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) Sectional overhead doors,

2) Roller doors

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.