A practical and versatile option for securing a garage, roller garage doors are popular with homeowners and for commercial applications. Roller garage doors are also secure, space-saving, and easy to automate.
What Are Roller Garage Doors?
Roller garage doors are typically available in two designs. Double-skinned roller doors are made from foam-filled aluminium slats and offer great levels of insulation. Meanwhile, single-skinned, “continuous curtain” roller doors are made from steel. They are lightweight and budget-friendly, but not insulated.
How Do Roller Garage Doors Work?
As the name suggests, roller garage doors work by rolling open and closed. Single-skinned steel roller doors consist of a continuous curtain which is rolled around a skeleton drum. This drum contains a steel tube, which extends out of the roll and secures the roller door to steel brackets inside the garage doorway. When the door is opened, the curtain rolls back into the roofspace of the garage.
Aluminium roller doors are made of individual double-skinned slats which have a curved profile that allows the door to roll open and closed. These individual slats roll up tighter than a steel roller door, which is handy when headroom is limited or you need to maximise drive-through height for parking inside the garage.
Are Roller Garage Doors Any Good?
Roller garage doors offer great levels of security, which makes them a popular choice for warehouses and commercial garages that could be a target for intruders. Roller doors are often a budget-friendly choice too thanks to their relatively simple design, which means you can update your garage without spending a fortune.
Another benefit of roller garage doors is that they can be easily automated, providing a convenient way to access the garage without leaving your vehicle when parking, or when operating the door manually would be difficult.
Where Do Roller Garage Doors Work Best?
Roller garage doors work well anywhere that you need a secure, sturdy garage door that maximises the drive-through height and width of the doorway for parking.
The vertical operation of a roller garage door also makes the most of the space behind and in front of the door, as you don’t need space for a door panel to swing out. This allows you to park close to the door on a driveway or maximise storage inside the garage.
Can Roller Garage Doors Be Automated?
Both types of roller garage door can be automated to make access easier when parking inside the garage or for those who struggle to lift or pull the weight of the door. The relatively simple operation of a roller door makes it easy to motorise. Aluminium roller doors are almost always electric as this provides the easiest way to open and close the door.
An electric roller door will typically come with a set of radio transmitters which can be used to remotely operate the door, which is useful when parking in the garage or when you have your hands full.
Can An Existing Roller Garage Door Be Automated?
If an existing manually-operated roller garage door is in good working order, it should be possible to automate the door to make it easier to operate. Any wear and tear or damage to the door might mean that it isn’t possible to automate an existing door and a replacement will be required.
Are Roller Garage Doors Insulated?
Continuous curtain roller doors are made of single-skinned steel and are not insulated, whereas aluminium roller doors are made of slats which are filled with foam. This provides insulation to the garage, keeping it warm and dry, which is useful if the garage doubles-up as a workshop, play room, or has been converted into an additional living space.
Another benefit of insulated slats is that sound proofing is improved, so you can enjoy using your garage without disturbing the rest of the house, or your neighbours.
Choosing an aluminium roller door will also prevent heat loss from the garage, which is particularly important if you have an integral garage connected to your home. In turn, this will reduce energy wastage and help you avoid higher household bills.
Can You Have Windows in a Roller Garage Door?
Some aluminium roller door designs feature small glazed sections across the slats which provide some natural light into the garage, however steel roller doors cannot feature windows.
Are Roller Garage Doors More Secure?
A roller garage door is a smart choice where security is a priority, as the curtain design doesn’t offer a leverage point that intruders could use to prise the door open and has no obvious point of entry. Although roller doors feature no visible locks or handles, they come with secure locking systems to protect your garage and its contents.
How Do Roller Garage Doors Save Space?
Roller garage doors take up very little space, rolling up out of view rather than back into the garage like an up and over door. By opening vertically, the garage door doesn’t swing out onto the driveway, allowing you to park close to the doorway when space is limited or you have multiple cars. This also frees up more space inside the garage, which is useful if it is used regularly. A roller door also maximises the drive-through width and height of your garage, allowing you to safely park inside, even if you drive a larger vehicle.
What if a Roller Garage Door Breaks?
If your roller garage door becomes damaged or there is a problem with the electric motor, contact a company who specialise in garage door repairs to get your door back to full working order.
Enquire About a New Roller Garage Door
To update your home with a new roller garage door, contact AGD Surrey Ltd on 01483 234123 or via our enquiry form and arrange a free, no obligation survey. We offer free quotations too, so get in touch today.
