All you need to know regarding up and over timber doors

There are different sizes and styles of up and over timber doors in the market today. Mainstream manufacturers also specialise in custom-made doors which can fit your purpose but are only made to run a maximum size of 16 feet wide and 8 feet high. A professional manufacturer can achieve any design which is physically possible using timber, inclusive of various drawings. For a deeper understanding of these doors, this article explores everything that is worth knowing.

Operating mechanisms

Up and over timber doors have two main operating mechanisms. A retractable opening mechanism is very popular because of the weight-control requirements and besides, the need to automate these doors for remote control makes it the most ideal mechanism. It is highly recommended for garage doors because they open along horizontal tracks in the garage and provide a high degree of security.

A canopy operating mechanism on the other hand does not have any horizontal tracks protruding into the opening space. As the door opens, it forms a canopy with approximately one third of the entire door outside the building.

Construction

These doors are mostly constructed in two distinct ways. One makes use of a steel box section which is essentially a steel sub frame chassis to which you connect the timber. The other strategy makes use of timber alone. The entire door panel is constructed using traditional joiner methods.

The first method using a steel sub chassis offers a lot of flexibility in terms of size. It can accommodate heavier hardwood materials because the timber used must not necessarily be of the structural size. Overall strength of such a door comes from the steel chassis. Incorporation of the steel box section assures the user of more security when the door is closed.

Finishes

A good number of these doors will appear with a high-quality, factory-applied woodstain finish but in a vast variety of modern and traditional colours. When treated correctly, these doors can serve you for years without a refresh of the stain. This makes timber doors very cheap to maintain just like steel and GRP doors that most people prefer.

Sizes

Any up and over one-piece door will be limited by weight as the size increases. Generally, the accepted width is 16 feet. With this maximum width, you will also be limited to two systems; a timber sectional or a timber round the corner door system. The most sensible height is 8 feet, but this can as well be limited by the weight of the door.

With a qualified local joiner, it is possible to design and have your door built locally. However, there is need for a balanced mechanism which oftentimes goes unmentioned. If the door will be electrically operated, there are minimum safety requirements which must be met. This makes it a little difficult for a local joiner to design and finish such a door for you, a reason why you should purchase up and over timber doors from a qualified manufacturer. This will also give an opportunity for custom-made designs if there are specific details that you need.