When thinking about how you want to access your container, you may want to consider whether a roller door is for you. Roller doors offer a convenient way to access the materials and inventory stored in your containers. With a variety of heights and widths available, you can get an access door small enough for a person to access, or large enough for a forklift.

Roller doors come in two basic types: single panel and sectional. Either door type can be used in commercial or residential applications

These doors are available for a variety of applications, ranging from loading dock doors to warehouse entrances and self-storage access. roller doors make a convenient way to access tools, equipment, and materials you have stored in your containers.

Materials

roller doors are available in a variety of materials. Here is a list of materials, along with their advantages and disadvantages:

  • Steel
    • Advantages
      • Strong
      • Durable
      • Affordable
      • Secure
    • Disadvantages
      • Prone to rust over time
  • Aluminum
    • Advantages
      • Strong
      • Durable
      • Affordable
      • Secure
    • Disadvantages
      • May corrode over time
  • Fiberglass
    • Advantages
      • Wide variety of finishes available, including wood
      • Perfect for residential applications
    • Disadvantages
      • Easily damaged
      • Not as secure as steel or aluminum
  • PVC
    • Advantages
      • Affordable
      • Easy to see through
    • Disadvantages
      • Can be cut or torn
      • Not as durable as steel
      • Not as secure as steel or aluminum
  • Wood
    • Advantages
      • Aesthetically pleasing finish
      • Durable
      • Stronger than fiberglass
      • Paintable
      • More secure than PVC or fiberglass
    • Disadvantages
      • Not as durable as steel
      • Not as secure as aluminum or steel

Architectural Planning

When thinking about a roller door for your container, consider how it will be used. If you’re storing materials or inventory, a single panel steel door is your best option. If you’re looking at installing a garage door, a sectional panel door will offer aesthetic finishes not available on single-panel steel doors.

Once you have decided on the type of roller door you want to use, it’s time to measure. You will need to consider how tall and how wide it will need to be. Along with that, you will need to plan for the hardware you will need to install when hanging the door.

Single Panel Steel Door

When planning for one of these doors, it will be easier to cut a hole and install the door. If you plan to use the open end of the container, you may have to weld in a frame strong enough to support the door, while covering the open area around it with sheet metal.

When installing this type of door, all the hardware is part of the lintel. If your door is narrower than the opening in your container, you may have to weld in a steel frame that is strong enough to hold the door. If you have left over scrap from cutting other holes in the container, you may be able to use this to create a wall with an opening the size you need.

Sectional Panel Door

This door type is available with slats or panels. For residential use, a wide variety of finishes are available for each material. This type of door is used commercially to protect storefronts, shops, and warehouses from break-ins, and is ideal if security is your primary concern. Another benefit is that you have a variety of attractive finishes available to create a look that matches your home.

Garage Door Installation

When installing the garage door, there are several things to check as you go:

  • Door Panel hardware–Make sure all rollers are securely mounted to the doors and that all bolts are tight.
  • Door Tracks–make sure door tracks are parallel to each other to prevent the door from binding during operation.
  • Door Balance–Open your door halfway and let it go. If it moves up or down, the torsion spring is out of adjustment. Re-adjust and test until the doors stays when you let go.
  • Overall Ease of Operation–Before you hook your door up to the opener, open and close it manually. If it’s hard to open and close, or it it catches, something is wrong. Troubleshoot the problem and correct it. Keep correcting and testing until the door opens and closes easily by hand.

Garage Door Types

There are a few different types of garage door openers: chain-drive, belt-drive, and screw-drive. Which one is best for you will depend on your particular needs. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each different type:

  • Chain Drive
    • Advantages
      • Most affordable of all types
    • Disadvantages
      • Noisy
      • Chain drive may need more frequent maintenance
  • Belt Drive
    • Advantages
      • Quiet operation
      • Less moving parts
      • Low maintenance
    • Disadvantages
      • More expensive than other types
  • Screw Drive
    • Advantages
      • Direct drive
      • Quiet operation
      • Maintenance free
    • Disadvantages
      • More expensive than other types

 

 

Garage Door Opener Installation

When installing, it is necessary to provide a secure means with which to mount the garage door opener. Depending on how the inside of your container is finished, you may need to do some welding and/or drilling to hang the motor assembly for your door. If you framed in the interior and have a drywall ceiling, then all you may need to do is mount the bracketing to a stud.

When mounting the garage door opener, make sure it is far enough back to allow the door to fully open and close. Align the door opener with the center of the door and mark off where the bracketing will hang. If the strapping that came with the door opener is flimsy, you may want to purchase some slotted angle iron. It has pre-drilled holes or slots for ease of installation and adjustment. This angle iron is a lot stronger than the strapping and will reduces vibration. This will result in a door opener that is quieter and lasts longer. For installations more than 30cm from the ceiling, add a single brace to help keep the garage door opener stable.

Calibration

After the door is installed and hooked up to the garage door opener, it will be necessary to fine-tune the operation of the door.

Opening and Closing Force

Often overlooked, testing the opening and closing force of your garage door is critically important.

  • Calibrate Closing Force–To calibrate the closing force of you door, place a brick under the door and close it with the opener. When calibrated correctly, the door will stop and begin opening back up when it touches the brick.
  • Calibrate Opening Force–To calibrate the opening force, rest your foot against the bottom of the door and open it. The light pressure from your foot should cause the door t stop. This is an important safety feature, especially if you happen to get your finger caught in the track while it’s operating.

Finishing Up

After all the cutting, welding, and mounting, and calibrating is finished, you have a door that works perfectly and is ready for years of reliable use.