subject: Choosing The Right Garage Doors For Your Home [print this page] Modern technology means fitting garage doors is no longer a job for the experts. However, people still have the misconception that can only buy garage doors from specialised companies, who supply and fit the doors themselves. The chances are, these companies dont make the doors themselves they buy them from somewhere like us at Wickes DIY, at considerably less cost.
The good news is, fitting garage doors no longer has to be a job for the professional. The garage doors we sell at Wickes DIY are available in both electric and manually-operated versions, and can be fitted in a weekend by someone with average DIY skills and an assistant these doors are still quite heavy.
So, which garage doors are best for your home? Its fair to say that the canopy and retractable options give you far more architectural scope than the roll-up type of door which, by its very nature, is only available in a single design. However, its functionality means it will blend into any home. If you want to match existing features, then a smart one-piece traditionally styled garage door will instantly uplift the frontage. These swing outwards (canopy) or into the interior (retractable), so you need to make sure you have sufficient headroom or external clearance.
Where space is a problem, our Swift roller doors are the perfect alternative. Electrically operated by remote control, these roll up into a barrel at the top of the door fitting and have the added benefit of having no external lock, so are virtually burglar proof. They are also resilient to bangs and scrapes. We at Wickes DIY recommend this option to anyone who runs a business from home, has a compact garage area, or doesnt want an upswung or outswung door above their heads.
When it comes to one-piece garage doors, be aware that, as in the roller style, theres a lot of measuring to do first. Once youve selected the style you like, you then have to measure up and check that you have sufficient space to install it. Although our garage doors come with full fittings, they dont come with the frame (any more than household doors do), so youll have to make sure your existing frame is suitable for modern garage doors. If youve chosen a retractable version, make sure you have sufficient headroom in the garage particularly if it houses a van or other tall vehicle. With canopy garage doors, measure the outwards clearance space carefully, to ensure it is adequate for your needs.
When buying garage doors from us at Wickes DIY, be aware that the sizes always refer to the internal frame width; you dont have to worry about tolerances, as these are built into the doors. Our standard garage doors are available in a range of widths, and we also offer a made-to-measure service. Along with this we have a downloadable PDF file with in-depth instructions and advice.
All of this means that you could have electric, remote-opening stylish garage doors installed in your home in less time that it would take to order from a bespoke specialist supplier costing many times the price.
