Garage door guides
Longer, practical guides covering the questions that come up before you buy, automate or maintain a garage door — from telling canopy and retractable gear apart to keeping a door running safely year round. Every guide is written for UK doors and UK standards.
Canopy or retractable gear — how to tell which one you have
A UK up-and-over garage door has canopy gear if the springs sit on the head of the fixing frame and the door swings out before lifting — these max out around…
How to size a garage door operator by Nm rating
UK garage door operators are rated in newton-metres (Nm) of torque, and the operator must be matched to the door's weight and size, not just its type. A…
55mm vs 77mm roller door slats: what the difference means
A 55mm roller garage door slat is the standard domestic gauge in the UK, giving adequate strength and insulation for typical single and double garages. A 77mm…
Garage door planning permission in the UK — when you need it
Most UK homeowners replacing a garage door on a standard house do not need planning permission, as it falls under permitted development rights. Permission is…
UK garage door security standards explained
PAS 24, TS 007 and LPS 1175 are UK product security standards that certify a garage door's resistance to forced entry, tested and awarded to the manufacturer,…
Garage door insulation and U-values explained
Insulated UK garage doors use foam-filled steel or aluminium panels, typically achieving U-values in the region of 1.0–1.5 W/m²K compared with roughly 4–6…
How to measure your garage for a new door
Measuring a UK garage door needs three figures: the structural opening (the full brickwork gap), the drive-through width (the usable clear width once the frame…
Garage door maintenance schedule: what to do and when
A UK garage door benefits from a monthly visual check, six-monthly lubrication of moving parts, and an annual professional service, typically £80–£150, which…
Obsolete UK garage door brands and parts availability
Wessex, Henderson, Cardale, Birtley, Bonsack and Catnic Garador are UK garage door brands whose original manufacturers no longer trade under those names, and…
How to choose a garage door installer in the UK
A good UK garage door installer should be able to explain DHF registration where they hold it, provide a written quote itemising the door, gear, VAT and…