Most overhead garage doors can be classified into three categories based on the number of door sections used in the design:
Sectional Garage Doors: - By far the most common type of door for both residential and commercial applications, sectional garage doors are composed of four or more hinged horizontal sections that fold as the door rolls straight up and back. Features of the sectional overhead garage door include:
- Safe and easy to operate
- Weather tight & secure
- Available in a wide variety of door styles and materials
Tilt-Up Garage Doors - Seldom used anymore for new construction, the single panel tilt-up garage door pivots out and then rolls back. Because the door is slightly smaller than the door opening, this design is not very weather tight or secure. It is also awkward to open because of the clearance the door needs in front of the opening to pivot as a single section.
Roll-up Curtain Garage Doors – Commonly used for commercial applications the roll-up curtain garage door is made up of many small horizontal sections that allow the door to roll-up into a small area directly above the door. Especially useful for taller openings, the roll-up curtain door does not take up any ceiling space when the door is open. It also offers very good security.
As mentioned above sectional Overhead garage doors come in a variety of door styles and materials. Door styles include:
- Flush
- Raised-panel
- Recessed-panel designs
- Glass panel
Garage doors are made from steel, wood, aluminum and fiberglass.
Steel Doors
Steel sectional overhead garage doors are usually constructed of hot-dipped galvanized steel that is coated with vinyl or a baked polyester finish. Better quality doors have cores of rigid polystyrene or polyurethane foam insulation and an interior skin.
Steel Door Pros:
- Strongest
- Most secure
- Can look like wood
- Won't warp, crack, delaminate or fall apart
- Insulated steel doors can keep the garage warm in winter and cool in summer
- Less likely to sag or warp over time
Steel Door Cons:
Wood Doors
Wood Door Pros:
- More natural
- Very affordable in a flush style
Wood Door Cons:
- Not very durable and can warp or sag with age
- Needs regular maintenance, such as repainting or refinishing
Aluminum Garage Doors
Aluminum Door Pros:
- Extremely lightweight
- Will not rust
- Fairly inexpensive
- Wood-grain embossing
Aluminum Door Cons:
Fiberglass Garage Doors
Fiberglass Door Pros:
- Very lightweight
- Resistance to salt air corrosion
- Translucent
Fiberglass Door Cons:
- Poor insulator
- Yellows with age
- Breaks relatively easily, especially when it's cold
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