- Steel, timber or aluminium leaves
- Welded steel subframe, adjustable hinges
- No headroom required
A side-hinged garage door opens outward on hinges like a pair of large doors. In Roodepoort it is chosen for two reasons: the garage is used as a workshop or store and needs a door that can be opened partly, or the house calls for a traditional look that an overhead door cannot give it.
Side-hinged garage doors we supply in Roodepoort
- Steel side-hinged doors in ribbed and panelled profiles.
- Timber side-hinged doors in hardwood or clad, for period elevations.
- Unequal leaf pairs so one leaf can be used as a normal pedestrian door.
- Glazed upper panels where the garage needs daylight.
Why a side-hinged door suits a workshop garage
You can open one leaf to walk in, which nobody does with an overhead door. On the older properties through Florida, Discovery and Maraisburg where the garage has become a workshop or storeroom, that single fact usually decides it.
Space required in front of the opening
The leaves swing outward, so the driveway apron has to be clear. On the sloped driveways common on the ridge through Roodekrans and Helderkruin, the fall in front of the door can stop the leaves opening fully. We check the ground at survey, because this is the thing that catches people out.
Frames, hinges and hanging
The frame carries the whole load, and on a heavy timber pair that load is considerable. We fit a proper subframe anchored into the structure, with hinges rated for the leaf mass. A side-hinged door that drops at the leading edge has almost always been hung on an inadequate frame.
Locking and security
Multi-point locking into head and threshold on the leading leaf, and shoot bolts on the slave leaf. Locking a pair of doors at the centre only is what makes them easy to force.
Timber doors and the Roodepoort climate
Hardwood on a west-facing opening takes strong afternoon sun and needs a maintained finish. We specify the timber and the sealing for that exposure and tell you the maintenance interval honestly, because a timber door that is not recoated will move and then it will not close.
Automating side-hinged garage doors
Possible with arm operators on each leaf, in the same way a swing gate is automated. It costs more than automating an overhead door and it needs the swing path permanently clear. We quote it where it is wanted and explain the trade-off.
Maintenance
Hinges, locking points and the finish, checked annually. On timber doors the finish is the maintenance item that decides the door’s life.
What a side-hinged garage door costs in Roodepoort
Priced on opening size, leaf material, glazing, locking and whether a new subframe is needed. Timber doors cost more than steel and last well when they are looked after.
Common questions
About side-hinged garage doors
Roughly half the opening width in clear space in front of each leaf. Check for boundary walls, steps, paving edges and where cars actually park. If the driveway falls away steeply from the garage we set the leaves higher and use a threshold seal.
Yes, with a swing-arm operator on each leaf, the same type used on driveway gates. It works well but is slower than a roll-up motor and needs the swing area kept permanently clear. Most of our side-hinged customers stay manual.
Because the leaves were hung straight onto brickwork. We fit a welded steel subframe into the reveal first, square and plumb, and hang the leaves off that with adjustable hinges so the door can be trued up later.
Often, yes. If the frame is sound and square, new leaves cost a fraction of a complete door. Send a photo of the opening from outside and we will tell you which you are looking at.
Related
Also worth a look
Insulated Garage Doors
Warmer garage, quieter house
Foam-cored sectional garage doors with thermal breaks and full perimeter seals, for attached garages, converted rooms and bedrooms above the garage.
- 40mm bonded polyurethane core
- Thermal break at every section joint
- Full perimeter seals, all four edges
Sliding Garage Doors
Where there is no headroom at all
Sliding doors run sideways along the wall instead of upward. The answer when a garage has no usable headroom and a roll-up or sectional door will…
- Runs sideways along the wall
- Manual or motorised
- Suits low-roof and basement garages
Fire-Rated Roller Shutter Doors
Compartment walls and plant rooms
Certified fire-rated shutters for compartment openings and plant rooms, with drop-test documentation for your insurer.
- Fail-safe gravity descent, no power needed
- Fire panel integration and drop testing