Choosing A Garage Door Opener
When having a double garage built very few people actually consider the type of garage opener they are going to have. Home owners spend hours and hours browsing through different garage door designs, but because you cannot physically see the opener it tends to be largely overlooked. Nevertheless, the opener you choose is crucial in ensuring you do not need an early replacement. Of course the company who is constructing your double garage will give you a helping hand and their professional opinion on the best opener, yet it is always good to be knowledgeable yourself so you can have your own input. If you don’t then you could easily be misled to the direction of the most expensive option.
Main considerations for any double garage opener
The first thing you need to think about is what style of opener you wish to have for your home. There are three main types for you to choose from. These are as follows; belt drive, chain drive, and screw drive. Each type has their own benefits and thus the option you choose is largely dependent on where your double garage is situated and how heavy the door is. For instance, if you have an attached garage or one that’s close to your living areas, then you would probably be best off with a belt drive. This is because this is the quietest type of opener and therefore you need not worry about constant disturbance. Nevertheless, as you have a double garage you are likely to have a heavy door, and thus you may want to cast your attention to a chain drive. These are designed to be able to lift any weight door. And last but not least you have the durable screw drive system. This is the perfect solution for tilting one piece doors.
Once you have determined the type of opener you are going to go for, you then need to turn your attention to the amount of horse power needed. This directly relates to the weight and the size of your door. All in all; the bigger and the heavier the door is the more horse power that will be needed to lift it. In general you can either choose between ½ horse power, ¾ horse power, or lastly 1 horse power. This is an area you need to give a little bit of extra consideration to when you have a double garage because the door is obviously going to be larger and usually heavier than a standard garage door, especially if you have a hurricane garage door. In most cases people only tend to require ½ horse power. This is the most popular option as it tends to be able to life most doors. Nevertheless, ¾ horse power is great for those with heavy doors and if you do go for this option you can be assured of a long life span and durability. And finally, if you want maximum power and efficiency, then you can opt for the largest horse power; 1.
Aside from this, a final factor you may want to consider is how much maintenance and up keep will be required on your part. For instance, a chain belt can require a degree of servicing over time. This is because the chain does sometimes become loose and therefore maintenance is needed. On the other hand, screw driver and belt drives very rarely require any maintenance. Some people do find that their belt may wear out and thus they need to have a replacement. Nevertheless, this will only occur after a significant amount of time.
Don’t forget to consider what opener you are going to have when you have your double garage constructed. A lot of people overlook this decision; however it is certainly a crucial one. The options you have at your disposal are belt drives, screw drives, and chain drives. By considering the weight of your door, how close your double garage is to your home, and the level of maintenance needed, you should be able to come up with the perfect solution for you.
