Self-production Garage doors not only allow you to save significantly compared to the option of purchasing and installing ready-made ones, but also brings moral satisfaction. It is much more pleasant for any owner to use something made with their own hands. It should be borne in mind that this structural element is not at all simple, and the importance of high-quality, reliable and beautiful garage doors is obvious.
Before you begin the manufacturing process, you need to decide on the type of structure. IN last years Lifting gates have become widespread. They come in two types:
We propose to consider the technology of creating up-and-over gates, as the simplest and most inexpensive to manufacture. Having decided on the type of design, you can proceed directly to reviewing the instructions for making and installing overhead gates with your own hands.
Before starting installation work, it is necessary to complete the finishing of the adjacent ceiling and walls. Work on concreting floors may be carried out after installation of the gate.
Step-by-step instruction:
At the first stage, the frame is assembled, then holes are drilled for the mounting brackets. After this, the box is installed and leveled, the holes between the profile and the wall are sealed polyurethane foam. It is imperative to check with a level that the frame is installed correctly.
The next stage of work is attaching the guides to the ceiling. Then the canvas is assembled and inserted into the runners. Springs and levers are installed to ensure lifting and movement of the web. A profile for edging must be installed on all sides of the shield, and a limit strip is installed below to protect the gate stop from corrosion.
Necessary materials:
Video instruction:
Most important points, which you should pay attention to:
The opening and closing of up-and-over gates is controlled either manually or using electric drive, which is launched by the button or remote control. The last option is obviously more convenient.
The operating principle of this type of gate is that door leaf, consisting of a solid sash, rises to the ceiling when opened. The movement of the sash is ensured by the action of a hinge-lever device.
Design advantages:
Self-production
The box is the basis of the structure; it is made of beams, steel or wood. Guides are mounted in it along which the sash moves.
The lifting sash itself is made in the form of a single piece of different materials: sheet of boards covered with metal, sandwich panel, etc. Often used is the option of using a board made of boards, which is sheathed on the outside with galvanized iron and covered on the inside with polystyrene foam or some other heat-insulating material. No less popular is the design made of galvanized steel sheets coated on both sides protective compounds, and insulation located between the sheets. Expanded polystyrene or pressed foam is used as insulation. It is allowed to install a gate in the canvas or install anti-vandal roller shutters (Alutech) on the front side of the structure.
Another video about the features of making it yourself:
The gate opening mechanism is manufactured according to drawings and diagrams or purchased ready-made. The second option is quite acceptable, since there is a large supply of similar products on the market at very reasonable prices.
Main feature overhead sectional doors is the presence of a canvas made up of a number of approximately half-meter panels. In the process of opening, the canvas moves towards the ceiling, and when closing, it accordingly returns down to its original position. The panels are connected by hinges, the canvas moves along guide runners.
Panels are usually made of various materials: steel, plastic, and wood are used. For effective thermal insulation, the internal filling of the gate is made of polyurethane foam.
Design advantages:
Design disadvantages:
It seems unrealistic to make such gates yourself, since almost all structural elements Requires factory level manufacturing for reliable operation. Otherwise, you will have to sacrifice performance characteristics designs. The only one possible variant savings - self-assembly purchased ready-made kit.
Garage doors should not only be convenient, but also reliable. Among all types of structures, overhead doors are most suitable for a garage space. They are not so difficult to create with your own hands.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Gates with sections are quite popular.
Sectional doors with sandwich panels
They can be used in openings of any type. The structure consists of horizontal panels that are connected to each other with hinges. During the opening process, the panels will move vertically upward, and then horizontally along the ceiling. Snow piles are not an obstacle for such gates, since they do not open outward. The design allows you to save free space in front of the garage.
The sectional design is well sealed, so they are considered warm. List of main advantages:
Flaws:
The list of parts that make up the sectional structure can be seen in the figure:
Elements that make up the design of sectional doors
The sections move thanks to drums and cables, which are balanced by a spring device. Along the frame and under the ceiling there are guides along which the panels move, supported on rollers.
Gates with sections can be of the following sizes:
It is recommended to install gates of the smallest possible size. The compact design is more stable, while minimizing the likelihood of blocking. You should be aware that modules with a large weight may become stuck in the guides.
The modules are made according to the sandwich panel principle. Material thickness - from 20 to 50 mm. Inside the module there is insulation material that does not absorb moisture. Between the sections it is laid cork material, which can ensure a tight fit of the elements to each other. An elastic seal must be installed in the bottom panel to prevent the section from freezing to the floor base in winter.
Gates of this type can be equipped with an electric drive with the ability mechanical control in case of a power outage. The motor must be installed on the middle rail.
Up-and-over gates can be used in private garages or industrial premises.
Up and over gates consist of a single frame that rises upward
The design contains guide rollers that help the sash-shield move in a vertical or horizontal direction. In the open position, the structure is located vertically above the ceiling, does not interfere with or occupy the space in front of the garage.
The leading element is the frame, which is made of steel profile pipes. The design provides for the installation of special springs for compensation, which are free in the open position and stretched in the closed position.
The design is of the following types:
Main advantages of up and over gates:
Flaws:
A diagram of such a gate can be seen in the figure:
Elements that make up an up and over gate
The structure is made of galvanized metal and painted powder paint, so it is not subject to corrosion.
Rolling gates have recently appeared on the market. They consist of metal strips that are combined into a flexible web. During the opening process, the canvas is rolled up, wound around the shaft. This makes it possible to drive close to the garage. The thickness of the strips should be less than 25 mm. Therefore, they are not suitable for garages with high openings. The maximum gate width is 5 m.
The design can be equipped with a viewing or ventilation profile, as well as an automatic control system.
Scheme rolling gates shown in the figure:
Elements that make up rolling gates
You need to choose the type of design based on your needs.
The kit for installing gates of this type consists of the following parts:
The installation diagram of the structure can be seen in the figure:
Sectional door installation diagram
To determine the optimal size of the gate, you need to measure the opening. It is important to consider the following requirements:
Necessary measurements to calculate gate dimensions
After taking the measurements you will need to make a drawing.
First of all, you should pay attention to the design of the panels that make up the canvas. As a material for outer skin steel or aluminum can be used. The aluminum product is lightweight, which reduces the overall weight of the canvas. In this case, a lower power drive will be needed. The advantage of steel is that the material is durable and suitable for installation in garages that receive heavy use.
It is important to pay attention to the thickness of the walls and the type of profile. It is recommended to use a sandwich panel with a special burglar-resistant metal profile.
Special profile to protect gates from burglary
Thermal insulation characteristics will depend on the type of filler used and its thickness. The recommended thickness is more than 40 mm. It is not recommended to use a closed loop panel in regions with cold climates, as cold bridges will form.
The next element is the guides. It is recommended to use steel parts with a thickness of more than 2 mm. The elements must be zinc plated. This will protect the structure from corrosion. The design of the rollers is important - parts with bearings can ensure not only smooth opening of the gate, but also have a longer service life.
The use of factory automation greatly simplifies the installation and configuration of the structure. The remote control, lock with a code mechanism and other elements must be from the same manufacturer as the drive of the structure. Otherwise, there is a risk that the parts are not compatible with each other.
The drive must have sufficient power, otherwise it will quickly fail. When choosing, it is important to consider the size and weight of the sections. The markings on the rollers and shock absorbers will help determine the maximum weight the parts can withstand.
The torsion drum must be made of durable aluminum alloy. The guides must be made of steel.
Tools that will be needed:
The amount of materials depends on the dimensions of the gate. Design standard sizes most often consists of 4
In most cases Garage Doors made from 4 or 5 sections
sections. The length of the guide rail depends on the width of the gate.
First of all, you need to prepare and strengthen doorway. It must be located in the same plane as the walls. Sequence of actions for preparing the opening:
At this stage, you need to make sure the strength of the floor covering. It is also important to check its horizontal position using a building level. The maximum difference is 1 mm.
Gates of this type consist of sections that are connected by hinges.
The sections are attached to each other using hinges
Tires are attached to the extreme parts of the opening, which should go under the ceiling. Sections will move according to these parts.
When installing gates of this type, you must adhere to the following rules:
The installation of gates with sections cannot be done alone. Helpers are definitely needed. It is important to remember to be careful. All work must be performed wearing a helmet and gloves. The eyes must also be protected.
First of all, you will need to make markings to determine where the load-bearing parts will be fixed. If the dimensions of the elements turn out to be larger, the opening should be expanded. The dimensions of the opening must be measured in several places in width and height. For width you need to take the maximum possible value, and for height - the minimum.
On the surface you need to place 2 guide strips parallel to each other. The parts should be fastened with a C-profile at the bottom and a crossbar at the top.
The process of fixing parts using a C-profile
The internal size of the frame must correspond to the parameters of the opening. If you plan to connect the parts with brackets, then the profiles need to be cut at right angles.
If you plan to use perforated profiles, then they should be fastened with special strips. In this case, the jumper and guides must be cut so that a small “tongue” is formed. This is necessary for bolting the elements.
Sectional door frame assembly process
The assembled frame is leveled. It is recommended to place a support bar on the surface in advance. This could be, for example, a C-profile. You should check the correctness of its horizontal position, and then transfer the corresponding marks to the opening. The lower end parts of the frame will need to be aligned according to these marks.
After this, you need to attach the frame to the walls and ceiling and set it strictly vertically and plumb. After the frame is leveled, the structure must be secured with fasteners.
Attaching the frame to the walls and ceiling
The choice of fasteners depends on the surface of the walls and ceiling.
Vertical guides can be attached to walls by direct fixation or using standard brackets. It is recommended to use an adjustable fixation method: anchor bolts or self-tapping screws with drill heads. Sequencing:
At the next stage, you will need to temporarily secure the arc guides.
Fixing arc guides with bolts
They are attached to vertical posts using bolts. Additionally, you can use counter and fixing slats or specially shaped washers. The straight guide is mounted in the arc one. If temporary assembly was carried out at the factory, then there is no need to fasten the parts.
Horizontal guides need to be inserted into the corner ones and secured. To reduce the packaging size, in some cases the vertical slats are divided into two parts. In this case, the parts are fastened using a straight connector. During the fastening process, care should be taken to ensure that no thresholds or gaps appear between the metal profile shelves in the places of fixation with the corner strip. This may cause the rollers to jam.
When the bolts are loosened, the horizontal slats are held in place by the C-profile. This must be done while transferring the connecting rail from the bottom of the gate to the outermost part of the guides. After this, you will need to eliminate the distortion. To do this, you will need to align the diagonals of the rectangle that formed under ceiling structure. Once the alignment is complete, tighten the fasteners where the rails are secured and secure them to the ceiling using L-shaped brackets.
The guides are fastened to the ceiling using brackets
There are 2 options for a balancing mechanism - a torsion shaft and a tension spring. The principle of their functioning is practically no different, the only difference is in the location of the parts.
The torsion shaft will need to be secured at the top of the opening.
Sectional door torsion shaft
The design includes several springs and tension pulleys for different parts of the opening. A cable is attached to the pulleys, which will lower to the outermost section of the gate. There is a thimble at the bottom, it is secured to a pin or hinges.
It is important to pay Special attention shaft assembly. Most often, the process consists of adjusting the width of the opening and fixing the two parts using a flange. After installing the lower section and fixing the drive cable to it, you will need to remove the slack using the adjustment coupling and firmly tighten the adjusting bolts.
The spring tensioner is quite easy to install.
Installation of a spring tensioner for sectional doors
The part is fixed in the places where the guides are installed vertically. Quite often, the mechanism is assembled at the factory. The cable is attached to the lower section in the same way as the torsion shaft. The difference is in the adjustment. You will need to loosen the cable clamp, pull out the slack, and then tighten the bolts again.
The final adjustment should be made after the gate is completely assembled. The base must not fall or rise. In any position during the opening process, the sections should not move arbitrarily.
The adjustment is made as follows:
If the actions are performed correctly, the canvas will be located at the level to which it was raised.
Installation of sections is the simplest stage of assembling the structure. One by one they need to be installed between the guides, after which the roller bearings need to be bolted to the end parts. Quite often, steel auxiliary pads are installed by the manufacturer. In this case, all that remains is to bolt small brackets to them. When installing, you need to use 2 sets of fasteners - for the right and left sides.
Sectional door leaf installation process
The sections should be fastened to each other with overhead loops. Self-tapping screws for sandwich panels should be used as fasteners. After this you will need to adjust the rollers. You can do it like this:
At the end you will need to close the garage and turn off the lights. The gates are checked for cracks. There may be gaps between the slats and the walls.
The gaps must be filled with foam
There are several options for automating gates with sections:
Automation is installed as follows:
When purchasing a drive, you need to pay attention to its parameters and materials of manufacture.
You can make the task of drawing up a diagram easier finished projects, to which minor changes can be made. To draw up a drawing, the first step is to determine the width and height. You need to focus on the size of the car. When it enters, approximately 30 cm should remain on each side. The maximum width of the structure is 5 m. Optimal width- 2.5–3 m.
The distance from the perpendicular wall to the gate frame must be at least 80 cm. The height is also determined by the size of the car. Most often, a structure with a height of 2–2.2 m is made.
It is recommended to indicate on the diagram all dimensions of the structure and parts used. The structure should be 10 cm longer than the length of the opening. This will prevent the formation of gaps. The frame can be made of steel or wood. Its dimensions depend on the dimensions of the opening.
An example of a drawing of an up-and-over gate indicating the dimensions of the structure
If on at this stage difficulties arise, it is recommended to contact a specialist or use a ready-made project.
The design can be of two types:
You need to choose based on personal preferences. When drawing up a drawing, you need to measure the opening and put it on a sheet of paper.
The drawing should indicate how the gate will open and how much space it will take
It is important to think about how the canvas will move, how much space it will need, and how much it will extend beyond the boundaries of the garage space.
To make the frame, use a 65 mm iron angle. Angles of 40 mm and 35 mm will also be needed. A 50 mm metal profile is suitable for the frame and sashes. The parts will need to be sheathed with sheet metal. Recommended thickness - 3 mm. External hinges must be reinforced.
It is best to use polystyrene foam as thermal insulation. Exterior finishing can be done using plastic or wood panels, metal sheets or corrugated sheets. If you plan to use metal sheets, they must be protected with a special coating.
The optimal spring diameter is 30 mm. To make the garage have a more aesthetic appearance, the canvas is covered with decorative strips made of wood or plastic.
You will need to prepare the following elements:
List of required tools:
Calculation of materials is carried out taking into account the data presented in the drawing.
Data for calculating the required amount of materials
It is necessary to focus on the dimensions of the structure. The width of the profile is determined by the width of the blade.
To build a gate that goes to the ceiling when opened, you will need to perform the following steps:
The up-and-over gate frame consists of 6 squares
The gate must be equipped with a mechanism for moving the leaves
At the end, you will need to hang the canvas on the constructed frame. To protect the garage from thieves, the structure must be equipped with a reliable lock and latch. If desired, the gate can be insulated - for this you will need polystyrene foam.
You will first need to treat all the cracks between the frame and the base with polyurethane foam. This will protect the garage from heat loss through the gate. Next, you need to treat the doors with a primer or enamel, which can protect against rust. After the coating has dried, it will be possible to insulate the gate.
The gate can be insulated from the inside with foam plastic
Foam is installed on metal base or is pushed between the frame joists. If you plan to use the first option, then you only need to glue the material to the sashes. If the second method is chosen, you will first need to create a frame made of wood, and then install the material.
To ensure that the gate opens and closes without problems, the structure should be adjusted. To do this you will need to tighten the spring. This can be done by tightening the nut. If the problem is not solved, you need to change the mounting location of this part. The gate will be easy to lift if you equip it with a handle from the outside, at a maximum distance of 1 m from the ground.
As an automatic lifting mechanism Can be used as a car alarm. The drive is suitable for a reversible self-locking winch, which operates from a 220 V power supply and has a traction force of at least 120 kg.
Automation will have to lift the gate up to the ceiling. The main disadvantage of this design is its high cost. In this case, the automatic drive is mounted on the ceiling and lifts the leaf using a cable, one part of which is attached to the sash, and the other to the electric drive.
Automation layout for overhead gates
The cable is placed in a metal profile, which is fixed in a suspended state on brackets to the ceiling structure.
Another option is to use a hydraulic drive. 2 drives must be fixed on both sides from the inside of the base.
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You can install any gate in the garage, including the popular overhead gates. Despite the complexity of the design, there is nothing difficult in installation. If you have a strong desire and the necessary tools, you can make overhead garage doors with your own hands without any problems.
Gates that do not open like doors, but go under the ceiling, are assembled from several parts:
This design is in great demand among garage owners because it has a lot of advantages.
Lifting gates are characterized by the following positive qualities:
Despite the advantages of overhead gates, some garage owners find compelling arguments against installing them.
The following disadvantages of this design can force the garage owner to change his decision regarding equipping the garage with overhead doors:
You can turn a blind eye to certain disadvantages of overhead gates. Some car owners ignore the fact that the door structure, which goes up, is mounted only in a rectangular opening. The fact is that this disadvantage is compensated by the wide possibilities in finishing the canvas. For example, small windows made of glass containing wire mesh in the thickness may be built into the leaf of an overhead garage door.
The gate, which goes to the ceiling, allowing the car to drive inside the garage, looks like a flat canvas that completely fills the opening. In order for it to rise easily, it must be supported by a rigid frame, securely attached to the wall of the room. The overhead gate leaf moves up or down along the side profile, which acts as a guide.
A special mechanism consisting of springs, levers and rollers forces the canvas to move from place. The sash, which is set in motion by these elements, rises along the guides and goes upward, after which it slowly takes a horizontal position and becomes parallel to the ceiling.
Easy and quick lifting of the canvas up is provided by springs. When the gate is locked, it stretches. And the opening of the door structure brings them into a compressed state. Springs and all other elements of the mechanism for moving a solid gate leaf can be forced to perform their task either manually or automatically.
Lifting gates are opened at the touch of a button using an electric drive, which must be specially equipped with the door structure.
The first task that a car owner who has the idea of making a lifting gate needs to complete is to draw up a drawing. You won’t be able to do without it, since the final result of the work depends on it.
A diagram indicating all dimensions is a document that can protect you from making skewed gates. By the way, when constructing a lifting door structure, it is advisable to have on hand not only a simple schematic representation of the gate, but also a plan with its isometric projection.
The dimensions of the lifting door structure should be 10 cm greater than the length of the opening. By adding these centimeters to the gate parameters, you will be able to avoid the appearance of gaps between lifting structure and the walls of the garage. A large room may require the manufacture of gates with dimensions of 6x2.2 m. And the frame itself, created from steel or wooden elements, should be made taking into account the dimensions of the opening.
Having finished drawing up the drawing, you need to arm yourself with a pen and notebook, to note in it what will be needed in the process of manufacturing overhead gates.
To install overhead gates in your garage, you need to prepare:
Most of the requirements are placed on the material from which the canvas itself will be made. To create a lifting (it can be folding or folding) sash, boards with a thickness of at least 2.5 cm, corrugated sheets and plastic panels are suitable. You can make a canvas from ordinary sandwich panels. Same good material board shields are considered.
The door leaf of a rising door structure cannot be made from solid wood. Otherwise, the sash will turn out to be heavy. In addition, in the rain and snow it will become damp and swell.
If, after making the door leaf, the garage owner intends to insulate them, then he can use basalt wool or polystyrene foam. These materials meet fire safety requirements. Having insulated the door structure, you can sheathe it with galvanized steel sheet, which will protect the metal parts of the gate from rust.
For measurements you will need a metal tape with divisions (tape measure), a building level and a corner. In the future you will need:
To make a gate that goes to the ceiling when opened, you will need to perform the following steps in turn:
After this, you should take care of protecting the garage from intruders by equipping it with locks and latches. It’s worth thinking about how and with what to insulate your homemade overhead gates.
The garage can be protected from heat loss if the inside of the lifting doors is covered with foam plastic. This material is characterized by high rigidity, does not absorb moisture and does not allow it to escape outside. warm air. The quality of the foam, despite the low price, is beyond doubt. In addition, this material is easy to work with, because it weighs little.
It is first necessary to treat all holes between the frame and the canvas using polyurethane foam. This clever trick will protect the garage from heat loss through the door structure and the occurrence of drafts. Then you need to coat the gate leaf with a primer or paint that protects against rust. When the coating has dried, you can begin to insulate the door structure.
Polystyrene foam can be laid on the metal surface of the gate or inserted between the lags of the sheathing. If you like the first option, then the insulation will simply need to be glued to the sash. And when choosing the second method of laying polystyrene foam, the first thing you need to do is create a frame from wooden lining, and only then deal with insulation.
Later, in order for the gate to open and close without difficulty, it is recommended to adjust the spring tension by tightening the nut. If this does not help, you can change the location where this element is fixed. Lifting gates will tip over easily if they are equipped with a door handle from the outside at a distance of less than 1 m from the ground.
The main condition for the successful completion of work on the construction of overhead gates is correct preliminary calculations. In addition, in order for the door structure delivered to the garage to cause pride and not regret, you need to take on its manufacture with construction skills.
Up and over gates have become especially popular today. All more people they choose them. They will reliably protect the room from burglary and will not take up much space.
Previously, all gates were the same, with large, heavy metal leaves painted in unpleasant colors. Today they have changed dramatically in terms of constructive solution, materials and appearance. To keep your car safe and protected, choose a garage with reliable swing-up overhead doors. Distinctive feature What sets them apart from other models is their unusual design. These gates are the most convenient and reliable type of garage structure, which is quite expensive.
When installing gates of this type, several conditions must be met for further high-quality operation. First of all, this is the size of the opening. The width should be no more than 5 meters, and the height should be no less than 2.85 m. The distance from the wall to the edge of the opening for installing guides should be at least 120 mm, from the ceiling to the upper edge of the opening 210 mm.
Taking into account the dimensions of the vehicle, the dimensions are adjusted.
The design is quite simple. The gate rotates around its own axis, moving from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa. Their constituent element is a frame that is mounted in the opening of the room or behind it and is the most important element for opening the gate. In most cases, it is made from pipes with a rectangular cross-section.
When opened, the roller mechanism and lifting levers are activated, which move the gate leaf along the guides and secure it under the ceiling of the room. The bottom rises up, thus creating a visor. When the gate is closed, the compensation springs immediately stretch, and when they are open, they are in their normal state.
It is known that automatic structures can be made to order. But, despite the difficulties in manufacturing, you can design them yourself.
The complexity of manufacturing depends in most cases on the model you choose, the dimensions and your skills in working with drawings, electric tools and a welding machine.
When making a drawing of a product, it is necessary to indicate on it the main points:
If necessary, you can use ready-made sketches of these models by selecting required drawing. Before starting work, first be sure to familiarize yourself with the basic operating principle, as well as the specific installation of this structure.
According to state standards and standards, this design is presented in three types:
If you decide to make up-and-over gates yourself, then you need to take measurements and sketch out a drawing, prepare the necessary tools and materials for this, namely:
Materials needed to make your own up and over gates:
Before installing the structure, it is necessary to take into account some nuances. Sometimes installation of the product is impossible, since it is attached only to rectangular openings. The height of the opening decreases when the gate is open. If the sash of the structure is sheathed with a solid fabric, it is dismantled, changing the entire casing.
Main components of the design:
The mechanism that makes the doors work is best made from lightweight materials, which will make the load on the product lower, thereby extending its long-term use. Next, select the mechanism that is used to open the sash. The articulated lever is the most common because of its simplicity as well as reliability. You can also choose a counterweight mechanism. It is used in the construction of large, heavy gates.
The following installation steps include:
As finishing coating surfaces can be used plastic or metal sheets.
When installing the product you must:
The convenience of a garage for a car is not least determined by its entrance gates, which should ensure the safety of the car and close easily and securely. Nowadays, you can order or make several options for automatic designs yourself. Next we will look at how to make a garage door with your own hands.
Unlike swing structures Having in most cases 2 leaves that swing outward, overhead gates have sections or rollers that rise upward. Their operating principle is different depending on the type - sectional, rotary or roller shutter. The design itself, including various elements: box, guides, rollers, lifting mechanism, much more complex than simple ones swing gates.
But the installation costs and materials fully compensate for the reliability and convenience of regular use of such a garage.
Having a ready-made garage with a rectangular entrance opening, you can easily build overhead gates with your own hands. For installation you will need a standard kit construction tools, materials for sashes, guides and casings. It is enough to arm yourself with patience and use a little ingenuity to literally build a reliable and convenient design of such garage doors in just a few days, without rushing.
Before you decide to build garage doors with a lifting mechanism, you need to weigh all their pros and cons.
Experienced craftsmen note the following advantages of such systems:
It is worth paying attention to the disadvantages of overhead gates:
If the garage owner has taken into account all these features, then you can begin installation. But first you need to decide on the type of overhead garage door.
The most common are 3 types of homemade lifting structures:
Up-and-over garage doors are the most secure against burglary due to the one-piece design of the door. When opened, it rises up, turning 90 degrees and taking a horizontal position. Their mechanism can be lever-hinged or counterbalanced. The first view on the levers represents the most simple designs, which ensure smooth and unimpeded movement of the sash to a horizontal position.
Counterweight gates are most suitable for heavy doors.
Lifting and turning structures consist of a frame (usually metal), guides along which the frame moves, a spring mechanism or a counterweight with a winch. Lifting can be done manually using a handle at the bottom of the housing. This is done easily thanks to the stretched springs of the built-in mechanism. You can improve this mechanism by connecting an electric drive, then raising and lowering the sash occurs simply by pressing a button.
The leaf of an overhead sectional door is assembled from several panels up to 50 cm wide, which are connected to each other by hinges. When it is raised, these panels (they are also called lamellas) move along guides on rollers. The movement is provided by a spring mechanism, drums and cables. This design is reminiscent of sandwich panels used in construction.
The mechanism of roller gates for garages is the same as that of roller shutters in shopping centers. Their folding slats are narrower than those of lifting-sectional types; when opened, they rise and twist into a special box of small width. Therefore, this type has a clear advantage - saving space inside the garage. There is no need to install long guides under the ceiling.
The materials for the frame, frame and guide rails of overhead gates are usually metal, but stainless steel is the best choice. The box can be made of thick wooden beams or metal corners. Solid doors of a similar design can be made in the form of a sheet of boards in a metal frame. They are often sheathed on the outside with sheet metal.
To keep the garage warm in winter, you can sew heat-insulating materials inside: sheet foam or mineral wool.
The box is coated with an anti-corrosion primer, then painted in 2 layers of alkyd or waterproof enamel. It is best to cover the folding shield with galvanized steel or aluminum.
The slats on sectional or roller doors are usually also made of galvanized steel or aluminum; inside the sheets you can place thermal insulation material. The surface of such panels can be of any color - to the taste of the owner. Moving structural elements - rollers, couplings, are made of plastic or light metals, guides are made of of stainless steel or other materials not subject to corrosion.
Automation of doors that can be opened using an electric drive will greatly simplify the use of the garage. Many drivers don’t want to bother with heavy doors, especially when it’s freezing or pouring rain outside. For any design and mechanism, it is possible to select an electric motor of appropriate power that will use current from the household electrical network.
There are several types of automatic overhead gates.
The most common schemes that are easy to do yourself are:
It is possible to order finished design, the kit of which will already include an automatic drive for lifting, such, for example, are equipped with many roller shutters with galvanized steel slats.
In this case, after purchasing, you only need to correctly install them on the garage opening and connect the electric drive to the network.
To make simple overhead garage doors, you can use ready-made sketches and calculations, only slightly adjusting their dimensions to suit your room. There are many examples of country house solutions containing drawings and a detailed report including necessary tools and materials.
Before you make the structure itself with a movable mechanism, you need to make sure that the opening, adjacent walls and ceiling are able to support its weight. To do this, you need to choose strong and dense floors without voids and reliable fastening systems. And the room itself must be protected from moisture penetration and other natural factors that can damage the operation of the gate.
By selecting suitable type and an approximate design of future sliding gates, we make a drawing with exact dimensions, based on them we calculate the amount of necessary materials.
For a strong and durable frame of overhead garage doors, metal profiles measuring 40x20 mm and at least 2 mm thick are most suitable. Transverse and horizontal fastenings for the structure can be made from 20x20 mm profiles. Gate guides are most often made from channels up to 20 cm wide, and the size of the rollers is selected depending on it.
The box of the lever-hinged mechanism can be made from a metal angle or beam. Parts of the required length are cut out according to the dimensions in the created drawing.
The rollers themselves, springs and the entire lever-joint mechanism are usually purchased ready-made. They are selected according to the dimensions of the guides. The remaining parts can be easily made yourself using a welding machine and a grinder.
To manufacture the gate and install it in the garage opening, you will need the following tools:
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For fastening, you need to use metal anchors or dowel screws suitable for the given weight of the structure. If you plan to use anchor bolts to fasten a metal corner, then you need to prepare a set of appropriate wrenches.
Before you install the lifting gate system yourself, you need to make sure that the opening on which they are installed has an ideal flat surface: strictly vertical and horizontal level, right angles. The supporting frame is the most important strength element of such gates, so you need to be as careful as possible in its manufacture.
If a metal corner is chosen for the box, then the width of its shelf should be 1.5 times the thickness of the sash. After all the parts are measured and cut, they are attached to the garage opening with anchor bolts and tightened securely. To make the box, you can also choose wooden beams with cross-sectional dimensions of 100x50 mm, which must be secured with 100 mm self-tapping screws.
One-piece frame folding gates must be assembled on a flat horizontal surface. After the metal profiles are cut to the required length, they are checked with a square and lightly tacked by welding. Next, check the right angles and dimensions again, including diagonally, attach the corner gussets and transverse stiffeners, then completely weld the structure.
After welding the frame, it must be cleaned with a grinder at the joints to remove burrs. Then it is coated with an anti-corrosion solution and painted. Boards with thermal insulation are sewn inside the metal profiles, and the outside is covered with sheet metal. Brackets with movable rollers are attached to the upper corners of the frame.
After this, guides for the future sash are attached to the ceiling. They should also be mounted as level as possible, double-checking the horizontal level, parallelism and perpendicularity to the doorway. Then the sash is temporarily installed in the opening in order to mark the location where the lever-spring mechanism is attached.
After the operation of the gate and the unhindered movement of the leaf along the guides have been checked, it is removed, the springs are installed, and they are adjusted. Lastly, a rubber seal is attached to the frame around the perimeter to seal the seams and softly close, install door lock and opening handle.
With careful and correct installation, and reliable protection against moisture, gates with a similar design can last for decades. And their repair can be limited only to lubrication of the moving parts of the mechanism, lever system, support rollers and replacement of the rubber seal. For prevention, lubrication can be carried out every season, and the outer rubber gasket can be lubricated with silicone before the onset of cold weather to protect against freezing.
For internal thermal insulation For such gates, you can use various materials that are also used for wall insulation: mineral wool, polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene. The last two are more effective, since they do not shrink over time, but they can be fire hazardous, so it is better to choose non-flammable types.
