So many openers to choose from - HELP
Many homeowners don’t realize that there are a several types of garage door and gate openers to choose from. Depending on the size and weight of the garage door and gate and its functionality, spacing and your budget – you have several to choose from. You now have the option for steel (with or without insulation), full view glass garage doors and semi and full custom wood garage doors. Fence and Gates can be fabricated from iron, wood, chainlink or vinyl.
With each different material used to manufacture your garage door or gate, this changes the weight of the garage door and gate, requiring options of different automatic openers. See below for information which may help you determine what you want and need.
Garage Door Openers
Chain Drive
The chain drive garage door opener is ne of the most common types of garage door openers. It is also the most affordable and very dependable which makes it a popular choice among homeowners. The metal chain and gear are reliable even for heavy doors. In past years, they were much noisier then available on the market today. Unless there’s a bedroom or office above the garage door, your chain drive opener should be perfect in your garage.
Belt Drive
Belt drive openers have very similar functions to chain drive openers, which makes them just as reliable. These openers are a bit more expensive as they are quieter then chain drive openers. With the additional benefit of less noise, they can be less disruptive if the garage door is operated in the middle of the night.
Wall Mount
Side wall-mounted garage door openers are also called jackshaft or side-mount openers. These are ideal when there is little space for a traditional, overhead garage door opener, or if you simply want a sleek, not-too-much-in-the-eye automatic garage door opener. The side-mount opener uses a system of pulleys and cables to properly raise and lower the door. These automatics openers are dependable and some of the quietest openers available. Depending on your needs, and budget, they may be abit more costly then the belt-drive, so if you’re upgrading, be sure to consider a wall mount as well.
Automatic Gate Openers
Swing Arm Operators
for your swinging driveway gates…where sturdiness and speed are important. This style of operator can open a large swinging gate in an average of 12-15 seconds depending on length and weight and will usually come with a manufacturer warranty. Most popular are Viking, LiftMaster, DoorKing, Ramset.. just to name a few. The newer models will typically use a 24VDC motor with a set of batteries to provide backup power in case of an electrical outage. Most models require a concrete pad to be poured that is approximately 2’x2’x2′ and finishing 4-6″ above grade – on average. The exception to that rule would be a bottom mounted swing arm operator like the DoorKing 6100. These units have the option to be mounted to a set of posts and the output shaft for the swing arm comes from the bottom of the opener and allows for a more aesthetically pleasing installation. Cutting and welding of the swing arm will be required on all swing arm operators.
Slide Gate Operators
are used for sliding commercial or residential gates. These are an excellent choice for residential driveway gate automation when the site has steep grades prohibiting the use of a swing gate. Slide Gates use V-track with wheels and gate roller guides that are used to guide the gate and keep it upright and in place. A gate catcher is located on the opposite side post to stabilize the gate in the closed position. There are two types of slide gate automatic openers: Front Mount (Standard) and Rear Mount (End-Of-Track). With a Standard style install, the gate operator is mounted by the gate opening with the chain visible on the inside bottom of the gate. The Rear Mount or “End-Of-Track” installation requires slightly more work and additional chain. The advantage to a Rear Mounted installation is the operator and chain are out of sight which is much more visually appealing.
If you are replacing your garage door or gate opener, thinking of upgrading it, or installing one for the first time, you should consider all your options. Call the professionals today at 747-261-0570 to schedule a consultation.
