Residential garage doors form the front-facing part of a property. They’re something you’ll see when walking past a row of houses or coming home after a long day. You’ll thus want a residential garage door that enhances your curb appeal. With commercial garage doors, however, performance comes first and foremost. These doors are designed mostly for function over form. However, many homeowners do assume that commercial garage doors are built to a higher standard than residential doors; this is not always the case. Often – and with a reputable garage door specialist – both commercial and residential garage doors are built to last, with the largest difference between the two being that the commercial door is merely larger than the residential one. But what other differences exist between residential and commercial garage doors? We discuss them here.
Size
As we’ve mentioned, the key difference between a residential garage door and the commercial one lies in their size. A standard residential garage door usually goes up to seven feet, although taller and shorter doors are available depending on your design needs. Commercial businesses, on the other hand, require taller doors since supplies will need to pass through during loading and unloading. Your residential property will not likely need a commercial-sized door unless you have a detached garage with a higher opening. However, you should be sure that you really need a commercial-sized garage door on your residential property, as they are more expensive than residential garage doors.
Appearance
Another key difference between residential garage doors and commercial ones is the design options offered for each. Commercial garage doors can be tweaked after installation with features such as glass panels, but there is a limit to how creative you can be with the design. One of the reasons for this is that an intricate design for a commercial garage door is just not practical, and can also clash with stipulations provided by federal law.
You can get more creative with your designs for residential garage doors, which are available in a range of material options such as steel, aluminum, fiberglass, composites, and more. Commercial garage doors mostly only are made of aluminum or galvanized steel.
Functions
There are certain functions that commercial garage doors possess that are not available for their residential counterparts. One such function is the commercial electric operator system. At the end of the day, while they can be just as strong as their commercial counterparts, residential garage doors are simply not meant for the high traffic that commercial garage doors must handle, and the difference in functions between both reflects that.
Commercial vs. Residential Garage Doors – Which Is Right for You?
For the most part, a commercial garage door is best for a commercial setting. If you are a residential property owner, it’s also important to keep in mind that such doors may be against the standards and regulations of your local homeowner’s association. While both commercial and residential garage doors have their benefits, these benefits are meant for their specific spaces. As efficient as a commercial garage door is, for instance, it probably will not fit into a residential setting. Whatever you need, however, be it a garage door opener or garage door installation, Total Garage Door Solutions can help you out.
