Up and over garage doors are a common option because they’re so versatile, but an electric roller garage door is the better option. Luckily, the process of changing your garage door is a quick and simple one.
In this blog, we’ll run through everything you need to know about installing a roller garage door and getting rid of your old one.
What’s The Difference Between an Up and Over or a Roller Garage Door?
An up and over garage door is one that usually consists of one large panel that must be lifted above your head. Then it tilts and rests just below the garage ceiling, and over the contents of the garage.
Whereas a roller garage door has many small slats that roll up vertically when the garage door is open and closed. The slats store themselves in a concealed box at the top of the garage door.
Do You Need Planning Permission to Change Your Garage Door?
Garage doors usually fall under ‘permitted development’ which means you don’t need to apply for planning permission before you change your garage door. Generally, a garage door changeover doesn’t affect the footprint of a building or make it larger (even though it can improve storage and space inside the garage).
However, there are some cases where you may need to get approval first. These include:
- If your garage door differs greatly from the original door, or doesn’t match the neighbourhood style.
- You live in a listed building which requires alterations to match the original design exactly.
- Your property is in a conservation area, which is to protect the historical and architectural uniqueness of the area you live in.
If you’re unsure about the above and don’t know if you live in a listed building or conservation area you can contact your local planning authority for confirmation. They’ll be able to tell you whether or not you need planning permission to change your garage door.
Benefits to a Roller Garage Door
There are plenty of advantages to choosing a roller garage door instead of an up and over one. You will save your back and shoulders the trouble of having to manually lift a garage door, and you won’t need to get wet every time you need to use the garage in the rain. An electric roller door can be opened from the comfort of your car, or home.
They’re a safe and secure option, less likely to give way if a thief attempts to break in with a heavy blunt object. You also get more storage space in your garage too.
How To Change To A New Roller Garage Door
If you’ve decided to change over to a new roller garage door, it’s usually a simple process to upgrade. Most garage door companies will have their own process, but the steps are the same. They will involve measuring the garage door space and install a new door while disposing of the old one.
Contact Garage Door Companies
The first step to getting a new garage door involves doing your research to see what companies there are in your area. You can contact their sales teams and discuss your options. Each company will have their own range of products and menu of services. You’ll want to nail down all the necessary details, like what cladding you’d like, and whether you think you’ll need weatherproofing for your new garage door.
You should shop around and see what you can get, you can get a few quotes and then decide which company offers you the best product and service for the most reasonable price.
Get Measurements Taken
First, you want to make sure your new garage door is going to fit. Electric garage doors need to be bespoke for your garage. Any reputable garage door company will come out and take measurements for you, or ask you to measure the space yourself to try and streamline the process.
However, for the most accurate measurements you should have an expert do it. That way you avoid the potential risk of the door coming and not fitting your garage.
New Garage Door Installation
Once measurements are finished, you’ll get your new garage door installed and a demonstration on how to use it. They’ll be on hand to answer questions and won’t leave until they’re sure you know what you’re doing.
Some garage door companies offer a kerbside service, which means they bring a standard made garage door to your property, take measurements, and then cut the garage door on site and install it in one visit. You get a brand new garage door, and minimal disruption to your daily activities as it’s all completed in one visit.
Disposing Of The Old Door
Garage doors (especially up and over ones) are bulky, and difficult to get rid of. You can’t exactly squeeze them into the boot of your car. So discuss it with the company who is installing your new electric roller garage door and ask if they include disposal in their service.
Aftercare
Usually, if you’ve used a reputable garage door company, you’ll have access to an after sales team who can help you with questions or queries. They’ll also be the people to turn to if your garage door breaks or stops working and you need support getting it going again.
Wrapping Up
While home improvements can be a daunting process, changing your garage door doesn’t need to be. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your door, you can start looking into your options as chances are you won’t have to wait for planning permission to make the change.
Once you’ve selected the one you want, if you’ve chosen a reputable company then your experts will have it all in hand. All you need to do is wait, and be shown how to use it. Hopefully, they’ll even get rid of the old one so you don’t have to.
Good luck with your new garage door!