Planning to expand your company’s footprint? Maybe it’s time to renovate a little. Whatever the case, garage doors could be just the ticket to increasing both value and usability.
Of course, if you’ll be investing in garage doors, you’ll also need commercial garage door openers. There are quite a few things that must be considered before deciding on a particular garage door opener model, too.
We’ve assembled this guide to help make your choice at least a little bit easier. We’ll walk you through the major considerations necessary to ensure you get the best result.
This is a LiftMaster MT commercial garage door opener model.
Residential, Commercial Garage Doors – What’s the Difference?
Think that all garage doors are the same? Think again. Commercial and residential garage doors are used very differently. Consider materials and designs, for instance. Residential garage doors are usually all about looks, where commercial doors are about utility and durability.
Physical specs
One of the most immediate differences between the two garage door types is in physical specs. That is, commercial garage doors are almost always taller, wider, and heavier than their residential cousins are.
Daily use
Another major difference here is in the number of times a garage door will be used each day. Where a residential garage door might be used two times per day, for a total of about 10,000 cycles in its life, a commercial door might be used 25 to 50 times. That adds up to a whopping 100,000 cycles over its lifetime.
Opener power
Garage door operators are rated by horsepower and the rating will vary depending on the door’s size, weight, and usage needs. Commercial garage door operators are stronger (more horsepower) than residential garage doors.
These commercial loading dock doors are G-1000, 8’ x 8’, Heron Blue by Garaga.
Commercial Garage Door Operators: Understanding the Types
Most commercial operations will use one of two types of garage door opener, either a trolley operator or jackshaft. Which is right for you? It comes down to where you need it installed.
● Trolley
Trolley-style openers mount to the ceiling and are centered on the door. A rail runs from the operator to the door and a trolley moves the door up and down. This is a good option for standard lift doors.
● Jackshaft
Jackshafts are installed beside the door, requiring less room than other options. They also work better for heavier doors and they can be used with all door movements.
Interested in learning more about each type of operator? This is the LiftMaster GH (on the left) and the jackshaft LiftMaster LJ8900W model (on the right).
With this information, you should be ready to start comparing models of garage door operators from LiftMaster. By doing so, you’ll get a much better idea of your choices.
Your Business Needs
How is the garage door used? What type of material is it? How much do you have to spend? These are just some of the questions that you’ll need to answer before investing in a door or a door operator.
The first thing to consider here is what your business needs from the door. This includes the amount of traffic, your industry, and even the type of building in question. Cost is a critical component, as well.
Apartments and condominiums
How many cycles per day will your property see? That depends on the number of residents. Each resident will use the door twice per day on average. So, if you have 75 residents, you can expect 150 cycles per day.
NOTE: The number of cycles will affect both the durability you need, but also the horsepower rating of your opener.
There are other things to consider here, too. For instance, a timer that automatically closes the door when necessary. You will also need a pneumatic reversing sensing edge. This is basically a safety system that ensures that if the door meets an object on the way down, it immediately stops and reverses itself.
Parking garages and automotive dealerships
For facilities with tight space requirements, jackshaft openers are usually the better option. They also ensure the ceiling is not obstructed, so that you can run lights or add other features as necessary, such as pneumatic lines, oil lines, and more. With jackshaft openers, we highly recommend considering a couple of different accessories that will offer more value.
One of those is a loop detector. This is installed within the pavement and automatically detects a vehicle’s weight when it pulls up. Then it signals the operator to open the door. A closing timer will ensure the door closes afterward.
Another consideration is called a mid-stop. These allow the door to open partway, which is important in cold or hot weather, as it helps to prevent conditioned air from flowing out of the facility into the outdoors.
Car washes
Car washes need doors to seal the facility when it is not in operation, as well as during periods of inclement weather. However, all car washes are different, so you will need to consider your needs very carefully. In most cases, you’ll need water-resistant door operators to prevent damage to the motor, as well as possible injury to any employees in the area.
Other considerations to make include the construction of the building and local codes. Other needs include noise control, traffic control, and weatherization (in case of things like hurricanes or tornadoes).
Inspect your building, the construction materials, and your environment to determine your needs here. With that information, you should be able to find the right operator, as well as important accessories for your business.
Fire stations
Modern fire stations have all-glass garage doors. These are important because they help provide a clear line of sight when the trucks leave, reducing the chances of an accident occurring in front of the building.
This is a G-4400 commercial garage door model, 14’ x 16’, Anodized extrusion.
Of course, speed is also critical. Every second matters when firefighters are called on to respond. That means the operator must be strong and quick. For more information about the situation, check out this blog from FireRescue1. It’s a network designed to support the greater firefighter community and discusses how LiftMaster’s unique garage door tech can make a major difference for these heroes.
There are two primary benefits to having a powerful garage door operator. These are improved safety for equipment and rescue personnel, and improved protection from theft and vandalism. According to this article, the two main advantages of having a powerful operator are:
Another important capability for firefighters is to control all the doors in the facility. A central control panel does just that.
Warehouses and other commercial buildings
Warehouses and commercial buildings can have a very wide range of needs and those can differ significantly from what we have discussed so far. You’ll need to consider things like the size of loads entering the facility, the need for quick opening and closing, the number of garage doors you’ll need, and then choose the operator design that fits those needs best.
It’s a complex situation and one that’s best handled by working with a specialist.
Need More Info?
We hope we’ve presented an easy-to-understand guide on the factors that should influence your decision when it comes to garage doors and garage operators. However, there are many, many nuances here and one business’s needs will not be the same as another.
We invite you to get in touch with us for more information. Whether you’re beginning a new build, retrofitting an existing structure, or something else, we can help you choose the right commercial doors for your requirements.
If you need more proof of our expertise, take a moment to explore this image gallery for pictures of our past projects. You can also request one of our specialists to answer your questions.
Contact us today at 603-524-4778. You can also feel free to drop by the showroom and speak to us in person. If you prefer, you can also request a quotation by email!
This is a LiftMaster GT garage door operator model, designed for heavy-duty industrial applications.
Need a Garage Door Operator Installed?
If you already know which of the many electric garage door operators you need, it’s time to have them installed. Our certified, highly trained specialists will have your operator installed in no time and your facility ready to go.
At Laurent Overhead Door Systems, we believe in safety first. Never attempt to install an operator on your own. One of our technicians and a licensed operator will keep you and your employees safe.
As a note, all LiftMaster garage operators come with a modern security system. We’ll configure it for you to ensure your property is protected.
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