In matters concerning garage doors therefore, there is some truth in the adage which advocates for the use of traditional methods. Two-bit upwards and over doors which have been a feature of homes for many a year are now coming back into fashion. But what is behind this revival, and why may up and over garage doors be suitable for your house? It is time to open the lid on this ever-popular classic and discover why it is still the belle of the neighbourhoods in England.
First things first: Here, we hear you duly asking: what exactly is an up and over garage door? These doors only open up outwards and upwards, and they use a particular system on which they are obliged to lie flat against the garage ceiling when wholly opened. It is an effective-looking answer that is quite timeless.
Because of this, one of the best and most genuine appeals that up and over doors have had for a long time is their simple design. Lack of several operational parts found in sectional or roller doors make such doors to have fewer complications. This means less expense on maintenance and less problems for the owners of the homes in the long run. In a society we are trying to manage with various complicated technologies, it is somehow quite nice to have an up and over door.
But this is not an indication that any of them is easy to solve. Up and over doors as we know them today are completely different to the shaking, squeaking beasts many of us may remember from our early years. They have much improved from the early versions with the use of modern materials and engineering design for the improvement of the noiseless operation. Some now feature a remote-control operation, enabling you to open your garage without ever having to step outside of your car – a blessing when it is pouring in England!
In terms of appearance, up and over doors have minimal framework and are therefore professionally styled for most architectural designs. It does not matter if you live in a thatched cottage in the Cotswolds or a new build in Manchester, there is an up and over door for you. And they are available in different materials as well – from the traditional wood to metal and practically maintenance-free GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester). This versatility enables you to consider a door that is functional yet does a good job in the aesthetics of the house from the outside.
Residents are always concerned about the level of security, and up and over doors have met these demands. Modern models are fitted with multi-point locking systems as standard, therefore offering excellent security to potential burglars. Additional security features such as the dense panels and anti-lifting mechanisms are other features that some manufacturers offer; while the door retains that normal look, you should not be bothered with insecurity in your compound.
An up and over door’s benefit that is not given much consideration is how they conserve space. In comparison with other types of doors that use tracks installed at the garage ceiling, up and over doors do not take up much space there. This can be quite advantageous if one has used the garage as a store or a working place. Just picture being able to have overhead shelving or a car lift without have to incorporate the door mechanisms and they are in the way.
Yet another area where modern up and over doors excel is in energy efficiency. Some now have better sealing and insulating facilities and thus are useful in regulating the temperature of your garage. In particular, this is convenient if your garage is connected to a house or if you equip it as a gym or a workshop. There are energy conservation benefits when it comes to insulating doors and this will automatically mean less energy bills.
But what about installation? There are so many benefits of up and over doors and one of them is that they are fairly easy to fit. In most cases, installation of the models takes only a few hours and in doing so, it does not interfere with normal operations. However, it is advisable to have your door installed by the professionals since this will enable the door to be balanced and for easy operation.
As we have seen elsewhere, cost is frequently the primary consideration when it comes to home improvement, and once again, up and over doors have the advantage. In most cases, they are cheaper than sectional and roller types, but this is when you have considered the long-term cost of maintenance. Thus, it makes them ideal especially for the homeowner who needs to install a new garage door and check the budget.
However, as previously pointed out, up and over doors can be used in additional to being for single-garage. Most of them come in double-width designs, to accommodate bigger homes or if the homeowner is fortunate enough to have two vehicles to park. These wider doors retain all the features of the one-width types but will give your cars a magnificent entry.
Of course, any door cannot be perfect for any situation. The outward swing of an up and over door might not be preferred if you have a very short driveway. Likewise, if you need very high degrees of insulation or soundproofing, it is better to take other types of doors. Like in any remodelling project, one should put into consideration factors that are unique to him or her.
Therefore, up and over garage doors are easy safe and healthy looking garage doors that can be given the benefit of the doubt. That is why their use has recently started to increase again because they are suited to modern requirements as well. Either you are reconstructing a period property or having the final touches of a newly constructed one, an up and over door could be ideal for you.
Therefore, as you make your choices and decide on your perfect garage door, it is worthy to remember this timeless style. If you are still a bit hazy on what up and over doors are and how they can benefit you, then let me enlighten you: up and over doors are anything but old hat – they are a testament to the fact that there are days that the old fashioned ways of doing things are the right ways of going about things. Indeed, in a world where things change at the speed of light, it is comforting to have a good design on your desk that is unlikely to look out of place even in the next decade.