When it comes to installing garage doors in Auckland, there are a lot of decisions you need to make. One of the first will be what type to go for: sectional or tilt garage doors. A lot of the time, we meet homeowners who assume it doesn’t really matter either way, but there are actually very defined advantages between these two major garage door types.
Let’s take a closer look at both and discover which type of garage door is right for you!
What’s a tilt garage door?
Tilt garage doors were extremely popular before sectional doors became the industry standard. Since then, they’ve become rarer, and so you may not know what they are from the name alone, though you’ve probably seen them around before.
Tilt doors are recognisable by their single, solid piece of material. They do not bend or roll, and instead work on spring-loaded hinges that lift them up. Very occasionally, you might see tilt doors attached to automatic openers, but they take more energy to lift, so most homeowners who are looking for automatic doors opt for the sectional type.
The single, solid panel of a tilt garage door usually slides up to the ceiling inside the garage. Depending on the construction of the home, it may slightly protrude out above the driveway a little when opened.
What are the benefits of a tilt garage door?
Tilt doors are still around, but they’re certainly not for everyone. Those that do choose them usually have a major reason to do so, like retrofitting a historic garage door, or trying to preserve a set of garage door windows.
Since tilt doors are a single unbroken piece of material, they also don’t have any horizontal lines on them – this can open up a slightly wider range of design options for them, though this is rarely a make or break point.
Tilt doors also don’t require as much headroom, although it’s worth pointing out that this doesn’t mean more clearance; tilt doors sit below the lintel, while sectional doors sit up behind the lintel.
What are the benefits of a sectional garage door?
Sectional doors are the modern industry standard for a reason. As a general rule of thumb these usually come out at a lower price point, but that’s not the only reason they are a popular option for custom garage doors. Some other advantages are;
- This is a big one. The move away from tilt garage doors has a lot to do with associated safety concerns. The extension springs used by tilt doors can be extraordinarily dangerous if they fail after suffering poor maintenance.
- These days, there’s usually a lot less space to work with when new homes are being built. This means new garage installs need to be more space efficient than older ones. If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, or you have multiple cars, sectional doors might be a good call. Tilt doors use some of your driveway space to open, so based on the dimensions of your home and property, a tilt door might not have the elbow room it needs.
- Finally, we have durability. Tilt doors should be able to stand up to most inclement weather, but if they do fail in very strong wind, or if they are damaged by an accident, the entire door is more or less a write-off. When a tilt door comes down, the entire thing is coming down. When a sectional door is damaged, you can easily repair it part-by-part, and it’s unlikely the whole thing will topple.
- Tilt doors are much easier to break into, as they usually have an opening against the floor, rather than closing flush with it. Anyone with a crowbar and enough time and effort can get into a tilt garage door.
Need help deciding?
If you still aren’t sure which is better for you, why not talk to a garage door specialist? The expert team at Prestige Doors & Gates specialises in architecturally designed garage doors, and can help you make the best first impression with your house possible. Contact us today to find out more!
