The Pros and Cons of a Side-Opening Garage Door

Many homeowners are opting to forego the predictable choice of a roll-up garage door and instead go with a side-opening unit. There are a lot of reasons to like this option. For one, these garage doors provide a more classic look. Especially with augmented with artistic hinges, a side-opening door can do a lot to revitalize the appearance of your home. However, before making this decision, there are some advantages and disadvantages to consider.

Your Terrain

When thinking of purchasing a side-hinged garage door, it is important to consider the layout of your land. A side-opening garage door requires more clearance to open compared to a roll-up door. Thus, if your lot is particularly hilly or has a lot of height deviations, the installation of a side-opening door may be more difficult. To this end, maintenance of this type of door can also be slightly higher because care must be taken to prevent sagging. This normally involves little more than the tightening of a tension wire, but it is a factor to consider.

The Clearance of Your Driveway

Another consideration with side-opening garage doors is the clearance of your driveway. Because they open outwards, a side-opening garage door requires at least twelve feet of space to open freely. Thus, if your garage is very close to the street, or if you often park cars outside directly in front of your garage door, this is a consideration to have.

A Side-Opening Garage Door Helps With Security

Beyond style, one of the biggest advantages of this type of garage door is security. These doors tend to be much more robustly constructed compared to traditional roll-up doors. Therefore, if security is a strong priority, a side-hinge garage door is a great thing to consider. If you are considering a side-opening garage door and want to explore the possibility, do not hesitate to reach out to an expert in garage door repair in Irvine. They are a great way to add style, security, and charm to your home.