Garage doors in San Diego come in many different styles. Taking the time to learn about garage doors types and their advantages and disadvantages will reap benefits now and in the future.
Garage doors not only provide a level of security for your vehicles and the items you store in your garage, they can add to the overall aesthetics and appeal of your home.
Garage doors in San Diego come in several different styles. The two basic types are the tilt-up door and the sectioned roll-up door.
Tilt Up Garage Doors in San Diego
A tilt-up or swing-up garage door is a solid piece of either metal or wood. It pivots up and is stored in the ceiling over the vehicle. A mechanical framework is attached to the door. A spring is attached to the system to aid in moving the door which can weigh hundreds of pounds.
The tilt-up mechanism is a marvel of balance and leverage. There are specific areas of the door the mechanism needs to be connected to. The idea is to balance the weight so it’s easier to lift the door.
Roll Up Garage Doors in San Diego
The roll up door was originally designed for commercial operations. The door is sectioned into many pieces or panels. The door rides in a vertical track that makes a 90 degree turn and turns horizontal, storing the door above the vehicle. These doors are commonly used in commercial applications because of their durability.
The reason why these are the choice for commercial applications is their ease of use. Doors like this can be opened and closed hundreds of times without incident. If someone should inadvertently damage a section of the door, that piece can be replaced instead of having to replace the whole door. These are ideal factors because a commercial door may need to be opened several times a day as the business services customers. A residential door may only need to be opened a couple times each day.
In a commercial application there is much more probability that the doors might become damaged. The ability to fix or replace just the damaged sections of the door makes it much more serviceable over time.
Wood Garage Doors in San Diego
Wood garage doors in San Diego are a great choice. Wood doors are beautiful and make use of natural materials. They can add real character to your home or business and create just the image you are looking for. Wood doors look classy. In areas of the country where there is a lot of rain and show, metal doors are sometimes preferable but here in San Diego, we don’t have to really worry about those things. On the other hand, if you live by the beach, the salt air can dry out the wood doors. Its necessary to protect the wood from the elements to keep it looking good.
Another consideration for salt are is the general corrosive nature of salt. Exposed metal parts should be treated or of special materials that are impervious to rust. If you live in a coastal neighborhood it is highly recommended to put your door on a regularly scheduled maintenance program to combat the corrosive effects of salt.
Another problem we have in San Diego is termites. Wood garage doors in San Diego should be treated to be pest resistance. The maintenance should be performed at regular intervals.
Another advantage of wood garage doors in San Diego is they can be painted to cover small scratches. A coat of paint can change the whole appearance of your home. A can of paint is an inexpensive way to upgrade the look of your home.
On the other hand, wood doors are more expensive than the corresponding metal door.
Metal Garage Doors in San Diego
Metal garage doors in San Diego are a more affordable alternative to wood garage doors. One of the advantages is they are lighter in weight so the stress on the entire system is lessened. This means less maintenance overall as well as a longer life span for the equipment.
Metal doors have long been the choice for commercial applications due to their long life. There is very little that can go wrong with a metal door. If it is damaged, dents can often be pounded out. They take paint easily to so you can update the look inexpensively.
New advances in metal doors adds vinyl or plastic parts that look like wood including the grain. For painted doors it is often very hard to see or even feel the difference. As mentioned above, if there is a major accident, it may be only necessary to replace the broken section instead of the whole door.
Automatic Garage Doors in San Diego
Garage doors are either manual or automatic. Automatic doors are remote controlled by an electric motor. The major disadvantage is the door does not work during power failures. All doors have a fail-safe mechanism to open the door in cases of power outages. Since the doors are still spring-loaded, you can open even a tilt-up door without electrical power.
The convenience of an automatic garage door in San Diego is hard to beat. No matter what the weather or temperature, you don’t have to leave your car to open the door. You can even close the door without exiting your car providing an additional level of security. Most automatic garage doors in San Diego also turn on the lights in the garage for added convenience and safety.
At ADS, we have a full selection of both wood and metal doors. We can install or service both types. Ask us to show you the wide range of garage door solutions available to you in San Diego.
