In the market for a new or replacement door for your Cleveland parking garage? One of the first things to figure out is what type of door is best suited for your door opening.

You might only need a simple replacement of your Northeast Ohio door with the same type and style of door. If this is the case for you, we can definitely help with that! The experts at Advance Door specialize in the installation and service of most types of commercial parking garage doors. We work with many of the top manufacturers to source the correct door for your operation.

Choosing a door for new construction, an upgraded door, or an addition? We’ll break down some of the pros and cons of common door types so you can find the best choice for your needs and budget.

Sectional Garage Doors

Sectional garage doors are panels connected by hinged brackets, and connected to rollers on a steel track. These are some of the most popular door types in residential and commercial applications. Some of the main benefits of sectional doors are:

• Economical: Sectional doors are the most common type of garage doors and are produced in large numbers, ensuring parts and service are available.
• Noise: Solid panels with sectional doors are good at blocking sound, particularly if the panels are insulated.
• Versatile: Lots of options for colors, materials, and windows for visibility and added light.
• Secure: Solid construction means these doors offer increased privacy and resistance to break-ins.
• Weather-Resistant: Solid doors mean good resistance from rain, snow and wind.

These doors are appropriate for some parking garages but there are downsides:

• Speed: These doors are slower to open and close, leading to more energy loss inside the garage, and reduced flow of traffic compared to high speed doors.
• Durability: A damaged door panel from a vehicle impact can render the door inoperable until the panel and hardware is repaired.
• Space Requirements: Sectional doors use a horizontal track at the top of the door’s swing path to store the door while open. Some buildings may not have sufficient headroom for a sectional door.
• Springs: Torsion or extension springs that allow for the door to be lifted more easily by the opener are required. These springs are usually rated for 10,000 cycles which can be quickly surpassed in a multi-unit residential or commercial application. High-cycle door springs are necessary to ensure that the door springs can last for years in demanding commercial applications. If you aren’t sure if you have the right springs for your Cleveland door, or need emergency spring repair, contact us! We offer 24/7 emergency service.
• Ventilation: Sectional garage doors do not offer good airflow for moisture and vehicle exhaust ventilation.

Rolling Service Doors

Rolling service doors, sometimes called coiling doors, or roll-up doors, differ from sectional doors in that they are made of metal slats instead of the wider sections of sectional doors. These metal slats allow for the door to roll up into a coil above the top of the door opening.

Our Cleveland rolling steel doors offer the following advantages:

• Space Saving: They do not require a horizontal track to be attached to the ceiling, offering a more streamlined installation and simpler design.
• Durable: Light, medium, and heavy-duty doors are available. Roll-up doors can outlast sectional doors. thanks to their simpler steel design.
• Secure: To increase safety and energy efficiency, fire-rated and insulated doors are available. For reliable security, day after day, year after year, it’s hard to beat a roll-up door. Basically impermeable to intruders without specialized tools.
• Weather-Resistant: Generally impervious to the elements. If installed correctly, rolling steel doors can withstand typical weather events. If you require higher protection against wind damage, wind load doors can be installed, which are engineered to withstand high winds and severe weather.
• High Performance Doors: If your parking garage needs fast opening and closing, high-performance doors can open several feet per second, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic. High-cycle springs and heavy-duty hardware are paired with high-performance doors to provide low maintenance and reliability.

Despite these advantages, there are a few downsides to roll-up doors:

• Expensive: The adage, “You get what you pay for” applies here. The cost for a rolling steel door can be higher than a sectional door. However, over time, the total cost may be similar to a sectional door that could require more service or repairs.
• Door Opener: Requires a side mount opener which can be more expensive.
• Appearance: Rolling steel doors have a more industrial look that won’t fit in everywhere. Sectional doors just offer more options for windows, panel designs, and even elegant wood doors.
• Noisy: Some users complain of rattling from steel doors. Sectional doors can use rollers such as nylon and polyethylene which are softer and don’t make as much noise when moving.
• Natural Light: It is possible but less common to include windows on rolling steel doors. Other types of doors are better suited to allowing for natural light.
• Sealing: Users complain that some rolling steel doors seal poorly, and may leave large gaps where critters can enter.

Security Grilles

Security grilles create a barrier on the door opening through the combination of horizontal rods and vertical chains, preventing unauthorized access.

Advantages to using a security grille:

• Visibility: Full visibility to the interior of the garage, offering security and safety.
• Circulation: Full air circulation for effective ventilation against exhaust gases and humidity.
• Inconspicuous: Low profile when closed and when rolled up.
• Durability: Mild impact resistance thanks to the flexible chain link structure

Reasons to avoid a security grille:

• Privacy: Security grilles are a poor choice for privacy as you can easily see inside of the building. If you’d rather have the building contents away from prying eyes, a solid door is best.
• Appearance: Security grilles are often seen in commercial or retail spaces, so unless you want the specific storefront look, or desire the other characteristics of security grilles, steer clear.
• Weather-Resistant: Not at all resistant to wind, rain, snow, and even UV rays. If you desire your garage to have protection from the elements, look at other door types instead.

These are a few of the most common door types, and at Advance Door we can install and service any type of commercial and industrial door. If you aren’t sure what is the best choice of door for your Northeast Ohio parking garage – we can help!

Advance Door Co. provides commercial door products, services, repairs, and replacements to customers throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Parma, and surrounding communities. Contact us via email or by calling (216) 220-6022.

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Rolling Grilles