How To Choose the Best Commercial Garage Door Operator For Your Company

The addition of commercial garage doors to your building may provide several benefits for those planning renovations or additions to their office spaces.

Building a new office or renovating an existing space can be exciting, but if you want to be successful, you need to consider some technical details before you proceed.

Before purchasing commercial door operators for a new construction or remodeling project, take the following factors into account.

You should know several things before purchasing commercial garage doors and door operators, even though they may seem straightforward. Listed below are the most important features of commercial door operators for your convenience.

To narrow down your options and find the perfect garage door operator for you, read this article.

LiftMaster MT garage door opener

Like these kinds of trolley door operators? This is the LiftMaster MT model.

Surely there are differences between residential and commercial garage doors, but what are they?

Because most people have a garage door in their home, they assume they understand garage doors, but commercial doors and residential garage doors are actually very different. Residential garage doors differ significantly from commercial garage doors. We'll discuss a few of the differences here.

Commercial and residential doors have different sizes and weights

Most residential garage doors are smaller and lighter than those for commercial properties, as you might expect. How come? It is a requirement for commercial garage doors to be more durable since supplies are regularly loaded and unloaded through them. An effective system is needed every day to maintain such a level of performance.

Frequency of use is a critical consideration

Commercial garage doors open and close far more times per day than their residential counterparts. The garage doors of residential properties are opened far, far less often than those of commercial properties.

In fact, the average number of cycles in a 13-year garage door is about 10,000. It is important, however, to consider the operation cycle when considering loading dock doors, for example.

Additionally, of course, distribution centers are far busier than your home. High-quality commercial garage doors can last between 25 and 50 years and are usually opened and closed 25 to 50 times daily. Therefore, commercial door operators should be chosen based on their power and energy efficiency.

Horsepower is also important

A commercial door has a much larger and heavier weight and size than a residential door, so its horsepower needs to be more powerful as well. Due to the frequency of opening larger and heavier doors in commercial buildings, commercial door operators are built with higher horsepower.

Here are some loading dock doors. These garage doors are the G-1000, 8' x 8', Heron Blue by Garaga.

Interested in these loading dock doors? These garage doors are the G-1000, 8’ x 8’, Heron Blue by Garaga.

What types of commercial door operators are available?

There is no such thing as a standard electrical door operator. They are actually divided into two types: trolley garage door operator and jackshaft. You need to understand the differences between the two options if you want to know what is the best fit for your company. Furthermore, where the operator is located has an impact on the decision you make.

  • Trolley

    With a trolley operator, a vertical electric door operator hangs from the ceiling and is usually located in the middle of the track. With this operator, a rail rides along it and connects to the door, which in turn opens it. Typically, standard lift doors use this type of operator since it operates by pulling the door horizontally.

  • Jackshaft

    Installed next to the door, this type of operator is mounted to the wall. Rotational force is used by turning the torsion bar in order to lift and lower the door. Due to its design, it can accommodate all types of door movements, unlike a trolley.

Here is the LiftMaster GH garage door opener and the LiftMaster LJ8900W (jackshaft) garage door opener

Are you interested in learning more about garage door operators? This is the LiftMaster GH (on the left) and the jackshaft garage door operator LiftMaster LJ8900W model (on the right).

With this information, you can now discover more models of garage door operators from LiftMaster that offer various features and mechanisms. Then, you can select the one most suitable to your needs and those of your company.

Are there any needs specific to your business type?

It is also important to consider the individual needs of your business. Consider what the garage door will be used for, and what the construction of it means.

In addition to the price, you should consider how many doors you will need. These are all essential aspects to consider before you buy.

It is crucial that you carefully evaluate the needs of the property you are considering before making a final buying decision. Various factors, such as the industry you operate in, the building construction, and the amount of traffic you receive on a regular basis, should be considered.

A high-quality and efficient garage door will have a significant impact on the efficiency of your business.

Apartment building or condominium

Depending on the number of units in a building, there might be a different number of cycles per day for apartments and condominiums. If a building has a lot of occupants, an efficient door may need to open and close hundreds of times per day.

Various factors can affect the cost and horsepower requirements of garage door operators.

Furthermore, it is also imperative that such operators can sense objects so they can avoid closing. To do this, it needs a pneumatic reversing sensing edge, as well as an automatic timer-to-close feature.

Municipal garage and car dealer

Such companies normally benefit from jackshaft operators because they can provide more storage space and increase ceiling clearance. You should not only consider the operator; you also have to consider accessories, such as:

  • A loop detector (usually installed before paving the floor) that detects when vehicles pass and opens the door when they do.
  • A mid-stop so the door won't open completely if it's not necessary. This is a great idea for maximizing your building's ventilation or heating.

Car washes

Security, insulation, and other reasons are among the reasons car washes use doors. The way each one works varies. Due to humidity and dampness interfering with electronic systems, garage door openers for car washes ought to be water-resistant.

Moreover, your building's construction and location may influence what you need. Using the right doors and operators, for instance, could reduce noise or control traffic flow.

Analyze the material in your building and the surrounding environment to determine what you need. With it, you will be able to identify the right operator and accessories for your business!

Fire stations

You might have been observant enough to realize that fire stations usually have glass doors. This is a critical design element, as it ensures that firefighters in a hurry to get to an emergency can leave as fast as possible.

This full view garage door is a G-4400, 14' x 16', Anodized extrusion.

This full view door is a G-4400, 14’ x 16’, Anodized extrusion.

There are other specific requirements regarding the design of a fire station to ensure safety and efficiency on site. In case of an emergency, firefighters must be on duty rapidly. Seconds matter in these situations!

The design of a fire station must also meet certain specific requirements, in addition to safety and efficiency. Fire stations must have the ability to respond quickly to emergencies. Each second counts for firefighters!

Firefighters can make a significant difference in their daily work thanks to LiftMaster's smart garage door openers. To learn more, check out this blog from FireRescue1, a network that helps firefighters.

This article talks about the imperative differences that a garage door operator can make to the efficiency of a fire station. Including:

  • Personnel safety and equipment safety
  • Anti-theft and anti-vandalism measures

A wall-mounted control panel that enables fire crews to increase their speed. All garage doors can be controlled from one point simultaneously, so you don't have to wait for each vehicle to leave the garage.

Warehouses and other commercial buildings

In a warehouse or other commercial building, the garage door operator needs to be able to meet the needs of the business. Depending on the type of business you run, your organization's needs may differ greatly.

Are you planning to buy more than one garage door? What is the best way to operate the garage door? This question depends on how much loading and storing you do in your warehouse.

In view of this, and since your needs are likely to be individualized, we recommend speaking directly with one of our business consultants so that we can help you choose the right solution.

Want to learn more about it?

There are a lot of terms and definitions that can be confusing for those who don't know a lot about garage doors or door operators. In order to help you understand which garage door and operator are right for you, we have provided some definitions and tips.

No matter what kind of project you have, we can help you! We can change the operations in your company's building or start a brand new one! All kinds of commercial garage doors are available from us.

View our image gallery if you're interested in seeing examples of our past work. Furthermore, don't hesitate to ask for help from a specialist so you can make an informed decision.

Contact us at 905-686-6195 or visit us in person to go over the plans for your door selection and installation. One of our representatives will make sure a quotation will be emailed to you following an evaluation of your project!

Here is the garage door opener LiftMaster GT model

This is the LiftMaster GT model, a heavy industrial-duty trolley door operator.

What about the garage door operator's installation?

Now that you know a bit more about electric garage door operators, which model is your favorite? After choosing, the next step is to install them. A functional garage door can only be achieved with the help of professionals with the right tools and experience!

Autograph Door Systems strives to ensure that customers are completely satisfied with the services they receive. Regardless of the type and size of garage door and the type of garage door opener, we want to ensure our clients are always satisfied. Our electricians install electrical outlets and run wiring in your garage to ensure the highest level of safety and professionalism.

It is important that you understand this! A LiftMaster commercial garage door security system is designed to protect you and increase your safety. There may be different options available to you from your service provider, and you may want to investigate them.

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