Lifting garage doors: subtleties of mechanism and manufacturing. Up-and-over sectional doors Do-it-yourself tilt-and-turn garage doors

Lifting garage doors are the best way to solve the problem of free space. But the problem is the high cost of factory models. Therefore, if you have the desire, tools and consumables, you can make them yourself. What do you need to make your own overhead gates for your garage? The instructions and drawings will help solve this issue.

Analysis of manufacturing scheme

Unlike other options, it is not recommended to take a drawing of a factory model as a basis. In most cases, the canvas is lifted using a complex system of counterweights and guides. Making such a gate design yourself will be problematic. But you can take some components from this drawing.

The lower part poses a particular problem. Making moving hinges and an adjustable lifting system will be difficult. The solution is to secure the lower part of the door leaf using a roller system. The frame will serve as guides. As a result, the circuit will be modernized to make the structure yourself.

Description of the operating principle of homemade overhead garage doors:

• The upper rollers are mounted on L-shaped profile pipes. Movement occurs along horizontal guides made of a U-shaped profile.
• Lifting is carried out using a counterweight. A hook is welded to the bottom of the gate, to which a steel cable is attached, leading to the roller at the top. The mass of the counterweight depends on the weight of the sash and its height, and is determined experimentally.
• Additionally, you can make a swing sash. To do this, stiffeners must be welded onto the gate frame.
• The canvas is formed from aluminum or. It is advisable to make insulation from the inside.

This is a general description of the manufacturing principle and operation of the structure. Parts can be adapted to a specific opening and improve the functionality of overhead gates.

Required Supplies

Most often, available material is used for manufacturing. Rolled metal can be purchased at delivery points; old structures can be used after dismantling them. It is necessary to check the quality of the workpieces - the absence of mechanical deformation, rust or other defects.

For manufacturing you will need the following materials and components:

• The gate frame is made of angle or channel. Thickness – from 50 mm or more. It is necessary to take into account that a layer of insulation and internal lining will be installed.
• The box must perform two functions - to fix the canvas and be a guide for the rollers. To do this, it is recommended to take a channel 30*50*30 cm.
• Upper horizontal guides. They are also made from channel bars, but in smaller sizes. The width depends on the selected rollers.
• Rollers. There are no special requirements for them; it is important that the surface is rubberized.
• Square pipes. Necessary for the manufacture of additional structures.

The thickness of each component depends on the overall dimensions of the structure. The channel channel of the box must be at least 3 mm, the frame - from 1.5 mm. For installation you will need dowels; it is recommended to connect the elements of the lifting gates using welding. Mechanical fasteners will not provide adequate quality connections.

Sequence of work

After drawing up a drawing of the overhead garage doors, you need to select the right material and make blanks. Overall dimensions take into account the thickness of the weld seam. The opening is being prepared - leveling the walls, checking horizontal, vertical and diagonal dimensions. Corrections are made to the drawing.

Work order:

1. Installation of the box and upper horizontal guides. The latter are attached to the garage ceiling.
2. The frame is made according to the dimensions obtained. It should not be 3-5 mm larger than the dimensions of the box. For a tight connection, you can later install a sheet on top of the structure.
3. Installation of lower and upper rollers on the frame.
4. Installation of the frame on the guides with preliminary fixation.
5. Checking the functionality of the gate. They need to be opened and closed several times.
6. Forming a web from steel sheets.
7. Adjusting the counterweight mass.

Only after this can you begin priming and painting. For security, it is recommended to place a lock at the bottom.

In the overview video you can see an example of the manufacture of such a structure:

Lifting garage doors differ in the type of design of lifting mechanisms, allowing the installation of fences on a building of any architecture. The specific type of lift is determined based on the overall dimensions of the opening into which the sectional gate will be installed.

Incline lift

It is used when there is a lintel near the gate opening up to 500 mm, as well as a sloping ceiling in the room that goes up. The geometry of such premises allows you to buy overhead garage doors with a maximum leaf weight of up to 1000 kg. The fence is installed in an opening width of up to 7 m with a height of up to 9.7 m and a ceiling angle of 0-45 degrees. For an angle of inclination of more than 45 degrees, the height of the opening is limited to 8.5 m. The inclined rise ensures ergonomic design and the ability to optimally position the gate guides with an inclined type of ceiling.

Vertical lift

It is used in rooms where the ceiling exceeds the opening height by 500 mm or more. Garage doors of this type cannot weigh more than 1000 kg. The geometry of the opening must comply with the parameters of a width of up to 7 m and a height of up to 8.13 m. With this rise, the sash moves upward like a guillotine. This type of structure arrangement requires the use of a powerful electric drive, since the large dimensions of the gate have a large weight, which is distributed without the support of guide elements.

Low rise

This installation option is used when it is necessary to purchase and install small sectional overhead doors. It is used for gates with a lintel of 220-350 mm, changing the geometry of the gate with the addition of a special radius guide that provides low lift. With this placement option, a ground drive is used; when opened, the sash hangs at the top of the opening.

Standard lift

Overhead sectional doors with standard lift are available with two guide bend radii - 305 and 381 mm. The first bending option is used for rooms with a lintel of 350-400 mm, the second is suitable for lintels over 400 mm. This type of lift allows you to install a fence with an opening width of up to 7 m and a height of up to 9.7 m. The weight of the leaf should not exceed 870 kg, which eliminates additional load on the structure and the section lifting mechanism.

High rise

It is used when the size of the gate lintel is from 500 mm until its size exceeds the height of the opening by 500 mm. The design allows the installation of overhead garage doors up to 7 m wide with a maximum height of 9.7 m. The weight of the door leaf should not exceed 890 kg. The convenient design allows the gate guides to be optimally positioned with a high lintel, ensuring stable operation of the automatic gate.

Garage doors are a design whose choice presents certain difficulties for many. Often, owners of garage buildings prefer an option such as overhead gates. They have their pros and cons, which it is advisable to know about before purchasing.

Peculiarities

Overhead garage doors are those that open using a mechanism that lifts them. There are several types of overhead gates, each with their own specific pros and cons.

The opening mechanism is the following process: the gate leaf (one of the features of lift-type gates is the presence of only one leaf) moves upward, folding, or simply standing parallel to the ceiling. How the leaf will ultimately be positioned depends on the type of gate.

One of the characteristic features of such structures is that it is possible to mount additional elements in the sash, such as a gate or windows. Both options are used extremely often. This is due to the fact that often the garage is used not only as a place in which the car is simply stored, but also as a space for car repairs.

In this case, it is often inconvenient for the owner to open the garage, setting the heavy structure in motion. It is much easier to simply use the built-in door, which allows you to enter the garage without directly opening it.

It is worth mentioning the peculiarities of the organization of windows, which allow additional light to enter the garage. Windows are made of glass, always using bars. Thanks to them, the garage remains protected and the risk of intruders entering through the windows is minimized.

Among other things, it is necessary to take into account that installing gates of this type is incredibly difficult. This is due not only to the fact that the structure has an impressive weight, but is also due to the complexity of the mechanism that sets the sash in motion. Difficulties arise both with manually controlled systems and those controlled using a remote control.

The price of overhead garage doors varies, however, it is not particularly higher than the cost of other types of models (swing, roller, etc.). So, the cheapest model can be purchased for 16,000 rubles. There is no upper price limit. It is worth considering that a custom-made design based on individual measurements will be significantly more expensive.

Advantages and disadvantages

Lifting structures for garages have both pros and cons in approximately equal numbers.

Speaking about the advantages, it is worth noting the following characteristics:

• Compact size. The door leaf itself does not require additional space to open in front of the garage, unlike swing gates, for example. Additional space is needed under the ceiling, but even there it is small. As a rule, the gap allocated for the canvas does not exceed 20 cm.
• Easy assembly. Any beginner can assemble the structure, rather than mount it, without any problems. For direct installation you need to have certain skills and experience.
• Possibility to equip the gate with remote control. We are talking about both opening using a mobile remote control and controlling it with a button or remote control mounted in the wall.

• Ease of Management. Opening and closing vertical gates is much easier than horizontal structures. This is achieved through the use of a special mechanism consisting of springs and levers.
• Silence. During lifting or lowering, a properly mounted device does not make any extraneous sounds.
• High degree of protection. Some types of gates are characterized by the fact that they are almost impossible to break into. The only way to get into such a garage from the street is to cut through the canvas.

• Long service life. If the gates are not homemade, but factory-assembled, then manufacturers, as a rule, give them a ten-year guarantee of uninterrupted service.
• Easy to care for. The material used in the manufacture of the sash itself is treated with special compounds that reliably protect it from corrosion and other adverse factors. Thus, all that is required is to lubricate the mechanisms from time to time to make their operation smoother.
• Variability of use. The lifting structure can be used both outdoor and indoor. It is also suitable for installation in both single and double garages.

The disadvantages are not so numerous, however, they exist.

The following important characteristics should be taken into account:

• Limited form. Louvered garage doors can only be installed in rectangular or square openings. This is due to the operating characteristics of the lifting device.
• Impossibility of repairing the canvas. If we are talking about cases where the gate leaf is made as a single leaf, and not sectional, then it will not be possible to repair any separate section of it if it breaks. It will be necessary to buy a new monolithic canvas, replacing the entire option. This feature does not apply to the mechanism responsible for the lifting process - it can be repaired.
• Difficult to install. As mentioned above, the installation itself requires certain knowledge and it is better to entrust it to professionals.

• Risk of overload. When insulating gates, there is a risk that the lifting mechanism will not cope with the new weight of the structure, so you first need to clarify what weight the working elements are designed for.

Kinds

By and large, we can distinguish only two types of overhead street gates: sectional overhead gates and overhead overhead gates. It would be a stretch to classify retractable roller shutter gates as lifting gates. They are also called louver blinds, since their operating principle is very similar to vertical blinds.

Rolling gates will not be considered, since most experts classify them as a completely special, separate category, but we should dwell on the first two varieties in more detail.

Lift-and-swivel

Such folding gates are simpler both in design and installation. You can often find homemade versions of this type, since making them yourself is not difficult. However, it is worth keeping in mind that self-production is not profitable from a financial point of view: materials alone will cost 25% more money than when purchasing a ready-made structure with a guarantee.

The lift-and-turn type is represented by one monolithic sheet, often insulated. When opened, the entire door rises to the ceiling without folding or bending. It is worth keeping in mind that during lifting, the canvas still protrudes slightly forward, onto the street, so you should open the gate, leaving the car 1-1.5 m from the entrance to the garage.

Lifting sectional

These gates can rightly be called folding. They do not consist of one canvas, but of several interconnected. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, the sash slides straight up without protruding forward, as a result of which you can drive your car close to the garage without waiting for it to open.

On the other hand, the fact that the canvas is not monolithic makes it less burglary-resistant, so the lift-and-section type is less reliable than the lift-and-turn type.

Both folded and monolithic varieties can be further strengthened using special profiles. Manufacturers also take into account the fact that winters in Russia can be extremely harsh, so there is always the opportunity to additionally insulate the gates so that they do not freeze.

In some cases, if there is a lifting door, it is impossible to heat the garage, so insulation comes in handy.

Principle of operation

To imagine how the process of raising and closing the sash is carried out, you need to consider a diagram that clearly demonstrates it.

To operate such gates, a system of special drives is used. They set the sash itself in motion. Please note that the drives used are not ordinary ones, but reinforced ones. This is primarily due to the large weight of the canvas, as well as the frequency of operation.

There are several types of mechanisms used:

• hinge-lever device;
• hydraulic system;
• counterweight system.

Each type has its own characteristics. The hinge-lever mechanism is used more often than others. This is due to its simplicity and clarity, as well as the fact that even a beginner can install it. The hinged lever system is well suited for home use.

Counterweights are installed on sashes that are subject to heavy use. We are talking mainly about industrial and production facilities, as well as all those places where extremely heavy doors are used. These could be garages for buses, fire stations, and other similar facilities.

Hydraulic mechanisms are the most expensive of all however, they are also the most convenient. Operating such gates, closing and opening them is not difficult. Independent installation of elements of such a system is only possible for professionals, and independent production is generally impossible. The hydraulic kit can only be purchased from a specialist retailer.

Any gate can be equipped with automatic electric drives responsible for opening it. Thus, the process of operating the doors is simplified and the physical effort required to open the garage is minimized. However, such measures also affect the price. When equipping the structure with a remote control function, it is worth providing for the possibility of mechanical opening, so that in the event of a power outage, you can get into the garage.

Standard sizes

If we talk about standard dimensions, then we can only determine the typical height of the garage doors themselves and the height of the lift-sectional panels. This is due to the fact that the width of the sash varies greatly, depending on which garage it is purchased for. There are single garages and there are double garages and this significantly affects the width.

The height of the panels in the design of a lift-and-sectional gate is on average 50 cm. This height is due to convenience: firstly, there are not so many seams in the canvas, and secondly, strips of such a height easily bend and go under the ceiling without deforming.

The height of the door leaf is usually 2.3 m. This dimension is considered standard for garages, where the ceiling height rarely exceeds this figure. The size of 2.3 m also takes into account the allowance for storing the canvas itself when folded, equal to 20 cm. Therefore, even after opening the gate, it will be comfortable to be in the garage, because the ceiling height in this case will be 2.1 m.

If the gate is equipped with a wicket, its dimensions are also standard. It is worth noting that such designs will differ from those typically accepted due to the fact that they are regarded as for a utility room. So, the dimension of a garage door cut into the leaf will be 60x190 cm or 70x190 cm. Both options are acceptable. The final decision on the width of the door remains with the manufacturer.

As for windows, there is no standard for them, because glass inserts are often used for decorative purposes. Glass inclusions can be twisted, complex in shape, and not just rectangular.

If your garage differs from the standard one (for example, it was made individually according to a designer’s design drawing), then it is highly recommended to make custom garage doors.

This is due to the fact that this is the only way to select the optimal option that will best protect the building from penetration. In addition, exclusive gates will look the most advantageous, since they can be stylized to match the existing exterior.

Manufacturers

Both foreign and domestic suppliers present their products on the market. Based on reviews from garage owners who purchased certain overhead gates, a rating of the most popular companies was compiled.

• "LegProm". A well-established Russian company. When installing this option, it is possible to equip the gate with an automated opening system. Users also note the long warranty period: the manufacturer promises that the gate will withstand at least 25,000 opening and closing cycles.

• "Seabars". Representative from Russia. The Seabars sash is initially equipped with an electric drive, which facilitates the operation process. One of the additional advantages is the thickness of the canvas. Sandwich panels used in production vary in thickness from 40 to 60 mm.

• Zaiger. The Swiss factory produces high-quality models, which, however, are not cheap. The minimum price of the gate is 26,400 rubles. The gates are insulated at the factory, so the thickness of the panels used is 53 mm.

Judging by the reviews, the quality of insulation is very good. The gates can withstand Russian frosts perfectly.

• Alutech. A company from Russia produces high-quality gates that belong to the premium segment. This also affects the price, which starts at 35,700 rubles. The gates are equipped with a special mechanism that guarantees a tight fit of the leaf to the opening. A complete absence of gaps and cracks is achieved.
• Doorhan. The Russian manufacturer has proven itself to be excellent. The presence of additional parameters for adjusting the brackets makes the system extremely convenient, but at the same time there are a number of requirements that must be met for successful installation of the structure. The shutter is fully automatic. Judging by the reviews, the automation works great.

• "Korn." The last place in the rating is the manufacturer Korn from Russia, famous for the abundance of color and design solutions for its gates. This company specializes in the production of sectional spring models. Product prices also cannot be called low, but buyers note excellent value for money.

DIY assembly and installation

To carry out assembly and installation yourself, you need to make some effort. If there should be no problems with the assembly itself, then you will have to tinker with the installation. This is especially true for overhead sectional gates. First you need to arm yourself with a drawing of the gate. If you buy a ready-made model, the drawing is attached to the assembly instructions. If the gate is made independently, then a drawing must be made. To do this, you need to take all measurements from the garage opening, including its width and height.

It is also necessary to check whether there is enough space on the ceiling for the canvas to remain there while the gate is open. It must be borne in mind that the dimension of the ceiling for successful installation must be 90 mm.

There is also a simpler option. When all measurements from the opening are taken and the dimensions are clear, a suitable ready-made drawing is selected, after which it is simply copied. Here are some suitable options.

To complete all work you will need suitable tools, including:

• mounting levels;
• hammer;
• a marker or other option that allows you to mark places for drilling or fastening;
• drill and set of drills;
• Screwdriver Set;

• welding machine;
• circular saw or grinder;
• set of wrenches.

Once everything is ready, you need to decide on the material, as well as the drive system that will be used. You also need to consider whether the gate will be equipped with automation. If yes, then it is worth keeping in mind that installation of the electric drive will require experience and special knowledge.

It is better for an amateur not to undertake such a complex task, since the system is expensive, and if the work cannot be completed, then the repair will also be expensive. Making gates with your own hands is unprofitable, since both monetary and labor costs will be clearly higher than when purchasing a ready-made structure, so it is more rational to buy a factory version with a guarantee and install it.

Selection of materials

Despite the apparent lack of variety, overhead garage doors can be made from a variety of materials, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. The base is always metal, but it can be lined with wood. It is worth keeping in mind that a solid array cannot be used when decorating gates. This will add additional weight to the already heavy structure. It is better to give preference to lining.

For wooden gates, it is necessary to have a special impregnation that will provide protection to the wooden panels. It is worth remembering that wood is a rather “capricious” material, unstable to various external influences. Temperature changes, high humidity, and constant mechanical influences can quickly ruin the original appearance of wood, as well as negatively affect its heat and sound insulation qualities. If you know that the conditions in the garage are unfavorable for wood, it is better not to use it.

If we talk about insulation material, then there is little choice. Often, either mineral wool or polystyrene foam is preferred. Both protect well from heat loss and drafts, but foam is more preferable because it is lighter. In addition, a sash insulated with foam plastic will be thicker, therefore, it will be more difficult to break it.

However, foam plastic is unsuitable for lift-sectional gates due to the fact that the leaves will be too thick and the load on the mechanism will increase. For folding models, mineral wool is used, which copes well with thermal insulation, while making it possible to maintain the thickness of the panels at the proper level. As you can see, the choice of material is one of the difficult steps that must be carried out extremely carefully. Evaluate all operating conditions, and also do not forget about your wishes for the appearance of the structure. Then you will be able to choose an option that best meets all the requirements.

Installation

Before proceeding with installation, it is worth checking the set of components. You need to make sure everything is in stock. The set of certain elements varies from model to model, but it is extremely important to check the quality of the guides and springs. Both elements are responsible for the reliability and safety of the structure, and this plays a primary role, because no one wants to harm themselves or the car with the sash.

To install the gate yourself, you need to arm yourself with the following step-by-step instructions:

• They start by making the frame. First of all, it is necessary to weld a U-shaped frame from reinforced profiles. The angles must be strictly 90 degrees.
• The frame is fitted to the opening. The required depth into the floor screed is 2-5 cm. This is done to ensure that the structure holds as well as possible. The frame is fixed to the opening using anchor bolts, and all cracks and gaps between it and the opening are treated with foam.

• The upper guides are fixed to the ceiling. It is extremely important to perform this work as efficiently as possible, since it is the guides that are responsible for the smooth operation of the entire mechanism. Using a level, check the quality of fastening: the guides must be fixed evenly.
• Next comes the turn of the brackets. They are welded to the slats. It is necessary to fasten the brackets taking into account that a small gap is required for the smooth opening of the canvas. This is especially true for up-and-over gates. The brackets are complemented by rollers.
• After this, the sash itself is fitted to the frame. If it passes through it freely, the frame is finally attached. Particular attention should be paid to the junction of the canvas and the guides: here the gaps should be as small as possible.

• Welding work is being carried out. The seams are cleaned.
• The sash is insulated by laying a material that is welded on both sides with iron sheets. Next, the sash is degreased, primed and painted or decorated with clapboard.
• The canvas is installed in the guides. The springs are adjusted immediately. Remember that their task is to fix the sash. They should not pull the canvas down. It is important to ensure that the springs are not too stiff.
• Finally, the fittings are installed: handle, latch, locks.

Automation

Controlling gates equipped with an automatic electric drive is much easier. Less physical effort is required, and you can open the gate without getting out of your car, which is important most of the year.

You will only be able to adjust the automation yourself if you are a professional electrician or already have experience in similar work. The electrical wiring system is quite complex and requires connection directly to the house wiring. It will also be necessary to equip a remote control. It can be either stationary, located on the wall, or portable.

Many owners install these two options at the same time, complementing the system with the ability to manually open. This decision is made for maximum convenience.

The most expensive equipment option is the hydraulic drive. Here it is possible to install a system operating at maximum speed. Such gates are also called quick-lift gates. If it usually takes 3-5 minutes to raise the leaf, then in these systems the time for raising and lowering the sash is halved. This is extremely convenient, especially for those who are always in a hurry to get somewhere.

To set up automatic control, additional funds will be required. On average, such work requires about 30% of the cost of a garage door, but the final figure remains individual. It is worth weighing the pros and cons before deciding whether to equip the gate with automation or not. In some cases, automatic control is not as necessary as it seems at first glance, and eliminating it allows you to save significant money.

If you nevertheless decide to make automatic control, pay special attention to ensuring that all electronic components are of the highest quality. This way you minimize the risk that the entire house’s wiring will burn out due to a short circuit and protect yourself from possible expensive repairs.

Adjusting and checking operation

To adjust the gate, you need to open and close it several times.

In this case, you need to pay attention to the following:

• presence of extraneous sounds;
• smooth raising and lowering of the canvas.

The operation of the mechanism must be completely silent, otherwise it can be concluded that the installation was not carried out completely correctly. The simplest thing you can do is lubricate the mechanisms. Perhaps the problem lies precisely in the insufficient amount of lubricant solution on the components.

The second option is more complicated. The reason for the lack of smooth running may lie in insufficient lubrication of the mechanisms, incorrect adjustment of the springs, or excessive weight of the blade. If the first and second reasons are quite easy to eliminate, then too much weight is a more serious problem. It is necessary either to lighten the sash itself, or to re-equip the lifting mechanism to accommodate a heavier structure.

You can strengthen the gate at the installation stage. This is discussed with the manufacturer from whom the design is ordered. As a rule, professionals calculate everything and deliver a kit that fully complies with the standards. If, however, problems arise during operation, then you need to contact the manufacturer’s office - such cases are covered under warranty, and you are required to provide a free consultation, possibly with a specialist visiting your home.

You can try to adjust the mechanism with your own hands, but it is worth keeping in mind that any attempts at self-repair are regarded as mechanical damage. If during your intervention you make things even worse, you will have to do repeated repairs at your own expense. It is safer to immediately seek help from professionals.

• If during installation there is an alternative - drilling or welding, then choose welding. With this approach, the frame is more securely fastened, since there are no additional holes.
• Also pay attention to the dimensions of your garage. Installation of overhead gates is possible only when the opening height is at least 230 cm, and the lintel height (the distance between the upper edge of the opening and the ceiling) is at least 90 cm. This is due to the design feature of overhead garage doors.
• The canvas should not be heavier than 100 kg. In other cases, a reinforced fastening and operating mechanism is required.

• If possible, equip the structure with stoppers. They are equipped for safety purposes, as they do not allow the sash to pinch a person standing in the opening or damage the car.
• Pay attention to modern decorative solutions. Garage doors can not only be painted so that they harmonize with the interior and surrounding landscape, but also decorated with windows and glass inserts.
• If you use the garage as a repair shop, as well as as an additional entrance to the house, equip the gate with a gate or door that allows you to enter it without completely raising the sash. This way you will save time and also not subject the sash to unnecessary loads. However, it is worth keeping in mind that such a solution reduces the burglary resistance of the garage, so it is necessary to additionally install an alarm system and take other measures to enhance security.

Most experienced car enthusiasts prefer old swing or leaf gate options, considering them the most secure and reliable due to the heavy weight and thickness of the metal. But, as practice shows, leaf systems have a worthy competitor, namely, folding garage doors. The popularity of the tilt-up design is such that today it accounts for approximately three-quarters of garage doors sold. It is worth understanding the reasons.

Advantages and disadvantages of overhead garage doors

To understand the difference in the use of lift-and-fold systems and the old swing structure, you need to try them in practice at least a couple of times; for a knowledgeable person, the difference is visible to the naked eye:

• The hinged door system allows you to avoid the formation of a “blind” zone when leaving the garage. Lift systems do not have doors that block the view, which is why dozens of cars crash in garage cooperatives every year;
• The absence of swing doors when opening the doors increases the space for maneuver in front of the gate; there is no need to park the car a couple of meters from the doorway in order to be able to open and close the garage.

For your information! Often, drivers decide to change regular gates to folding ones for only one reason: in a strong wind, there is a chance of getting hit by the gate on the car body at the time of departure.

Folding gates are cheaper to manufacture, they are more convenient to use, and their simple device allows you to build them yourself. But it is not possible to install such a system in every garage; at a minimum, you need free space in the ceiling above the entrance to the garage.

We build folding garage doors with our own hands

The structure and operating principle of the gate are clear from the diagram and drawing below:

1. Structurally, the gate consists of two frames - the shield itself, or the panel covering the doorway, and the load-bearing support frame with guide elements;
2. When opened, the upper part of the hinged gate is tilted and moves on rollers or bearings along two guides until the panel is completely on two horizontal beams;
3. The bottom edge of the panel rises up and is fixed in this position.

The plane of the folding gate makes a movement reminiscent of rolling around a conventional cylindrical surface of large radius. To facilitate the lifting of a steel or wooden panel of a tilt gate, the design uses compensation springs or counterweights in the form of a load suspended on cables.

Important! Unlike swing systems, folding gates do not have external hinges that can be easily cut with a grinder. In this case, the panel covering the doorway is adjacent to the supporting frame from the inside, so it is much more difficult for attackers to pull out the garage door with a cable hooked to the tow bar of a pickup truck or tractor.

Manufacturing of hinged gate assemblies

The easiest way to make a hinged gate design is from a steel angle and channel. Initially, you will need to measure the dimensions of the doorway, cut it from the channel and weld the frame of the garage doorway.

At the top of the frame, two horizontal corners with a flange width of at least 40-50 mm are welded. The length of each corner is more than two meters, so welding and assembly of the entire structure must be done “on the ground”, before installing the folding gate system in the doorway.

The angle of attachment of the corner to the frame must be adjusted to the building level. After welding to the frame, each corner is strengthened with a temporary brace made of a board or wooden batten to avoid deformation of the structure when it is installed in the garage doorway.

If a lift in the form of loads suspended on cables will be used in the folding gate system, one pin with a groove roller with a diameter of 30-50 mm must be welded to the upper part of the frame.

Particular attention should be paid to the manufacture of the main panel of the folding gate. Structurally, the folding panel is a frame made of a pipe or a metal tubular profile with outriggers-brackets welded to the lower and upper parts.

The tubular frame of the panel must be marked and welded exactly to the dimensions of the stationary frame. The main condition is to carry out welding in three steps so that the frame of the folding panel does not turn out like a “propeller” due to overheating.

First, the cut pieces of the profile are laid out on a flat area and fixed together by spot welding. At the second stage, the joints are welded on one side of the folding frame, after 30 minutes they are turned over and welded on the reverse side. If the panel frame is strictly in one plane, you can attach sheet metal, otherwise you will need careful straightening using a blowtorch and a sledgehammer.

Assembly and installation of folding gates

Before installing the tilt gate system, you will need to perform preliminary assembly of the structure. To do this, a stationary frame with welded corner guides is laid out on a flat horizontal platform. The newly welded movable panel is placed on top of the frame and its position is aligned as it will stand in the closed position in the garage doorway.

To connect the two parts of the gate, you will need to weld oblique brackets with roller or bearing rollers to the upper profile of the panel.

The reliability and smooth operation of the lifting mechanism depends on how accurately the supports are installed. Groove rollers are placed on the studs welded to the stationary frame. Additional L-shaped brackets are welded to the bottom beam of the panel, to which the support gate lift-lift cable will be attached.

All that remains is to install the stationary frame in the garage doorway and secure it with anchor bolts to the side walls of the garage. Subsequently, the fastening points will need to be carefully filled with concrete mortar and plastered. Until the stationary frame is finally secured, its position will need to be leveled to the building level. Next, you need to make a U-shaped device, with which the ends of the corner guides are fixed to the ceiling.

In the article we will look at how to make a garage door with your own hands. The main advantage of such a gate is that when the garage opens, the door moves to the ceiling in the garage, and this is much more convenient than in the case of swing gates.

So, you have decided to install overhead gates in your garage, and do it yourself. The simplest design of overhead gates is the one that was installed on “shell” type garages. However, these gates have a technological gap from the gate leaf to the opening. Naturally, this is unacceptable, since in our conditions the garage must be insulated, and the presence of even a small gap is completely inappropriate.

It is required that the fit of the closed gate to the opening be as tight as possible; in addition, it is necessary to provide a wicket in the gate, so that in winter, cold air does not blow into the garage building when the gate is fully opened.

Download drawing of overhead garage doors

To make a garage door frame, you can use an aluminum profile, and to arrange a frame for a gate, you can use wooden blocks. From the outside, a corrugated sheet or any other lightweight finishing material is attached to the gate frame with self-tapping screws.

After performing these steps, we get a gate in which the gate opens to the street side. The gate should open in such a way that when the gate is raised, it does not open on its own (this is fraught with injury).

The size of the gate is larger than the length of the opening (about 10 cm). This is done in order to ensure that there is no gap between the gate and the wall of the building (5 cm on the inner sides).

The lower part of the canvas on the sides needs to be equipped with wheels; I used wheels from ordinary roller skates. And so that they could easily move along the wall of the garage, I installed vertical guides: I bought a profile for installing drywall (metal thickness 0.6 mm) from a hardware store UD, and used them as guides. From the beginning I thought it would bend, but practice has shown that there is not a very large load on the sidewalls of the profile and it can withstand it quite well.

The doors are hung with chains (later replaced with 25x4mm metal strips) on the front wall of the garage building in such a way that the center of gravity of the leaf is lower than their fastening, and the location of the upper part is close to the opening.

Gates that do not open with leaves, but slowly disappear from our eyes, “driving away” along the walls of the garage, are convenient because they do not interfere, are not bulky, and do not take up space. The owner of such a device does not need to think about where it will be placed when opening, when a garage is being built, there is no option “difficulties in winter due to snow.” When opening such an entrance, only the lower part of the gate door near the garage ceiling is visible. Overhead gates are very secure because they are essentially a single piece of wood or metal and are very difficult to break into. If you galvanize them, they will also be very resistant to corrosion. The door will reliably protect against thieves, keep heat inside the building and will become very convenient and easy to use, but buying it is very expensive. Much cheaper and more interesting to do Do-it-yourself lifting garage doors.

Which model to choose?

A model with sections is a canvas made up of blocks of wood, plastic, or steel, about 1.5 m in size. When this door is lifted, the blocks are “pulled” upward and then returned back the same way. Inside, the wooden canvas will be filled with polyurethane foam, which will not let the cold into the garage in winter. The panels are connected by hinge-type hinges, the moving parts consist of steel or plastic (steel is better, they will last longer), and the guide skids are resistant to destruction and rust due to their composition.
Unfortunately, such a door is almost impossible to make yourself, and breaking it is quite simple. You can buy a ready-made prefabricated kit and install the door to get its main advantage - simplicity and ease for the owner.

Lift-and-pivot doors - during movement, the doors “drive” under the roof using the action of hinges and levers. Such a door is very reliable and it is very difficult for an attacker to break it in order to rob a garage. They are also quiet during lifting, because they do not use “moving” elements: guides and rollers, and when using them, it is quite difficult to pinch your finger. This is an expensive choice, about 60 thousand rubles. for the object and 15 thousand for installation.

Lift-and-swivel

This type of door includes a frame, a lifting leaf and a mechanism that opens the door. A steel or wooden frame is mounted in the opening; profiles directly for the canvas must be placed in the box. It is made of wooden boards, sandwich panels, and should be covered with metal. A door made from a single piece of wood is a very expensive pleasure; the simpler choice is boards impregnated with a chemical composition that will protect from the weather and covered with metal painted in any color. You can cover the tree with pieces of pressed foam or other insulating material.

Before you start making the gate itself, you need to study the available lifting methods.

• Method when using hinges and levers. The simple design promises reliability, but you need to very successfully install the guide profiles and carefully adjust the spring tension. The profiles should be placed parallel and evenly.
• Counterweight method. The cable is attached downwards at the corners of the frame, passed through a block, led to the winch pulley, and at its end there is a counterweight. Its mass will be commensurate with the weight of the gate. This option means that the frame and frame will be subject to considerable load; it is recommended to choose such a mechanism exclusively for huge gates. Next step: gate design. We measure the opening and draw a sketch (we look for drawings on the Internet).

The box is assembled from wooden blocks, their ends are connected by steel plates or corners, and the bottom goes 2 cm deep into the floor, then we fix it into the opening with steel pins.

This type of door includes a frame, a lifting leaf and a mechanism that opens the door.

How to make a design

The frame is made like this: take a thick corner, its parameters are directly dependent on the panel fabric, with 25, take the 75th, with 50, the 100th corner. Next, we measure the garage and prepare the opening for attaching the frame, you need to make sure that its surfaces are smooth and even, if this is not the case, we take the grinder in our hands and work. Next, we look for a workspace for the welding process. We will have 2 channels lying on the welding site, their parameters are 20 cm smaller than the frame. We cut the corners to length at both ends, making sure that they fit tightly. We weld them together, make cuts and use four (five) electrodes, create a frame, but do not weld them very tightly. We apply it to the opening and control the density; if it is not there, then we adjust what happened and weld it again, then we clean the seams. We do the same with the second part of the frame, then do the same on the second wall, the frame should be made double - internal and external, install it.

A support for the channel bracket is made from the corner, a hole is made in one shelf to secure it to the racks, and 3 holes are made in the other to secure the spring bracket. We secure the bracket by drilling 3 holes in one of the shelves. Next, we make an adjustment plate from an iron strip and use it to connect the spring and bracket. We bend the last turns of the spring with hooks, attaching a tension regulator from a rod to the bottom. We create a hinge corner for the lower part from the corner, drill a hole of 8.5 mm and weld it to the frame, retreating from the lower edge to the central part of the hole. Thus, we prepare for the manufacture of a lever for lifting on a 12-cm hinge. Next, we weld to its end and attach a plate for the voltage regulator.

Garage Doors

It is advised to pour concrete into a trench along the length of the stroke between the side posts, press the channel parallel to the ground, and when it hardens, weld both frames.

Installation of the canvas

We measure the diagonal, taking into account the dimensions, attach it by welding, all kinds of gaps are eliminated, we clean the seams and install the canvas. We attach the brackets and guides, their horizontal position must be made ideal, then: we insulate the canvas, fasten the metal sheet, clean the seams, degrease. We adjust the springs and secure the internal fittings. The entire celebration of work and construction will take two to three days.

Up-and-over sectional doors

The option is complicated, but they are airtight and better protect the room. They can be electric or manual. The first option is convenient; just press a button or remote control and you’re done. But the manual drive breaks less often, and it is easier to make a shield for it. The necessary parts cannot be made at home. Parts cannot be purchased on the market; it is better to buy a factory kit.

The garage doorway should be measured and assessed whether a standard door leaf will fit, and also check that the side parts and the top and bottom of the opening are in the same plane. We add 50 cm to the height of the doorway (if the gate is with a drive - 100 cm), this is the length of the garage required for the gate to rest on its ceiling.

The option is complicated, but they are airtight and better protect the room

Sectional doors consist of a door leaf, locks, a movement mechanism, a spring balancing mechanism and guide modules. Tires are attached to the edges of the opening, which are driven under the ceiling, and the gate moves along them. It is better to buy polymer sections; they are practically resistant to corrosion, do not create noise, and can withstand temperatures of -50 - +60.

Installation diagram

Create markings to secure the frame and components. Assemble the frame structure (not much different from a similar algorithm for up-and-over gates). Everything is standard: we install the frame, bolt the guides to the ceiling, but there is no need to drill holes or make other structures to hold it suspended. We assemble the canvas, starting from the bottom, and equip the panel elements with rollers. We protect the structure with casings. We check - if everything is done correctly, the canvas will not move on its own, hovering at the level at which it was installed.

In conclusion, it’s worth saying that homemade sectional doors must be safe. The bet is your own car, or even your life. You should be extremely careful about the installation rules, adhere to safety precautions and pay a small amount to a specialist who will check the quality of the door installation after the owner’s efforts.

Do-it-yourself lifting gates

Communities › Do It Yourself › Blog › Lifting garage doors.

Unfortunately, I cannot buy sectional doors, so I decided to make the doors myself.
I decided to do it as simply as possible, and from what was at hand and in any household. store, eventually came to this design.

I liked this option because it is easy to manufacture, upper guides are unnecessary and because the gate has an extension to the outside of the garage, convenient in the summer when there is rain or sun on the side of the gate, cover it a little and there are no problems.
Well, the main factor is that this type of mechanism eats up less internal space when closing and opening, since if you put the car back to the gate, the simple design would touch it. But I don’t want to move the car back and forth to open and close the gates.

Well, actually about the design.
My gate opening dimensions are: width 298 cm, height 230 cm.

When making the gate I used:
Profile pipe 40 x 20 x 600 cm = 4 pcs.
Corner 35 x 35 x 600 cm = 4 pcs.
Corner 25 x 25 x 600 cm = 1 pc.
Polyurethane wheels = 2 pcs.
Corrugated sheet C8 120 x 200 = 6 sheets.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a 3-meter one, it’s out of stock, and the order quantity is very small.
Cable 3 mm = 5 meters.
Thumb for cable 3 mm = 4 pcs.
Cable mount = 4 pcs.
Block for cable 30 mm = 6 pcs. (Temporary solution, will be replaced with bearings).
Bolts, nuts = I had them.

I started by calculating the distance of the gate extension and the rod attachment.
On paper I drew everything to scale and checked how the gate would open.
I decided to make the distance from the bottom of the gate to the wheel 80 cm, that is, the gate overhang is 80 cm, but it turned out to be 81 cm.
At this distance, the gate did not touch the car when opening.

But with the distance for attaching the rod, we had to use the selection method.
I took a rail according to the height of the collar, marked on it the place where the wheel would be attached, 81 cm, then screwed in a self-tapping screw where the top fastening of the rod was planned, tied a rope, and with the other end on the rail I selected the required distance, I got 85 cm.
The selection principle is as in the photo below.

For the upper mount of the rod, one corner of the support post above the height of the gate opening was welded in the other direction (with the corner outward, see photo).
I drilled a hole for an M12 bolt, welded a shock absorber bushing from a Volga or Lada to the rod, I don’t remember exactly, it’s not a problem to find it in spare parts (see photo below).

To date, many different garage doors have been developed and successfully implemented in practice. Among all the existing options, traditional overhead doors are particularly convenient and ergonomic, as they effectively slide under the garage ceiling when opened. At the same time, you can assemble and install overhead garage doors yourself.

Do-it-yourself garage doors

Types of overhead gates

There are 2 main types of overhead garage doors.

Lift-sectional gates

Lift-sectional gates

The leaf of such a gate consists of a number of individual panels, the height of each of which is about 50 cm. Steel, wood and plastic can be used to make the panels.

Hinges are used to connect the panels. Rollers, couplings and other moving elements are made of steel or plastic; stainless materials are used to make guides.

The inner part of the canvas is necessarily insulated (mainly with polyurethane foam), which allows you to retain additional heat inside the garage.

Types of lifting sectional garage doors

Among the main advantages of overhead sectional doors, the following points should be noted:

• safety of use;
• simplicity and maximum ease of use;
• good strength characteristics.

The main disadvantage of this subtype of gate is the almost complete absence of the possibility of hacking and illegal entry. In addition, you cannot make such a gate yourself - it is extremely difficult.

The only available option is to buy a factory kit and install the gate yourself according to the instructions.

Up and over gates

You can assemble and install such a structure yourself. When you open this gate, the whole leaf rises at once. A hinge-lever type system is responsible for the movement of the moving part. The gates are characterized by excellent strength characteristics (the final indicator depends on the properties of the manufacturing material) and provide reliable protection for the garage from attacks by intruders.

Up-and-over gates

The structure can be assembled without the use of guides and rollers. Thanks to this, the canvas will move silently.

To assemble such a structure, narrow technical knowledge is not required. This event also does not require large financial investments.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like all existing mechanisms, overhead garage doors have a number of strong qualities and some disadvantages.

Advantages

The main advantage of the systems under consideration is increased burglary resistance. The only way to get inside the garage is to cut through the canvas. It is almost impossible to cut the frame and get inside without attracting attention.

Garage doors "Hörmann"

The second important advantage of the design is its long service life. However, in order for the gate to serve for a truly long time, high-quality galvanized metal should be used to make the door leaf.

Garage doors "Hörmann"

The gates do not take up space in front of the garage, which makes entry and exit as convenient as possible.

Flaws

Among the main disadvantages of overhead gates, the following provisions should be noted:

• heavy weight of the structure. The disadvantage is relative - other existing structures weigh no less. But in order for the operation of overhead gates to be safe, you need to pay special attention to the quality and reliability of the frame;
• slightly increased consumption of raw materials;
• some inconvenience when entering the garage. For example, you will need to constantly get out of the car before reaching the garage by about 1.5-2 m - without such a reserve the gate simply will not open.
• in the open position, the gate takes away approximately 20-30 cm of the opening height;
• in case of significant damage to the canvas, it will have to be completely dismantled.

However, despite all its minor drawbacks, such gates are an incredibly convenient and ergonomic solution.

Features of the design

Do-it-yourself garage doors

Traditional overhead gates are made up of many elements. Check out the features of each one.

The frame serves as the basis for the entire structure. The frame should be as rigid as possible and securely fixed to the garage wall.

The side profile is the guide element along which the main part of the structure moves.

Guides - as already noted, you can do without them. But if possible, it is better not to exclude them from the structure.

Homemade lift gates

Canvas. Manufactured as a one-piece device. Usually made from corrugated sheets. Sometimes wood is also used to make canvases, but it is better to refuse such a solution - the material is heavy and relatively short-lived.

Insulation. Placed between sheets of canvas. It is most convenient to use polyurethane foam.

Rollers, springs and levers. These elements are responsible for the movement of the gate leaf. The sash rises along the guide element, takes a horizontal position closer to the ceiling and is finally fixed parallel to the ceiling surface.

Compensating springs. Provides easier lifting of the web.

Electric or mechanical drive. Electronics are more convenient - to control the gate you just need to press a button on the portable remote control. Mechanics are more reliable in most cases. If you decide to use an electric drive, remember an important rule - the gate shield should have a somewhat lightweight design.

If desired, the finished canvas can be decorated with a variety of decorative elements. All of them are available for sale in specialized stores.

It is important to remember: any decorative element, especially if it is forging, increases the weight of the structure. Know your limits.

What to buy?

You can make most of the gate elements yourself. However, there are some things that are better to buy ready-made and not waste time. Give preference to devices made from good quality metals. In general, you will need the following:

• limit bar. Located at the bottom of the system;
• edging profile. Protects against moisture and prevents corrosion by preventing rain and melt water from entering the garage. Instead of this element, you can use high-quality and reliable sealing material;
• decorative overlays. With their help you will close the gaps between the frame. Even if you follow the instructions and do everything as accurately as possible with regular level checks, you still won’t be able to align and adjust everything down to the millimeter;
• thermal insulation materials;
• decorative elements of your choice.

Do it yourself lifting garage doors

DIY gates

Manufacturing and installing gates yourself will allow you to save a significant amount of money on the purchase of a ready-made system and the services of third-party installers.

Video - Installation of sectional doors

Up-and-over garage doors

First step. Select the appropriate type of gate opener.

The most popular are hinged lever mechanisms. This design is durable and extremely simple. However, its installation requires increased precision from the installer at the stage of placing the guides and setting the spring tension level. The guides must be installed exclusively vertically and parallel.

The second option is a mechanism made using counterweights. The cable is attached to the corners of the support frame in its lower part, passes along the block in the direction of the pulley, and already at its (the cable’s) end there is some counterweight. The heavier and larger the blade, the heavier the counterweight used should be. It is recommended to give preference to this mechanism only when installing massive and very heavy overhead gates.

Video - Lifting gates, inside view

Second step. Design a gate. Pre-measure the existing opening and prepare a sketch (or choose a ready-made version from open sources).

Third step. Prepare tools for assembling the gate. You will need the following:

• high strength wooden blocks;
• good quality metal pins;
• corners;
• brackets;
• hard springs;
• metal rods;
• decorative elements.

Fourth step. Assemble the frame of the future gate from a transverse beam and a pair of vertical beams. To connect the bars, use squares; plates are also suitable.

Fifth step. Recess the bottom of the box into the concrete screed of the garage floor by about 20 mm and secure the product in the opening with metal pins.

Sixth step. Assemble the frame and cover it with the selected material.

Garage door installation

Seventh step. Make a support. Use a corner as a starting material. Using a drill, make a hole in the shelf for fixing to the posts. In the second shelf, prepare 3 holes for installing the bracket. To make a spring support, use a channel bracket.

Eighth step. Prepare a plate from a strip of steel. Connect the bracket and a suitable spring using a steel plate. Bend the outermost turns of the fixed spring like hooks. Connect a tension controller made of a metal rod from below.

Garage door installation

Ninth step. Make a bottom hinge corner. You need to drill a hole about 8.5 mm in diameter in the corner and weld the product to the supporting frame of the structure, stepping back from the bottom edge to the center of the prepared hole. The spacing will allow you to place the lift arm at the desired location on the hinge.

Tenth step. Attach the plate to the end of the lift arm. To securely fix the elements, use welding.

Eleventh step. Make rails for the movement of the gate leaf. Use a couple of corners as the starting material. Line them up and weld along one edge. The distance between the inner vertices of the steel angles should be 50 mm.

Twelfth step. Attach the finished rail to the previously prepared plate. Use welding for fastening. At the same time, leave an 8-centimeter gap between the axis of the guide part and the edge of the transverse product at the bottom. Attach a piece of channel to the second end of the rail by welding, retreating about 15 cm. Then screw the channel to the ceiling beam with a bolt.

Video - Guides for overhead garage doors, part 1

Video - Guides for overhead garage doors, part 2

Thirteenth step. Install several translucent inserts into the canvas. This is an optional item. Use translucent inserts if you need to improve natural lighting inside the garage.

Video - Lift gate frame, part 3

Video - Wheels for overhead gates, part 4

Fourteenth step. Glue on the rubber sealing edging. It also wouldn’t hurt to stick on compensating pads. Together, these elements will increase the stability of homemade overhead gates.

Fifteenth step. Secure the canvas in the box.

Thus, in self-assembly of overhead garage doors there are no extremely complex tasks, but this work must be approached with maximum responsibility and knowledge of the matter. Follow the instructions, do everything as accurately as possible, and your garage door will become its reliable and durable protection.

Video - Do-it-yourself garage doors

Do-it-yourself lifting garage doors: how to do it better

Lifting garage doors are a convenient, reliable, practical design for protecting the premises from unauthorized persons. When opened, they take a horizontal position, moving forward slightly, forming a small canopy over the entrance.

How to make garage doors with your own hands, their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed in this article.

Types of overhead gates, their advantages and disadvantages

There are two types of overhead garage doors:

• Devices in which the canvas has several sections about half a meter high. When opened, such a canvas, consisting of panels, is “pulled” into the garage under the ceiling, and then falls back vertically down. The materials for the manufacture of elements can be:

1. tree;
2. plastic;
3. metal.

The space inside the door leaf is filled with insulation – polyurethane, which provides effective thermal insulation of the structure.

The door panels, in this case, are connected using hinges. In such products, rollers, couplings and other moving elements are made of metal or plastic; materials that are resistant to corrosion are used for guide rails.

Advantages of this design:

1. easy to use;
2. sufficient reliability.

1. low resistance to burglary;
2. It is unrealistic to make such a device completely on your own.

To reduce the cost you can:

1. leave the manual drive, but abandoning the mechanical device worsens the ease of use;
2. reduce the size of the gate opening - adjust its width and height to the minimum number of panels.

Tip: If you want to install a structure of this type in your garage with your own hands, you should purchase a set of elements already prepared for assembly, and install them yourself.

• Swivel overhead garage doors. In this case, the solid sash rises to the ceiling when opened. The movement of the element is carried out due to the action of a hinge-lever mechanism. The diagram of such a device is shown in the photo.

The advantages of this design are:

1. high strength of the product;
2. the device perfectly protects the garage from unauthorized entry;
3. silent operation of the gate when the door leaf moves - there are no rollers or guides that could create noise;
4. It’s quite possible to make overhead garage doors with your own hands. To do this, you don’t have to have special technical knowledge, but their price is much lower; the costs will only be associated with the purchase of the material.

Design disadvantages include:

1. their installation is possible only in rectangular openings;
2. the height of the opening when open is reduced by about 20 centimeters;
3. the solid fabric of the device does not allow repair of individual sections, which, if damaged, requires a complete replacement of the entire element;
4. the gates have a spring mechanism designed for a certain mass of the product, therefore, if it is necessary to perform thermal insulation, the mass of the insulation should be taken into account: if it significantly increases the total weight of the insulated gate, it will be necessary to install counterweights;
5. There may be gaps between the frame and the leaf; they can be eliminated with a rubber seal, but such gates should only be installed in unheated garages.

How do overhead gates work?

Overhead garage doors consist of:

• Frames. This is the basis of the structure, it is installed in the garage opening or directly behind it and serves as the leading part of the product when moving the gate. The frame is usually made from rectangular pipes.
• Roller and lift arm systems, serving to open the gate. With their help, the sash of the structure moves along the guides and is then secured under the garage ceiling.
• Canvases. Its lower part rises up and forms a canopy over the garage opening. To insulate the garage, the door leaf is covered with pressed foam plastic, insulated with polystyrene foam or other heat-insulating materials. For beauty, they can be covered with panels made of plastic or wood.
• Guides, which serve to rotate the frame around its axis. At the same time, it moves from a vertical position to a horizontal position and back.
• Compensation springs, which stretch when the device is closed, but remain free when open.

• The hinged lever or simple one is the most reliable and most popular device, which ensures easy movement of the shield and prevents it from blocking.

Tip: Be sure to carefully adjust the spring tension and ensure high accuracy of installation of the guides. In this case, to prevent the shield from jamming, it is necessary to set the guides strictly vertically and be sure to have both of them parallel to each other.

• Mechanism on counterweights. In this design, the cable is attached at the bottom to the corners of the frame, goes through a block to the winch pulley, and a counterweight is placed at the end. As the weight of the gate shield increases, the mass of the counterweight increases. In this case, the gate frame and frame are heavily loaded, and the mechanism is used for installation in massive gates.

How to make your own overhead garage doors

Before you start making overhead garage doors with your own hands, you need to decide on the opening mechanism. After choosing its type, the dimensions of the gate opening are taken, a design sketch is designed, materials and tools are purchased.

To work you will need:

• Wooden blocks for making a box - with a section of 12 x 8 centimeters and for the ceiling 10 x 10 centimeters.
• Metal pins.
• Equilateral angles: for rails, section 40 x 4 and for frame 35 x 4.
• Channel No. 8 for the bracket.
• Spring.
• Metal rod, 8 mm in diameter.

The instructions for making garage doors with your own hands suggest:

• Assemble a frame from two vertical bars and one transverse one. The parts are connected with steel angles or plates.
• The vertical posts should be buried two centimeters into the floor screed.
• Secure the frame in the opening with steel pins.
• Assemble the frame for the gate leaf.
• The gate leaf is assembled from boards and covered with steel sheets on the outside.
• Expanded polystyrene, polystyrene foam can be used for thermal insulation.
• Make a support for the unit: two holes with a diameter of 10 millimeters are drilled in one of the corner shelves to attach the support to the racks, in the other shelf there are three more holes for fixing the spring bracket. For a spring, it is better to make a support from a channel.
• Make an adjustment plate from a strip of metal to connect the spring and bracket.
• The outer coils of the spring are bent in the form of hooks, and a voltage regulator made of a rod is attached to the bottom. On one side a ring is obtained, on the other the thread is cut.
• From the corner, make a hinge unit for the bottom of the structure with a hole with a diameter of 8.5 millimeters and weld it to the frame between the rib located at the bottom and the middle of the hole intended for installing the lifting mechanism lever located on the 120 mm hinge.

• Weld a plate to the end of the lever to install the voltage regulator.
• Make rails on which the gate will move. To do this, two corners are connected, and then welded in such a way that there is an internal space of five centimeters between their tops and welded along one edge.
• Weld the rail to the plate with holes. A gap of 8 centimeters should be left between the guide axis and the rib installed at the bottom of the cross member.
• At the other end of the rail, weld a piece of channel, stepping back about 15 centimeters from the end.
• The channel is fixed with a bolt to the ceiling beam.
• During the installation process, constant monitoring of the horizontal position of the guides should be carried out.
• The canvas can additionally be equipped with locking systems that will increase its safety, and the installation of various security mechanisms will protect against burglary.
• You can increase the amount of light in the garage by installing inserts made of translucent material in the canvas.
• To give the structure additional stability, you can stick on compensating pads and install a rubber edging.

The video will show you in more detail how to properly make a garage door. Also on our resource you can learn in detail about swing metal garage doors with a wicket.

How to insulate garage doors: do it yourself