Sliding Garage Doors: Pros, Cons, and More

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When it comes to the best way to accessorize your home, there are a few things that can beat a sliding garage door.

Sure, you could go for an ornate front door with a stained-glass window and a knocker shaped like a dragon. Or you could go for a simple white door with no frills and nothing but a brass handle. But neither of those options would give you the flexibility and utility of a sliding garage door.

When you have a sliding garage door, you don’t just have one entrance into your home—you have two!

And depending on how much stuff you keep in your garage, there might even be three or four entrances.

And if that sounds like too many doors for you: don’t worry! You can still use all of them at once! When one is open, the others will automatically close. It’s like magic!

Sliding garage doors were commonly utilized in agricultural or commercial settings. However, because of increased demand, they can now be successfully installed and used in a home as well. This style of garage door allows for a variety of combinations. You can have either one huge paneled door or two bi-parting doors. This type of garage door offers numerous, practical uses for daily life at home or at work.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or snowing outside. If you have one of these amazing doors, it’s easy enough to open it up!

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Pros

Accessibility at full height

The fact that the door always opens to its full height regardless of how wide you need to open it is one of its major advantages. For some, this means that they won’t have to waste time or energy ducking under a broken garage door to retrieve a forgotten item. When you need access to the garage to obtain a tool, stow a motorcycle or bike, or enter yourself without fully opening the garage, sliding garage doors come in handy.

It’s important to keep in mind that full-height accessibility gives you more overhead space to work with. That’s because the motor and tracks are positioned horizontally. As you become aware of how much you can store overhead, you will notice the difference.

Motor with Less Noise

Anyone who cares about noise reduction will be substantially impacted by this feature, especially for rooms right above the garage. The motor needs less energy to open the doors when the garage door tracks are horizontal, which lessens noise. Homeowners whose children’s bedrooms are located above the garage may benefit immensely from the peaceful operation of a sliding garage door.

Easy to Use

Sliding garage doors can be manually operated or powered by an electric motor. Anyone can swiftly and effectively open a sliding garage door. It’s very helpful in the event that you lose electricity at your residence or place of business. When using the horizontal track, opening the door requires less force than when using a typical garage door.

Quick Fixes

A sliding garage door also has the advantage of being simple to maintain. Due to merely replacing a single panel rather than the complete door, repairs to the hardware, panel, and track of a damaged garage door are made rapidly.

Additionally, sliding doors can be installed by most homeowners with minimal difficulty due to their straightforward design. The only tools that may be required are a drill with a Phillips head bit and screwdriver bits for attaching hardware pieces together.

Lower Costs of Energy

Every time you open a sliding garage door for a purpose other than moving a vehicle, you can save some money on your power expenses. More room is available for the heat or air conditioning to leave your garage when typical garage doors open vertically.

Cons

Lower temperatures could cause problems with the bottom track

Given that bottom tracks are frequently used by sliding garage doors, damage from the cold weather is a possibility. Installing a heating line to assist melt snow and ice could prevent this, though. 

If you want to protect your garage door and keep it running smoothly, install a heating line. This will melt snow and ice so that they don’t build up on the track and cause damage.

Installation That Is More Expensive

The installation of sliding garage doors is frequently a costly matter. That’s because it requires stronger materials and custom designs to boost durability and lifetime in usage. The cost will be a major factor even though it is simple to replace in the event of a problem.

Sliding garage doors are typically made from aluminum, which is lightweight but also strong enough for most applications. Aluminum is also rust-resistant, so you can expect your door to last for years without needing repairs or maintenance.

One of the most important factors in choosing a sliding garage door is the type. There are several different types of garage doors, each of which has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here are the most popular types of sliding garage doors.

Sectional Sliding Door

It has several panels that slide up and down independently on tracks. So, when one panel opens or closes another panel does not get in the way. When compared to other garage door styles, the side sliding sectional door has several benefits. The ability to use the full garage ceiling because it opens to the side. And providing quick entry to the garage.

The twin rollers at the bottom of the door are light, quiet, and precise. Simple and fast access to the garage thanks to automation.

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Side-Sliding Garage Doors

Side-sliding garage doors are an excellent choice for homeowners who want to make the most of their space and storage. These doors are actually a type of french door that slides sideways, which makes them perfect for smaller spaces.

Side-sliding garage doors can be installed on either side of your garage or even in place of your existing garage door if you’re looking to expand your home. They’re popular among homeowners because they’re versatile and easy to install, plus they come in a wide range of styles and materials so you can customize them however you like!

Barn-Style Sliding Doors

This is making a strong comeback. In addition to being utilized for garages, homeowners are replacing conventional hinged doors with this type of door inside the house as well. There are a few distinct types of this kind of door:

  • Bi-parting – Two doors that glide apart
  • Single Sliding – One sizable door slides to the side
  • By-passing – Two doors that slide down two different tracks and are capable of “bypassing” one another.
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Bi-Parting Side Sliding Garage Doors

Bi-parting side-sliding garage doors are a great option for homeowners who want to open up their garages as much as possible. This type of door is also known as a bi-parting operator, which is basically just another name for the same thing.

This type of garage door uses two panels that slide on tracks and open up to the sides of the garage. The panels are attached by a rail system that runs along the top of them, so they can be pushed back together when you want to close up your garage again.

These kinds of doors have several benefits: they can be opened up completely, so you can see what’s inside your garage at all times; they’re easy to use; they’re versatile and customizable, and they’re simple to install. They can also help cut down on energy bills in the long run because they keep heat out during winter months when it’s cold outside but also let light in during summer months when it’s hot outside (depending on where you live).

Bi-Fold Sliding Garage Door

A bi-fold sliding garage door is a great option for homeowners looking for a convenient way to get their cars in and out of the garage. With this type of door, you can open it up in just one smooth motion—no need to lift or swing it open like with more traditional garage doors.

This type of door is available in both manual and automatic versions, so you can choose the one that fits your needs best. If you want to be able to open and close your garage door remotely, an automatic model will make it easy for you to do so. You don’t have to worry about getting home late at night and having trouble finding your remote—you can just pull into the garage and walk right into your house!

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Why Sliding Garage Doors Are Better Than Other Types

You’ve got a lot on your plate. You’re busy with work, you’re busy with kids, and you’ve got a million other things to do at home. The last thing you want when you pull into the driveway is to have to get out of your car and open a door that sticks or is heavy. That’s why we at Flex Garage Door Services think Sliding Garage Doors are the best way to accessorize your home!

Sliding doors are easier than ever to install

They make it simple for everyone in your family to come and go as they please. No more waiting around for someone else to get their hands on the keys before you can leave the house—just slide right out onto the driveway! We have different models available so that no matter what kind of space you have in your garage, there will be a door that fits perfectly with your needs.

In addition to being easy on the eyes, these doors also help with energy efficiency so that you can save money on heating and cooling costs. Because they don’t take up much room inside the garage, they allow more light into the space which is great when working on car repairs or cleaning out clutter during those winter months when it can be hard to see! The doors are also durable, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking or rusting. If you want a stylish and functional addition to your home, then give us a call today so that we can provide you with a free estimate on our sliding garage doors.

A Better View of Quality Service

Flex Garage Doors is the best in Houston and we want to be your garage door company. We offer a wide range of products and services, including installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance. We’re a family-owned business that has been serving the Houston area for many years now.

Our goal is to provide you with exceptional service and quality products at affordable prices. We have many different styles of doors available so you can get exactly what you need. Our outstanding customer service will ensure that your experience with us is positive from start to finish.

Even if you don’t need new garage doors right now, we recommend having them installed anyway. Because they will last longer than most other types of doors in Houston TX. Plus, they look great!

When it comes to garage door repair in Houston TX, we have everything you need to get the job done right. Our team of experienced technicians can handle any problem with your garage door quickly and efficiently.e. From simple repairs like fixing broken springs or replacing worn-out cables to more complicated fixes like fixing broken tracks or installing new garage doors – our team can handle it all! Call us today or visit our website!

Flex Garage Door Services is family owned in the heart of Houston with years of experience in the garage door and gate industry. Taking the experience and knowledge with each year that passes, our company has one goal: building our client long term relationships ethically and professionally. 

Trust in our professionals that we will go above and beyond to manufacture the perfect new garage door or gate for your home. All our repair services come with warranties and you can be sure you are in good hands. We will do all we can to make sure you are fully satisfied with our garage door and gate services.