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When it comes to garage doors you have a number of options. Garage doors come in 3 basic types:

• Metal
• Vinyl or glass fibre
• Wooden

Metal type doors are quite popular and usually employ the up and over type opening mechanism. Up and over are in 2 types. The first is retractable and the second type is canopy. With the retractable type the entire door panel retracts completely into the garage space. With the canopy type, a section of the door sticks out beyond the front of the garage when fully opened forming a canopy overhead, hence the name. Metal doors are particularly suited to this type of door opening mechanism as they are quite light weight and can easily be man handled.

Vinyl doors are more associated with much wider openings due to their light weight construction. They can be used with the up and over type opening mechanism as well but more often utilize with the sectional type opening mechanism. This means that the door itself is divided into sections horizontally up to four sections per door all connected to each other with hinges. On the ends of each door section are rollers in a guide track system attached to the door frame. The track curves at the top turning 90 degrees and continues into the garage space. As the door moves upwards each section follows the curve track into the garage space and the entire door is parked overhead.

Both metal and vinyl types come with decorative panel designs on the outer face and pre finished in a range of colors.

A wooden garage door can utilize both of the above opening mechanisms. Wooden doors however tend to be heavier than metal or vinyl type so the mechanism requires beefing up.

A garage door can be a focal point just like a front door to your home therefore it is important that you make the best choice. Wooden doors are available in a number of species and designs for you to choose from. A typical wooden garage door has a wide area of wood therefore you will be guaranteed a grain pattern that is very appealing. Wooden doors will however require some maintenance from time to time in the form of repainting or re-staining. Metal and vinyl doors are generally maintenance free.

One other opening mechanism not mentioned so far is vertical sectional doors. This type is usually associated with wooden doors and works in a similar way to the horizontal sectional type except the sections are positioned vertically. The sectional doors run on tracks mounted above the doors and also in the floor and open to one side or both sides. They glide effortlessly to the side, a bit like a train pulling out of a station, and park adjacent to a side wall. This type of garage door really is the ultimate.

All opening mechanisms can be fitted with garage door remote control units for automatic operation without having to leave your car.