Single Panel Garage Door or Sectional

You might not know the difference between a single panel garage door and a sectional garage door.

A Single Door

Once upon a time there were more single garage doors installed than sectional doors. This is no longer the case. The door is a single slab that slides either up or down. The space for the door is just above the opening of the garage. The single panel door is usually installed in a hinge, which is then attached the door jam. After the door's springs are attached, the garage door is able to operate smoothly even without an automatic opener. The amount of space that is used for both doors is similar but the way that they function is slightly different. Sometimes the single panel door is hung in a similar fashion as the sectional door, which makes it possible for a garage door opener to be attached.

Advantages of a Single Panel Door

Although the single door offers many advantages, it may not be the right door for you. You'll have to weigh the advantages to seeing if they are enough to convince you that it is the best choice for you. Here are some of the advantages of a single panel garage door.

Retrofitted - They can be fit inside of existing garage door hardware.

Cost – This type of door is less expensive than sectional doors because of the material made to manufacture the single door. It is also cheaper to replace its cables and springs. The single door doesn’t have as many parts to install and not as many moving parts, which makes them the less expensive option.

Variety of Options – The single panel door doesn't require you to match up to anything in order to look cohesive. Our installers only have to work with one single piece of material. This means you are able to choose from a variety of materials and designs. The sectional door will also offer a variety of options but the downside is that the right pieces have to match each other in order to look cohesive at the end of the job. This can be a pain for the installer and you if you don't get what you envisioned for your home.

Simple Installation– As mentioned previously, a single panel door has fewer parts and do not require the same amount of time to install. The fact that they have fewer parts helps you in keeping up with the maintenance of your single panel garage door. When maintenance is performed, it usually doesn’t take as long to complete and service fees are usually pretty reasonable. The sectional door, on the other hand, has lots of small parts. With so many parts, it will take longer to install and there is a risk of leaving something out when being installed. This isn’t something that often occurs when you have a single panel door installed.

Remember that not everybody is going to want a single panel door; they may actually prefer a sectional garage door. Here are some of the reasons they might prefer a sectional door to a single door.

Safety – The springs connected to single panel door were often considered dangerous. These springs have been known to break when they are not being properly maintained. They have broken due to rusted connectors and when they break, they cannot only damage the things inside your garage, they can actually be the cause of someone losing their life.

Space – The sectional door enables you to even closer to the actual door without damaging your car. You are not limited to space like you are with a single door. In order to fit your car inside the garage, it may require that you park your car closer toward the back of the garage to avoid hitting it when you are opening or closing the door. If you have a limited amount of space for your car, you would probably benefit more from a sectional garage door.

Better insulation – A sectional garage door offers more insulation benefits. With this being the case, you are able to avoid high-energy bills.

Cheaper repairs – If you back into your single garage door or have problems with the springs, it will cost more to have these repaired. This is because the problem you have will affect the entire door. When you have a sectional garage door, the problem may exist in only a portion of your garage door, which means it will be less expensive to fix.

We know that this is a lot to take in. You’ll have to consider the size of your garage door space, the style that fits the look of your home, the weather conditions you have most often in your region, material of the type of door you choose and ultimately, the exact type of garage door you will have installed. Whether it is a sectional or a single garage door, you should know that they both have their set of advantages and disadvantages. When you’re spending your hard earned money, you undoubtedly want to get the most for your money. This is certainly possible when you take the time to find out as much as you can about both types of garage doors. The more you know, the better chance you have of actually being able to get your money’s worth. Make sure you ask your local garage door service about your options.