Non typical Garage doors.

[imjustdave]

Has anyone seen - used - a door that opens horizontal?


Info:
In the design phase of my shop 44 x 50-60. 44 side will be the door side. 50-60 deep sort of dictated by costs, designer, DW, City complaints and what will work for the home and land.

So while 2 doors 12 - 16 foot wide is nice been looking at ways to eliminate the center post. Why limit yourself if you don't have too? My layout and use would really lend to no divider, between backing in a big trailer, or multiple trailers, to parking and moving cars around ETC. Bigger door helps you park without damage but then limits you on stacking and access to get out.

So in my quest of research.
I ran across this company Solidodesigns that has flipped the typical garage door 90 degrees and then have it slide around when the door opens on the inside.


specifically looking at this door, as it is insulated "heated garage"
https://solidodesigns.com/contour-closures/

Main page
https://solidodesigns.com/
formerly known as.
https://contourclosures.com/

Initial thoughts, specific to my garage.
Pro
I like the idea of being able to open full height a small distance width say for a bike or 1 car, or to walk out of. - similar if I had 2 separate doors.
When open it wont block over head lights like a traditional door.
Clean ceiling
No center posts. Thinking 30 feet worth of open door area Wall is 44 wide.
Door panels themselves are typical garage doors panels, so while unique opening not really unique.
More then likely would eliminate 1 man door on the building.



Con
The wall I was thinking of having the door slide around will also be the wall power will enter the building. Meter location could change but this is the better side neighbor to have an ugly meter on VS home side. I will have to move the panel to another location so $$ for the big wire to the new panel location that would normally have been back to back install.

Loose a little bit of inside space but I planned on Rack storage anyways so not as big of a deal. and I can design around it now really easy.
Not your typical door.
A small space lost inside for the door to open into.
track to drive over, sweep over at the door edge.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[firebirdparts]

That's interesting, and I've never heard of that company. They expended very noticeable effort on their web page photos to avoid showing the floor. I guess that's the part of it that they don't like. Otherwise, it's obviously an okay thing to do. Not rocket science.

 

[Firebrick43]

That's interesting, and I've never heard of that company. They expended very noticeable effort on their web page photos to avoid showing the floor. I guess that's the part of it that they don't like. Otherwise, it's obviously an okay thing to do. Not rocket science.

There is one or two picks of the floor, and there is a track there with a groove. For normal car traffic, I see it working but for heavily loaded trucks and trailers?? Also would be a nightmare to keep dirt and debris out and if water froze in it the door couldn't be opened.

 

[vavet]

I've never heard of such a thing. It looks cool and maybe a great solution for your situation.
Another pro - there's no torsion spring, so there's no danger in working on that when they inevitably fail in 5-10 years.
Another con - it's unconventional. Where do you buy a garage door opener for it? Will YOU always be around to work on it? Typical garage door service techs will be unfamiliar with it and will either decline the job or will be slow and charge accordingly.
Another con - parts are not going to be readily available for it through normal means - you'll probably have to go back to the company that made it.

I live a pretty boring life. I don't want weird stuff that is difficult to source parts for and unable to be serviced through conventional means.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Giving up a lot of wall space just to have something different, no thanks.
Not sure I understand your centerpost concern but maybe a hangar style door would work for you.

 

[ace10]

Haven't barns had this type of door for centuries?

 

[kaymccampbell]

It's neat. Coupla things. You could still have your breaker box on the wall it opens to. If I were to do that, I'd do a false wall in front of the garage door, so I wouldn't lose wall space, with an access door through to the breaker box. I'd also want a leading and trailing rotating brush, with an air jet, to keep the lower track clean. Good luck.

 

[whateg01]

I don't see why a garage door opener wouldn't work? The gate openers are really the same thing as a garage door opener.

The thing I would hate more than losing ceiling is losing floor space. If you feel limited in the depth of the shop, I'd think losing 50 or so square feet would be more of a pain. I like the idea, though, if for no other reason than it's different.

They do show an extra wall here, to allow you to keep some wall space for outlets, but you still lose floor space.

If you want to retain ceiling and wall space, why not hangar doors? They use a modified version of that at the local Menards, I think it is, to close off part of the outdoor garden area in the winter. I think it looks pretty cool.

Dave

 

[imjustdave]

Giving up a lot of wall space just to have something different, no thanks.
Not sure I understand your centerpost concern but maybe a hangar style door would work for you.

They say it needs 6 inches, and you can easily build an interior wall around the space so you can still have shelves, and other hanging stuff. Basically a big pocket door.

Depending on the setup of the garage and your needs .. say like a car on a lift moving the door to the side could be a nice benefit for some people especially if you have space above for a lift but can't get the door up and out of the way easily, not every garage is the same.

Center post...
Keep in mind the dimensions.
Say I go with a 14 door, trailer is 8.5 feet wide, so 5 1/2 feet or about 33 inches a side for clearance, actually decent width. BUT trailer is 35 feet long + 20 for the truck and I have to back in from a road at a 90 angle, so most backing in's will be at some angles VS perfect scenario, Very doable mind you and once in partially I can reposition. Driveway is about 40-50 depending on finial location of garage. Most camping is worse so not too worried about backing in.
So once it is parked I will have space at the hitch end to use for others cars, stuff and or towing truck. I will also park the trailer closer to the side of the garage VS dead center of the bay. I'm planning on a 4 foot offset with the door.
So this leaves part of the bay empty + the next bays space so 14 16 for the next bay + space to the next wall. If I run the math 42 feet of wall - 14 door -14 door - 4 feet offset on 1 side. Leaves 10 feet of shop with no door less what ever space I use for the center pillar. Point is if I drop the center post I could easily have 3 cars wide of space and or smaller trailer ETC at the door vs using up space.
I created some scale paper mockups and eliminating the post is actually a benefit in most cases Except if I never park inside.

Keep in mind I'm planning on 50 to 60 feet deep, if it was sub 18 -25 deep then yeah wouldn't matter just have a 1-2 foot center between the 2 doors. no worry as you just park in each bay. I'm looking at the ability to vary how the space is used, likewise I don't want to waste space.

I actually have looked at Hanger door options, lots of options there and a few have interested me for sure. If I'm being honest hanger door and this setup interest me more then typical roll up doors, but they aren't a hard no as Cost always plays a role.

 

[imjustdave]

I've never heard of such a thing. It looks cool and maybe a great solution for your situation.
Another pro - there's no torsion spring, so there's no danger in working on that when they inevitably fail in 5-10 years.
Another con - it's unconventional. Where do you buy a garage door opener for it? Will YOU always be around to work on it? Typical garage door service techs will be unfamiliar with it and will either decline the job or will be slow and charge accordingly.
Another con - parts are not going to be readily available for it through normal means - you'll probably have to go back to the company that made it.

I live a pretty boring life. I don't want weird stuff that is difficult to source parts for and unable to be serviced through conventional means.

YEAH you have good points, I spoke to the owner today and was able to get a lot of good info. I forgot about the springs, most of parts seemed available but for sure not on the shelf at HD. Track and hangers are special and the opener has a slight modification. But the door itself is off the shelf

 

[imjustdave]

Haven't barns had this type of door for centuries?

Hanging sliding yes. Farms usually have lots of open space. I have some but not that good.
Sliding and curving inside to a wall NO
Sealing up to the wall no not really.

 

[Vtor]

We looked at arrangement like that but too many cons. If you have lots of space, sure, if if space is tight, you are loosing a lot of sq. ft, blocking off doors and windows, etc.

We settled on a roll up, insulated aluminum slat door. Rolls up into 12" drum.

Different than more common sectional doors typical in the US.

 

[imjustdave]

It's neat. Coupla things. You could still have your breaker box on the wall it opens to. If I were to do that, I'd do a false wall in front of the garage door, so I wouldn't lose wall space, with an access door through to the breaker box. I'd also want a leading and trailing rotating brush, with an air jet, to keep the lower track clean. Good luck.

I suspect code would prohibit that idea of an access door. I think 3 feet clear is needed. On the false wall sure it could be done not sure I would install the panel on it but for sure for storage and other stuff.
I need to find out more info on the bottom track as you and a few others have really reminded me that might be the biggest downside with this setup.

 

[imjustdave]

We looked at arrangement like that but too many cons. If you have lots of space, sure, if if space is tight, you are loosing a lot of sq. ft, blocking off doors and windows, etc.

We settled on a roll up, insulated aluminum slat door. Rolls up into 12" drum.

Different than more common sectional doors typical in the US.

What brand did you go with?
Any idea on the R value?

Sizes and R value are big considerations for me I plan to heat the garage above freezing for sure, suspect 45-60 ish range.

Love the suggestions

 

[imjustdave]

I don't see why a garage door opener wouldn't work? The gate openers are really the same thing as a garage door opener.

The thing I would hate more than losing ceiling is losing floor space. If you feel limited in the depth of the shop, I'd think losing 50 or so square feet would be more of a pain. I like the idea, though, if for no other reason than it's different.

They do show an extra wall here, to allow you to keep some wall space for outlets, but you still lose floor space.

If you want to retain ceiling and wall space, why not hangar doors? They use a modified version of that at the local Menards, I think it is, to close off part of the outdoor garden area in the winter. I think it looks pretty cool.

Dave

I'm thinking of a 30 foot opening, so yeah would lose some floor space at the wall but I think a 1 foot loss X 30 ish might be worth it to gain space in the middle of the garage.

But again space is space... And that is why I'm here looking for ideas and feedback

 

[Vtor]

What brand did you go with?
Any idea on the R value?

Sizes and R value are big considerations for me I plan to heat the garage above freezing for sure, suspect 45-60 ish range.

Love the suggestions

Slats are only about inch thick w foam filling, probably R2 to R4 range.. ie close to nothing.

I missed part about 30 ft wide - I'll PM you the link, not sure if they list maximums for width. I purchased and imported mine from an Alibaba vendor. So far, so good.

 

[mikegt4]

I don't see why a garage door opener wouldn't work? The gate openers are really the same thing as a garage door opener.

The thing I would hate more than losing ceiling is losing floor space. If you feel limited in the depth of the shop, I'd think losing 50 or so square feet would be more of a pain. I like the idea, though, if for no other reason than it's different.

They do show an extra wall here, to allow you to keep some wall space for outlets, but you still lose floor space.

If you want to retain ceiling and wall space, why not hangar doors? They use a modified version of that at the local Menards, I think it is, to close off part of the outdoor garden area in the winter. I think it looks pretty cool.

Dave

I kind of like this idea, sort of a giant pocket door. I would make the "wall" out of structural tubing (looks like it in the photo) and hang cabinets or shelves above head height and keep movable things like tool chests below that. Some outlets in conduit if needed. By leaving the "wall" open you could keep the area behind it clean and don't give the neighbor's cat or leaves a place to hide. Keep the door opening far enough out from the "wall" to shadow the depth of the tool chests so that if the vehicle clears the door opening it will clear the tool chests. "tool chests" being used as a metaphor for movable stuff kept along the "wall", tool chests, drill press, welder, etc..

 

[gnpenning]

Here is another option that most don't know about that should solve some of your concerns. I'm not sure what part of washington state you are in but Midland delivers in the eastern part of the state. Pm me if you have any questions.

https://www.midlandgaragedoor.com/commercial-garage-doors/swing-up-center-post-system/

 

[Ak Jim]

How about a bifold door like they use on airplane hangars?

https://www.bifold.com/

 

[yeldogt]

YEAH you have good points, I spoke to the owner today and was able to get a lot of good info. I forgot about the springs, most of parts seemed available but for sure not on the shelf at HD. Track and hangers are special and the opener has a slight modification. But the door itself is off the shelf

The link is confusing .... it looks like solido makes lots of doors ... are they the reseller of the contour?

I see where they link to one manufacture of doors?


Very interesting .... what's the cost? I like this vs doing a set of simple carriage doors.

 

[imjustdave]

The link is confusing .... it looks like solido makes lots of doors ... are they the reseller of the contour?

I see where they link to one manufacture of doors?


Very interesting .... what's the cost? I like this vs doing a set of simple carriage doors.

https://solidodesigns.com/contour-closures/

My understanding is they are the North America supplier for the track, roller, system, aka hardware, I believe the end manufacture Guttmann is from the other side of the pond around Germany, They use the system "hardware" with US garage door Haas to make the line they call contour.
So this isn't new, just new here.
High damage item... door is easy to replace.

The opener is by Sommer, but they say there its a version specific for this door to provide safety.

They also sell the Guttmann brand entirely Door, hardware Everything but shipping large door panels.

Cost wise initially is within normal range. so no surprises as of yet.

 

[yeldogt]

https://solidodesigns.com/contour-closures/

My understanding is they are the North America supplier for the track, roller, system, aka hardware, I believe the end manufacture Guttmann is from the other side of the pond around Germany, They use the system "hardware" with US garage door Haas to make the line they call contour.
So this isn't new, just new here.
High damage item... door is easy to replace.

The opener is by Sommer, but they say there its a version specific for this door to provide safety.

They also sell the Guttmann brand entirely Door, hardware Everything but shipping large door panels.

Cost wise initially is within normal range. so no surprises as of yet.

Thanks -- This may be a solution for my now tighter driveway space around my garage opening.

The current opening is only 8x8 .. but they are carriage doors and the swing is now an issue