Should I Install a Roll-Up or a Sliding Garage Door?
Installing a new garage door can improve curb appeal, security, and energy efficiency. It also allows you to take advantage of different styles and options. One of the choices homeowners have is to pick between a roll-up or a sliding garage door. The advantages of each type will be explained below to help with your purchasing decision:
Why Should I Install a Roll-Up Garage Door?
A roll-up door, or overhead rolling door, retracts into a compact coil as it opens. It is made of numerous steel or aluminum slats. Similar to sectional garage doors familiar to many homeowners, roll-up garage doors can be manually or electronically operated.
Although more often used in commercial settings, roll-up garage doors have advantages including:
- Small Footprint: The slats coil around a single axle contained in a drum above the door opening. This drum requires about 14 to 29 inches of headroom; aside from guide tracks on the frame, no bulky equipment is required.
- Security: A rolling garage door uses high-strength materials and secure locking mechanisms. These make it more difficult to break into, improving home security and peace of mind.
- Durability: A rolling door is resistant to wear and tear, even over years of heavy usage. It resists corrosion, rust, and severe weather while containing fewer parts compared to a sectional/sliding door.
- Weather Protection: Compared to other garage doors, a roll-up door is better at keeping out wind, rain, and dust. Temperature control in your garage can be improved, and storage, furnishings, and belongings will be more protected.
- Energy Savings: Foam insulation prevents air leakage, heat transfer, and noise. Another perk is that roll-up doors leave no space under them for air transfer; you won’t need additional air conditioners or fans.
Why Should I Install a Sliding Garage Door?
Traditionally used for commercial and agricultural spaces, sliding garage doors are becoming more common in residential applications. A sliding door can be installed in homes as either a large paneled door or a bi-parting set of doors. Steel, aluminum, or wood panels retract up along the ceiling as the door opens; this requires a vertical track along the side and one along the ceiling.
You can see the following benefits of installing a sliding garage door:
- Compact Design: While they don’t roll up into a coil, sliding garage doors are relatively compact. They are well-suited for garages that aren’t too small, but sliding models can accommodate lower ceilings than traditional garage doors.
- Ease of Installation: Ceiling support is needed, but a sliding door comes in standard and custom sizes. Installing the upper and lower rails may require a professional, who can complete the job relatively quickly.
- Quiet Motor: Less force is needed to open or close a sliding garage door, compared to a traditional model, so the motor is less noisy. Occupants of rooms that share walls with the garage won’t be disturbed when the door is being operated.
- Easy to Operate and Maintain: The door glides easily along the wall, even if you need to operate it manually, for example, during a power outage. As for maintenance, it’s easy to deal with anything from a squeaky wheel or jammed track to replacing panels and components.
- Design Options: Sliding garage doors can accommodate various design options and add-ons, from your preferred colors and materials to the inclusion of windows, woodwork, and decorative hinges or other elements.
Should I Install a Roll-Up or Sliding Garage Door?
The right garage door usually depends on the application. If you can choose between either, it’s important to consider the cost vs. durability. A garage door professional can help select the ideal garage door for your home.
Are you still weighing whether to install a traditional, roll-up, or sliding garage door? Mesa Garage Doors has many types of garage doors and options to choose from. Continue browsing to see the various series of high-quality garage doors that we offer. For assistance or to get a new door estimate, contact us online or call (714) 646-1596.
