DIY roller garage doors

Every car enthusiast wants his car to always be safe. To achieve this goal, you can install roller garage doors. Today, these designs are very popular, but before purchasing it is necessary to study not only their advantages, but also their disadvantages. When choosing, you should understand the varieties, installation technologies and other parameters in order to buy a product that is suitable for a particular case.

You can make similar gates yourself

Types and design of roller shutters for garage doors

The principle of operation is simple - a roller mechanism and a system of cables raises and lowers the metal curtain of the gate. These are metal blinds for the garage, which can be equipped with many convenient additional elements.

Basic equipment for garage roller shutters:

door leaf, which can be made of durable steel or lightweight aluminum slats;
vertical metal guides for web movement;
the shaft on which the lamellas are wound is installed above the gate opening;
the shaft is secured in a protective box, which prevents mechanical damage to the rolled roller shutter;
electric or mechanical drive for raising and lowering the gate;
locking bolts or automatic locking system.

When installing automation, the kit must include a gate unlocking lever. When there is no electricity, you can open the roller shutters by simply pressing the handle.

Additional equipment

For the comfort of using garage doors with roller shutters, you can purchase additional convenient accessories:

remote control;
security and fire alarm systems;
automatically adjustable heating of the gate guides, which is indispensable in winter when the roller shutter leaf freezes to the frame;
additional sealing of the box for noise and heat insulation of the garage.

The cost of a garage roller shutter depends not only on the selected components, but also on other important parameters.

Equipment

The standard set consists of the following elements:

direction rail;
slats;
fastenings;
plugs;
hardware;
a protective box where the lamella fabric will go.

All these elements are necessary for high-quality assembly of the system. The box will protect the blade and drive from external influences, the rails will allow the lamellas to move in the desired direction. All auxiliary components ensure reliable fastening.

The design diagram of such a system includes:

box where the shaft is located;
direction slats;
materials to provide thermal insulation and absorb extraneous sounds;
locking device;
a lock that performs the function of locking a closing structure;
a steel shaft that winds the roller shutters;
a protective rail that prevents rapid wear of equipment and prevents the system from jamming;
electric motor;
switch for closing mechanism;
roller shutter fabric.

Classification of garage roller shutters - what affects the cost of the gate

The simplest budget set of roller shutters for a standard garage will cost 7–9 thousand rubles without installation. The cost is influenced by the following factors:

the material from which the door leaf slats are made. Steel is stronger and more durable, but is more expensive and heavier than aluminum sheets. If the garage is located in a guarded parking lot, then it is better to go with aluminum. The material is corrosion resistant and lightweight. A broken lamella can be easily replaced with a new one;
The method of lifting the canvas is automatic, naturally more expensive than mechanics.

Advice. If you install roller shutter garage doors with your own hands, then it is more profitable to purchase a basic inexpensive set and purchase additional parts separately. For example, an automation unit for disassembly will cost half as much.

degree of protection against burglary. Additionally, a motion sensor is installed that prevents the door from lowering when entering the garage, and turns on the alarm when intruders enter. The price of the sensor, depending on the manufacturer, is from 2 to 6 thousand rubles;
roller shutter installation method.

Classification of roller shutter doors for garages according to the degree of protection of the room:

type P1 - P2 - can protect the garage from dust and noise, but breaking such a gate takes a couple of minutes;
type P3 - P5 - steel profile is more resistant to mechanical opening. This is the best option for garages in cooperatives and courtyards;
type P6 - P8 - an armored version of the gate with bulletproof lamellas. It is expensive, but it is easier to install swinging metal gates.

If you decide to install roller shutter garage doors with your own hands, then you need to know which design according to the installation method you need to buy:

overhead external gates - must be installed outside, the roller shutter box is located outside and is exposed to rain and wind - not the best option for installation. But, this type of structure can also be installed from inside the garage.

Advice. When purchasing roller shutters, immediately calculate the height, since you need space to mount the box into which the gate leaf is rolled up.

built-in gates are the most reliable option, since the structure frame is installed in the gate opening and can be further strengthened;
combined gates - it is necessary to make a special niche above the gate opening in order to install a box in which the rolled-up roller shutter will be placed.

The design principle is quite simple. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such garage doors?

Typical mistakes

In order for the design to function for a long time and reliably, several nuances must be taken into account during operation. There are typical mistakes that novice installers often make:

The guides are not level during installation. Deviation from a vertical or diagonal line may cause the blade to jam. Often such a nuisance occurs in the summer, at which time the metal heats up and because of this increases in volume;
The box is not sealed, as a result moisture gets into it, which leads to corrosion of metal elements and a decrease in the service life of the mechanism. If it rains often, then it is advisable to place a seal between the base of the box and its lid;
When closing the door leaf, it must cover the fastening bolts. Otherwise, it will be easy to unscrew them, and the protection of the structure will be minimal. If you encounter such a problem during installation, you will need to drill out the screw heads to make the job much more difficult for intruders. Of course, if you need to remove the roller shutter gates, you will also have to suffer a little to unscrew them.

Roller shutters - advantages and disadvantages

This design is profitable and convenient to install in garages that are located in a protected area.

Roller shutters have many advantages:

convenient automation;
easy gate opening using remote control;
require virtually no space, suitable for garages with limited space;
the structure is lightweight and does not bear any load on the walls;
roller shutters can be installed in garages made of any materials;
damaged lamellas can be easily replaced without high repair costs;
The warranty on the gate is from 10 years, depending on the manufacturer. The Chinese do not provide guarantees;
You can install a basic inexpensive kit yourself. The installation cost is usually 20 percent of the gate price;
Additional insulation of roller shutters helps to ensure high-quality insulation of the garage and complete sealing.

There are many options for decorating such garage doors; you can choose a spectacular and beautiful finish like wood, fabric, with beautiful drawings and inscriptions.

Roller shutters also have many disadvantages:

breaking such a gate is a couple of trifles, a security alarm is definitely needed;
aluminum roller shutters are easy to damage, and steel ones are expensive;
if you buy a standard set without insulation, then such gates will not retain heat, and it is impossible to insulate them yourself along the canvas;
automation breaks down - repair is expensive.

If you decide to install roller shutter doors in your garage with your own hands and save up to 50 percent of the cost, then we offer detailed installation instructions.

Step-by-step installation of roller shutters on garage doors

When purchasing roller shutters, you need to take into account that such garage doors are suitable for standard garages. The standard is that aluminum structures are installed on a gate area of up to 14 squares, steel structures - no more than 49 squares.

For installation, you need a standard set of tools - a screwdriver, drill, level, hammer drill, hammer and pliers. The joints are sealed with acrylic or silicone sealants around the perimeter of the box; when installed in an opening, we seal it with polyurethane foam.

When purchasing garage doors of this design, it is important to correctly calculate the required dimensions. Along the gate opening, the width and height of finished roller shutters should not be less than five millimeters. Be sure to check the dimensions diagonally as well; this requirement is important for old garages, where the gate opening may have been knocked down during laying.

Installation sequence:

Be sure to level the garage opening with cement, remove all uneven surfaces, chips, and plaster cracks;
we check the opening for level, where necessary, install rubber leveling gaskets;
set the guides. To do this, we drill holes for fastenings on the metal side guides (50 cm increments). The diameter of the fastener is 8 millimeters.

Important. When drilling holes for fasteners, you need to retreat 10 centimeters from the edges of the guide.

in the upper part of the guide frame we drill holes for plugs (diameter 11.8 cm);
We assemble the gate frame - to do this, we fix marks in the opening at a level for fastening the frame (diameter 8 mm).

Important. If we install automation, then we immediately need to make another hole to connect the electric drive.

Before hanging the box into which the roller shutter is rolled, we drill holes in it for fastening the lid. It is better to mark by attaching the lid and drilling both the lid and the box at once (the diameter of the lid fastener is 4.2 mm);
We mount side rails on the frame along which the door leaf moves;
Now we level the frame in the gate opening and make marks - where we will drill a hole in the wall for fasteners, do not forget about the automation cord;
Now in the opening you need to drill holes for fastenings and install dowels on the sealant. We fasten the protective spring of the drive;
hole for a mechanical drive, depending on the selected gate model - from 12 to 16 mm;
Now you can fix the gate frame in the opening.

Important. Check the horizontal and vertical several times to ensure that the frame is not skewed.

Frame fastening elements are usually sold as a set, but it must be taken into account that for brick and concrete walls, dowels and anchors 3 cm long are needed, for hollow wall blocks - 6 cm, and in metal garages, roller shutters are attached to metal screws.

We tighten the fastening of the frame alternately, checking the level horizontally and vertically. After installing the frame, you can install the automation and attach the lifting mechanism and door leaf.

Convenient addition

In some cases, owners of roller shutter gates prefer to install a device with an electric drive. Sometimes it is attached to the design. Operates on alternating current. This electric drive is capable of lifting gates weighing up to 150 kg.

Some owners install the electric drive with their own hands. But its service life is half that of its factory counterpart.

The electric drive is mounted on the side of the gate frame, and can also be built-in. The mounting location depends on the width and height of the gate. The larger the gate, the more powerful the lifting device is needed. And in such cases, it is reasonable to mount them on the wall near the box or the canvas itself.

As an option, cheaper mechanical devices are sometimes installed. Although the electric drive is more expensive, it is much more convenient to use.

To prevent the formation of ice and moisture, lifting devices usually have a thermal fuse, which saves the metal parts of the device from rust.

In addition to simple devices, there are touch devices controlled from a distance. They are controlled using special radio sensors. Their range is up to 50 m.

How the system works

The quality of operation of the gate depends on the correctly selected elements for it, so the components must be from the same manufacturer. An exception may be drive and automation.

Installation of roller gates:

The canvas is made from roller shutter profiles - lamellas connected to each other by longitudinal hooks.

Guides – 2 vertical bars, the width of which depends on the thickness of the canvas elements, and the length depends on the height of the opening and the installation method.

During operation of the gate, lamellas fall into the U-shaped profiles, which are held there by special fastening locks. To protect the mechanism from debris and dirt, special brushes or seals made of tubular polymer materials are installed in the grooves.

Receiving shaft - the leaf of the sash is wound onto it when opening. It is an octagonal prism driven by two ball bearings installed at the edges. Made from high-strength, sometimes galvanized, steel.

The shaft can be in one position or change it, moving closer to the opening while opening or closing the gate. The second option ensures smoother sliding of the lamellas, which immediately fall into the groove and do not experience additional loads.

Box - necessary to protect the roll from external factors, it can be square or semicircular in shape.

Drive – distinguish between mechanical (for manual opening) and automatic. They are selected with a power reserve in case of external natural influences. The exception is drives with an obstacle recognition system; they can take care of themselves, but require strict compliance with the weight of the web. Heavy roller shutters require a more powerful drive.

Drives are also divided into:

intra-shaft - usually built into the structure and inaccessible without its dismantling;
axial - remote, mounted on the wall near the box and connected to the shaft with a coupling or chain type connection.

The latter are more expensive. Recommended for heavy gates.

Locks – depending on the drive, a deadbolt (key operated) or automatic type of locking device is installed.

Roller gates have size restrictions:

width – from 150 to 430 cm;
height – from 150 to 270 cm;
by weight of the sash - from 4.7 to 80 kg, heavier options are practically not found.

The design has a fairly simple mechanism of action. When opened, the canvas, consisting of lamellas, is rolled into a roll, which is hidden in a special box. It can be located both inside and outside the box.

Control of the automatic system is provided in several options:

a button that is installed in the wall near the sash;
remotely - from a remote control or a special key fob, range of action - 50 m;
using an intelligent system whose sensors react to light, temperature or other changes.

Manual drive - opening with a key, often used as a backup in case the electricity is cut off. Although, with a budget option for small-sized structures, it can be the main one. For such cases, there is a limit on the weight of the canvas - no more than 30 kg.

Size calculation

To install the gate correctly, you will have to calculate all the necessary dimensions in advance. In this case, the following parameters are measured:

Height with width. In this case, determine the dimensions of the gate structure

Also, when taking measurements, pay attention to the fact that the planes are parallel to each other. The walls of the structure should be located in a vertical position, and the lintel with the bottom edge should be located horizontally

To check the correct position of the elements, use a plumb line or building level.

Jumper size. When determining this parameter, they measure the distance from the edge of the opening to the ceiling. The optimal size is 350-550 millimeters. In such openings it will be possible to install the most reliable and high-quality gate models with a special lifting system. The degree of penetration of the structure into the room. Some people do not pay attention to this parameter and do not determine its size. When calculating the value, the features of the gate lifting system, as well as the dimensions of the opening, are taken into account.

Also, certain calculations are carried out before installing the structure drive. Before placing it, determine the depth of the room, which should be in the range of 3-4 meters. If the building is too small, you will have to install a more compact axial drive.

Features and advantages of the design

A distinctive feature of the design is the vertical opening method. This provides a lot of advantages compared to other types of devices: there is enough room for maneuver in front of the box - about 2 m, the box does not reduce the height of the entire room.

Roller shutter sheets are good noise reflectors and protectors from bad weather; when installed with internal insulation in the slats, they can reduce heat loss by 20%. They have a pleasant appearance, unlimited color schemes and design ideas. Garage shutters can imitate rare types of wood or stone and support the façade features of a private home or landscape.

The design is easy to operate and does not require special care - just wipe with a damp cloth. Saves money on routine repairs: no need to paint or frequently lubricate. If one lamella fails, it is easy to replace. A budget garage door has a service life of about 10 years, and the price is a little more than 7 thousand rubles.

List of installation tools

To install a roller shutter, the builder will need to have with him:

Set of several screwdrivers;
Roulette;
Self-tapping screws and fastenings for them;
Hammer;
Building level;
Anchor 1 centimeter long;
Drill with drill bits of different lengths (for example, 4, 7 or 11 millimeters);
Construction dowels.

Appearance of the roller shutter mechanism

Disadvantages of roller shutter structures

Despite all the advantages, the gates have one significant drawback - increased protection against falling roller shutters is required. Even lightweight versions of the canvas can cause injury if it falls. Such incidents, although rare, do occur when the gearbox fails.

To avoid such situations, all mechanics and automation must undergo timely inspection; the receiving shaft is protected by a box or casing. As an insurance policy, all roller shutter doors without exception are equipped with a locking system, for which emergency shaft braking is installed.

When ice forms on the slats, roller garage doors are difficult to open, so during cold periods the surface should be treated with special compounds or a door leaf heating system should be connected.
When locked, the gate cannot be opened without cutting the metal, so there must be another entrance to the garage through a gate.
Cutting metal is not that difficult, so the box requires additional installation of an alarm system if the building is located in an unguarded area.
Roller shutters have a slow movement and are not recommended to be used frequently: they have a limited number of cycles.

If you have an engineering education and assembly skills, installing roller shutters in your garage is not difficult. For automation, the mandatory connection of a specialist is required.

There are three main installation methods that determine the position of the box and guides:

invoice - the box and guides are attached to the outside of the garage;
built-in - a niche for the roll is equipped in the upper part of the opening, guides along its vertical posts, of course, if the thickness of the facade wall allows;
combined - the cover for the canvas is located immediately behind the opening, already inside the garage, the movement slats are also installed in the room, immediately behind the entrance.

There are also more complex options, for example, when the box is located inside the box and the guides are built-in. It all depends on the required degree of protection and the financial capabilities of the customer. Overhead installation is especially simple.

In addition to standard tools for such types of work, such as a hammer or drill, you will need: a hammer drill, a gun to make rivets, and a multimeter to connect an electric drive. Finishing involves the use of sealants - silicone and acrylic, for seams - polyurethane foam.

Preparation for installation

Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the opening and all places for future installation of structural elements. They must be freed from unnecessary communications, cleaned, leveled, plastered, etc.

The permissible height difference on the surface is no more than 5 mm. If it is difficult to achieve such accuracy, it is necessary to provide and prepare gaskets that will correct flaws during assembly. As soon as everything dries, you get the instructions and all the parts of the gate, except for the automation.

First, the locations of future holes in the wall or vertical part of the opening are marked and they are punched with a hammer drill; they are drilled into wooden structures. Then holes according to the marks plus one for the plugs are made in the guides.

Installing a doorway in a roller shutter

First of all, the garage owner must decide how to carry out the installation - overhead or built-in.

The fact is that the decision will affect what preparatory work is needed to mount the hole in the gate. In addition, it is worth taking into account the installation features that relate to the passage for the gate.

At this stage, the following requirements must be met:

The surrounding foundation should be as level as possible. There should be no cracks or protrusions.
The level of the mounting surface should be controlled, allowing a maximum error of 5 millimeters.
There must be a free area for the gate. If there are pipelines or other communications, they are removed if possible.

Selecting a door leaf

The lamellas are selected depending on the degree of protection required for the box. They come in two types - steel and aluminum.

Roller-rolled ones are the weakest, retain heat well and suppress external noise. They are used only inside industrial or commercial premises, as well as in warehouses.

With foam filler or rollforming - they have a relatively low weight and the same low level of protection against burglary. Suitable for boxes in protected areas.

Extruded ones are hollow inside, but have additional stiffening ribs, which means high protective characteristics. Installed in detached garages or used for entry to a site.

Extruded ventilation lamellas are equipped with slots or holes to maintain normal air exchange. Sometimes several plates, or even all, are made of polycarbonate, which provides the room with natural light and makes it possible to observe the enclosed space. Designed for unheated boxes.

Steel can also be used as a material for lamellas. Such gates are stronger, but heavier and more expensive. Aluminum lamellas, compared to steel ones, are resistant to moisture, do not form corrosion, are lightweight, less noisy and have much wider decorative capabilities.

Maximum width of the canvas at a height of 2 m:

made of aluminum - from 2.5 to 4 m;
from aluminum extruded - from 4.5 to 7 m;
made of steel - from 7 to 11 m.

Installation of the structure

According to the diagram, on the surface of the wall or the upper part of the opening (for the built-in version), it is necessary to place marks for future fastenings, and drill holes in the box itself:

overhead installation - on the back side of the box;
built-in - at the top of the box.

Another hole must be made for the drive cable. At the next stage, the connection with the guides occurs. Next, you need to try on the box, check the marks and punch holes. Insert dowels into them, and a protective spring into the recess for the drive.

When installing the roller gate frame, you should carefully ensure that the notches and the corresponding holes are aligned, and that the structure itself is positioned strictly horizontally in relation to the floor level. Tighten the fasteners evenly to prevent misalignment in the future.

Control and automation, if provided, are installed strictly according to the instructions, observing all safety precautions. For these works, consultation with a professional is required.

At the last moment, the web is assembled, wound onto a shaft, and the edges are passed through the tires.

Installation ends with checking the operation of the entire structure. If everything is in order, plugs and gaps are inserted and sealed, and all technical seams are covered with polyurethane foam.

Lock for roller gates

During assembly, automatic locks - crossbars - are attached to the last end element of the roller shutter. They are needed for a tighter connection to the floor. Side plugs and a locking cylinder allow the box to be left unattended for long periods of time. Without installing automation, a lock on a roller shutter gate is required, because the door leaf, although not by much, can be raised by a few centimeters.

The time and money spent on designing and installing roller shutters will ensure their uninterrupted operation and comfort of use. New times require new forms that correspond to the spirit of the times, and roller shutters respond to the challenges of the new millennium.

Rolling gates - general description and design

In addition to the roller shutter, sectional doors contain the following elements:

a drive shaft that winds the fabric around itself;
lifting device;
body where the canvas is placed;
mechanical control;
electric drive that drives the canvas;
guides for moving the web along them;
rollers, brackets and fasteners.

Performance characteristics

Rolling gates are a rather interesting solution that has pros and cons. Those who use this design often speak quite positively about it, but this option is not suitable for every owner.

Any design has disadvantages, and this gate is no exception, so let’s take a closer look at them:

Price. It can be quite high when choosing large sizes of rolled fabric.
Gate. It is simply impossible to install it in this type of canvas, therefore, when entering/exiting the garage, you need to raise and lower the main canvas every time.

Many owners of such gates are satisfied with their purchase, since the design has many more advantages and here are the most important ones:

Space saving. This design is installed where space in front of the garage is limited.
Speed of work. The flexible sash closes and opens quickly and easily.
Thermal insulation and sound insulation. It is provided by porous insulation inside the lamellas.

Sectional doors or roller doors – what to choose?

Before making a choice, you need to understand the design features of the two types of gates.

Let's take a closer look at them:

Design. Sectionals need free space under the ceiling. Rolled ones are rolled into a roll and hidden in a box that does not take up much space.
Dimensions. Sectional ones are used in large openings, since bulky structures can be closed and opened manually easily. Rolled ones have restrictions on length, no more than 6 meters and height no more than 3 meters, and more than 3 meters in width are adjusted only automatically.
Material. The slats of sectional doors can be made with or without insulation. Rolled ones do not retain heat and are mounted in unheated rooms.
Automation. The sectional structure for the garage does not need to be automated due to the fact that the spring mechanism compensates for the weight. Rolled ones are equipped with automatic systems and a manual lifting system in case of an accident.
Anti-vandal resistance. Sectional ones are more burglar-resistant; they are well secured to a rigid frame. Rolled ones are also quite safe, with the exception of designs where the lamellas are single-layered.

Performance characteristics

Principle of operation
As mentioned above, roller gates are a rather original solution that has a number of both positive and not entirely positive performance characteristics. Therefore, before choosing this type of gate, you need to familiarize yourself with them.

pros

Doesn't require much space to open

The undoubted advantages of the mentioned system include:

Rolling gates do not have any gates in their structure, and therefore their installation is possible in confined spaces. The gate simply slides up and does not require additional space to open, which can be especially important in the case, for example, of a garage attached to the house or when the garage is located in the basement.
The above-mentioned quality of the gate allows you not to worry about the gate not opening after a snowfall. Of course, to get the car out of the garage, some work will still need to be done, but it will be much less than in the case of swing gates.
Another advantage that roller garage doors have is that when using this technology there will be no restriction of visibility, as would be the case with a swing option. This is especially important when entering/exiting a garage.
Among other things, we can highlight the safety of the structure. All moving elements that could somehow harm someone are at a height of at least two meters, and therefore children will be much safer than in any other case.
Versatility of use is also one of the characteristics of such gates. Thanks to the many color options, you can choose a gate to suit any exterior. In addition, roller shutters can be installed in arched openings.

Minuses

Unable to install doors

As for the shortcomings of the system, they include:

Low resistance to mechanical stress. Moreover, this concerns not only wind loads, but also potential protection from criminal attacks, which in some cases is fundamentally important.
Relatively less ability to insulate the room from heat leaks, as well as less protection from precipitation.
Such gates cannot be equipped with a wicket, which means that you will have to use a common gate for entry/exit, or install an additional door, which will require additional costs and labor.

Let's start installation

By following the installation and safety rules during installation, installing this type of gate will be extremely simple.

Preparation

Work begins with careful preparation, the installation of the following structure is no exception. Structural elements and finishing elements on the walls that interfere with installation should be dismantled. The roll with the shaft is installed in the opening, so everything unnecessary should also be removed from the ceiling.

The material of the garage walls and where to mount the structure is important. It is very good if it is concrete, but if the garage was built from slotted brick, then this fact will cause a lot of inconvenience. There are two options for solving the problem: weld a corner, frame the opening with it and attach it to it, or plaster the side wall and attach the structure with mortar.

The option with a corner is much more reliable, and with a solution it is cheaper; the result depends on the luck of the master. If during the installation process it turns out that the fastener is unreliable, then a chemical anchor is often used in this situation.

Installation of guides

Next, we proceed to install the guide strips, into which the edges of the canvas are installed and held there using a system of special fasteners. First, the side profiles are attached; for this purpose, two holes with a diameter of 4 mm are drilled into the guide in increments of 0.5 m.

Shaft installation

An important step is installing the shaft. When installing it, distortions are not allowed, as this will contribute to wear and jamming of the blade. The shaft is placed in a special box along with a gear system and chain drive.

It is equipped with ball bearings that transmit torque to it. The shaft must be treated with an anti-corrosion compound. The door leaf is connected directly to the shaft.

The box can be mounted in the opening or on the outside of the garage, it all depends on the preferences of the owner and the design features of the system.

Drive installation

The last and no less important step is the installation of the drive, which can be manual or automatic. The electric drive should be equipped with protection from moisture and dust. A central beam is attached to the center of the ceiling opposite the opening.

At the rear, attach the suspension brackets and install the drive on them. Next, a traction lever is installed, one side is attached to the sash and the other to the cable. After installing the drive, its electrical part is mounted.

In the end, I would like to note that sectional and roller doors have more advantages than disadvantages, and it is not without reason that owners purchase just such structures for garages. The automatic lifting system has a working range of about 10 meters and will allow you to open the garage in advance, saving time.