Garage door noise - panel vs roller door choice ?

Justin · Mar 14, 2007 12:10 pm

Hi All,

We'll be building soon, and the plans have a garage integrated with the house. A bedroom is right above the garage.

I've noticed that a couple of established houses I've been to have had panel-style garage doors. When they've opened or closed them (using an powered automatic door mechanism), they've been really noisy. At one place, the door was so noisy that it used to wake us up in the mornings.

I figure that panel garage doors are more noisy than roller doors because that stay as one segmented section that slides back along the ceiling - thus lots of vibration in the door and track assemblies. Roller doors, on the other hand, have less track, and their very design seems to be noise cancelling because they roll up on themselves.

I'd love to hear anybody else's experience on this, as the standard inclusion for our place is a panel door. With Miss 5y.o's bedroom planned above the garage I want to make sure that she's not going to be disrupted every time the door opens and closes. I prefer the look of panelled garage doors rather than roller doors, but will go with roller if it's going to be a lot more peaceful during the comings and goings......

Cheers,

Justin.

NeilD · Mar 14, 2007 4:22 pm

I've had houses with both types of door and found that the rolla door is by far the quietest, to the point where I would never have another panel door. Another point to consider is the light issue. I hadn't thought of it until a friend mentioned it. A panel door slides across the ceiling, thus blocking light from any fixtures if you need to work in the garage; whereas a rolla type door only takes up the space above the door opening, and doesn't blockk the light.

Michelle · Mar 22, 2007 9:38 pm

My neighbours across the road have a roller door.
I used to hear them every time they opened the door, the worst screeching sound.

I mentioned it one day…at a BBQ…alcohol induced….they then oiled the door and I have never heard it since!

Good point Neil, about the light issue on the panel lift doors!

Put in a roller door it will save you money anyway.

miagi · Mar 27, 2007 8:42 pm

I differ here in opinion, I had a roller door 4.8m wide and the damn thing always made a racket when opening and closing.
Also the wind blowing past would rattle the door faltout.
I used to lubricate it often, but the noise came from the shaking of the door in general, probably because it was so wide.
I am currently in the building process and have selected a panellift statesman.
I feel the panel lift doors also dont look as cheap as the roller doors.

Sallyho · Mar 28, 2007 1:25 pm

Don't go for a home with the bedroom on top of the garage door, I've been there and done that and the noise drove me mental. Thankfully it was a rental and I was able to move out after 12months. (The house by the way was only two years old)

Trae · Jul 01, 2007 11:02 pm

Hi Justin, I don't know if you have made a decision yet on your garage door, but we installed panel doors with an incredibly quite motor, we actually show it off to visitors, daggy I know, but it is very impressive. The garage floro was installed beyond the motor so lighting isn't a problem nor is the noise transfer to bedroom above. Let me know if you want the model type etc

Casa2 · Jul 01, 2007 11:22 pm

Trae,

I would certainly like to know the brand and model of youor quiet garage door.

Cheers,
Casa

Ed Perry · Jul 02, 2007 7:22 am

Michelle

My neighbours across the road have a roller door.
I used to hear them every time they opened the door, the worst screeching sound.

I mentioned it one day…at a BBQ…alcohol induced….they then oiled the door and I have never heard it since!

And did you ever hear from your neighbours again? :lol:

commodorenut · Jul 02, 2007 12:57 pm

I had 2 panel-lift doors & motors fitted up about 4 weeks ago.

We went with B&D 'Statesman" panel doors, and the CAD-P openers - the 2nd best opener in their range (chain drive rather than the belt used in #1).

Overall, we're very happy, except for 1 minor noise issue.

I have no issues with the doors themselves making noise - they do make a bit of noise as they go up & down a bit, but not a lot. I disengaged the opener & ran them up & down manually to isolate the noises.

The openers hum from the motor running, that is acceptable too, and not intrusive.

What is annoying, is the "Clank, tink-tink-tink - CLANK" out of the chain slapping inside the C-channel on the opener.

One door is worse than the other, so I think they may be able to adjust it out a little, but the Rep has promised to have a look at it.

I'll keep you updated......

miagi · Jul 03, 2007 10:08 pm

we actually show it off to visitors, daggy I know, but it is very impressive.

(daggy) yep your right.

but seriously thats good to hear.

mattwalker · Jul 03, 2007 10:23 pm

Another option may be to go for a single panel tilt:

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when set correctly these are virtually silent....

commodorenut · Jul 04, 2007 11:18 am

I believe the openers used on tilt-a-doors & panel lifts are the same openers.

My 'noise' issue isn't with the door - it's the opener.

The panel lift doors, when disengaged from the opener trolley, are almost silent in their movement - certainly a lot quieter (and less effort) than the roller doors I had on my previous house.