Up until the last few decades, single panel garage doors were pretty much the only type of garage doors you saw throughout San Diego. You might occasionally see a carriage style garage door on a historic home here and there, but for the most part, single panel garage doors, also known as swing up doors, ruled San Diego neighborhoods. This has slowly changed over the years, as sectional garage doors have become more popular. More and more people replaced their single panel garage doors with this newer style and pretty much all new homes being built in San Diego since the 1980s have featured sectional garage doors.
So, what if you still have an old single panel garage door and are looking for an upgrade? Should you replace it with another single panel door, or a sectional garage door? Here are three reasons to consider a sectional garage door, and one reason not to:
Easy Maintenance
Sectional garage doors, which are typically made of steel or aluminum are pretty low maintenance, whereas your old, wooden single panel door is more susceptible to weathering, warping, and splintering. A sectional garage door may get dented on occasion, but this is an easy repair. You can also replace only a section of the door, rather than having to replace the whole thing, if damage occurs.
Safety
Both single panel and sectional garage doors operate using springs that can fail if not properly maintained. However, when the springs fail on a single panel garage door, the results can be catastrophic. Single panel garage doors use large springs under a high amount of tension. If one of the springs fail, your entire (heavy!) door can come crashing down on whatever is inside.
Price
It used to be that single panel garage doors were less expensive than sectional garage doors in San Diego. However, this is no longer the case. Increased competition among San Diego garage door installers has brought down the price of steel and aluminum sectional garage doors significantly over the years. In addition, new single panel doors are now seen as a “specialty” item for homeowners looking to add some historic character to their homes. As such, they typically sell for a premium price. Of course, you can also find premium sectional doors, made of higher grade steel or aluminum or those having custom design features, but for a basic model, a sectional garage door should save you money over a single panel door.
Why You Might Want to Keep Your Single Panel Door
If you live in an older home, you may want to keep your old single panel garage door or replace it with another one to maintain the period accuracy. Although you can usually find a style of sectional doors that will go with any type of home, some people in San Diego prefer a more authentic door. If this is the case for you, a single panel door is the way to go.