Your new house is nearing completion, and the only headache is deciding what type of garage door to purchase. Apart from acting as an entryway, garage doors perform other functions such as increasing curb aesthetics, security, and the value of your home. Overall, you want a garage door that is reliable and durable, which depends on the garage door opener you choose. Therefore, while you may have an idea of what you want in a garage door, choosing an opener can be a challenge for most homeowners. With so many options available in the market, this article highlights some factors that will help you in decision-making.
Drive -- The operation of a garage door opener is achieved via a drive mechanism. As such, you need to know the three kinds of drives available before making a purchase. The first one is the chain drive, which uses a similar principle as a bike chain. The chain pushes a trolley attached to the door, thus opening and closing the door. The chain drive is the most common, least expensive and most durable drive.
The second type is the screwdriver opener. In this case, the trolley is attached to a threaded steel rod that rotates a motor for pushing and pulling the door. It is a mid range drive concerning price.
The last type is the belt drive. The principle of operation is the same as that of the chain drive with the only difference being that it uses a belt instead of a chain. The belt drive opener is the most expensive among the three and the least noisy. Evidently, you need to know the three types of drives because they have an implication on price and functionality.
Horsepower -- Openers have different power rating, which must be considered before making a purchase. Ideally, almost all residential garage door openers need 0.5 horsepower for efficient and reliable operations. However, if you are planning to buy a garage door that is made of wood or lots of insulation, then a 0.75 horsepower opener will do just fine. Further, you are likely to encounter openers with 1.0 horsepower, but these are usually meant for heavy industrial purposes. Increased weight needs more horsepower during opening and closing of the door.
Motor Power -- Openers come with two power supply options that must be considered prior to making a purchase, that is, AC (alternate current) and DC (direct current). AC motors are mainly used in chain drive openers due to the high amount of power needed to drive the chain. On the other hand, DC garage openers are more common in belt drive openers since they do not require a lot of power to pull or push the door. It is worth pointing out that AC motors are more expensive than DC motors.
When choosing a garage door opener, the features discussed above should factor into your decision.
Share6 March 2017
Welcome all. I am a builder by trade and I specialise in home renovations. The garage seems to be one of the most popular rooms for renovation as people seek to incorporate new uses such as a billiards room or party area. I reorganise storage space and brighten the walls and floors. Of course, all this costs thousands of dollars, yet many clients insist on keeping their old garage door. I find this very frustrating because the right door can change the whole appearance of a home and provide so much more functionality for the garage space. After speaking to clients, I realise that many people just don't know the options available. Whether you are renovating or building a new home, my blog may be able to help you choose a garage door that makes a statement and suits your needs. I hope you like browsing these pages. Thank you.