When it comes to the garage door that you choose for your property you may be surprised to know that the choices you need to make can in fact go beyond just the colour and finish. If you would like to enhance the exterior of your property there is much more to consider.
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There are a wide range of different garage door styles out there to choose from. Depending on the style of your property and also the size of your garage, and even what you use it for, the garage door that you choose can really make a big difference.
One of the types of garage door that you may want to consider for your property is a sliding garage door. In this article we will take a look at when and where you should consider installing a sliding garage door.
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What is a sliding garage door?
As the name implies, a sliding garage door is one that moves, however this does not mean that it slides to one side in a single piece. This would require a lot of space, would be incredibly impractical and in higher winds, when open, would have the potential to be dangerous. A sliding garage door is made up of vertical panels and as it is slid to open, they follow a track attached to the ceiling of your garage, forming a panel inside the garage.
When should you install a sliding garage door?
There are a number of advantages to installing a sliding garage door and these can make all the difference to your property.
Small garage opening
One of the most important things to consider is if you have a small garage opening then you really do not want to make it any smaller with the type of garage door that you choose, as this can make it incredibly difficult to get your vehicle into the garage. Because of the way a sliding garage door opens it takes up minimum space.
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Keeping storage space empty
For many people, space can be at a premium, particularly in a newer property and this can mean using the ceiling space in a garage to store items. If you opt for an up and over door, for example, then you will be using this space to store your garage door when it is open, rendering it unsuitable for storage of other items.
Short driveway
If you have limited driveway space, then doors that open outwards can take up a lot of space, which is impractical. A sliding door will take up very little space meaning that you will be able to park your vehicle very close to your garage whilst you open the door.
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Easy to open
For those homeowners who struggle with anything heavy then a sliding garage door is much easier to open than an up and over door. This is also an important consideration if you are on the shorter side as well. If you have a garage door with a motor fitted, then a sliding garage door will be much quieter to open as less force is needed. This means that the motor will not need to work as hard.
Where should sliding garage doors be installed?
Sliding garage doors are fitted on the interior of your garage and depending on the setup inside your garage can be fitted opening either to the left or the right. Factors that affect which side you may want to have your garage door fitted include any internal access doors to your property and any windows.