Your garage door works to protect the interior of your home from the weather outside, as well as to act as a barrier against potential pests and intruders. While all types of garage doors perform the same function, the method in which they open and close has a direct impact on the benefits that they provide to your garage. Understanding the major differences between three common types of garage doors can help you choose the best one for your home either when replacing an existing garage door or when constructing your home.

Sectional Garage Doors

One of the most common types of residential garage doors on the market is the sectional door. These are made out of four or five large rows of panels, and come in pretty much every available material on the market. They are installed on hinges, and will be lifted upwards to rest flat against the ceiling of your garage when opened. The main draw of sectional garage doors is their relatively low price point and customization options. However, sectional garage doors can require more maintenance and work to stay in good condition compared to other types of garage doors, as individual hinges can fail or degrade over time and require repairs as a result.

Roll-Up Garage Doors

Similar in function to sectional garage doors, roll-up garage doors work by rolling upwards, but instead of covering a large portion of your garage's ceiling, these doors will roll up into a tight tube, much like if you rolled a piece of paper up in one hand. This makes roll-up garage doors ideal for smaller garages that require the overhead storage space for belongings. Roll-up garage doors are limited in the types of materials that they can be made out of, however, as they require lighter materials and smaller slats, and as such are usually made out of aluminum or other similar metals.

Swinging Garage Doors

Swinging garage doors, as their name would indicate, are a type of garage door that make use of a swinging mechanism to open outwards instead of rolling upwards. These types of garage doors maintain a large amount of space within your garage, as you won't have to worry about having part of your garage inside the storage area. On the other hand, however, they do require a sizeable amount of space in your driveway to ensure that your doors have the space to open. Further, if they are not attached to an opener, they can require significantly more time and effort to open than other types of garage doors.

Contact a garage door installation service for more help.