Informative seminar for architects, technical consultants and developers about how to specify sectional garage doors for villas. Presentation specifically focuses on the Middle East. How to make the best door selection, save money and prevent common problems.

1. How to Specify Garage Doors
for
Architects & Developers
Technical and Style Issues
First 6 Steps in Door Selection
Joseph J. Centofanti III

2. Joseph J. Centofanti III
Director of Strategic Management & Export Sales
jcentofanti@olymps-door.com
The Olymps Group, Inc. (USA)
Manufacturer of Sectional Garage & Industrial Doors
Olymps Door s.r.o. (Slovakia)
Olymps Door spol. s r.o. (Czech Republic)
Olymps Door BV (Holland)
Olymps Door Kft. (Hungary)
Olymps Door SRL (Romania)

3. Objectives
• Provide maximum value for the Developer
(Client)
• Provide maximum long-term value for the
Villa Owner (Final Client)
• Maintain or improve Architect’s reputation
• Stay out of trouble

4. Design Process: Page 1
• Garage doors are a large percentage of a
villa’s elevation: 10 – 35% .
• An attractive villa will suffer from a bad
garage door.
• Architects often do not specify a garage door
style and color in the beginning – only a
“concept” style is presented. Or, no garage
door.

5. Design Process: Page 2
• Or, a garage door style concept is presented
which is not possible to realize…
• Garage door specifications are usually made
after the door opening size has already been
set. Door opening size affects which panel
insulation types, colors and styles are
available.

6. Design Process: Page 3
• This approach severly limits the
opportunity to have the best possible
garage door at the lowest total cost.
• This is the Backwards
Approach – also, known
as Putting the Cart
Before the Horse.
• Involve the door supplier early in the
design process to achieve the best
solution.

7. Villa Elevation % Example
Garage Doors are 25% of Elevation

8. No Concept Example
(Model Maker Decided Door Style)

9. Bad Door Concept Example

10. Unrealistic Door Concept Example

11. Good Door Concept Example

12. Good Door Concept Detail

13. Technical Consultants & Developers
• Consultants and Developers usually do not
have the experience and knowledge to make
garage door specifications.
• Lack of practical experience and expertise to
differentiate between a quality door and a sub-
standard door.
• Consultants need to improve their knowledge
of doors.
• Developers have an interest to to improve their
knowledge of doors.

14. Technical Specifications
Better Example
Electricaly operated, 40 mm thick insulated (PU-
foam) sectional overhead door. Hot dip
galvanized steel sheet, gasketed, sandwich
panels. Raised (embossed) profile with
woodgrain like finish on outside. Custom UV-
resistant polyester or powder-coated finish.
Include enclosed safety extension spring,
torsion spring, cable break safety devices and
spring break safety devices.

15. Technical Specifications
Typical Example
2.2 STEEL SECTIONS
A. Construct door sections from galvanized,
structural-quality carbon-steel sheets complying
with ASTM A 653M, commercial quality, with a
minimum yield strength of 225 MPa and a
minimum Z275 zinc coating.
1. Steel Sheet Thickness: 1.6 mm.
2. Exterior Section Face: Flat

16. Contractors - Page 1
• Contractors’ main interest is commerical:
to have the lowest bid in order to
maximize profit.
• Factors like quality, safety, performance,
style are not important to the Contractor.
• If the door is ugly, does not function
properly, is unsafe or has a short life – the
Villa Owner will blame the Developer –
and the Developer’s reputation suffers.
• Do not let the Contractor buy the door!

17. Contractors – Page 2
“I don’t care if the door falls off
after a year. My responsibility
is the one-year warranty
period.”
Quote from one of the largest UAE
contractors at one of the most
prestigous Dubai villa projects.

18. Sectional Garage Doors
Main Components
• Panels
• On-door hardware
• Spring system
• Track system
• Windows and other accessories
• Garage door motor

19. Garage Door Panels

20. Garage Door Panels
• Door panels are 50 – 60% of the
garage door cost (without motor)
• Panel selection criteria:
#1: Insulation
#2: Color
#3: Style
Panels are the most important door component

21. Garage Door Selection: 6 steps
• Insulation
• Color
• Opening Height
• Opening Width
• Installation
• Style

22. Step 1: Door Insulation

23. Non-Insulated

24. Polystyrene Insulated

25. Polyurethane Insulated

26. Insulation Advice: Part 1
Non-Insulated
• Carports or separate garages
Light Insulation: Polystyrene 35 or 51 mm
• Separate garage with air conditioning or
heating
• Garage partially attached to villa and
some thermal and/or sound insulation
required

27. Insulation Advice: Part 2
Medium Insulation: Polystyrene 51 mm or
Polyurethane 40 mm
• Garage built into villa and some thermal
and/or sound insulation required
Full Insulation: Polyurethane 40 - 51 mm
• Garage built into villa and full thermal
and/or sound insulation required

28. Step 2: Door Color

29. Color Issues: Page 1
Dark colors absorb too much sunlight and
heat, causing these problems:
• Reduced insulation value
• Potential injury due to high surface
temperatures, particularly to children
• Insulated doors can have a bowing
problem
• Heat build-up will damage door finish

30. Color Issues: Page 2
UV exposure affects dark colors much more
than light colors. Door finish problems:
• Discoloration
• Fading
• Cracking
Door color must match villa color scheme:
Often seen with white doors.
Door color should hide sand/dust: Major
problem in the Middle East

31. Dark Color = Problems

32. Colors: Best Appearance
1 5
Natural Oak Metallic Silver
(RAL 9006)
2
6
Light Oak
Gray Gray-White
3 (RAL 9002)
Almond Light Ivory
(RAL 1015) 7
Sandtone
4
Golden Oak Golden Oak 8
(paint) (folio)
True White Pure White
(RAL 9010)

33. Recommended Colors: UV Resistance
1 5
True White Pure White Light Oak
(RAL 9010)
2 6
Gray-White Metallic Silver Gray
(RAL 9002) (RAL 9006)
3 7
Almond Light Ivory Sandtone
(RAL 1015)
4 8
Natural Oak Golden Oak Golden Oak
(paint) (folio)

34. Wood Folio Finishes
• Benefits compared to paint finishes:
• Very attractive finish
• Hides dents and scratches better
• Hides dirt and dust
Natural Oak Light Oak
• Golden Oak suitable only for doors with minimal
direct sunlight exposure.

35. Natural Oak polyolefin folio doors for the
Al Barari project in Dubai

36. Natural Oak – Example of
Hiding Sand/Dust

37. Custom Colors
Garage doors are frequently painted
custom colors.
For projects, custom painting is not
recommended because of cost and
quality variances.

38. Villa Colors vs. Garage Door Colors
Garage door panels are manufactured in a
limited range of colors – recommend the villa
color scheme complement an available door
color.
Match the villa color to the door color,
particularly when the door is a significant
percentage of the villa’s elevation or street view.

39. Door Bowing: Page 1
Insulated doors can experience positive door
bowing -- when the exterior skin is hotter than
the interior skin. Thermal expansion of the
exterior skin -- while the interior skin does not
expand -- causes door bowing.

40. Door Bowing: Page 2
Resulting Problems
• Door may not be able to open
• Cracking of the paint or wood folio.
• Exterior skin can separate from the insulation
Door bowing is a major problem in environments
with strong sunlight and high temperatures. Avoid
this problem by selecting light color door finishes!

41. Door Bowing - Germany
Bottom of door: 25 mm
Morning - OK Afternoon -
Bowed
Door width : 4.500 mm
Color: medium green
Top of door: 20 mm

42. Door Bowing - Germany
Afternoon -
Bowed

43. Step 3: Opening Height

44. Door Opening Heights
• Doors usually have two panel heights:
depending if they are USA or EU manufacture.
• The best door opening height is based on
using one panel height.
The door opening height limits potential
panel styles! Choose the desired panel
style first -- then design the opening
height accordingly!

45. Step 4: Opening Width

46. Door Opening Widths: Page 1
Maximum Door Width depends on:
• Type of panel construction
• Overall door size
• Door engineering: on-door hardware, track
system, spring system, etc.
• Environmental factors: must withstand wind
speed (“wind load”) to 130 kph
Dubai has experienced +120 kph winds in recent years.
During the design life of 20 - 25 years for a garage door,
expect similar wind speeds. Doors must be engineered
to withstand 130 kph wind speed!

47. Door Opening Widths: Page 2
Door Style
• Door panels with a ribbed, microprofile or flat
design can be manufactured in any width and
will not affect the appearance.
• Door panels with a stamped design can be
manufactured in almost any width. However,
the issue is the spacing between the stamps;
and, at the ends of the panel. Bad spacing
results in an ugly appearance.
• Consult with door supplier concerning stamp
spacing and proposed door opening widths
early in the design process.

48. Door Opening Widths: Page 3
Bad Cassette Spacing - Dubai

49. Door Opening Widths: Page 4
Oversize Door Widths – CAUTION !!!
• Many garage door specifications in the Middle East
are too wide -- up to 9.000 mm!
• Maximum standard width for European industrial
doors is 6.000 mm.
• “Excessive” means more than 4.267 - 6.300 mm
(depending on door panel type).
• Oversize doors are dangerous! Door weight can
exceed 250 kg. Injury or death can occur!!!
• Oversize doors are not suitable for residential use!

50. Wind Load: Page 1
UAE has experienced +120 kph winds in
recent years. During the design life of 20 -
25 years for a garage door, expect similar
wind speeds.
Doors must be engineered to
withstand 130 kph wind speed!

51. Wind Load: Page 2
• Double side
hardware: top
brackets, side
hinges, rollers
and steel panel
end caps
• Support Struts
• Extra
intermediate
hinges
• Track and
vertical angles:
industrial

52. Wind Load Failure Example
Garage door turned inside out!

53. Wind Load Failure Example
Automobile Damage

54. Wind Load Failure Example
Door failure lead to partial roof failure

55. Wind Load Failure Example
Door mostly withstood wind forces.
Door destroyed, but garage protected.

56. Step 5: Installation
Requirements

57. Installation Requirements
• Ensure architectural designs and
specifications provide sufficient space for
garage door and motor installation.
• Attention to installation requirements
will save time, costs and re-work later.
• Watch out for pipes, beams, ducts and
lighting fixtures!!!
• Watch out for window locations in the
garage that can interfere with the
horizontal door tracks!!!

58. Installation Requirements
Minimum Recommended
H – Door opening height
Track radius 300 mm 380 mm
h – Headroom required 320 mm 450 mm
D – Horizontal track length H + 440 mm H + 700 mm
m – Motor rail length H + 1200 mm H + 1370 mm
F – Horizontal track height H +70 mm H + 150 mm
Z – Vertical track height H - 330 mm H – 410 mm
Side room 110 mm 150 mm

59. Headroom
Minimum of 320 mm
(450 mm recommended)
Headroom is the space
required for spring system
installation. Measured
from top of door opening
to bottom of ceiling or
other obstruction.

60. Headroom
Notice pipe affects headroom!

61. Sideroom
Minimum of 110 mm
(150 mm recommended)
Sideroom is the space
required for vertical
tracks installation.
Measured from side of
door opening to wall or
other obstruction.

62. Backroom
Minimum of H+1200 mm*
(H+1370 mm recommended)*
*Motorized door
Backroom is the space
required for horizontal tracks
and motor installation.
Measured from the lintel.

63. Backroom

64. Step 6: Door Styles

65. Garage Door Panel Styles
Most Common Styles
• Cassette
• Ribbed
• Flush (flat)
• MicroProfile
• Carriage House

66. Cassette Style: Short Cassette
Most common style. Suitable for most villas.

67. Cassette Style: Short Cassette

68. Cassette Style: Short Cassette

69. Cassette Style: Short Cassette

70. Cassette Style: Long Cassette
Less “busy” looking than short cassette. Very
suitable for villas with wide doors.

71. Cassette Style: Long Cassette

72. Cassette Style: Long Cassette

73. Cassette Style: Long Cassette

74. Ribbed Style: Standard

75. Ribbed Style: Standard

76. Ribbed Style: Standard

77. Ribbed Style: Standard

78. Ribbed Style: German Middle Rib

79. Ribbed Style: German Middle Rib

80. Ribbed Style: German Middle Rib

81. Ribbed Style: German Middle Rib

82. Flush Style

83. Flush Style
Flush style is not recommended except
when absolutely required to meet design
criteria!
• Difficult to manufacture without waves
in exterior steel sheet (“oil canning”).
• Lack of embossment or ribs reduces
panel strength – important for large
doors.
• Dents and scratches show easily –
affecting long-term door appearance.

84. Flush Style

85. MicroProfile Style

86. MicroProfile Style

87. Carriage House Style – page 1

88. Carriage House Style – page 2

89. Carriage House Style

90. Carriage House Style

91. Carriage House Style

92. Carriage House Style

93. Carriage House Style

94. Decorative Hardware
Low Cost Way to Enhance a Door

95. Simple Handles

96. Fancy Handles

97. Hinges

98. Clavos

99. Decorative Hardware
Festival City - Dubai

100. Decorative Hardware
Festival City - Dubai