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There are several things to take into account when shopping for a new residential garage door, and the following 4 features are perhaps the most essential of them all:

Safety:

Without adequate safety features in place and in full working order, a garage door can be a deadly structure, and can cause serious harm to anyone or anything passing under it or in the immediate vicinity. To ensure that your garage door is going to be safe – especially if you have pets or children – look for one with the following safety features:

  • Auto reverse
  • Force sensors
  • Manual override for the garage door opener

Designed to protect you and others who may use your garage, auto reverse stops the door and reverses it automatically when it detects an object, force sensors stop the door from closing fully if an obstruction is detected, while manual override enables the door to be opened and closed by hand should the opener fail for nay reason.

Security:

Security for your residential garage door is essential, especially if it also leads to your home, and for a garage door that can offer you the best security, ensure that it has the following features:

  • Remote garage door opener
  • Rolling garage door access codes
  • Window placement for increased outdoor visibility
  • Remote lockout

Construction and durability:

To get the most out of your new garage door, and be sure that it will function properly for many years to come (while protecting you for just as long, too), carefully consider what materials your door should be constructed from:

Steel

Arguably the most durable and long-lasting material.

Aluminum

More prone to denting due to its lightweight consistency, aluminum is however, rust-resistant, which can be an important factor to consider depending upon where you live and what the weather conditions are like there.

Vinyl

Extremely resistant to dents and very difficult to break, vinyl is perhaps the ideal choice for those homeowners concerned about damaging their door.

Fiberglass

Less likely to dent or crack, and rust-resistant, fiberglass doors can break upon impact, however.

Wood

While wooden doors are more prone to environmental damage, modern garage doors are usually constructed to stop them from warping, but splitting, cracking and rotting may still be an issue.

Wood composite

Featuring a wood frame that’s surrounded by layers of fiberboard, wood composite doors won’t split, separate, crack or rot like ones made from natural wood.

The power of the motor:

What horsepower rating the motor on your garage door opener needs to have, is entirely dependent upon the weight of your chosen door; needless to say, if your door is heavy-duty, you’ll need a door opener with plenty of power. On the other hand, if your door is fairly lightweight, then a motor with a high horsepower will doubtless be too much.

For all your residential garage door needs, why not drop into your local garage door showroom and chat with the experts there about buying the right door and opener, for your home.

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