Whether you need them for load-in/load-out, for company truck access, or for something else, commercial garage doors are vital for many business locations.
The challenge is finding the right garage door. There are many things you’ll need to consider when making a purchase decision and you should never go into the process blindly.
We understand how hard it can be to make that choice, so we’ve put together an informative guide to walk you through what you’ll need to know.
Like these kinds of trolley door operators? This is the LiftMaster MT model.
Commercial Garage Door Openers vs. Residential Doors: What’s the Difference?
There are many differences between residential and commercial garage doors. For one, they’re not used in the same way. For another, you’ll find that residential garage doors are more about aesthetic appeal than they are durability and performance.
Size and weight
You’ll find that most commercial garage door openers are larger and heavier than their residential counterparts. That’s because these doors usually seal larger doorways, and they’re made from heavy-duty materials to withstand constant use. You need a larger opener to handle those doors.
Daily cycles
It’s not just physical dimensions, either. Commercial garage doors also open and close much more often than residential garage doors. Where you might open a home’s garage door twice a day, a commercial door may need to be opened much more frequently, up to 25 to 50 times per day, which equates to possibly 100,000 cycles in the opener’s lifetime (compared to just 10,000 for a residential door opener). Handling that workload requires durability and strength.
The question of horsepower
Commercial garage doors are larger and heavier than residential doors, so commercial operators are stronger. However, you’ll still find that their horsepower ratings vary.
Here are some loading dock doors. These garage doors are the G-1000, 8’ x 8’, Heron Blue by Garaga.
Commercial garage door operator types
You’ll find two types of electric door operators in use today. These are trolley and jackshaft garage door operator styles. Not sure which you need, it all comes down to where the operator will be installed.
● Trolley
Trolley-style operators are installed on the ceiling and are usually centered on the middle of the garage door. A rail connects the door to the motor, and a trolley rides the rail, pulling the door up and down as necessary. This is a good choice for standard lift doors.
● Jackshaft
Jackshaft garage operators are wall-mounted beside the door, rather than on the ceiling. They’re screw-drive models that use rotational force to open the garage door by turning a torsion bar. These are good choices for any type of door so long as there’s space to the side of the door opening.
You want to know more about these garage door operators? This is the LiftMaster GH (on the left) and the jackshaft LJ8900W model (on the right).
With a better idea of how they work, you can explore the various LiftMaster garage door operators available to find one that will fit your business best.
Consider your business’s unique needs
It’s not just about type. You need to consider specific factors that apply to your business.
How will you use the garage door? What’s your budget? Do you need one, two, or more doors? These questions must be answered before investing in garage door operators.
Your business’s requirements should be the first consideration before you even think about a garage door operator. How much traffic will you see? What’s the site like? What type of building is it? These will all affect the operator features that you need. Cost is another factor that you’ll want to think about.
Condos and apartments
How many units does your property have? That will affect open/close cycles. You have to assume that the door will open and close twice per resident with a car, so if you have 50 driving residents, the door will open and close 100 times per day as they come and go on their regular routines.
NOTE: The number of cycles and the cycle duration will affect the horsepower you need, as well as the overall cost of an operator.
In addition, you’ll need a feature that automatically closes the door (a timer-based system), as well as a pneumatic reversing sensing edge. The sensing edge is designed to force the door upward if it encounters an obstacle while closing and is important for safety.
Car dealerships and city garages
For car dealerships and city garages, jackshaft openers are usually the better choice because they maximize your usable space. However, you’ll need a couple of accessories to go along with your opener.
● A loop detector set into the floor before the door will detect vehicles and automatically open the door.
● A mid-stop allows the door to open only partially if needed, rather than fully every time, which can help prevent a lot of heat or cooling from escaping.
Car washes
For car washes, garage doors provide security and protection. When choosing an operator for your facility, make sure that it is water-resistant and that it meets your unique needs (all car washes are different).
Some of the things you will need to consider when choosing an opener include construction of your facility and the location of the operator. Stronger operators can also be important for controlling both noise and traffic flow.
Again, every car wash is unique. You will need to take the time to choose the right operator and accessories to suit your needs and improve your ability to serve customers.
Fire stations
Most fire stations today have large doors made of glass to allow firefighters the best visibility when leaving the station.
This full view door is a G-4400, 14’ x 16’, Anodized extrusion.
Of course, fire station garage doors must also meet a number of other requirements to support safety and improve efficiency. Operators are no exception. They must be able to open the door quickly, every time, because seconds matter here.
FireRescue1 offers a great blog about why LiftMaster’s smart garage door operators are so important for the day-to-day operation of a fire station.
A powerful garage door operator can offer two important advantages:
● Improved safety for personnel and equipment
● Prevention of vandalism and theft
It’s also possible to control operator speed via a wall-mounted control panel. This provides a way to open all garage doors at the same time from one location so that emergency vehicles can leave faster.
Warehouses, storage, and commercial space
Warehouses and commercial buildings come in many different shapes and sizes. You’ll need to carefully consider many factors before investing in a garage door and door operator, including:
● The size of your average in/out load
● The number of goods stored in the space
● The size of equipment necessary for loading/unloading/manipulating pallets
● The number of doors you need
Because there are so many different requirements, it can be difficult to choose the right opener and door configuration on your own. We highly recommend working with a trained specialist.
Ready to learn more?
It can be challenging to leap into this area and choose the right commercial door operator. Between technical lingo and the wide range of options, it’s natural to be confused. We hope the guide we’ve provide above has answered some of your questions, but we also realize that you may have many more.
If you have questions or just want to learn more about your options, we’d love to provide the assistance and information you need. We can also offer a wide range of commercial doors to suit just about any industry out there.
Take a moment to explore this image gallery to view some of our completed projects. You can also request a specialist to help you answer questions and provide important guidance through the entire project.
Contact us at 613-675-4473 for more information. You can also feel free to visit our showroom in person, or request that we send you an email quotation.
This is the LiftMaster GT model, a heavy industrial-duty trolley door operator.
Garage door operator installation for you
Do you already know which electric garage door operators will suit your needs? It’s time to have them installed. Our certified experts have the training, knowledge, and equipment to install your openers quickly, safely, and professionally. We’ll even guarantee their success.
At Huneault Portes de Garage Doors Inc., safety is one of our top concerns. Our installers are fully trained, and our electricians are licensed and experienced.
NOTE: Every LiftMaster commercial garage door also comes with a standard security system. This is designed to improve safety and prevent injuries. We recommend that you explore the various options we offer to learn more about their functions and features.
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