The Pros and Cons of Commercial Overhead Rolling Garage Doors

Choosing the best overhead garage door for your business can be a tricky process. You need something that's going to provide security but is also really easy to use so you don't spend precious time fiddling with finicky mechanisms. Fortunately, security and ease of use are two of the main reasons that business owners opt for the rolling or coiled garage door. But are these styles right for your business? Here are a few of the pros and cons.  

Pros  

One major reason that business owners choose the coiled door is because of its unparalleled security. The door is composed of several small horizontal slats, typically made of galvanized steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, that coil around a drum when opened. To close the door, these slats unroll and lock together to form a single panel that provides extreme strength and durability, as well as very few access points or weaknesses for thieves to exploit.  

Durable

The same characteristics that make a rolling garage door secure also make it durable: strong panels that strengthen each other when closed with very few access points. The material of a rolling door can also increase its durability. Both steel and aluminum are available options. Steel is heavier but won't easily dent. Aluminum is strong and light for ease of use but may not last as long as steel. If your business is in an area prone to heavy storms, you can even find a rolling door that is wind-load certified for additional strength.  

Using these types of doors also lets you have plenty of storage space. Because a rolling overhead door doesn't take up space on the ceiling of the garage, shop, or warehouse, and the mechanism is attached to the wall near the door, it saves a lot of space when compared to sectional doors that rise into the ceiling.

Cons  

If you're considering a rolling or coiled overhead garage door, the installation should not be your next DIY project. Because the mechanism for a rolling door can be complicated, it should only be installed by experienced commercial overhead door installers. Even if you're handy with a tool, you don't have the same experience a professional installer will have. It will probably take you longer than a professional and if you do it wrong the first time, you'll be out even more money and more time.  

Less Customizable

Because the door slats have to be able to freely roll around the drum when opening and lock together when closed, any painting needs to be accomplished before the install. Also, for the same reason, there are few accessories or add-ons available. That means rolling overhead doors are less customizable than other commercial overhead door options.

Keep these tips in mind when looking for commercial overhead door installation services.