Jun 13, 2023 | Metal garage doors, News, Wooden garage doors
Comparing Wooden Garage Doors Against Steel Garage Doors
Choosing a new garage door is a more complex decision than one might initially perceive, as it significantly impacts the safety, visual appeal, and functionality of the garage for an extended period. One common query we encounter is the choice between steel and wooden garage doors. In this comparison, we delve into the characteristics of each material.
Strength
When it comes to durability, steel emerges as an unparalleled choice. Its robust nature ensures a garage door that withstands the test of time with minimal maintenance. Conversely, wooden garage doors exhibit exceptional strength, capable of enduring high-impact situations without succumbing to dents, setting them apart from their steel counterparts.
Aesthetics
Steel garage doors boast impressive customisability, available in various types such as side-hinged, up and over, and the classic carriage style door. On the other hand, wooden garage doors evoke a more vintage aesthetic, particularly complementing traditional structures. The availability of different wood types like oak, cedar, and timber allows for tailored options. Steel doors also offer a diverse range of colors, including canopy, pedestrian and automatic roller doors.
Maintenance
In the realm of upkeep, steel garage doors shine, demanding only periodic cleaning to maintain their sleek appearance. The modern composition of steel minimises the risk of rust, ensuring peace of mind and a lasting investment. On the other hand, wooden garage doors necessitate a more hands-on approach, requiring an annual service to preserve their aesthetic appeal and undergo inspections for potential issues like cracks or warping.
Choosing between steel and wooden garage doors becomes a matter of aligning personal preferences and practical considerations. Opt for the hassle-free, contemporary allure of steel if minimal maintenance is a priority. Alternatively, if you cherish a more traditional aesthetic and are willing to invest time in maintenance rituals, a wooden garage door might be the perfect fit. Whatever your choice, West Midlands Garage Doors stands ready to provide tailored solutions contact us today for a free survey
Feb 22, 2022 | News
Having a brand new garage door fitted can change the exterior of your house. Not only can it add to the aesthetics but also brings an additional secure storage area. Following Storm Eunice and Dudley, and now as Storm Franklin hits across the UK, perhaps your garage door has taken some damage. However, often people wonder if they are covered by home insurance. Here at West Midlands Garage Doors, we have covered the common questions to help you if the worst happens.
Garage Doors & Home Insurance
The short answer to this is yes. However, every policy is different, and insurance will vary depending on the company used. Typically, most homeowners insurance policies state:
- A garage is covered as long as it is within your property boundary.
- Your garage door is only covered if it was locked at the time.
- The cover you receive could depend on the security you have for your garage.
- Often if your garage is attached to your house it is encompassed within the same policy.
However, homeowners need to read their policies carefully. Some insurance companies include the garage as a building. Therefore, cover for fixtures and fittings but not the contents within the building. Lastly, there will also be stipulations around “events”. Things such as fires, smoke, theft, natural disaster, and floods. It is vital policy documents are checked to avoid any further disappointments.
Advice to keeping your garage safe
Prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, making some key alterations to your garage will benefit you both mentally and financially. Offering you peace of mind but also save you some money with your insurance policy. Additionally, there are certain types of garage doors that meet standards set by the Association of Chief Police Officers. Some alterations to consider could be:
- Security lighting
- CCTV cameras
- Ensuring your garage is securely locked
- Not having valuable items on view
- Identifying high-value items and adding these to your policy
West Midlands Garage Doors
Always use a reputable garage door company when repairing or replacing a door. When disaster strikes it helps to have a business, you can trust. West Midlands Garage Doors offer long-lasting, durable garage doors that suit your style. We can provide a wide range of high-strength doors to complement a home’s exterior, while simultaneously providing secure options to keep your belongings safe. In addition to added security, we can install, maintain, and repair your doors to your bespoke requirements.
Discuss your bespoke needs today with our professional team. We will conduct a free site survey and provide you with a 30-day no-obligation quote, with no hidden extras. Whether you live in Birmingham, Walsall, Staffordshire, or the surrounding regions of Solihull, Coventry, and Wolverhampton we have the solution for you. Contact us today!
Dec 10, 2021 | News
Garage safety is a top concern for homeowners who want to prevent the theft of their vehicles and the burglary of their possessions. Here we present safety tips for your garage, followed by what to look out for if you are buying security garage doors.
The first tip is to add a security camera (CCTV), which is an excellent deterrent to thieves. We also recommend either permanently lighting the area in front of the garage or using motion-activated lights, which can be wired in or run on solar if you don’t have electricity in your garage.
Automatic garage doors can be configured to close after a few minutes automatically, so activating this is beneficial. If your door has an emergency release cord, you can also fit a garage shield to protect this from tampering.
Keeping Your Garage Safe and Secure
If you are purchasing a new garage door, your choice will significantly impact the garage door security. We recommend choosing a product that has been tested to the highest standards.
Today, security garage doors can achieve a security badge of honour with the Secure by Design (SbD) denotation, indicating that the product is designed to meet police-recommended standards. The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) also presents the LPS 1175 SR1 Rigorous Burglary Resistance Standard.
The SWS SeceuroGlide Excel security garage doors were the first to attain LPS 1175 SR1 garage security standards and also bear the Secured by Design marking.
These SWS roller garage doors achieved a Level 1 security rating, passing sustained violent and vigorous brute force attacks, including cut, push, and lift attacks.
Security features that enable such garage door safety include an automatic secure locking system, locking bottom slat, galvanised steel endplates, and vacation mode. Garage security can be further enhanced with a 90dB optional automatic alarm.
If you are looking to invest in the highest quality garage security, security garage doors from SWS might be your best choice.
Nov 12, 2021 | Insulated garage doors, News
As winter encroaches and temperatures drop, the warmth of your garage space disappears, and everything within begins to freeze. At this time of year, many homeowners start considering insulated garage doors to remedy this uncomfortable problem.
WM Garage Doors takes you through the garage insulation options that make your space more hospitable and useful.
Why Insulate A Garage?
Garage door insulation is desirable because it transforms the interior area into an area you can use, which is particularly important if you regularly or occasionally conduct DIY or car maintenance out of freezing winds and the rain or snow.
However, this is not the only reason to consider insulated garage doors. If you store paint, solvents, or other liquids in your garage, these are prone to freezing, ruining the product, or splitting the container. Furthermore, your car’s interior is warmer when you come to use it.
Insulated garage doors also reduce the noise created by children playing outside and that caused by traffic. Two more highly beneficial reasons include improved durability and reduced energy bills as less heat escapes through the panels.
Insulated Garage Door Options
Sealed garage doors have a high-grade weather-tight seal that keeps the cold and drafts outside. The CFC-free insulated panels, also called double-skinned or twin-walled aluminium, prevent heat loss through the door’s panels.
Sectional and insulated roller garage doors are a popular choice because they are typically automated with a motor and remote control. Traditional up-and-over and side-hinged insulated garage doors are the solutions for homeowners who wish to retain the original or period-look of their property but benefit from a warm garage interior.
WM Garage Doors supplies and installs insulated garage doors made by top manufacturers, including SWS, Hörmann, and Select. Contact our team today.
Oct 1, 2021 | News
Picking the right garage door style for your home involves many considerations. You will wish to consider the aesthetic and colour, but also the characteristics that facilitate your lifestyle, safety, security, and budgetary needs.
Here we look at the essential steps and factors that should guide and inform your buying making decision.
Personal Style
Everyone has their style and tastes, and your garage door style can offer an extension of these. When pondering upon the best design for your house, you should think about what style goes best with your home’s architecture and location.
If you live in a modern city or town, then maybe the contemporary clean lines of sectional garage doors will work best with their long horizontal panels. Sectional and roller garage doors can have a handleless exterior for the most immaculate look.
If you reside in a traditional village, a garage door with raised panels will likely complement the surroundings. Your streets are probably lined with garages that have up and over garage doors, but this shouldn’t deter you from choosing automatic garage doors if convenience is your highest priority.
Houses in rural locations can opt for timeless carriage house side hinged garage doors. Decorative handles or hinges can accompany these.
Colour Choice
The colour of garage doors greatly influences whether they will blend in or stand out. If you are looking for garage doors that will blend in, then you should avoid vivid colours. Homes and garages built from red brickwork work well with subtle colours such as beige or tan. A rule of thumb is to consider matching the garage door colour to your home’s window frame colour rather than the colour of your front door.
If you are looking to make a design statement, almost any RAL colour is available as a finish. You can also opt for wood-grain textures for units made of any material, including metal and PVC.
Safety Features
It’s important to ensure that the garage door style you want has the safety features you need. Safety features are an essential consideration for automatic garage doors. Options include obstruction sensors that stop and reverse the operation if your car, a person, or object is in the entryway. Finger guards are also available if you have young and curious children.
Further safety features include keypad entry and secure remotes with rolling codes and frequencies.
Materials
The material of garage doors offer different advantages and disadvantages:
- Timber/wood – These create a rustic and traditional look that is beautiful and sophisticated. However, wood is expensive and, while it can be cut to any size, it requires annual maintenance that might include stripping, painting, or staining. Popular wood species include Cedar, Larch, and Hemlock.
- Steel – These require less maintenance compared to wood, and they are relatively affordable. Numerous styles exist, and they can be insulated with Intellicore or polystyrene. Steel is sturdier than aluminium, but it can rust if it is dented or scratched.
- Aluminium – There are many designs, and you will have almost no maintenance. Aluminium is rust-proof but slightly less durable than steel. It is light, which makes garage doors easier to operate and puts less strain on your garage structure, the door tracks, and the opener.
- Fibreglass or PVC – These can crack or split if hit hard enough. They are more expensive than metal alternatives but affordable compared to wood.
Additional Features
You must consider how you are going to use your garage space. Are you going to park in it every day, is it somewhere to store equipment or belongings, or will it be used as a workshop?
The quietest and latest electric garage doors use nylon track drives, which is a definite bonus if your garage is attached to your home. If the space is used as a workshop or gym, you might want to choose tempered frosted or clear glass panels to allow natural light.
The R-value of garage doors denotes their thermal efficiency, and options include single skin and double skin constructions that help keep the cold outdoors during winter and the heat outdoors during summer. The higher the R-value, the better level of insulation. An R-value of 7 is ideal for non-heated garages attached to your home. An R-value of 10 will help improve the thermal efficiency of your home and lower your energy bills, mainly if there is a room situated above the garage space. An R-value of 14 is ideal for garages used as an extra room for the house.
You can get a price for supply and professional installation from WM Garage Doors. Don’t hesitate to contact our team for further advice and assistance.
Sep 24, 2021 | News
Child proofing often begins inside your home, moving sharp and hazardous items up high and out of reach. However, have you ever considered child proofing your garage door?
Wherever movement is possible, there is a risk of your child injuring themselves. Trapped or crushed fingers or a blow to the head might well have you on a trip to A&E. Furthermore, if your child successfully gains access to your garage space, they have access to all manner of dangerous objects, from tools and machines to flammable liquids and poisonous paints and solvents.
Here we take you through everything you need to do to childproof your garage doors.
Safe & Secure Locking Mechanisms
It is best to keep your garage door locked at all times. Many manual garage doors are balanced to make opening effortless, so a locked door is a must. Automatic garage doors pose another risk, and your child may be tempted to play with the opener. Many automated garage doors have child safety locks that you can activate to prevent opening even if a child presses the buttons on the remote control.
If your garage is attached to your home, then don’t forget to keep the internal door between the two spaces locked. It is also a good idea to keep vehicles inside the garage locked, just in case, and make sure that keys are kept out of reach.
Seal Any Gaps Around Your Garage Doors
Children can’t resist sticking their fingers into gaps; after all, it’s their naturally inquisitive nature that is central to learning about the world around them. However, it is best not to leave it to your child to learn that sticking their fingers into the gaps around garage doors might lead to losing a finger. To protect your child from potential harm, you should seal any gaps around garage doors using rubber seals or stoppers.
Regular Maintenance & Speedy Repairs
Your regular maintenance should include checking that the auto-reverse feature on automatic garage doors is working. The feature uses photoelectric sensors. You can test the photoelectric sensors by activating closing placing a piece of wood on the floor in the garage door opening. If the garage door begins to close, the sensors are not working, and you should arrange a speedy repair.
If your garage doors show signs of slowing, warping, misaligned tracks, or don’t close, you should call an expert. Sometimes repair work will fix the problem; other times, you may need to consider replacing your garage door with new.
Use Only Licensed Garage Door Professionals
If you are in the market for new garage doors, we recommend talking to a licensed professional. The experts at WM Garage Doors will take you through the types, brands, and features of different garage doors and help you choose the product that is convenient for you and safest for your little ones.
A professionally installed garage door will have tamper-proof locking mechanisms, no gaps and safety features such as an auto-reverse function.
Contact us today and talk to a licensed garage door expert.
