less space inside.

Roller door

Garage roller doors are the most compact option. They need no space at all for opening and their slim sections roll around a metal pole into a small boxed compartment just inside the roof - or even on the outside of the front of the garage, if space is really limited. Sectional doors Sectional doors have wider panels, so do not roll up. Instead, use the same mechanism and retract into the roof on tracks when open. Roller and sectional garage doors can be used with electric, remote door openers to make the most secure garage door installation option. These doors fit behind rather than in the opening, so they make a good choice if the door space is an unusual shape or size.