Side Hinged Garage Doors

The wonderfully versatile side hinged garage door option offers a solution to so many problems and provide opportunities not possible with other types of garage doors.


We have seen a marked increase in the number of requests for side hinged traditional type garage doors over the last few years.
Many people have realised the practicality for busy lifestyles where the garage is NOT being used for a vehicle and frequent access is required as the garage is used as a large storeroom for bikes, toys, etc. and very often freezers or laundry facilities as well as workshop, gym or general room.


The traditional pair of side hinged doors give the person on foot easy access to the garage without having to raise a complete door panel up. Frequent easy access to your garage with little effort.

Materials
Side hinged garage doors  are available in either steel, GRP or timber and in standard or purpose made sizes up to 10 feet (3048mm) wide. Above that width is possible but the whole door panel construction becomes more like a gate and hinges and framework have to be considerably larger to take the extra weight.

Styles
Using timber you can totally individualise your side hinged garage doors as well as choose from a wide range of traditional standard designs. You can have them manufactured to your own design from a choice of hardwoods with either a modern or traditional feel according to the surroundings and your personal preference. There is a wide range of beautifully crafted furniture, again in traditional or contemporary style. The steel and GRP ranges are slightly more limited in design but still have purpose made sizes and window options available. Panelled designs are common in steel and considerably less money than timber equivalents.

Practicality

The side hinged garage door set can be produced with either 50/50 split opening or a 1/3 and 2/3 opening.

The second option is particularly useful for giving convenient pedestrian access if required.
Furthermore, unlike steel side hinged doors, timber doors are purpose made so can be manufactured to exactly the size required. If the building is constructed of un cut stonework a scribed timber frame will finish the installation with a neat snug fit.

If there is a lack of headroom in your garage the side hinged garage door provides the perfect solution. Side hinged doors are a blessing for those whose garages are decked out internally with shelves or cupboards or garages that house intrusive gas/electric meters or pipework.  The lack of tracks or panels protruding into the garage means that you have no worries about fouling door operating gear. You can utilise all of the drive through height and width (providing the doors can open to 90°). The lack of lifting gear also means that the side hinged garage door is wonderfully maintenance free apart from treatment of the timber. No springs, cones or cables to maintain or replace when they have worn out.


On a very practical note if depth and width of garage is restricted (or more depth and width is required) the doors and frames can both be fitted externally with some kind of flashing required above the frame head to prevent water ingress.



Electric Operation Don’t forget electric operation. Contrary to popular belief you can fit a remote control operator to side hinged doors very easily. Most boom style electric operators combined with a swing arm conversion kit will fit the bill. Try to purchase a system that allows the first leaf to reach the home position slightly before the second leaf – this will close the doors more securely. Remember to fit a manual release if there is no other pedestrian entrance to your garage. Most of all you will need a relatively powerful operator as there are more forces applied to side hinged doors during operation in windy conditions and these conditions need to be allowed for. New generations of electric operators constantly monitor doors in different stages of operation and compensate in their safety features – Seip, Cardale, Marantec, Hormann and Somfy are good examples.

It is also possible to use gate operator technology for a really neat automation system for side hinged doors and we install quite a few of these when the inside of the garage has high ceilings or a finished interior.


View our page on Automation of side hinged garage doors >

Side hinged doors usually open outwards so check that drive does not slope upwards and that doors can fully open, we can offer inward opening on most of the models.

Be aware if your garage is in front of a public area or pathway that the doors will open into that area, check with your local authority this is acceptable.

                           

For further information on side hinged garage doors please contact one of our experienced sales staff who can offer details on the latest designs, materials and prices. Many types of double skinned insulated side hinged doors are becoming available now in the UK and these offer excellent security as well as insulation.

Search through our product catalogue for high quality timber side hinged garage doors

Email us directly for the very latest and best prices on the internet or call us now with your requirements.

                  See Side Hinged Doors in our Product Catalogue, choose from the materials below: 

Timber Side Hinged Garage Doors >

Steel Side Hinged Garage Doors >

GRP Side Hinged Garage Doors >