Overhead garage doors: dimensions, prices and characteristics

Lifting gates are one of the most convenient ways to arrange a garage entrance. They are easy to install and use. However, along with all their advantages, they have a considerable cost due to their complex design. Let's consider whether it is possible to make them yourself, as well as the main characteristics that the garage door overhead have: dimensions, prices and operating principles.

Overhead garage doors: sizes, prices, types and features

Any goal, the opening of which occurs due to lifting, are called lifting. They are divided into several types, each of which has its own characteristics.

Sectional revolving doors are a monolithic construction, the lower part of which moves forward during the opening process. At the same time, the main part of the gate goes completely inside the garage. Only a small visor remains outside. On the one hand, their transportation to the site, as well as installation, requires a lot of effort, but on the other hand, this is the best option when it comes to self-production. The price of overhead doors is much lower than sectional doors.

Overhead sectional doors do not require free space, since all sections are located horizontally. If we are talking about the purchase and installation of such gates by professionals, then this option is much more popular. In addition, in small areas, this type of design allows you to use the maximum amount of space for arranging the yard.

An up-and-over garage door is a design that, in the open position, looks like a visor located horizontally and slightly forward. The use of just such a system has many advantages that made it quite popular.

The operating principle of the swing gate

The main advantage of the swing-lifting design is a rather simple mechanism of action. Among the constituent elements, a frame, a canvas and guides are distinguished, which provide movement around their axis. Thus, the gate changes its position from vertical to horizontal.

A steel frame is used as a base, which is mounted in the garage opening or behind it. This is the leading part of the gate. If it is made independently, then metal pipes with a rectangular cross section are used for this.

At the moment of opening the gate, lifting levers are activated, as well as a roller mechanism that ensures the movement of the gate along the guides, fixing them at the top point. At the same time, the entire lower part of the canvas rises, forming a kind of visor under the ceiling. In this position, the compensation springs are as free as possible, while when the door is closed they are tensioned.

There are two types of opening mechanisms: hinge-lever and counterweights. The first option is simpler and at the same time more reliable. It is very popular in use, as it is free from the danger of blocking the system and provides a simple movement of the blade along the required path. At the same time, the main requirements for the system are the adjustment of the spring tension and the high-quality installation of the guides, the installation of which must be done with high accuracy.

The second version, based on counterweights, is arranged as follows: a special cable is attached to the lower corners of the frame and passes through a special block and counterweight, which is installed on the opposite side of the winch. Such a system is preferable when it comes to the serious weight of the gate.

Helpful advice! It is possible to equip the gate lifting system with an electric drive with a remote control.

Advantages and disadvantages of lifting gates

If we compare the design of overhead gates with others, then we can highlight several clear advantages:

• the strength and integrity of the canvas provides reliable protection against burglary and penetration into the garage;
• the material from which the gate is made is not subject to corrosion and does not lose its qualities under the influence of external factors;
• in the open position they do not take up much space, so they can be installed even in a small area;
• after installation, they can be sheathed with various facing materials, including rigid inserts and panels;
• can be additionally insulated with special expanded polystyrene panels;

• the opening system can be either manual or automatic;
• can be installed in single and double garages.

Like any other design, overhead gates have their disadvantages:

• installation can only be carried out in strictly rectangular openings;
• when the gate is open, it reduces the height of the opening by about 20 cm;
• the integrity of the canvas does not allow repairing its individual sections and, in case of damage, it will be necessary to replace everything entirely;
• the spring structure, which is responsible for raising and lowering the gate, is designed only for a certain weight, which should be taken into account when insulating. If the total weight of the structure turns out to be too large, additional counterweights will be required;

• after installation, gaps may remain between the canvas and the opening, which can be sealed with a rubber seal. However, in this case, the garage must not be heated.

Standard sizes of lifting garage doors: prices of different models

The price of an overhead garage door is made up of many factors, of which:

• material for making the canvas;
• the quality of the lifting mechanism;
• the presence of an automatic control system.

When it comes to the cost of a gate, it is safe to say that it largely determines the quality and durability of the structure. Cheap gates, most likely, will very soon require repair or replacement of individual elements of the mechanism, so excessive savings are inappropriate here.

Another important nuance that you should pay attention to is the thickness of the leaf used for the gate. Depending on the material, it can be from 1 to 45 mm. If we are talking about the use of sandwich panels, then a thickness of up to 20 mm speaks of cold models, above this indicator - a warmed version.

Today, you can buy an overhead garage door of an average quality for 16,000 rubles. The maximum price of an overhead garage door reaches 50,000 rubles (fully loaded). Consider several of the most popular models, their features and prices:

Manufacturer	Features:	Dimensions (width and height), mm	price, rub.
"LegProm" (Russia)	Possibility of additional installation of an automatic drive, guaranteed number of cycles of use - 25000	2000-6000x1800-3100	from 35000
SIBARS (Russia)	Remote-controlled automatic sectional doors. The thickness of the "sandwich panel" 40-60 mm	2000x1800	from 22225
"Zaiger" (Switzerland)	Insulated sectional doors with 53 mm panel thickness.	2100x1800	from 26312
"Alutech" (Russia)	The presence of adjustable roller brackets provides control of the adhesion of the web to the opening	2700x2100	from 35659
"DoorHan" (Russia)	The headroom requirement is 90 mm. Full automation. Adjustment of brackets in 2 planes	2000x1900	26900
KORN (Russia)	Automatic sectional doors with springs. Large selection of colors and textures	2500x2390	30900

 

IN arrangement of a garage gates play an important role, since you will have to open and close them every day. And the saving of your time, as well as efforts, largely depends on how convenient this design will be. Therefore, when it becomes necessary to buy an overhead garage door, the price is not always a decisive factor.

Self-calculation and standard dimensions of lifting garage doors

Another important factor that affects the cost of garage doors is their size. To order individual designs or to make them yourself, you can calculate the required dimensions yourself.

For example, 1.8-2 m is the standard width for a passenger car. The dimensions of the garage door, respectively, should be slightly larger in order to provide free entry, without the risk of catching the opening with the side part. To do this, it is necessary to provide a margin of approximately 0.5 m on each side. As a result, the resulting width will be about 3 m. By the same principle, the required gate height can be calculated. The average figure will be 2.1-2.5 m. The standard dimensions of garage doors are the same.

Helpful advice! If you are the owner of a non-standard small car, you should not make calculations based on its data. It is better to buy a standard size overhead garage door. The car can be replaced over time, but it will be difficult to completely dismantle the system.

As for the purchase of ready-made sectional structures, here the standard dimensions of the garage overhead doors largely depend on the manufacturer. This is a very important point, since many models have their own characteristics, due to which their installation in an opening of an unsuitable size will be impossible.

For example, the Belarusian company Alutech has on sale models, the minimum headroom for which is 45-51 cm, while for most other manufacturers this figure does not exceed 31 cm. In addition, the used mechanism plays an important role. It can be either a tension spring or a torsion bar. And each manufacturer sets their own pitch by creating a garage door sizing chart.

And although today manufacturers are ready to fulfill almost any individual order, it is important to know the exact size of the required structure, since every 5-10 cm is an opportunity to save about 5 thousand rubles.It is best to contact in advance the representative of the manufacturing company from whom you have decided to buy the overhead door, and discuss all the nuances. In addition, you can invite a specialist to your home who will take all the necessary measurements and save you from unnecessary trouble.

Do-it-yourself lifting gates: how to install yourself

It is quite possible to make a garage door with your own hands. To do this, you just need to pick up a drawing for the manufacture of homemade lifting gates for the garage, and also follow the step-by-step instructions in the work. Let's consider each stage of working with the structure from start to finish.

Do-it-yourself choice of materials for up-and-over doors

All materials for creating a gate should be chosen in accordance with the mechanism you plan to use.

Consider an example of making the simplest homemade option. You will need:

• wooden blocks of various sizes: 12x8 cm (for the box) and 10x10 cm (ceiling);
• metal stripes;
• corners for a frame measuring 3.5x3.5x0.4 cm;
• corners for rails measuring 4x4x0.4 cm;
• channel bracket with dimensions 8x4.3x0.5 cm;
• spring (inner diameter 3 cm);
• for the tension regulator, you need a metal rod with a cross section of 0.8 cm.

In addition, you will need a curtain, as well as an electric drive, which will automatically open and close the gate. There are three options for a canvas that can be used to create a do-it-yourself lifting garage door: a plank board covered on top with metal sheets, a sandwich panel or a solid canvas.

If we talk about a completely independent production and installation, then a board made of boards, covered on top with sheets of galvanized iron and a layer of protective composition, is best suited. If you want to provide additional thermal insulation, you can use expanded polystyrene, foam or insulation in the mats.

Useful advice! To give the doors a more attractive appearance from the outside, they can be sheathed with plastic or wood panels.

Before purchasing the necessary materials, experts recommend looking at as many thematic materials as possible on the topic of how to make a garage door with your own hands: drawings, photos and videos.

Assembling a garage door with your own hands: drawings and diagrams

In order to assemble the structure, you will need a number of tools:

• level;
• a hammer;
• marker;
• drill;
• screwdrivers;
• welding machine;
• Bulgarian;
• spanners;
• drill.

After you have made sure that you have all the necessary components, you can proceed to designing the system. The easiest option in this case is to carry out all the necessary measurements of the opening and find a ready-made suitable drawing on the Internet. You can try to draw up a sketch yourself, but this is a rather troublesome and painstaking task, since the slightest mistake can lead to the structure simply not falling into place.

Based on the existing drawing, you can start purchasing materials and begin installation. First of all, you need to assemble a box from the bars. You can fasten them together using metal plates or special angles. The main thing is that the box fits the opening in size and can be fixed in it with pins.

Useful advice! In order to provide the structure with additional strength, the lower part of the frame should be deepened into the ground by at least 2 cm.

Door leaf assembly

After the frame is ready, it is sheathed with a shield and covered with sheet material.The base of the mechanism is made from a corner as follows: using a drill in one shelf, it is necessary to drill 2 holes with a diameter of 1 cm. They will serve for fixing to the longitudinal posts. Three more holes in the bottom shelf are made for attaching the spring bracket. In order to fix the channel bracket, 3 more holes are made in one of the shelves, according to the drawing of the do-it-yourself garage door for the garage.

Further, the bracket and the spring are connected to each other using a special adjusting plate, which is made from a strip of iron. The spring clings to its lower turns. And a tension regulator made from a bar is attached to its bottom.

Thus, one side is a ring, and the other needs to be threaded. Using a corner (0.85 cm) in which a hole is made, the hinge assembly is mounted. It must be welded to the frame in the middle between the hole for the lever, which is responsible for lifting the mechanism, and the bottom edge of the frame. In this case, the distance from the hole for the lever should be 12 cm.

Using a welding machine, the plate with a hole for the regulator is attached to the end of the lever. Then it remains only to make the rails along which the mechanism will move. To do this, 2 corners are made up between themselves so that the distance between their tops is 5 cm. One edge of the resulting figure is welded to a plate with holes.

In all this, it is important to observe the calculations: a space of 8 cm should remain between the lower edge of the crossbeam and the center line of the guide.If as a result of the work, everything turned out like this, then you can weld the channel sections to the opposite edges of the rail, while maintaining a distance of 14-15 cm A common bolt connects the ceiling bar and the channel.

Useful advice! To make the resulting design look more attractive, it is painted. All hard-to-reach places of the mechanism must be painted before the structure is assembled.

Video and photo instructions will help you better understand the structure of the mechanism and the installation of the lifting gate with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself lifting garage doors: additional recommendations

In addition to the general manufacturing technology, there is a number of additional tips that are given by specialists, as well as those who have already assembled such gates on their own:

• do not give up welding and choose simpler, at first glance, mounting methods. So you will have to drill significantly fewer holes, and the fastening will be more reliable;
• in height, the opening should not be lower than 2.2 meters, otherwise its use will be inconvenient;
• it should be borne in mind that there must also be a certain distance between the upper part of the opening and the ceiling - approximately 0.35-0.5 m;
• if you had to deal with a fairly low opening, then it is better to place the drum at the back;
• be sure to leave a small groove in the lower blade profile. This will make it possible to install the seal;

• to ensure long and reliable operation of the system, the total weight of the web should not exceed 100 kg;
• to make a do-it-yourself drive for the overhead gate, you can use a reversible self-locking winch, and use a modified car alarm as a remote control;
• to provide additional lighting for the garage, additional inserts of light-transmitting materials can be made in the canvas;
• special locking devices will help prevent pinching, as well as help protect the gate from burglary.

Having listened to all these recommendations, you will be able to independently make a structure that is functionally in no way inferior to the purchased one.In addition, they will be able to protect the premises not only from bad weather and other environmental factors, but also from intruders.

You can watch the video for a more detailed description of how these tips can be implemented. Do-it-yourself garage doors can be equipped with all the most modern technologies that are available today in ready-made factory models.

If you use drawings, photos and videos, do-it-yourself lifting gates will not be inferior to purchased ones in almost anything. It is only important to show a little patience and diligence to make your daily use of the garage more comfortable for you.

If you use drawings, photos and videos, do-it-yourself lifting gates will not be inferior to purchased ones in almost anything. It is only important to show a little patience and diligence to make your daily use of the garage more comfortable for you.