Sectioned Garage Door vs Solid Garage Door - Pros And Cons

Do you need a new garage door? Are you considering a solid door versus a sectioned one? Here at Garage Door Repair Suffolk we often get calls about this choice. Which is better and why? Our answer is this; which is better for you? There are pros and cons to both and you really should consider them before making your choice. There are many things to consider and each has its own qualities and values. What is best for others may not be best for your needs and wants.

Both are garage doors, but boy are they different!

Who knew that garage doors could be so similar and yet so different? Take the solid garage doors for instance. They are called solid because they are! From top to bottom and from side to side, they are made of one piece of wood. Wood is used because other materials would be too heavy (steel) or too fragile (aluminum) for practicality. One question we are often asked, is can a garage door opener unit be used with a solid door? Yes, it can. You can manually lift and lower your solid garage door or you can attach it to an opener unit and have it automatically operated. Bear in mind that since the door is solid, it can’t fold up or roll up as it rises. It therefore must extend out a ways in front as it tilts up. This is fine as long as you keep the area directly in front of the garage door clear. Cars, pets and people that get too close can get hit by the solid wood garage door so be warned!

Here in Suffolk, VA most homeowners have a sectioned garage door. There are a couple of reasons for this. These doors are not made of one solid piece, in fact they consist of a frame and many sectioned pieces that are hinged together. This sectioned door rises and lowers by using rollers that are connected to your garage door tracks allowing the door to move up and down inside the track system. Like the solid garage doors, you can manually operate a sectioned door or you can use an automatic opener system. Also, since they do not swing outward, there is no need to clear the way in front of them (just stay out from underneath it!).

Times do change!

It wasn’t too long ago that nearly all homes made use of solid garage doors. This practice was prevalent not only here in Suffolk, VA but all over the country. The sectioned garage doors were used mainly for industrial and commercial applications. Now, the opposite is true and sectioned garage doors have taken their place as the country’s favorite choice. In fact, almost all home builders will automatically include a sectioned garage door with every home they build and sell.

So, why choose a solid garage door if no one else does?

We didn’t say that NO one was buying and installing these doors; just fewer people. The strange truth is that many younger people have never seen a solid garage door and are therefore unfamiliar with them. Most of the still-in-use solid garage doors are found in older neighborhoods and are of the manually opened, tilt-up variety. Some are now choosing solid garage doors because of cost. Solid doors tend to be more affordable, and they are even less expensive if no opener system is installed. Even the springs for a solid garage door are a little cheaper as solid garage doors use only extension springs and not the more pricy torsion springs.

Lastly, some buyers select solid garage doors for their look. The “retro” look often demands that a solid wood garage door is installed and often, architects and designers are called upon to include one in the design and construction plans.

Some solid door drawbacks to consider before buying

Remember that we said that we would tell you both pros and cons? There are definitely some negative aspects of having a solid garage door. The weight is one of them. Solid garage doors are too heavy to be made of steel and too fragile to be made of aluminum. That leaves wood and even this material can feel the effects of weight. Over time, the uneven weight distribution of a solid wood door causes the structure to weaken as the most of the weight is concentrated on the center. It will collapse under its own weight in the long run and will need to be replaced with a new door. The structure of a sectioned garage door allows the weight to be more evenly distributed due to the framework and the individual sections.

Durability is another problem with solid garage doors. Wood doors can be beautiful but they must be painted and properly maintained or else dry rot, termites and damage can easily occur. If a parking accident happens and your door is damaged with holes or any kind of breakage, the entire door will have to be replaced in order for it to maintain its appearance and overall function.

Sectioned garage doors offer more options

When you choose a sectioned garage door for your Suffolk, VA garage, you not only have a greater selection of materials, but styles, too. You can select from wood, steel, fiberglass, wood composites, aluminum, glass and other surfaces. Styles can range from Contemporary to Mediterranean and dozens more, in between. Sure, you might pay a little more for your torsion springs but they are also safer and longer lasting than the required tension springs for your solid garage door.

Safety is another factor. Accidents involving a tilting solid door that swings outward are more likely to happen as the area in front of the door needs to be cleared of people, pets and vehicles. Your sectioned garage door will simply roll up into the tracks and your only worry is to keep items and others out from underneath it when it closes.