Exploring the Strengths of Galvanised Garage Doors

One term that often crops up in discussions about garage doors is “galvanisation.” But what does it mean for a garage door to be galvanised? And if so, what benefits does it bring? In this blog, we explain the benefits galvanising provides and uncover the reasons behind its popularity.

Understanding Galvanisation

Before delving into the specifics of steel garage doors, let’s understand what galvanisation is. It is a process that involves coating metal, usually steel, with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion. This is done through a chemical process or by dipping the metal into molten zinc, resulting in a protective zinc layer that acts as a barrier against rust, moisture, and other environmental factors that can degrade metal over time.

Are Garage Doors Galvanised?

Yes, garage doors are often galvanised, especially those produced by top manufacturers who utilise high-quality galvanised steel in the construction of up and over garage doors. The base metal is protected by a zinc coating, which serves as a barrier against corrosive elements. Additionally, all surfaces, including up to the cut edges, are covered with a polyester primer coating and a generous layer of powder-coat paint for added protection. Similar production methods are used for other door styles like side-hinged and sectional doors, with steel panels typically encompassing a foam filling for enhanced insulation. Manufacturers such as Garador and Hormann, known for their thick gauge steel, invisible welding, durable powder coat finish, and robust counterbalance lifting gear, offer a 10-year guarantee.

Additional elements

Top-tier models go beyond just the door panel when it comes to galvanisation. Another essential component of a garage door is the torsion spring. The torsion spring stores energy, creating torque that aids in the opening and closing of the door. Additionally, these springs can also have a zinc coating. The quality of the steel used is also crucial in providing the necessary structural strength for a garage door. High-quality up and over options are constructed around a frame, which acts as a boundary structure. This frame is made from high-grade galvanised steel, serving as a sturdy chassis that ensures a robust and stable door construction. Furthermore, galvanised steel braces are used to provide leaf reinforcement, enhancing the door’s stability.

Conclusion

When considering a garage door for your home, the question of whether it’s galvanised is an important one. It offers remarkable benefits, from enhanced corrosion resistance and longevity to reduced maintenance requirements. So, if you’re looking for a durable, low-maintenance garage door that can withstand the test of time, this cost-effective option might just be the perfect choice for you. Other materials are available including grp, timber, or aluminium.

Exploring the Strengths of Galvanised Garage Doors

For car enthusiasts, the garage is more than just a place to park vehicles; it’s a haven to securely park and showcase prized possessions. As your collection grows or you delve into custom projects, space limitations become apparent. One solution to this problem is to broaden your garage door entrance. Eastern Garage Doors explores the benefits of doing this and the crucial role lintels play in this process especially when transforming two single garages into one.

Why consider?

Accommodate Valuable and Larger Vehicles:

Renovating classic cars to their former glory and the emergence of larger SUVs and specialty vehicles, makes maneuverability around tight openings where there is a central pillar in the way very restrictive. Removing this barrier allows you to comfortably park and access your garage space without the risk of accidental damage or scratches. It can give you the confidence to get in and out of the garage without scraping the car or knocking off a wing mirror. With a more accessible entrance you can manoeuvre the car into a better position that’ll suit you.

Facilitate Car Modifications:

Enhancing your vehicle’s performance and appearance is a breeze when you have ample garage space dedicated to this purpose. This allows you to work on your car with ease and create a space tailored to your needs. Furthermore, specialist garage fit out services can help you to efficiently use the extra room by making tooling and the working area much more practical.

Improve Accessibility:

Increasing entrance space can also improve accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges. Garage door specialists can provide special zero-rated VAT garage door adaptions for the disabled subject to status. Adding a double door can in some instances make your garage more wheelchair friendly. No one wants to get soaked in the rain whilst trying to park in a tight space.

Saves on servicing:

Having one door is less expensive than two. You will find yourself having to do less repairs on one single door, and it goes without saying it’ll require less general maintenance than two.

The Role of the Garage Door Lintel

Now that we’ve highlighted the benefits of increased garage access, let’s delve into the significance of lintels in this process:

Structural Support:

One aspect of broadening garage door access is the process of cutting into the current wall or removal of a central pillar to make a bigger opening. This modification can compromise the structural strength of the wall, so it is crucial to add extra support. Lintels are used to span the expanded opening and ensure proper distribution and support of the weight from the wall above.

Load-Bearing Capacity:

Lintels are offered in a range of materials, such as steel, reinforced concrete, and engineered wood, each providing distinct load-bearing capabilities. Expert surveyors meticulously select the suitable lintel according to the dimensions of the garage door and the weight it must bear, thereby avoiding any potential structural problems.

Even Weight Distribution:

A well-installed lintel ensures that the additional load created by the larger garage door is evenly distributed along the lintel’s length. This ensures that any new installation functions smoothly and safely.

Professional Installation and Lintel Selection:

Lintel installation is a complex process that require the expertise of experienced professionals. Therefore it is vital to seek an expert. Consult with a reputable garage door specialist who can assess your garage’s current structure and advise on the appropriate lintel type and size for your project. They will also ensure high-quality materials are used and have the skills and tools to cut the brickwork accurately and install the lintel for optimal performance and safety.

Conclusion

Creating more entry/exit space is a fantastic option, making the garage more versatile and accommodating. Remember that such modifications require meticulous planning and professional execution.

The role of lintels cannot be overstated. They not only distribute the weight of the wall above the opening but also prevent potential wall damage and ensure smooth operation of the garage door.

So, whether you dream of parking a larger SUV or a custom-built automotive masterpiece, or have restrictive mobility, consider the possibilities that creating more capacity to get and work around your garage offers. Invest in professional guidance and materials to create a secure and usable space where you can continue to nurture your passion for cars or simply address a long-standing problem of difficult access.

Revamp Your Car Haven

Garage Doors aren’t always an obvious weak point in your home when looking to save energy. Some of the leading culprits are typically windows, front doors, or poor insulation in the attic. Although this isn’t a particular issue with detached garages, heat loss in a home which has an integral garage perhaps under a bedroom, or used as a home office or gym, can be a problem. The amount of loss can vary depending on the size of the garage door, the type of insulation, and the weather. In this article we look at some of the best performing pre-insulated garage doors and contributing factors – What materials are the best? How can good design influence the outcome? Why does quality manufacture count?

What is the measure for heat loss?

Guidance amongst manufacturers is provided through U-values. The U value of a garage door is a measure of the amount of heat that passes through a surface area of 1m² for each degree of temperature difference between the inside and outside. Therefore, the lower the U value, the more energy-efficient the material is.

Are there any building regulations?

Although there is no specific legislation directly applying U-values to insulated garage doors, Part L of the Building Regulations, concerning the conservation of fuel and power, does deal with garage conversions, for example when a previously exempt unheated space becomes part of a heated dwelling. A garage door used to access the space, if being retained or upgraded, may have to adhere to ‘change to energy’ status, in which case the energy efficiency requirements outlined in the regulations may apply.

Multi-layered protection.

In a similar fashion to people wearing lots of clothing layers in winter, garage door manufacturers use multi-layered construction techniques to save energy. This involves different materials to create a sandwich-like double skin in steel, aluminium, or vinyl, around rigid foam. This provides excellent insulation properties while maintaining the strength and durability of the door.

Examples of these include:

• Novoferm’s Evolution Premium, constructed as a broken sandwich panel design to create thermal separation of the outer and inner shells. The benefit is a significantly improved heat insulation value equal to 0.46 W/m²K when compared to other door solutions with 45 mm section thicknesses. (See highlights below)
• The Novoferm ISO70, a sub 1.0 W/m² K insulator which similarly comprises built-in layers of CFC free polyurethane rigid foam insulation between a galvanised steel double skin and a total section thickness of 70 mm.
• Hörmann’s galvanised steel 67 mm thick sectional garage door which also offers some of the lowest U-values below 1.0 W/m² K.

Furthermore, if you want to lighten a dark garage space with glazing that isn’t detrimental to the heat saving you seek, then, these can be supplied with a triple-glazed window that also provides excellent heat insulation.

Thermal Break Features of the Novoferm Evolution Premium

Do garage doors provide weather shielding?

With poorly insulated or low-grade products, air leaks can still occur around the edges of a garage door. This is why high-end manufacturers focus R&D on improving weather stripping around the door. Clever product innovation built into the ‘Evolution Premium’ and other models include all-surround seals (some double), as part of a ‘Thermo Frame’ design:

• In the section head
• Between each panel
• At the base of the door

Other manufacturers such as Hörmann similarly invest in weather-shielding features, with:

• Seals fitted to the floor closing the bottom edge of the door to provide barrier-free access whilst preventing the penetration of water – these seals also compensate for floor unevenness.
• Plastic profiles between the frame and brickwork to create a thermal break which improves insulation by up to 15% – a performance statistic which applies to their 5000×2250 mm double-skinned sectional garage door LPU 42 model.

Is wood a good insulator?

It’s no surprise that timber garage doors allow for better insulation and airtightness. Cedar wood’s cellular structure creates natural air spaces that give it an insulation value higher than most woods, as well as having excellent sound suppression and absorption qualities.

Are side hinged garage doors energy efficient?

Side hinged garage doors are available in single or double skin options. Single skin doors are a cost-effective option and are best suited to spaces where there’s no need for insulation or draught sealing. Double skin doors are a thicker, insulated alternative, better suited to environments where it’s important to keep them warm and dry. The Novoferm DuoPort side hinged garage door provides a good bespoke, made to order example of this, with a 45 mm rigid Polyurethane (PUR) foam core, coupled with a block door frame providing outstanding insulation.

Polyurethane systems are among the best-performing insulation materials used in construction (See the behaviour of polyurethane systems as thermal insulators). Low thermal conductivity is reached with a minimum of thickness, making for a lighter weight product, especially when the door leaf frames are also made from high-quality aluminium.

Sectional Doors v Roller Doors – Which are the best insulators?

Sectional garage doors are better at saving energy than roller garage doors. For all the reasons given above they are intentionally made and tested for this purpose. Roller garage doors, on the other hand, are made up of individual slats, which are foam-filled.  As such they are perceived to be energy efficient. However, whilst this will offer some insulation, roller garage doors are untested on a fitted door. Because the interlock between the laths/slats are not sealed they are unable to carry a meaningful U value. The gaps simply don’t prevent air and moisture from escaping.

What other advantages are there?

The heat saving designs of high-quality garage doors also have other significant benefits.

• Absorbs sound: The insulation materials absorb internal and external noise. It creates low noise when opening and closing too, reducing unsettling rattles and creaks, compared to low value doors.
• Strength: Insulated options are stronger, compared to the uninsulated options. With more resistance to dents and damage, the highest quality sectional garage doors, for example when well maintained, can have an overall lifespan of more than 35 years.

Conclusion

As energy efficiency becomes increasingly important, garage door manufacturers are making strides in improving insulation properties. New materials, multi-layered construction, improved seal design, and weather stripping, are all contributing to the creation of garage doors that are more efficient than ever before. Homeowners looking to upgrade their garage doors can now choose from a range of options that provide superior insulation and help to reduce energy bills. Government incentives around upgrading homes such as the new ECO+ scheme will also help homeowners get onboard with eco-conscious products. There has never been a better opportunity to put energy efficiency at the heart of your home improvement project.

Best Energy Saving Garage Doors

The finish that is applied to a garage door can provide hidden advantages, often unrealised by homeowners looking for high quality products.

Of course, the very best manufacturers produce garage doors to complement a home’s architectural style and personal taste, but they also ‘design-in’ important practical benefits – To help make them look good for longer and withstand ‘The elements.’

In this article, Eastern Garage Doors delves beneath the beauty of different surface finishes, with durability in mind, to explore the additional qualities they can offer.

Natural Wood

Cedar for example provides nature’s own good looks and has natural oils to help it withstand high-moisture and resist warping, cracking, or rotting. The material’s aerated organic characteristics also provides effective insulation against heat loss.

Cleaning it on a regular basis, will remove any dust or dirt that can make the wood look drab and with re-staining only required every 3 years, it takes minimal effort to keep it in pristine condition, whilst shielding it from long-term damage.

Smooth Finish

Smooth finishes are mainly used on modern and contemporary dwellings. They offer an exceptionally clean, crisp look, in keeping with this type of building design. When applied to up and over garage doors, for instance, high-grade galvanised steel is used with a zinc coating to protect the base metal against corrosion, coupled with thick powder coated paint, to deliver good resistance to chips and wear.

Meanwhile, smooth finishes on sectional door panels are also made to last with the very best manufactures delivering wear resistance and durability from multi-layers which include a sealed top coating, adhesion primer, a corrosion resistance steel layer, and additional protective coatings wrapped around a foam core with integrated thermal insulation.

Woodgrain  

From a visual perspective, this finish generally tends to be installed in period properties, converted barns, and cottages, as its life-like wood effect complements the architectural style. Its advantages are that it is very forgiving and doesn’t readily show up dents, and scratches, though if it does, minor scratches can be easily repaired. Woodgrain surface finishes emulate real wood textures, but unlike natural wood it does not need to be treated or stained.

Further attention to detail by top manufacturers’ can be seen in some designs which provide close grain textures that look like carefully sanded wood, or wide grain with a more rustic character.

Manufacturers also imitate the natural world with SLATEGRAIN surface finishes which provide a stone effect for high-end, modern architectural styles, along with SILKGRAIN finishes which given they’re ultra-silky surface can contribute to a smooth-running automated door, thereby minimising wear, and tear.

GRP

On Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) doors the material is reinforced with very fine strands of glass and placed into a mould to create either a smooth gloss white surface or woodgrain surface texture. The material is lightweight, durable, and easy to maintain, and can feature a UV protective gel coating, useful for coastal areas to combat sea salt, and prevent discolouration overtime.

Foil Laminated

This finish is generally installed to complement foil laminated windows and front entrance doors, it makes timber-look finishes more realistic. Its advantages are that it is a very hard-wearing surface as it is applied by a heat bonding process, with some carrying a 7-year guarantee.

Roller Door Profiles

Alongside belt systems placed between curtain layers on the very highest quality automated roller garage doors to reduce scratching, a high-quality coating on the inside and outside of the door’s surface provides additional protection and makes them easy to clean. Smooth and grain-style finishes are both available and can be fitted with an abrasion-resistant surface protection to preserve the UV-resistant plastic film coating on the profiles over a long time.

All these options can create a very different overall effect on a garage door. A useful tip would be to check all finishes that are available before making a final decision. Textures are as varied as they are pleasing on the eye, especially when looking at the best quality garage doors. So, considering them as part of the overall design is just as important as choosing the right colour, to achieve the aesthetic you want.

Moreover, understanding each option’s ability to contribute towards long-term value can protect your investment. To get the best finish, which endures the test of time, may mean spending a little bit more. However, the pay-off will save you hundreds of pounds in the long-run when compared to high maintenance, low quality, low budget options. 

Garage Door Finishes – What Lies Beneath?

A garage may well have been intended for our cars, but it’s so easy for it to become a dump for our old clothes, paint cans, gardening equipment and broken junk – basically anything that we’d rather stow away and forget about. And in fact, it’s thought that only 24% of Britons are actually using a garage to store their vehicle.

But as spring rolls around, and the weather starts to brighten up, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into the mess you’ve been pretending doesn’t exist for so long.

In this blog, we’ve put together a few tips to help you reclaim your garage and make the most of this often-underutilised space.

Planning: Prepare

Throughout winter, or perhaps even longer, a lot can happen in the garage, so the first step should be to get things back to how they should be. Think about how you’ll be using the space. Are you a keen gardener? Do you enjoy artistic or crafty endeavours? Or do you use the room as a utility area?

Make a list of things that you need to do to accomplish your goals and get to work.

Planning: Execute

Tackling such a large area can seem pretty intimidating, so it’s best to stick to your guns.

We’re all different, so it stands to sense and reason that we’ll all choose a different way. For example, perhaps you’d prefer to start with easy things first, like bagging up old clothing for the charity shop, or maybe you’d prefer to empty the garage entirely and decide which bits are worth putting back.

Alternatively, if that seems too regimented for you, then start from the front and work your way to the back.

Decide What to Keep

A common rule when clearing out is if you haven’t used it for six months, it’s time to wave it goodbye. If no one has used those tennis rackets since the London Olympics, it’s probably time to get rid of them. If you’ve just never renovated that broken down old Vespa like you thought you might, then don’t worry about it – give it away to someone who might have the time.

Be honest about what you love doing, if you enjoy painting or DIY, then the kit for those activities deserves to be front and centre. But, if you’re struggling to decide what to let go, then itemise the stuff in the garage into ‘use regularly’, ‘use annually’, ‘never used’ and ‘sentimental.’

Never used can be thrown or given away, annual and regular use can be checked for signs of wear or replaced, and when it comes to sentimental items, decide what you really want and if you actually have the room to store it.

Storage Options

If space is at a premium, then consider using a pegboard with hooks for vertical wall hanging. Things like shovels, spades and the like have handles for easy storage, which also removes the need to store stuff on the floor.

Sports equipment, like golf bags and things of that nature are also easy to hang.

If you are using the garage to store gardening equipment, why not consider a potting shelf or bench, or even a wheelbarrow to make the transportation of tools much easier?

Think About Usability

Garage storage should be as thoughtful as it is inside the home, so think of the areas that are used often and plan your room around that.

If you use the area for your washing, then store all of your washing powder and dryer sheets in storage near the washer and dryer.

It’s small details like this that can help to make the process a bit easier, particularly when you’ve got a clear vision of how you want things to look and feel.

Labelling System

A great way to get the whole family behind your organisational splurge is through labelling everything. Label everything from hooks and pegboards and storage bins – this helps to maintain the order and keep everything where it should be.

It may seem like a lot, but it sure makes things easier to find, especially when in a rush and looking for the golf bag.

It will go a long way towards preventing garage clutter and keeping your doorways and floor clear of junk all year round.

Spring cleaning is not a mere one and done activity. It’s a little bit like going on a diet: you must maintain your healthy lifestyle in order to see results.

If you have any questions about garage storage, garage door conversions and alterations, or any of our other products or services, then contact us today.

For a free, no obligation survey give us a call in your local area, and our team will be happy to advise you on which products would be right for your home and garage.

How to Clean Out Your Garage This Spring

A garage door is one of the biggest and costliest pieces of mechanical kit in your home and most of us open and close the door several times a day without thinking twice. Winter can be a tough season for your garage door, and depending on the harshness of the winter – which is especially relevant depending on which area of the country you live in – there are some potential problems that could come to fruition if you aren’t careful.

Of course, having a broken garage door would be a pain during any season, but if you’re unable to get your car out of the garage during those cold, dark months, it would be far worse than any other season.

The positive news is that you can potentially avoid these by performing a little maintenance.

Garage Door Springs

Cold weather can distress a garage door in a multitude of ways, but broken springs are the most common. Wear and tear is usually the main culprit – garage door springs typically last around 10,000 cycles and with everything else we need to remember in our lives, particularly during winter, maintaining the springs on our garage doors often slips by the wayside.

Despite this, it’s important to check the springs quite often by lifting the door to halfway and letting go. If the door is stationary, the springs are in good working order. If it begins to drop slightly, then consider replacing the springs.

Another way to safeguard against broken springs in the winter is to ensure you have a safety cable installed. The cable exerts enough force to act as a counter-weight, so if your springs do break, you won’t need to worry so much.

Door Frozen to The Ground

If water pools at the base of your door, a frost overnight can freeze the water and seal the door shut.

There are no easy or fast ways to deal with this problem, but here are a few solutions which you use to try to rectify the problem:

• Manually open the door using the emergency cord. The severity of the freeze will directly impact this option.
• Pour boiling water along the base of the door. Be sure to sweep away the pool though, as it could refreeze.
• Use a scraper to chip at the ice until you can free the door.

Any of these methods takes a fair bit of time and energy, the best thing to do is to ensure you sweep away any puddle or snow build up and pour some salt around the area to prevent the reappearance of ice.

Water Damage

Especially the case with wooden garage doors, the moisture over winter can lead to the swelling of the door and the frame itself. In the worst scenario, this can close up the space, which causes rubbing.

The door can even get stuck, which prevents you from entering or exiting through the door.

It’s important to clear your rain gutters of leaves and debris to prevent water from running down onto the door, which only exacerbates the problem.

Opening Issues

Colder temperatures can meddle with the opening and closing functions of your garage door, here are a few things to watch out for:

• Lubrication Consistency – Garage door opening mechanisms require lubrication at various times throughout the year to ensure the parts run correctly. During winter, it’s not unheard of for this lubrication to alter its consistency and prevent the components from moving successfully.
• Sensitivity Problem – All automated garage doors are designed to stop the process if there is an obstruction. Thickened lubrication can alter the sensitivity of the sensors and prevent the garage from opening or closing correctly because it confuses the thickened deposits of lubrication for something it might crash into.

When the cold weather descends, your garage door may be pushed to its limits. However, by keeping an eye on your door and performing a few small tasks, preparing your garage inside and out for winter means it will be able to withstand the harsh conditions of winter.

If you have any questions about winter protection for your garage or any of our other products or services, then contact us today.

For a free, no obligation survey give us a call on 0800 048 0741, and our team will be happy to advise you on which security considerations would be right for your home and garage.