A Door Can Make All the Difference

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Due to our harsh winter conditions in this area, many producers begin their preparation for winter weather early. Spending time to ensure that they have things put away and stored correctly for winter but one commonly missed consideration is winter preparation for buildings. With the large investment, you put into your outbuildings, shops, and hangars it is important to make sure that they are ready for winter too. Depending on the type of building winterizing can consist of a few different steps but it is important to check the barriers between your valuables and the elements like windows, siding, roofs, and doors.

The largest and often times easiest place for the weather to enter your building is through a sliding or overhead door. One severe weather event could penetrate an overhead or sliding door allowing mass amounts of snow inside and possibly putting whatever you have stored within at risk.  If you are thinking that your current door has seen better days it may be wise to consider upgrading the door before winter is in full force.

There are several options that you may look at when choosing a door type. Here are a few things to consider. These options can also apply to an existing building that you’re looking at retrofitting as well.

Sliding Doors:

This is one of the most economical options out there and a common application for machine sheds. Sliding doors are cheap and easy to install. Over time issues develop with the rail, the rollers, and the area in the path of the doors. One of the main reason’s buildings are retrofitted with new doors is that on some occasions, sliding doors allow the elements to get into the building.

Overhead Doors:

Overhead doors are easily the most popular choice for many large opening applications, this option is something that everyone is familiar with. They are generally very reliable and pose very few issues even in long-term use. Also, due to the overhead being mounted inside they are more susceptible to weather. In some cases, overhead doors have failed during harsh storm conditions and have been blown into the building, putting the structure itself at risk.

Hydraulic Doors:

A relatively new concept is the hydraulic door. This is basically an entire wall that swings straight out from the building. Some very impressive things can be accomplished with these doors. Especially when talking about hangar doors, this option has become quite popular. There are some things to consider in this instance. Rather than lifting straight up, these doors require additional bracing to compensate for the forces pulling the frame outward. Most companies building these doors have this taken this into account and generally do a good job; however, some have not. There are several applications where this style of door is a great option. Some things to keep in mind include the exterior clearance required for the door to swing outward, the additional bracing required, and the limited application potential. Lifting points can only be on each side and not spread out across the width of the door.

Bi-Fold Doors:

Generally, there is a notion surrounding bi-fold doors that they are available at a much higher cost than the other options. This isn’t always the case, what might cost you more upfront can end up saving you money in the future. A bi-fold door is extremely flexible in the applications it can support and offers a number of optional features. A bi-fold door creates a tight seal once locked down that will prevent wind, rain, and snow from entering your building. They also provide a number of options that offer convenience features such as auto-locks, pedestrian doors, and more. One key area where bi-folds shine is in the headspace in the building. Where an overhead relies on tracks that cut into the building, creating a dead space that cannot be used, or that must be carefully navigated by forklifts in some buildings, a bi-fold does not. A bi-fold door mounts to the exterior of the building, not only do you retain 100{c78344d3e29215303d5d40d52b11c16d78bfae3d066d03ae10a9b147abb03b47} of the headroom inside, but you are also far less likely to have a storm-related failure. A bi-fold door can be added to virtually all construction types, where other doors are limited to wood and steel frame buildings, and cannot extend past the roof or roof slope, limiting your total vertical opening height.

For more information on bi-fold doors and how they are the right fit for any building contact Diamond Doors. (866) 325.7600 www.diamonddoors.com

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