The Best Types of Commercial Garage Doors and Garage Door Openers for Car Dealerships [Case Study]

These full-view garage doors are in the G-4400 design, 14' 0" X 12' 0 with an anodized aluminum frame.

This space has lots of room to move cars in and out of the service bay, with tons of natural light so all aspects of the car can be inspected. These glass doors are the G-4400 commercial garage doors.

How can I make my car dealership and service area more attractive to customers, while differentiating my shop from competitors?

If you need to find new ways to attract more prospective customers to your dealership, you’ll want to keep reading. Car sales is a competitive business – and because of that, you always want to look your best. Every car dealership can implement different marketing strategies to improve brand awareness, but what really counts is the first assessment someone makes about your brand when they enter the dealership.

According to RelayCars’ blog, customers today are researching more than ever before. There’s evidence that customers will research their vehicle purchases on the web for 13 to 14 hours before they ever buy. Customers today have tons of information available right at the touch of a button and can make decisions without ever entering a shop. Due to this, most customers who are shopping for a car only want to visit 1 or 2 car dealerships.

This makes the appearance of your car dealership more important than ever before. Customers who show up to a dealership that looks run down or cramped are less likely to choose your business.

A customer’s perception of your business is paramount to your dealership’s success! A polished appearance tells customers you are trustworthy and reputable.

Salesperson displaying various cars to potential clients in a stunning and bright showroom.

A spacious and well-lit showroom is always more attractive to prospective buyers! Image from Freepik.

Ready to bring your dealership to new heights? Keep reading to learn more about commercial garage doors and garage door openers, which can elevate the utility and look of your dealership.

These full-view commercial garage doors are in the G-4400 construction, 14' X 12' with an customized color frame

Speedy and professional servicing is important to any car dealership's success. Our super speedy overhead doors like the G-4400 give you a clear, well-lit view of the inside of the car bay, which is essential for customers to feel safe. The double doors allow cars to enter and exit in tandem.

Below, find our recommendations on the cleanest, classiest, and most useful commercial garage doors and garage door openers that will add immeasurable value to your car dealership.

All-Glass Full-View Garage Doors Are Ideal for Showing Off Beautiful Vehicles

This full-view commercial garage door is in the G-4400 construction, 14'X 8' with an customized color frame.

This all-glass G-4400 overhead door meshes fabulously with the façade of the building. Our garage doors are fully customizable, so you can match the panes to your building’s façade, as you see done above.

The sleek G-4400 garage doors cover both aesthetics and functionality seamlessly.

Commercial all-glass garage doors have many benefits, such as those listed below.

1. We offer the largest array of customizable colors and aesthetics for your commercial garage doors.

An image of the garage door colors offered with our full-view G-4400 commercial garage door

Need corresponding color codes? You can find color codes for GENTEK or ROYAL (suppliers of aluminum coil) here.

If you have a particular color in mind that you don’t see here, we can always work to find a custom color for you. Talk to our team.

With customized garage door colors, your garage door will never look unprofessional or out of place.

Good to know: The final coloration may differ depending on the paint's sheen. A satin finish will look different than a matte finish. The material of the garage door being painted as well as the application technique all make a difference.

2. We offer 20 types of garage door glass, so you have full control over how much anyone can see inside.

Image of the 8 different type of glass offered with our G-4400 commercial doors. Clear, Satin, Graylight, Mirrorpane, Satin Grey, SuperGrey Tinted, Satin Black, and Fluted Polycarbonate Bronze.

The G-4400 all-glass garage doors come in a variety of finishes that can vary from clear glass to darkly tinted, based on your needs. All our garage doors meet safety standards.

Understanding tempered glass

Tempered glass is the premier choice for areas where a glass structure might be hit with a high impact, like in a car dealership. If someone accidentally drives into your garage door, you don’t want dangerous glass shards all over.

Luckily, tempered glass is 5 times tougher than traditional glass. Though it’s rare, tempered glass can break, but when it does, it’s engineered to break more safely.

3. Get peace of mind with our limited warranty on all-glass commercial garage doors

  • Basic garage door windows are protected for a decade against seal defects.
  • Rust-related perforation on garage door windows is covered under this warranty for 10 years.
  • All other garage components have a warranty of one year.

Commercial Sectional Overhead Insulated Steel Doors: A Bang for Your Buck

It’s our commitment to offering the best energy-saving garage doors available with only the highest quality garage door weatherstripping that prevents costly energy loss.

Keep reading to learn more about commercial sectional overhead garage doors.

These sectional commercial garage doors are in the G-5000 construction

Earth-friendly and effective: the injected polyurethane foam used in the G-5000 commercial garage doors offers foolproof insulation. Cars are valuable, you don’t want them damaged by leaks, drafts, and other elemental events.

1. The G-5000, G-5138, and G-5200 overhead garage door models are offered in 5 standard and 4 premium colors for you to choose from!

An image of the standard and premium garage door colors offered with G-5000 commercial garage doors.

GOOD TO KNOW: Looking for more creativity? These commercial sectional garage doors come with the option to customize the color.

2. We provide 3 premier insulation options:

  • G-5138 = R-12
  • G-5000 = R-16
  • G-5200 = R-18

The R-value is a measure of how well a material can hold heat. The better the insulation, the higher the R-value.

The R-value you’ll need on a garage door is dependent on your unique location and space. Spaces with better insulation may need less R-value. Spaces in extremely cold climates may desire a higher R-value.

Garage doors are always better insulated when injected with high-pressure polyurethane foam.

Polyurethane is an injectable foam that creates an insulative barrier in your garage door. There are many reasons one should choose a polyurethane foam when insulating commercial garage doors:

  • This insulative foam can easily endure harsh rains and cold weather.
  • The foam is a barrier to even air and gas and does not allow any drafts or gasses to enter.
  • The foam improves the garage door’s resistance to flexion.
  • Foam is 2x more efficient than traditional insulation made of polystyrene.

An illustration that explains the difference between  Styrofoam and polyurethane-insulated garage doors

Polyurethane is the premier option for flawless insulation. See the differences between polyurethane versus Styrofoam.

3. Enjoy limited warranties on the G-5000 commercial steel doors:

  • Protects for 10 years against any perforation of steel due to rust.
  • Protects for 10 years against cracking or rot of the wood end blocks.
  • 10 years of coverage against delamination of the steel skin.
  • Provides 10 years of coverage against seal defects on all garage windows.
  • Enjoy a year of limited warranty on all other garage door components.

This commercial overhead garage door is in the G-5000 construction, 7' X 8', and insulated with injected with high-pressure polyurethane foam.

This G-5000 garage door is compact and efficient at a measurement of 7' x 8'. We know all projects are unique, and we can create custom garage door sizing, such as the one above for any project you have in mind.

High Lift and Vertical Lift Is the Preferred Choice for Car Dealerships & Commercial Buildings

For added clearance, this sectional G-4400 all-glass commercial garage door has high-lift tracks.

Above is a high lift system that provides more headroom. The garage door tracks lie closer to the ceiling, making more space inside.

Your home garage door should be very different than your commercial garage door. You need to make decisions about a garage door that will be as safe and efficient for your business for years to come.

What type of lift and clearance is preferred for a commercial garage door?

There are 6 types of garage door lifts:

Standard lift This is the most common type of lift. It has headroom of at least 10 inches and is popular in residential spaces. Illustration of Garage Door Standard lift
High-lift track This lift offers more overhead space and is ideal for tall ceilings. Illustration of Garage Door High lift
Full vertical model Full vertical model This is an optimal model for commercial buildings since they open vertically above the garage door opening. No horizontal turns are included. Illustration of Garage Door Full vertical lift
Inclined garage door tracks These are necessary for slanted or cathedral ceiling types. Illustration of Garage Door Inclined track
Front and rear low headroom A great solution for a small space with less headroom. Illustration of Garage Door Low front headroom

High lift and vertical lift are options for industrial and commercial projects since they provide a wider clearance.

This commercial sectional garage door is in the G-5000 construction and has high lift. With tracks close to the ceiling like this one, there is a lot of overhead clearance

Overhead clearance galore! This commercial garage door offers tons of space with its high lift hardware. This garage door is well-insulated, efficient, and stunning.

Choosing the Right Hardware Is Crucial When Installing Commercial or Industrial Garage Doors

When installing a commercial garage door, it’s extremely important to have the springs' length and thickness assessed by garage door experts.

Commercial garage doors are heavier and get more frequent use than residential garage doors. For this reason, you need to consult the pros! You can purchase a garage door opener, which provides the initial opening motion, but the springs operate a large majority of the heavy lifting.

When thinking about garage door springs, it’s important to consider the two points below:

  • The longer the spring, the more opening and closing it can withstand without breaking down.

HOWEVER

  • The shorter the spring is, the more weight it can hold.

This can make picking the perfect spring a tough decision. Luckily, a garage door expert will find a suitable balance between these factors to make a decision that is just right for your project.

Kinds of Commercial Hardware

Commercial spaces often have high ceilings and need a lot of clearance room, as such, commercial doors frequently have "high lift" type hardware.

Hardware Light Duty
  • 14-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
  • Pull rope
  • Single hinges
Heavy Duty
  • 13-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
  • Pull chain
  • Single or double hinges
Super Heavy Duty
  • 12-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
  • Pull chain or chain hoists
  • Single or double hinges
  • Reinforcement bars
Hardware

Light Duty

  • 14-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
  • Pull rope
  • Single hinges

Heavy Duty

  • 13-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
  • Pull chain
  • Single or double hinges

Super Heavy Duty

  • 12-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
  • Pull chain or chain hoists
  • Single or double hinges
  • Reinforcement bars

*The lower the gauge number, the thicker the steel

What special features does the commercial garage door have?

  • Commercial hardware is larger and heavier, to accommodate the commercial garage door’s tall height and large clearance space.
  • Commercial doors usually range in thickness from 1⅜ to 2 inches and are usually insulated.
  • Unlike residential doors, the energy efficiency and insulation of a commercial door can be integral to a business’s success. The energy efficiency of our commercial garage doors makes them attractive.
  • The insulation featured in commercial garaged doors also offers more protection from bending and damage.

Commercial Hardware Differs Greatly from Residential Hardware

The hardware installed in commercial garage doors is more efficient and resilient. It needs to be, considering how often commercial garage doors are opened and closed. The hardware used will be very different from what you might see in a home.

Thicker and More Durable Tracks

  • The tracks of commercial garage doors are thicker and longer than residential tracks to provide more resilience.

Commercial Garage Doors Require Stronger Springs

The decision on what spring type should be used on a commercial garage door should be made by assessing how often the door will be opened and closed.

If a commercial space estimates they open and close the door 25 to 50 times, it will require a spring system that can endure at least 25,000 to 100,000 cycles.

Commercial garage doors provide increased movement options

Most residential garage doors move with a standard opening style and clearance height.

Commercial garage doors offer such standard movement. However, commercial garage doors also offer openings with elevation or completely vertical, depending on the height of the door and the space available above the door.

Other hardware can be added to your commercial garage door to increase its durability and longevity. Building owners can make this choice by deciding how much value the owner attaches to service interruptions of the doors. Plus, repairs can be pricey, and installing more robust hardware upfront may save the owner from costly repairs down the road.

Commercial Garage Door Openers Are Reliable and Durable

This is LiftMaster's RBH operator, a jackshaft-type that is robust and powerful with a chain to open it manually.

The best for high lift garage doors is the jackshaft-type operator above. It offers utility, potency, and a chain operator to manually operate the garage door if needed.

Garage door openers can vary in price based on type and utility. Here are some considerations to make regarding pricing:

Voltage

Voltage can make your garage door opener cost more but is well worth it in most commercial cases. The voltage can be increased as the door is used more often. We recommend 220 V over 115 V.

Engine power

½, ¾, or 1 hp? The garage door replaces human labor, so the heavier the door, the more engine power you’ll need to safely operate it. For large commercial garage doors, ¾ hp is typically sufficient.

Central or side opener

If your garage features any raised or vertical capabilities, a jackshaft-type (sideways) door opener will be necessary. If you install a jackshaft, be sure a chain control is featured.

Looking for a recommendation? Check out the LiftMaster model RBH operator. This jackshaft garage door opener is the preferred match for large industrial or commercial garage doors.

  • This jackshaft-type opener is very powerful and able to easily lift large and heavy garage doors.
  • It can endure far more cycles (opening and closing of the garage door) than other options.
  • Ideal for use with larger sectional garage doors with vertical or high lift, which are often the kinds you will have in a commercial space.

RBH Definition

RBH stands for roller-bearing chain hoist. LiftMaster’s RBH garage door opener has durable roller bearings. This helps improve the longevity of the system and provides a smoother operational experience.

Check out the below diagram to get a better idea of how RBH works in a garage.

LiftMaster RBH Features

Drawing of all the key components and parts of a commercial garage door opener. This is LiftMaster's RBH operator

Understanding the Clutch

When you press a button that causes the garage door to open or close, the clutch allows it to slide over to avoid sudden jerks of movement. The clutch protects the door and its longevity.

Details About the Motor in This Garage Door Operator

  • It features overload protection, which automatically powers down the motor if it is overheating.
  • The operator starts up swiftly and easily thanks to the shaft coupling's high starting torque.
  • When your operator needs service, it automatically sends error alerts and codes to the service technicians to alert them to what is wrong so they can efficiently and easily repair your operator.

Timer Feature

  • With customizable timeframes, you can set your garage door to stay open for as long or as short as desired.
  • TimerSecure ensures that if a breakdown occurs, the motor will not idle.
  • The Mid-Course Stop function ensures you are saving precious energy.
  • Dealership Mode lets you impress clients and customers. Without anyone having to press the remote 3 times, the door can be opened to a pre-programmed height.

Stay in the know with a wall control panel

Once the door opener has performed the set number of cycles, the Maintenance Alert System (MAS) will alert you. The MAS can be automated in 1000-cycle intervals, allowing you to get a clear alert with a flashing LED light whenever preventive maintenance is due.

When you choose a G-4400 commercial garage door, you’ll also get heavy-duty industrial dual-sided photo eyes (CPS-UN4)

The heavy-duty polycarbonate housings defy water/dust/dirt collection or invasion into your garage space. Featuring sensor lights, you can ensure you’re always in the know when moisture has entered the space. This feature is ideal for car dealerships that want to protect their space but need durable and accurate sensors to do so.

Money on the mind? You may consider choosing a commercial door operator that is compatible with existing 575-volt commercial buildings. This will keep energy usage bills lower than average.

Seek Advice from the Pros: Talk to Our Specialists in Commercial Garage Doors and Operators for Business

Make note of your space's specific needs, then make some time to meet with our commercial garage door pros over at Door Systems Metro Boston. Our specialists will offer advice through every step of your garage door installation, including:

  • A complimentary consultation at the showroom or right in your business
  • A free quotation that includes transparent and conclusive pricing details about the services offered as well as tiered pricing proposals which detail the price of a garage door installation depends on several factors
  • On-site measurements of your unique building to ensure your pricing quote is 100% accurate
  • Enjoy our elective Planned Preventive Maintenance program. We know your garage doors are a big investment, so we help you keep them in perfect shape for years to come.

Choose a commercial garage door that exceeds your business’s needs. Choosing a cheap option in the short term will only cause stress in the long term! When you decide to choose the right professionals for a commercial garage door project the first time, you’ll be happy you did.

Contact us right away at 508-875-3508!

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