Garage doors: you might not pay a whole lot of attention to them, but you sure count on them to allow you easy access in and out of your garage. Yes, it may be true that the layman doesn’t give a second thought as to how a garage door looks or functions, but what’s also true is that you’re here now reading about different garage door styles. Looks like you walked right through that door, didn’t you?

In all seriousness, our St. Louis garage service extraordinaires at Rocket Garage Door Repair do service and repair several different garage door types for both commercial and residential applications. If you’re only familiar with sectional garage doors (the most popular garage door type in the United States), then you’re bound to learn a thing or two in this blog post!

So, keep reading below to learn more, or feel free to get directly in touch with Team Rocket for the best garage door service, installation, insulation, and replacements in the greater St. Louis area.

5 Major Types Of Garages

Roll-Up Garage Doors

Chances are, you won’t see roll-up garage doors in your neighborhood any time soon. While this style of garage is perfectly practical and reasonably reliable, roll-up garages tend to look...well, less than sightly when installed as a part of your colorful home. It should come as no surprise that these no-frills doors are much more common in commercial applications. Roll-up garage doors can also be pretty loud, another reason why they’re not great for residential use.

“Slide-To-The-Side” Garage Doors

If the Cha Cha Slide popped in your head as you read that name, your head is in the right place. Slide-to-the-side doors do exactly that: they follow tracks to the left or right side of your garage door (depending on which direction you’re facing), bending around the corner as they follow the trolleys. Slide-to-the-side doors are installed in pieces, so they don’t really “bend” so much as they’re just pieces of a garage that follow each other.

Tilt-Up Or Up-and-Over Canopy Garage Doors

This garage door type is made up of one solid piece with a massive pivoting hinge mechanism. Think of tilting your flat hand in an upward or downward motion; that’s what a tilt-up garage looks like when it’s operating. Admittedly, tilt-up garages look great when they’re in motion: they’re much more elegant and refined than your traditional sectional garage door, and they’re usually a lot quieter.

The unfortunate downside with tilt-up garage doors is that if you have anything that’s right next to the garage door, the door will hit it as it’s opening. We’re sure that people have accidentally scratched or damaged their vehicles that were parked too close to their over canopy garage door...or worse, scratched the garage door itself.

Up-and-Over Retractable Garage Doors

Like the tilt-up/canopy garage door, the up-and-over style also lifts up and into the garage, unlike your traditional sectional that follows a track and pulley system. Unlike canopy garage doors, however, up-and-over doors are independently suspended from the frame, so they won’t protrude out into your driveway when you open the door.

Though not necessarily unheard of, most homeowners opt for a sectional or a different garage door type because up-and-overs are usually more difficult to operate and more expensive to install and maintain.

Sectional Garage Doors

Ah, sectional garage doors: an icon of American suburbia. These are the garage doors that you know and love. Sectionals consist of panel sections connected via hinges, and when opening or closing, wheels at each panel edge roll inside of a vertical track. High-tension springs are a standard part of sectional garage doors; they make sure that the door doesn’t fall when it’s only partially open.

Sectional garage doors are quite affordable, customizable, interchangeable, and — fortunately for you — relatively cheap to maintain!

Contact Team Rocket For Garage Door Service And More In St. Louis

Whether or not you have a sectional garage door at your home or business, rest assured that Rocket Garage Door Repair can expertly tackle the job at hand. If you’re in search of fast, friendly, and affordable St. Louis garage door service, reach out and get in touch with us today!