Start with the space, not the brochure
The garage often picks the door for you. A roller door needs depth above the opening for the roll. A panel lift needs less there but runs back along the ceiling, so it needs clear ceiling space and some room at each side for its tracks.
Measure the opening's width and height, the gap from the top of the opening to the ceiling, and the space beside it on each side. Note anything in the way: a beam, a light, a storage shelf.
Steel-Line's minimum figures, side by side
| Roller door ("A" and "AA" series) | Sectional door | |
|---|---|---|
| Headroom above the opening | 430mm to 510mm | 290mm standard, 200mm or 150mm for low headroom mounts |
| Extra headroom with an opener | Not listed | Add 50mm |
| Side room | 90mm by hand, 120mm with an opener ("A" series) | 125mm standard, 150mm for low headroom |
| Door size | Fits the opening | At least 25mm wider each side and 30mm taller than the opening |
A door for an Adelaide summer
In January 2014 South Australia had its first ever run of five days above 42 °C. If the garage doubles as a gym, a workshop or a laundry, insulation is worth asking about. B&D offers insulation on all its sectional doors and says it keeps the garage cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and Steel-Line offers it on all its standard sectional doors.
B&D also says an insulated sectional door can cut outside noise by 18dB, which helps on a busy road.
Contracts and insurance in South Australia
For domestic building work, the Law Handbook says a contract worth more than $20,000 must be in writing and building indemnity insurance applies above $20,000. Below that line the law asks for nothing in writing. Ask for a written quote anyway, with the door model, the opener, the warranty and the service terms on it.
New doors around Adelaide
Bushfire overlays
In the Hills, the CFS advises on construction inside the Bushfire Hazard Overlays, and Ministerial Building Standard MBS008 adds requirements in designated bushfire-prone areas. B&D says its BAL-Maze sectional doors were tested by the CSIRO to BAL-40.
Near the beach
Steel-Line's warranty excludes doors fitted within 800 metres of the sea. Ask each door specialist which door and finish they would choose for your spot, and what warranty comes with it.
The opener's power
B&D's Smart Pro manual asks for an earthed power point on the ceiling within arm's reach of the opener. If there isn't one, a registered electrical worker fits it.
What we would do
Ask for two quotes on the same opening, one roller door and one panel lift, if your measurements allow both. Seeing the two side by side, with their warranties and service terms, makes the choice much easier than reading brochures.