Door

Jim Kesel asked:


If you are searching for a quality garage door for your home you might want to consider CHI garage doors. CHI is known for its quality and durability. In terms of garage door pricing the company’s products are considered to be in the mid to upper price range. When it comes to garage doors it really is not smart to cut corners. In almost every case the garage door opening is potentially the weakest part of your homes structure. This is especially true if you live in areas that have severe thunderstorms, hurricanes or other high wind events. Experience has shown that once you lose your garage door the next thing you frequently lose is your roof.

CHI garage doors are featured as standard, medium, premium and carriage house lines. In recent years carriage garage doors have become very popular in new home construction. CHI garage doors have several designs that provide garage door that will accent many homes. The doors have a number of exterior facings that include wood, fiberglass or steel. Steel doors are probably the best door that you can purchase. They have a galvanized steel front and back with polyurethane foam insulation that gives a high insulating factor. Joints on all the CHI garage doors have either a tongue and groove or shiplap panel joints that will keep the outside elements out of your garage.

When building and designing your home make sure that your contractor and architect know that you want a good quality garage door included in the construction. CHI garage doors makes and sells a good number of standard and medium doors. While these doors are of good quality they are frequently called contractor doors by the building community. Again considering the risk of a failed garage door during a storm and/or lack of strength to deter illegal entry, cutting corners on your garage door just does not make senses.

We recommend that you consider double sided doors constructed of at least 26 gauge steel. The premium CHI garage doors achieve this bare minimum by using a combination of 27 and 25 gauge panels. However CHI garage doors do not meet the high wind codes of South Florida and other jurisdictions. CHI doors do feather polyurethane foam insulation that is sandwiched between two layers of steel that will provide some degree additional strength. Never the less if you live in an area with high wind risk it would be best to look to other manufactures.

If you are going to install a workshop in your garage or live in areas with extreme cold temperatures you should look for a garage door with a high R-rating. If the garage is going to be heated or air conditioned then you will want an R-value of at least 14. Unfortunately most of CHI garage doors do not meet this minimum standard. Many of CHI garage doors do provide R-values that range from 6 to 9 which is adequate for unheated garages.

In general CHI garage doors provide the quality you need to protect your home and provide the style and look to accent it beautifully.



JOSHUA

Matthew Stanton asked:


We know in our own house the value of a door closer. It provides reliable security and convenience for the members of the household because of the control one can avail out of a door closer. Now imagine if you run a business. Basically it entails that there are way more people coming in and out of the doors. Thus, there is a need for commercial door closers in every office building.

The typical definition of a door closer is that it is a mechanical device that closes a door, in general after someone opens it, or after it was automatically opened. Manual and automatic are two general styles of door closers.

There are two general categories of door closers offered by the market today:

Grade 1 closers are designed with multiple controls including sweep, latch and backcheck. Grade 1 closers are designed to endure high traffic areas and are typically used for main entrances of most businesses. These closers are generally used 300 to 400 times a day and last for three to seven years before needing replacement.

Grade 2 closers are designed for medium traffic in a commercial application. An example of this is an interior door in an office area that is used approximately 50 to 100 times a day. These types of closers would need a minimum of two valves to control the speed of the door. The first valve controls what is called the sweep. This is the point from where the door is fully open until it reaches about 10 degrees remaining to close. At the 10 degree point another valve takes over to control the final speed. This is called the latch speed.

Commercial door closer is also known as commercial door lock. There are certain types of commercial door locks and how to find the appropriate one for your needs.

Lever lock

The most common lever lock is known as a cylindrical lock. This lever lock is installed on the door using a 2 1/8 inch hole drilled through the door with a 1 inch hole from the edge of the door. It also uses two additional holes outside the perimeter of the 2 1/8 inch hole to stabilize the lock and prevented it from twisting on the door and causing a malfunction. The mounting post hole locations vary across the manufacturers.

When choosing a lever lock one needs to always take into consideration how often the door is going to be used. If the door is in a high traffic area than a grade 1 lock should be chosen for this application. On a door that is used about 500 to a 1000 times a day, a grade 1 lock should last about five to seven years without needing replacement.

Mortise lock

Mortise locks require that a pocket is cut out from the edge of the door allowing the mortise lock case to slide into the door pocket. On the face of the door smaller holes are cut for the lever handles, mounting posts and mortise cylinder. Most mortise locks are grade 1 and are the ideal application for high traffic areas. Mortise locks are used on most commercial office buildings. Mortise locks provide more choices for different types of trim.

Door knob locks

Commercial door knob locks fits into a 2 1/8 inch diameter hole and require a 1 inch hole from the edge of the door. These locks are still available but not used as often because ADA now requires a lever instead. Door knob locks are available in grade 1,2, and 3. These locks come in the standard functions. The most common functions are entry, storeroom, classroom, passage, and privacy.

Commercial deadbolt locks

Commercial deadbolt locks are heavier than most residential great locks. These locks are also graded to provide the consumer the ability to compare locked equally. Some deadbolts have the UL listings which may be required on some applications.

Experts of commercial door closers will help you find the right lock for your commercial application. They can also provide you the exact replacement lock you need or all the necessary information to choose an alternate lock to fit your application.



IVAN

Jenny Schweyer asked:


The true door connoisseur knows that few things speak more to taste and class in home building than French doors.  French doors add a touch of elegance to almost any home design.  In fact, they can be works of art in and of themselves.  Even modest and moderately priced homes can see a significant increase in value simply by being outfitted with artfully crafted French doors.

 

French doors are characterized by the incorporation of glass panels in a frame.  Typical French door frames are made of some type of wood, though other materials can also be used.  This is particularly true for commercial French doors, which may be made of aluminum or steel.  For residential use though, the frames are most often made of wood. 

 

French doors may be made with a single solid panel of glass, or they may be constructed with multiple glass panels which are incorporated into the frame.  In the case of exterior doors, the glass is usually double-paned for keeping weather out and heat and air conditioning inside.  Sometimes a decorative grille is embedded between the two panes of glass, creating an extra layer of security.  Interior French doors are usually single-paned.  French doors are often confused with double doors.  While they are often installed as double doors, they can be a single door as well.  Frequently single French doors are used for interior doors and double doors are used for exterior doors.

 

The glass in French doors can be as transparent or as opaque as desired (though no glass is truly 100% opaque.)  They are sometimes rated for transparency from a one to a five (five being the most opaque and one being the most transparent.)  Exterior doors are typically crafted with more opaque glass (level three to level five) for reasons of security and privacy.  Sometimes a combination of transparent and opaque glass is used, especially for interior doors where privacy isn’t an issue.  The glass in French doors may incorporate one of a number of design elements.  Glass may be beveled, etched or textured in some manner, or simply left smooth.

 

Homeowners tend choose French doors mainly for their aesthetic quality.  They add sophisticated beauty to large and smaller homes alike.  Naturally, the prolific use of glass allows more light to penetrate, particularly when it comes to exterior doors.  Allowing more natural light to enter the home sometimes means a reduction in the use of electricity, plus, natural light brightens a home in a way that no light bulb can compare to.

 

While they are chosen largely for the beauty that they add, French doors are also functional.  Homeowners can have customized security features built in.  Doors can also be accessorized with hardware (i.e. door hands, etc.) that matches both interior and exterior décor and style.  Once installed, they will last for years and add unbeatable curb appeal to any home.



JAVIER

Anne Philips asked:


External doors are an important part of a house as it gives first impression of the condition of one’s house to the visitor. So external doors should match with the outside walls and at the same time these should be durable to provide protection. There are various types of external doors available in the markets that are made of different material to meet various requirements of customers. These can range from contemporary doors to traditional each available in different materials. Better and sturdier doors are made with thick and wide stiles and rails. The external doors should have seals to fend off bad weather.

An external door is just not considered as a mere passageway from one place to another, instead it is a barrier and provides protection against intrusion and other elements. These doors should be made of a sturdy and solid material that can resist the external exposure and cannot be easily broken down so that they provide complete security. External doors should be addressed to all of these concerns. These doors must have proper insulation and sealing as well.

Making as well as mounting should be carefully handled so that in both the stage no flaw is detected and the purpose of doors should implement meaningfully. Apart from the good quality material, the door should be properly mounted in a secure manner so that it is not easily kicked in or knocked off its hinges. From making to mounting, in both stages security of the house should be the prime concern. External doors are the main point of entry to any house and one should have strong doors so that it can provide complete protection from the external source.

One of the most common materials used in the construction of external doors is wood. Higher quality woods and fine finish provide durability and enhance the life of external doors. Wooden external doors are mostly preferred for their natural beauty and structural strength. Types of door that contain this natural beauty can be found in oak doors, pine doors and in darker woods such as mahogany. However they require regular maintenance and significant protection from the termite as well.

Another material used in the making of external doors is UPVC. Its major advantages compared to traditional wooden counterparts are the fact that they pose greater insulation benefits as a result of their construction. UPVC doors are often hollow, and filled with specific insulation materials designed to keep the heat in and the cold out. Steel external doors are also quite common and these are actually made from a combination of materials. The rails and stiles of the wood are made of wood and the inner core is filed with insulating foam and the outer skin is made of galvanized steel. The wood structure provides stability and strength and the foam core provides good insulation and the steel skins are durable, resistant to warping or rotting and require little maintenance.

External doors are the most important aspect of home as such doors give the first impression to visitors as well as provide complete protection and security to occupant. These doors are made as per the choice and requirements of the occupant so that these can also enhance the entire look of the house. Made from variety of materials, these doors are made with the security aspect in mind.



RANDELL

Bob Kirkright asked:


If you are a Perth resident renovating your home, it is quite likely that at some point you’ll decide to improve on the garage doors. Those doors do, after all, make up a large share of the visible section of your house, and naturally you want them looking their best. Maybe you’re adding an entire garage to your home, or completely rebuilding one. Maybe you have a garage, but the garage door is totally decrepit and in need of a replacement from scratch. Maybe you have a perfectly serviceable door, but you’d like to investigate improving it, maybe turning it into an automatic garage door with a remote control, so you can park your car in the evening without needing to get out and wrestle with cold aluminum.

If you fit any of those descriptions, you’re reading the right article to find out how garage doors can be fitted in Perth. Below, you’ll find a few tips on how to fix up your garage door so that they are as good as if you were in a brand new house.

#Replacement or upgrade

Suppose you’ve moved into Perth, into a house with a working manual garage door, and you’d rather have an automatic doors. You have three options: live with the existing doors, take out the garage doors and put in a set of new, automatic garage doors, or adapt the existing garage doors by adding an automatic opener.

Adding an external motor to open and close your existing garage doors is unlikely to get you the smooth performance of a custom-installed garage door, although if you find the right vendor and install carefully, it is certainly possible. Perth’s garage door market contains both good and bad companies, but shop carefully and you’ll be OK. You will have something that is perfectly acceptable for normal use. It will also be (often, but not necessarily) substantially cheaper than starting from scratch. Finally, it will be in keeping with the style of the rest of your home, assuming that the previous occupants had at least a little consideration for the appearance of the building.

External motors can be added to almost any form of manual garage door. A skilled workman will be able to automate a garage door in a way that will take up hardly any space, and will not change the motion of your existing garage doors.

#New garage doors for an old garage

What about a second scenario? Your Perth home has a garage, but the garage door is useless. It’s not uncommon to move into a house in Perth where the garage has been used as a storeroom, and find that the garage door hasn’t been opened for years. In such a situation the garage doors’ mechanism is likely to be rusted, the metal or plastic bent out of shape, and the garage door is unusable.

Fortunately, it isn’t hard to replace a garage door on an existing garage. Garage door specialists in Perth will often offer to dispose of your old garage door, and to build a set of custom garage doors that will fit right into the gap. If you can get such an offer, it is usually a good idea to accept it. You will find that this option is preferable to the cost of disposing of your old garage door in Perth yourself.

You also don’t need to worry much about non-standard sizes and shapes of garage. It is now possible to obtain doors for any shape of garage - this may involve custom garage doors, but if you are guided by Perth’s professionals you will not find that to be much of an inconvenience.

#Pretty things

If you’ve bought a house in Perth for renovation, it’s quite likely that you have some strong ideas about how you’d like to make it look. Don’t let your garage doors get in the way of that. In other words, don’t settle for doors which look as though they are just the ’standard model’. Be adventurous, and dare to demand something that compliments the look you are planning for you home. Many different designs are available today in many different colours including a metal timberlook colour which looks very much like the “real deal”., or actual timber doors can be made in almost any design you can imagine. So dream a little before you invest in your garage door, and you could end up with something unusual and delightful.



WILLIS

Jim Kesel asked:


Delden Garage Doors is a regional garage door manufacturer and installer that located in middle of the USA with offices in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Delden Garage Doors also owns the Amarr garage door company. Delden has been manufacturing garage doors since the mid 1960’s. They manufacture and install a complete line of residential and commercial garage doors. Garage door pricing shows that Delden Garage doors are considered a mid priced garage door.

The Vintage Plus line of Delden Garage Doors is a very popular and affordable carriage door. The 25 gauge steel pre-painted doors are 2 inches thick insulated with polystyrene with a vinyl backing. They are reported to have an R-value of at least 6. Obviously these doors are not meant to be used in areas that have tough winters or where you are going to heat or cool your garage. One of the problems with using polystyrene insulated panels is that this type insulation leaves gaps which reduce the effectiveness of the insulation.

The Delden DTR 1748 is probably the company’s best garage doors. The dual steel panels have a galvanized 25 gauge external panel and a 27 gauge interior panel that sandwiches 2 inches of polyurethane insulation. This gives the door a very energy efficient R-value of 15 plus. Installing Delden Garage Doors of this quality will mean that you will save significant energy if you planning to heat or cool your garage. You will certainly find that your workshop will be comfortable no matter what the weather is outside. These garages will cost you more money but in our opinion they are worth it.

Saving money by purchasing cheap garage doors really is penny wise and pound foolish as the garage door opening is certainly the weakest point in your homes structure. Thieves routinely target garage doors in their efforts to get into your home. A solid garage door that is tied to your home security system will go a long way to protecting your family and your homes contents. In some cases the security system will email you whenever someone opens or enters your garage. If you have a workshop located in your garage or have a classic care collection then you can be assured that your toys are well protected.

Purchasing good quality Delden Garage Doors will save you money and keep you garage and your home secure. However if you live in a high wind risk area Delden does not offer any door that will meet the stringent standards needed to protect your home from a severe thunderstorm, tornado or hurricane. Never the less if you live in the Midwest where the high wind risk is minimal than Delden Garage Doors will certainly meet all your weather protection needs.

Customer service is considered to be good with Delden doors. The fact that the company is regionally Midwest based means that your ability to locate garage doors parts or service is relatively easy. Delden may build some of the best garage doors available. We do recommend Delden Garage Doors for your home or business.



JIM

Jenny Schweyer asked:


Installing an architectural door in your home is like hanging a work of fine art in your living room.  Great time and care has gone into the decision to purchase your “work of art.”  You’ve spent hours deciding on the right decorative theme.  You’ve selected your favorite colors.  You’ve compared the work of several “artists” before finding the product that perfectly suits your taste, home and lifestyle.  An architectural door, like fine art, is not a mere afterthought.  It’s a carefully-planned and sought out part of your home that is meant to stand out and be appreciated.  And like enjoying every color and tiny brush stroke of your work of art, no detail on your architectural door has gone unnoticed.  That includes the type of hardware choose.

 

When speaking of “hardware,” this refers to those smaller parts of the architectural door that “accessorize” it: doorknobs/handles, hinges, lock mechanisms and virtually any other piece that is added to the door itself after fabricating.  All of these hardware options for architectural doors are functional and necessary parts of any door.  However, they should not be afterthoughts.  A carefully chosen piece of hardware can be both highly functional and as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of your architectural door.

 

Choosing hardware options for your architectural door should be an integral part of the design process.  Anything you choose should complement the design of the door but not detract from the overall aesthetic quality of the “picture” as a whole.  There are a number of hardware options to consider when you begin to design your architectural door, including:

 

* Door pulls.  There are various styles of door pulls to choose from.  Traditional knobs are rounded or spherical.  Lever-style handles are grasped and turned in a clockwise motion to release the inner latch.  Handles, which are common on commercial doors, are grasped with the hand while the thumb presses a very small lever-style button to release the catch.  All of these hardware options come in an array of colors, materials and designs.

 

* Hinges.  The most common type of hinge is the **** hinge.  It consists of two plates which are attached to abutting surfaces on the door and door jamb and are joined by a pin.  Other types include pivot hinges, Baldwin hinges, spring hinges and pivot hinges.  Most types are available in a variety of colors, materials and finishes to complement any architectural door design.

 

* Locks.  Door locks may be part of the door handle/pull itself or may be a separate piece.  Locks may be purchased as a set with the door pull.  They may also be purchased separately.  If so, it’s important to choose a lock that comes in a similar style, color and finish as the door pull.

 

* Door closers.  This is a hardware option that is almost always found on commercial doors.  They are not typically installed on residential doors.  However, door closers can be an added security feature in a residential home, especially where there are children who may not always remember to close the door behind them.

 

Every detail of your architectural door should be carefully planned in order to create an overall “picture” that is eye-catching and tasteful.  Fortunately, the abundance of hardware options for architectural doors will allow you the chance to be creative and to express yourself with a home that speaks of sophisticated class, right down to the very last detail.

 



WALLACE

Natalie Williams asked:


When it comes to the freedom of letting your pet to enjoy the great outdoors, pet doors for patio doors make a convenient enhancement to any home. With an assortment of styles, shapes, sizes and features, many consumers like the easy installation that comes with the majority of models. Overall, pet doors for patio doors caters to the needs of both the pet and the owner, as the trouble of constantly opening a door to the back yard for cats and dogs is eliminated, which saves time and energy.

An Exploration of Pet Doors for Patio Doors

In order to choose the pet door for a patio that will fit the correct dimensions of a home (as well as personal preferences), it is significant to recognize a list of factors that come into play. A pet owner will face a few decisions in regards to the purchase of a pet patio door. One of the most important things to consider is to find out the measurements to ensure the proper door is delivered. In addition to the height and length of the door, many other considerations exist.

For instance, the type of panels and panes becomes a problem. One may choose between dual pane panels, the less expensive single pane glass panels, electronic panels and patio panels set aside for cats. There are also insulated options found in dual pane glass pet doors, which usually provides the best environment for saving energy. To test the type of glass %associated% your patio door - open the slider and place your fingers on both sides of the glass. Single pane glass gives the appearance that they are touching, while a dual pane glass places fingers about ½” apart.

Pet patio doors require either a temporary or semi-permanent installation, which often signifies whether or not tools are involved in the setup. With a semi-permanent patio pet door, you may have to use hacksaws, drills and wrenches to make sure the patio panel is secure. Temporary models allow the panel pet door to be removed at the homeowner’s pleasure. For example, the panel may serve its purpose during warm days only. When the weather turns cold, the panel can be conveniently and quickly removed, whereas a semi-permanent option is fastened into the track with sheet metal screws.

Another issue to consider is the ‘rise’ of the patio pet door, which indicates the height of the flap that pets will pop in and exit through. Keep in mind that a German Shepherd and a Pomeranian will not use the same rise of a patio pet door so it is not necessary to purchase the biggest flaps in all cases. To get more control over this aspect, purchasing a pet door with a user-adjustable rise is recommended.

The installation of patio pet doors is relatively easy, as most people simply position the panel against the sliding door jamb. Others may choose an outside screen track, which utilizes a ’spring-load’ type of mechanism. The usual cost of patio pet doors include $120 for a small single panel; $325 for a medium dual pane insulated glass; $120 for the smaller specialized cat flap panel; and $260 for a small electronic pet door.

Benefits of Using a Pet Door for a Patio Door

Pet doors for patio doors allow a domesticated animal to enter the safety of their home when they feel threatened or to avoid the chill when a change in weather arises. The freedom associated with this type of product is great for both the pet and pet owner. Patio pet doors also blend with the majority of patios with attractive colors, such as white, bronze, black and aluminum satin. The convenience of a pet patio door continues, as easy installation eliminates the cost of professional assistance.

Possible Disadvantages of Pet Doors for Patio Doors

Some consumers are concerned with patio pet doors because they fear issues such as pests getting into the home or compromised security. However, purchasing a Universal Bug Seal covers the gaps that insects may find. Security can be enhanced by installing locks or using a dead-bolt lock or pin lock that melds the glass door to the pet door.



SCOTT

Article Manager asked:


External doors are an important part of a house as it gives the first impression of the condition of one’s house to the visitor. So external doors should match with the outside walls and at the same time these should be durable to provide protection. There are various types of external doors available that are made of different material to meet various requirements of customers. Better and sturdier doors are made with thick and wide stiles and rails. Quality external doors should have seals to fend off bad weather.

An external door is not considered as a mere passageway from one place to another, instead it is a barrier and provides protection against intrusion and other elements. These doors should be made of a sturdy and solid material that can resist the external exposure and cannot be easily broken down so that they provide complete security. External doors should be addressed to all of these concerns. These doors must have proper insulation and sealing as well.

Apart from the good quality material, the door should be properly mounted in a secure manner so that it is not easily kicked in or knocked off its hinges. From making to mounting, the security of the house should be the prime concern. External doors are the main point of entry to any house and one should have strong doors so that it can provide complete protection from the external source.

One of the most common materials used in the construction of external doors is wood. Higher quality woods and fine finish provide durability and enhance the life of external doors. Wooden external doors are mostly preferred for their natural beauty and structural strength. These doors are available in variety of woods ranging from pine, oak, cedar, mahogany, and walnut. However they require regular maintenance and significant protection.

Another material used in the making of external doors is UPVC. Its major advantages compared to traditional wooden counterparts are the fact that they pose greater insulation benefits as a result of their construction. UPVC doors are often hollow, and filled with specific insulation materials designed to keep the heat in and the cold out. Steel external doors are also quite common and these are actually made from a combination of materials. The rails and stiles of the wood are made of wood and the inner core is filed with insulating foam and the outer skin is made of galvanized steel. The wood structure provides stability and strength and the foam core provides good insulation and the steel skins are durable, resistant to warping or rotting and require little maintenance.



MIKEL

Bob Kirkright asked:


Automatic garage doors offer a lot of advantages over manual garage doors. Unless you have some very particular reason to choose the manual option, you are almost certainly better off with automatic doors.

#Installation

The only real difficulty with an automatic garage door is the installation. But installation only needs to happen once, and you can mostly leave it to the professionals. Whether you are starting from scratch, or converting a manual door into an automatic garage door, installation will take very little of your time and money.

Naturally, if you decide to go it alone and install garage doors by yourself, things will take a little more time. For most people, I wouldn’t advise trying to install automatic garage doors by yourself. It is possible, but what is a quick job for the experts will take amateurs many days of work. The sheer size of the garage door makes the installation tricky, and you could easily end up spraining your muscles as you try to manhandle an automatic garage door into place.

#Maintenance

Automatic garage doors do require slightly more maintenance than manual garage doors, but this need not be much of a burden, and a good automatic garage door is a sturdy beast, on the whole. The appropriate techniques will vary between different doors, so be sure to ask about maintenance when your automatic garage door is being installed.

Automatic garage doors should be resistant to most weather damage, and to water damage, but in some cases non-water chemicals within rain will cause a little corrosion to metal doors. This problem can be avoided by very occasionally wiping down your automatic garage door. Use water with a little soap in it to achieve the best effects. Different treatment will be required for automatic garage doors made of wood. The ideal method will depend on whether your doors are wood or wood-effect, and what type of wood they are. It is advisable to check the manufacturer’s instructions when you buy the doors.

It is quite important to keep your automatic garage doors well-lubricated. This will increase their working life, and it will also make the doors operate more quickly and with less noise.

Good maintenance of your automatic doors is crucial to keeping them operating safely. Springs and balancing are particularly important in this. A door which is poorly balanced may fail to stop and reverse on contact with an object, which means it could injure somebody who fell in its path.

#Control

Remote control is one of the biggest selling points for automatic garage doors. The ability to come home and open your garage without even getting out of your car makes the commute home just that little bit more pleasant. It’s certainly something you’ll appreciate when the weather is foul, and you don’t want to step out into the rain to wrestle with a cold door.

Remember that if you want to keep one remote control for your garage door permanently in your car, you will need another for operation at other times. Having a second remote control will make life much easier around the house, and can be a blessing if you lose the other control. It is also common to have a push-button control for the garage door as well, often on the inside of the garage. One way or another, somebody inside your garage should always be able to open your garage door.

Automatic garage doors typically have an additional manual locking/unlocking mechanism. This may not ever be used, but it is important for maintenance and safety reasons. In the event of a fire, for instance, you may need to use the garage door to escape your house. But electricity supply will likely be disrupted in such an eventuality, and so it is important that automatic doors have a ‘failsafe’ mode of manual operation.

#Aesthetics

Now here’s something you can take out of the equation entirely: the aesthetics. Automatic garage doors don’t have to look any different from manual garage doors, and in most cases there is no reason for them to. For some reason, the marketing types who try to sell you automatic garage doors seem to think you’ll be seduced by the sight of gleaming metal sliding into operation. If that appeals to your aesthetic sense and the design of your house and garden, then by all means go for this kind of look, but don’t let yourself be shoehorned into it, and certainly don’t think it’s the only option.

Many owners of automatic garage doors are proud of the way that they don’t look automatic. Just like in murder mysteries, where the ornate bookcase conceals the hidden door, so old-fashioned wood or wood-effect doors can be automated in much the same way as metal ones. Automatic doors don’t need to look modern to be modern.



SHAYNE