When choosing the type of commercial overhead door you need for your industrial application, there are many variables to consider. Some of these variables include: operation, appearance, durability, cost of maintenance, efficiency, and initial cost.
When comparing and contrasting your commercial overhead door options, educating yourself is the first step in making sure you get the right door for your application. To begin, we will compare sectional doors, rolling doors, and sheet doors. By comparing these three types of overhead doors with the previously mentioned variables, you will be able to decide on the best commercial overhead door for you industrial application.
Operation:
Operationally, a sectional door is the best option. Sectional doors are available in standard lift, high lift, and full vertical lift; depending on your projects’ available headroom. Sectional doors also remain balanced throughout the door travel, allowing the door to typically need less than 30 pounds of force.
Comparatively, rolling doors and sheet doors occasionally become unbalanced. When rolling and sheet doors get out of balance they require an operator mechanism to maintain balance again. As well, both rolling and sheet doors are not designed for more than 25 pounds of force.
Appearance:
Appearance is another area in which sectional doors shine. Typically, sectional doors are very flexible in appearance. This allows manufactures to create a multitude of colors and finishes on sectional doors. As well, sectional doors come with various types of insulations and window types. Allowing the consumer a multitude of options to create a pleasing appearance for their sectional commercial overhead door.
In contrast, sheet and rolling doors are limited in their window and insulation options. While available in numerous colors, rolling doors and sheets doors simply cannot compete with sectional doors when it comes to exterior finishes and appearance options.
Durability:
Rolling doors provide potential consumers with the best option if durability is the primary concern for your commercial overhead door. Rolling doors typically use guides that are made out of heavy structural steel. Combine this with the fact that the guides on a rolling door are typically enclosed and not visible, and you have a durable commercial overhead door. Rolling doors also typically have a longer wear point than other available options.
While sheet and sectional doors can be durable themselves, they do have a few weaknesses with regards to durability. Sheet doors are difficult to keep lubricated due to enclosed barrels. They also have roll-foam guides. As well, sectional doors are the easiest overhead doors to replace components on, but it also has more moving components than any other type of door. This can result in higher maintenance costs.
Cost of Maintenance:
Rolling doors take the cake with regards to the cost of maintenance for the commercial overhead door. This is due to the heavy structural steel used on the guides of a rolling commercial overhead door. The heavy structural steel is built to last and typically requires no maintenance.
Sheet commercial overhead doors tend to require expensive maintenance. This is due to the nature of the door. Any damage could cause the whole door sheet to need replaced. Sectional doors also can require high cost of maintenance due to the high number of components the door could be composed of.
Energy Efficiency:
Energy efficiency is one factor that can vary from door type to door type. This is due to the type of the insulation used by each specific brand and model. Still, sectional doors usually provide the most energy efficiency when compared with sheet and rolling doors.
Depending on your location, energy efficiency may or may not play an important role in your purchasing criteria. While climate may not vary much in California, a potential Kansas City commercial overhead door customer should pay special attention to the energy efficiency of the door they are considering.
Initial Cost:
If cost is the most important factor in deciding which type of commercial overhead door you choose, then a sheet door option will be your best choice. When compared with sectional doors and rolling doors, sheet doors are typically the most cost efficient option.
Kansas City Commercial Overhead Doors
If you are in the Kansas City area and find yourself in the commercial overhead door market, you need to reach out to an expert. Just like any industry, you need to find someone who you can trust and will provide you with superior service and expertise. Superior Door Service is the leader in Kansas City commercial overhead doors. We specialize in a variety of commercial overhead door options including: advanced steel doors, sectional steel doors, and rolling steel doors.