When purchasing a car, owners first of all think about a cozy, warm, comfortable and spacious home for their steel friend. This individual space is called a garage. It can be attached to the house, or it can be a separate small building.
In any case, the garage simply must be equipped with a personal car entrance. Garage doors are the very first option in search queries for those who want to create this miracle of mechanics and technology with their own hands.
Types of structures
It would seem that nothing could be simpler: choose a standard gate for your opening - and not have any additional headaches. But folk craftsmen, proving to themselves and the world that they are no strangers, continue to look for new ways to save money and use their own creative powers and technical skills.
Among the wide variety of garage doors, there are basic designs that daily delight even the most demanding car owners with their functionality.
The simplest of them are classic swing models.. They usually consist of two leaves, in one of which the entrance door is installed. As a rule, swing gates are very massive and take up quite a lot of space. Since their opening requires a fairly large amplitude. They are installed on a metal frame, to which they are attached with durable canopies. Such gates require increased attention: monitoring the lubrication of the hinged mechanisms. Due to insufficient maintenance of swing gates, you can sometimes find them sagging.
Sectional doors for the garage are several metal movable panels connected to each other by hinges. The edges of each part are equipped with special rollers that move along special guides installed in the gate opening. They go to the ceiling, thanks to which sectional doors smoothly go up, while saving space in the room.
There is a convenient variation of this type, when the gate slides to the side.
Folding garage structures also consist of vertical sections. But more often they are swing gates that fold like an accordion on the sides. They can be installed in an opening of any width (the number of sections - canvases - will depend on this).
They can be installed in such a way that they will fold both inward and outward, depending on the size of the room and the need to save it. The main load falls on the walls and ceiling, thus leaving the space free and unused.
One of the most common and easy to install types of garage doors are overhead structures. Like others, they can be automatic, but also have their own unique lever mechanism.
Mechanical model overhead gates opens and closes with a slight movement of the hand, and by installing an additional bar with a motor, you can get excellent automatic gates on the remote control.
Materials
Any Garage Doors are made from the following basic materials:
- metal (corrugated sheeting);
- tree;
- steel.
Structures made from corrugated sheets have quite long term operation and have high strength. Treated with special anti-corrosion agents, such gates will be resistant to moisture and temperature changes. In addition, care metal structures much easier than any other materials.
Corrugated sheeting is very easy to cut and divided into the necessary sections/sections, removing additional weight load on the guides. However, when independent work above the garage door, it should be taken into account that it is very easy to get deeply cut on the cut edges of the metal. Basic safety rules will protect you from getting an unpleasant injury.
Wooden garage doors are less in demand on the market, but also have their own functional value. Along with metal ones, they have a low price. Wood is always beautiful and natural. Perhaps, this is where all the advantages of the material end.
Wooden gates are fire hazardous, less durable and have very low strength. They are susceptible to rotting even after treatment with antiseptic and other impregnations.
Steel structures They are somewhat more expensive than wooden and metal ones, but are just as durable and strong as the latter.
The main horse that most modern car enthusiasts and professionals bet on is sandwich panels. Practical and economical, such gates are good heat and sound insulators. They are very easy to install, insulate and wash. Excellent fire resistance properties will ensure the safety of your car in the garage with such doors.
Profiled sheets are also an excellent material for making garage doors. With such an entrance structure you are not afraid of weather conditions and mechanical damage. This is a very durable, beautiful and economical material.
Dimensions
Modern manufacturers of garage doors offer a huge number of dimensional varieties of their designs. Some can even make them to order. It won't be difficult for you to take the necessary measurements in your garage.
There is also the opportunity to make an independent calculation using preliminary drawings and diagrams. It is imperative to take into account the specifics of the room, the material from which your gate will be made, and the weather conditions that await them at different times of the year.
Professionals insist that overhead gates can only be installed in rectangular openings. The lifting mechanism also cannot be made differently than what is included in classic models.
A good option is to take ready-made standard drawings of overhead garage doors and substitute your own values there so as not to make a mistake. In this case, the diagram must take into account not only the dimensions, but also the location of the entire structure as a whole. Particular attention should be paid to both the door leaf itself and the lifting mechanism.
The drawing details what measurements need to be taken and where.
The decryption is quite simple:
- H– the height of the opening into which the gate frame and the structure itself will be installed. It is very important to understand that the total height of the opening and the maximum height of the car that can enter the garage after installing the gate are two completely different things. This distance is measured in order to understand how much gap remains for lifting the gate to the ceiling.
- L– lintel or garage depth and b1, b2 – shoulder pads must be located in the same plane, but must have different sizes. In this case, L is always greater.
- B– the width of the opening should be measured with gaps of approximately 2 cm on each side.
- L– the depth of the garage is necessarily greater than the height of the entire gate structure, otherwise the door leaf simply will have nowhere to “go.”
How to do it?
It takes two to five days to make overhead gates yourself. Depending on the desired result.
For example, there are two types of lifting mechanisms:
- Levers + springs. Not the simplest, but the most common and safe way lifting and lowering garage doors of light weight. During installation, special attention will have to be paid to fixing and adjusting the springs and high quality guides for the rollers.
- Counterweights. As a rule, it is used in the manufacture of homemade heavy-duty folding gates. The cable is stretched from the lower corners of the canvas, passes through a special block and is attached to counterweights located at the other end of the winch.
Determining the lifting mechanisms gives a clear picture of what tools and materials you may need during the production and installation process.
Let's consider the main stages of manufacturing overhead garage doors:
First stage– creating a layout and drawing of the future gate. A little has already been said about this. But when describing the production stages directly, you should start with this.
The second stage involves purchasing the necessary tools and materials for making gates:
- Rectangular pipe profiles 40*20 mm and 20*20 mm. It is very important that they have sufficiently dense walls: at least two millimeters. The former are well suited for making a canvas frame, and the latter - for longitudinal and transverse jumpers and guides.
- Gate leaf. Here the owner needs to decide for himself how he wants to see the entrance to his garage: profile sheet, sandwich panel, wood, metal.
- Wooden beam or metal corner. If you decide to use a lever-spring mechanism, these tools are ideal for securing it.
- Sliding rollers and the gate lifting mechanism itself.
- Insulation if you decide to make your garage warm even in the cold season.
- Kit complex instruments: Bulgarian, welding machine, screwdriver.
- Among the simple ones - only what can be found in the arsenal of any craftsman: a level, a screwdriver, a tape measure, a pencil, a hammer, wrenches.
When preparing the opening it should be taken into account that it must be in the same plane with the walls of the garage itself. This will improve functionality and simplify the operation of the structure.
Let's start leveling the walls, which can be adequately assessed using a construction water or infrared level. But also A prerequisite is the strength and horizontality of the floor covering.
So, all the preparatory measures have been completed, we proceed directly to the manufacture and assembly of overhead garage doors with our own hands. And this will be the third stage of work.
Let's make a frame. This is the main element that bears the greatest responsibility and the greatest burden. First, we assemble the box, which will be made of wooden beams or a metal corner, as indicated in necessary materials. The main feature of the manufacture and installation of the frame box is that its lower part should extend 2 cm below the floor level. This is an additional means of fixing the structure.
It is important to remember that it cannot be adjusted using wooden wedges and polyurethane foam. In order to “fit” the frame to the opening, it is necessary to use special metal inserts.
The next step is installing roller bearings. First you need to install the guides. They are sometimes also called roller rails. This point is important because the entire installation process must be accompanied by careful level measurements, otherwise the structure simply will not be able to function.
In the picture the rails and their correct installation to make everything work.
It's time to proceed directly to the gate leaf. Manufacturing options are simple and not very diverse.
There are three main types of installation of the gate shield itself:
- wooden frame made of beams, covered with sheets of metal;
- one-piece metal shield;
- metal profile base, on which a solid sheet is also attached.
This back side medals, that is, what will be inside the garage. Of course, I also want to add insulation to our incredibly cold winters. As for external processing, then everything depends on your financial capabilities and aesthetic preferences.
The fourth stage in the manufacture of overhead gates is to install the wicket. If there is an urgent need for it, production front door and its installation is made with greater ease. Suitable for this simple doors, cut from gates and installed on hinges. After all the main structural elements are ready, a full check of the mechanisms, tightness, level and functionality is carried out.
Many craftsmen in their video blogs talk about the possibility of automating overhead gates. The garage owner can also do this on his own. Here you cannot do without three main components: the electronic drive unit (brain automatic opening and gate closing), radio receiver and remote control.
To install the first one, professionals advise using practically available means, such as a reverse winch or a power window mechanism.
Another important point is installing a lock on the gate. Since such a structure can often be opened with one slight movement of the hand, it will not be difficult for intruders to deal with both the gate and the contents of your garage.
Among the additional accessories that can be installed during the process of making garage doors with your own hands are more decorative tips: installing windows that increase the number sunlight and save energy.
As can be seen from step-by-step instructions By self-production lifting gates, this process is quite labor-intensive and sometimes even complicated. But thanks to the personal participation of the garage owner, it becomes noticeably more economical. For example, the average price of overhead gates from a domestic manufacturer can reach up to 70,000 rubles. When you do all the work yourself, you save about 60,000 rubles, taking into account the installation of options.
Following all the rules and steps in the manufacture of garage doors with lifting mechanism, you will receive a universal and unique design that will protect your car at any time of the year.
Basic tips and recommendations for operating overhead garage doors come down to the care, adjustment and repair of all components in particular, and the system as a whole. For example, all rubber seals require additional periodic lubrication with silicone. This will help avoid cracking or freezing during the frosty season.
The lever system requires constant lubrication so that it does not rust, does not creak, and lasts as long as possible. Rollers, by the way, have the same hidden need. The tension of the springs needs to be constantly adjusted to ensure that the operation of overhead garage doors is as comfortable and durable as possible.
If the tension weakens, then the gate may simply not be opened. But if, on the contrary, the spring is overtightened, then the sash can be overturned and damage the leaf.
When mechanical damage door leaf, it is no longer possible to correct this. Since it is installed in one whole sheet, it will be necessary to replace the entire main door covering.
After all the basic manufacturing and installation work has been completed, you should worry about security systems. So, it is best to install feet on the rails so that the canvas does not come off the guides during operation.
One of the main tips from professionals and amateurs is timely diagnosis of the condition of the entire structure as a whole. As well as constant monitoring of the condition of its components.
Handmade production overhead garage doors are a very complex process. It requires constant monitoring, increased accuracy and responsibility. When starting work, you need to weigh the pros and cons of this process, and take on it with confidence. Taking into account all the nuances, tips and recommendations, any car owner will be able to produce exactly what he really wanted, but was scared to imagine. All people are the architects of their own happiness and their environment.
Up-and-over doors are one of the most expensive, but at the same time reliable and practical garage structures. When opened, they lie horizontally and move outward somewhat, thereby creating a canopy over the entrance.
About the features of the system, as well as how to assemblelifting swing gates with your own hands, will be discussed in this article.
The main feature of panel gates (another name for a lift-and-turn mechanism) is the simplicity of the design. The canvas mounted on the frame moves around an axis along metal guides, moving from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa.
Note! The frame is the leading element of the gate, which is usually made of rectangular steel pipes.
Using special rollers and lifting levers, the canvas moves along rails and is fixed at the level of the ceiling of the room. At the same time, the lower half of the structure also rises and protrudes slightly forward. Special compensation springs are free in the open position, and stretched in the closed position.
Here are the main types of construction:
- hinged - a more popular option, in which the shield moves freely, but the compensation springs need careful adjustment;
- on counterweights - in this case, a cable is attached to the frame, and on the opposite side of the winch - a counterweight (used mainly for heavy gates).
In addition, control of the panel structure can be either manual or automatic (often using a remote control).
Main advantages
- For such gates, a durable solid leaf is used, which is additional protection from hacking and unauthorized entry.
- The mechanism can be installed on double and single gates.
- If all manufacturing and installation requirements are met, the gate will not be subject to corrosion and aggressive environmental influences.
- The rollback can be done manually or an automatic system can be installed.
- Unlike other garage door designs, panel doors do not require extra space to open.
- To insulate gates, you can use regular polystyrene foam.
- The cladding can be carried out with any available material, even panels and decorative inserts are allowed.
Design flaws
Regarding the shortcomings, they are all often associated with the features of the system and some limitations.
- Gates can only be installed in rectangular openings.
- After installation, gaps may form between the frame and the panel. To eliminate them, you can use sealing material, but it is still not recommended to install panel gates in heated garages.
- In the open position, the design slightly reduces the height of the opening (by about 25 cm).
- The springs themselves are designed for a certain weight, so when installing thermal insulation you need to take into account the weight of the insulation. If after insulation the weight of the gate is too large, then the installation of counterweights will be required.
- The integrity of the canvas is not only an advantage, but also a disadvantage, since repair of individual sections is impossible.
Having understood the design features, you can proceed directly to installation work.
Stage 1. Selection of materials
In this case, it all depends on the canvas and design features mechanism.
The most simple gate assembled from the following materials:
- wooden blocks - 120x80 mm for the box, 100x100 mm for the ceiling;
- canvas;
- steel pins;
- electric drive;
- corners measuring 35x35x4 mm and 40x40x4 mm;
- steel rod ø8 mm;
- channel 43x80x5 mm;
- spring ø30 mm (internal diameter indicated).
Note! For the canvas, a board covered with tin, a “sandwich” or a monolithic structure is taken.
It’s easier to make a shield from boards and cover its surface with a special protective composition. Foam plastic is excellent as thermal insulation, and exterior finishing– plastic or wooden panels.
Stage 2. Preparing the necessary equipment
To build up and over gates yourself, you need to prepare in advance:
- building level;
- welding machine;
- hammer;
- grinder;
- marker;
- electric drill;
- set of drills;
- screwdriver;
- wrenches of the appropriate size.
Further work can be divided into two stages - gate design and actual assembly.
Stage 3. Drafting
Garage doors are just like any other complex design, require preliminary drafting. To do this, the opening is measured, all necessary calculations and a drawing is drawn up.
Video - Opening
Stage 4. Garage door installation technology
After preparing and purchasing everything you need, you can begin manufacturing.
Step 1. First, a box is mounted from wooden blocks; iron plates or squares are used for fastening.
Step 2. Then the box is installed in the previously cleaned opening and secured with pins. It is important that its lower part is recessed into the screed by about 2-3 cm.
Video - Gate frame
Step 3. The canvas is assembled - the shield is installed, the structure is covered with sheet metal.
Step 4. Next, using the corners, the support for the mechanism is assembled. In one of the shelves three ø10 mm holes are made for the bracket, in the other - only two, for fastening to horizontal posts. The bracket itself will serve as a support for the spring.
Step 5. An adjustment spring is used to connect the spring to the bracket (it is made from a narrow metal strip). The last turns will serve as hooks. It turns out that a thread is cut on one side, and a kind of ring is formed on the other.
Step 6. To make the hinge unit, use an angle with a hole (ø8.5 mm) - it is welded between the center of the groove for the lifting mechanism and one of the frame ribs. The distance should be approximately 120 mm.
Step 7. A plate with a pre-made hole for the tension adjuster is attached to the lever.
Step 8. Two angles are used to make the rails. The corner flanges are welded so that the distance between the upper parts is approximately 50 mm.
Step 8. One side of the finished rail is welded to a plate approximately 80 mm thick. Pieces of channel approximately 150 mm thick are attached to the other side. After this, the channel is fixed with a bolt on the upper block.
Video - Installation of guides, part 1
Video - Installation of guides, part 2
Video - Installation of guides, part 3
Video - Installation of guides, part 4
Video - Installation of guides, part 5
Step 9. Upon completion of installation, the gates are painted.
Note! All hard to reach places It is advisable to paint the structures before starting assembly.
Video - Almost finished gate
There are a number important points, which should be taken into account when assembling gates of this type.
- A regular car alarm can be used as an automatic lift.
- To fasten all elements, it is better to use a welding machine - this will reduce the number of holes.
- For the drive, a reversible self-locking winch is ideal, which is powered by a 220 V network and has a traction force of at least 120 kg.
- The minimum height of the opening should be 220 cm, and the distance between the ceiling and the upper part of the structure should be 40-50 cm.
- The weight of the garage sheet is of great importance. Ideally, it should not exceed 100 kg.
- At low lift, the drum is placed at the rear.
- The lower profile of the web must be equipped with a special groove for installing sealing material.
- The guides must be positioned exclusively horizontally, otherwise the blade will get stuck when moving. For alignment, several washers can be placed between the channel and the beam.
Note! The canvas can be equipped with small inserts made of translucent material - this will significantly improve the lighting of the garage. You can also take care of a security system that will protect against hacking or pinching.
Installing a counterweight
As noted earlier, instead of hinges, you can equip the system with counterweights. To do this, you need to follow these steps.
Step 1. A cable is attached to the lower edges of the frame. Next, the cable rises and passes through the block.
Step 2. A counterweight is installed at the other end of the cable - for example, a strong one iron box filled with stones.
Note! Instead of a box, it is better to use an old elevator counterweight, although it is quite difficult to get one.
The greater the weight of the canvas, the heavier the counterweight should be (maximum 500 kg).
Video - Installing a counterweight
Of course, such a mechanism has some disadvantages. Thus, opening the gate requires great physical effort, and the structure itself is unsafe - if the cable slips, the counterweight will simply break off. But if the gate is too heavy, then with due attention you can safely abandon traditional springs.
Note! It is necessary to arrange a special niche for the cargo, where it will go when the gate is raised.
If the gate is light enough, the counterweight can be replaced with an electric winch.
As a conclusion
A lift-and-turn design is one of the cheapest ways to close a garage opening without compromising the functionality of the room, while original design remains unchanged. For a more detailed introduction to installation and assembly technology, it is recommended to watch a video on the topic.
Video - Making overhead gates
You can install any gate in the garage, including the popular overhead gates. Despite the complexity of the design, there is nothing difficult in installation. With great desire and availability the necessary tool You can make overhead garage doors with your own hands without any problems.
Features of overhead garage doors
Gates that do not open like doors, but go under the ceiling, are assembled from several parts:
- a skeleton made of durable elements;
- one-piece sash inserted into the frame;
- return spring assembly;
- mechanism for changing the position of the sash.
This design is in great demand among garage owners because it has a lot of advantages.
Advantages
Lifting gates are characterized by the following positive qualities:
- compact - the design takes up less space in and around the garage;
- ease of assembly and installation;
- automatic opening, which can be achieved by equipping the gate with a drive;
- free lifting of the sash, so there is no need to remove snow before entering the garage;
- noiselessness, which is guaranteed by a special mechanism for moving the door leaf.
Despite the advantages of overhead gates, some garage owners find compelling arguments against installing them.
Flaws
The following disadvantages of this design can force the garage owner to change his decision regarding equipping the garage with overhead doors:
- low degree of security against penetration by intruders;
- inability to retain heat;
- prohibition on frequent raising and lowering of the sash;
- Possibility of installation only in a rectangular opening;
- the need to completely replace the canvas if it is damaged.
You can turn a blind eye to certain disadvantages of overhead gates. Some car owners ignore the fact that door design, going upward, is mounted only in a rectangular opening. The fact is that this disadvantage is compensated wide possibilities in finishing the canvas. For example, small windows made of glass containing wire mesh in the thickness may be built into the leaf of an overhead garage door.
The principle of movement of the sash (rotary, tilting, folding mechanisms)
The gate, which goes to the ceiling, allowing the car to drive inside the garage, looks like a flat canvas that completely fills the opening. In order for it to rise easily, it must be supported by a rigid frame, securely attached to the wall of the room. The overhead gate leaf moves up or down along the side profile, which acts as a guide.
A special mechanism consisting of springs, levers and rollers forces the canvas to move from place. The sash, which is set in motion by these elements, rises along the guides and goes upward, after which it slowly takes a horizontal position and becomes parallel to the ceiling.
Easy and quick lifting of the canvas up is provided by springs. When the gate is locked, it stretches. And the opening of the door structure brings them into a compressed state. Springs and all other elements of the mechanism for moving a solid gate leaf can be forced to perform their task either manually or automatically.
Lifting gates are opened at the touch of a button using an electric drive, which must be specially equipped with the door structure.
Preparing to install a standard garage door
The first task that a car owner who has the idea of making a lifting gate needs to complete is to draw up a drawing. You won’t be able to do without it, since the final result of the work depends on it.
Drawing with indicated dimensions
A diagram indicating all dimensions is a document that can protect you from making skewed gates. By the way, when constructing a lifting door structure, it is advisable to have on hand not only simple schematic illustration gates, but also a plan with their isometric projection.
The dimensions of the lifting door structure should be 10 cm greater than the length of the opening. By adding these centimeters to the door parameters, you will be able to avoid the appearance of gaps between the lifting structure and the walls of the garage. A large room may require the manufacture of gates with dimensions of 6x2.2 m. And the frame itself, created from steel or wooden elements, should be made taking into account the size of the opening.
Having finished drawing up the drawing, you need to arm yourself with a pen and a notebook in order to note in it what will be needed in the process of manufacturing the overhead gates.
How to choose the right materials
To install overhead gates in your garage, you need to prepare:
- 2 wooden beams having a cross section of 100x100 mm and 120x80 mm, or durable steel profiles;
- corners 4 mm thick with parameters 4x4 cm;
- channel 40x80 mm;
- a steel rod with a diameter of 0.8 cm;
- 2 springs having an internal diameter of 3 cm;
- 2 movable brackets;
- anchor bolts and screws;
- rollers;
- cable or chain.
Most of the requirements are placed on the material from which the canvas itself will be made. To create a lifting (it can be folding or folding) sash, boards with a thickness of at least 2.5 cm, corrugated sheets and plastic panels are suitable. You can make a canvas from ordinary sandwich panels. Same good material board shields are considered.
The door leaf of a rising door structure cannot be made from solid wood. Otherwise, the sash will turn out to be heavy. In addition, in the rain and snow it will become damp and swell.
If, after making the door leaf, the garage owner intends to insulate them, then he can use basalt wool or expanded polystyrene. These materials meet the requirements fire safety. Having insulated the door structure, you can sheathe it with galvanized steel sheet, which will protect the metal parts of the gate from rust.
Required Tools
For measurements you will need a metal tape with divisions (tape measure), a building level and a corner. In the future you will need:
- angle grinder for smoothing metal after welding;
- welding machine;
- an electric jigsaw, which is useful for cutting and processing wooden beams;
- a drill to make holes in materials;
- a screwdriver for equipping the blade with fasteners;
- hammer, set of screwdrivers and wrenches.
How to make a lift-and-fold gate structure with your own hands
To make a gate that goes to the ceiling when opened, you will need to perform the following steps in turn:
- Prepare an opening for the structure, that is, insert vertical supports into the flooring to a depth of 2 cm, which will be pieces of 120x80 mm timber, and attach them with anchor bolts.
- Assemble the frame of the structure, for which it is necessary to install a horizontal beam at a distance equal to the length of the garage door in such a position that it is parallel to the crossbar of the opening.
- Weld two guide rails from 4 metal corners, along which the rollers attached to the sash will later pass, and attach them using self-tapping screws and metal fittings to the beams located at the top.
- Build the frame of the canvas. To do this, weld square profiles from metal corners, connect them to each other and attach them to the finished box of diagonal beams.
- Equip the corners at the top of the frame for the canvas with rollers, for which you need to use a drill and fasteners.
- Cover the gate frame with anti-corrosion material using self-tapping screws.
- Equip the vertical support beams with movable brackets, installing channels of these mechanisms on them.
- Attach to the bottom of the beams, or rather, to the suspended brackets and the ends of the channels using a spring.
- Hang the finished canvas on the manufactured frame.
After this, you should take care of protecting the garage from intruders by equipping it with locks and latches. It’s worth thinking about how and with what to insulate your homemade overhead gates.
How to insulate garage doors
The garage can be protected from heat loss if the inside of the lifting doors is covered with foam plastic. This material is characterized by high rigidity, does not absorb moisture and does not allow it to escape outside. warm air. The quality of the foam, despite the low price, is beyond doubt. In addition, this material is easy to work with, because it weighs little.
It is first necessary to treat all holes between the frame and the canvas using polyurethane foam. This clever trick will protect the garage from heat loss through the door structure and the occurrence of drafts. Then you need to coat the gate leaf with a primer or paint that protects against rust. When the coating has dried, you can begin to insulate the door structure.
Polystyrene foam can be laid on metal surface gates or insert battens between the joists. If you like the first option, then the insulation will simply need to be glued to the sash. And when choosing the second method of laying polystyrene foam, the first thing you need to do is create a frame from wooden lining, and only then deal with insulation.
Later, in order for the gate to open and close without difficulty, it is recommended to adjust the spring tension by tightening the nut. If this does not help, you can change the location where this element is fixed. Lifting gates will tip over easily if they are equipped with a door handle from the outside at a distance of less than 1 m from the ground.
Video: how to make the simplest homemade overhead gates
The main condition for the successful completion of work on the construction of overhead gates is the correct preliminary calculations. In addition, in order for the door structure delivered to the garage to cause pride and not regret, you need to undertake its manufacture with construction skills.
Overhead garage doors – the best way solving the problem of free space. But the problem is the high cost of factory models. Therefore, if you have the desire, tools and Supplies you can make them yourself. What do you need to make your own overhead gates for your garage? The instructions and drawings will help solve this issue.
Analysis of manufacturing scheme
Unlike other options, it is not recommended to take a drawing of a factory model as a basis. In most cases, the canvas is lifted using complex system counterweights and guides. Making such a gate design yourself will be problematic. But you can take some components from this drawing.
The lower part poses a particular problem. Making moving hinges and an adjustable lifting system will be difficult. The solution is to secure the lower part of the door leaf using a roller system. The frame will serve as guides. As a result, the scheme will be modernized for making the structure yourself.
Description of the operating principle of homemade overhead garage doors:
- The upper rollers are mounted on L-shaped profile pipes. Movement occurs along horizontal guides made of a U-shaped profile.
- Lifting is carried out using a counterweight. A hook is welded to the bottom of the gate, to which a steel cable is attached, leading to the roller at the top. The mass of the counterweight depends on the weight of the sash and its height, and is determined experimentally.
- Additionally, you can make a swing sash. To do this, stiffeners must be welded onto the gate frame.
- The canvas is formed from aluminum or. It is advisable to make insulation from the inside.
This general description the principle of manufacturing and operation of the structure. Parts can be adapted to a specific opening and improve the functionality of overhead gates.
Required Supplies
Most often used for manufacturing available material. Rolled metal can be purchased at delivery points; old structures can be used after dismantling them. It is necessary to check the quality of the workpieces - the absence of mechanical deformation, rust or other defects.
For production you will need following materials and components:
- The gate frame is made of angle or channel. Thickness – from 50 mm or more. It is necessary to take into account that a layer of insulation and internal lining will be installed.
- The box must perform two functions - to fix the canvas and be a guide for the rollers. To do this, it is recommended to take a channel 30*50*30 cm.
- Upper horizontal guides. They are also made from channel bars, but in smaller sizes. The width depends on the selected rollers.
- Rollers. There are no special requirements for them; it is important that the surface is rubberized.
- Square pipes. Necessary for the manufacture of additional structures.
The thickness of each component depends on the overall dimensions of the structure. The channel channel of the box must be at least 3 mm, the frame - from 1.5 mm. For installation you will need dowels; it is recommended to connect the elements of the lifting gates using welding. Mechanical fasteners will not provide adequate quality connections.
Sequence of work
After drawing up a drawing of the overhead garage doors, you need to select the right material and make blanks. dimensions take into account the thickness of the weld seam. The opening is being prepared - the walls are leveled, the dimensions are checked horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Corrections are made to the drawing.
Work order:
- Installation of the box and upper horizontal guides. The latter are attached to the garage ceiling.
- The frame is made according to the dimensions obtained. It should not be 3-5 mm larger than the dimensions of the box. For a tight connection, you can later install a sheet on top of the structure.
- Installation of lower and upper rollers on the frame.
- Installation of the frame on the guides with preliminary fixation.
- Checking the functionality of the gate. They need to be opened and closed several times.
- Forming a web from steel sheets.
- Adjusting the counterweight mass.
Only after this can you begin priming and painting. For security, it is recommended to place a lock at the bottom.
In the review video you can see an example of the manufacture of such a structure:
A well-equipped garage is the key to long-term car storage. However, not all car enthusiasts know that a decisive role in this is played by garage doors, which should be not only convenient, but also practical.
From this point of view, overhead garage doors stand out among all types of structures.
This product is a one-piece gate leaf, which opens thanks to a lifting mechanism, sliding under the ceiling. Its main advantage is space saving and ease of use. Lift gates are really convenient.
Now you can forget about the long and laborious opening of locks and doors swing gates. Thanks to the lifting light mechanism With just one hand, you can open your garage door in seconds.
Another important advantage of this product is its reliability. Unlike sectional structures, a solid door leaf has greater tightness and thermal insulation, and if the garage is equipped with good seals along the contour of the opening, such gates will become simply irreplaceable.
In addition to all these advantages, the design of the gate is so simple that it can be installed in a garage by a person who does not have deep knowledge of the construction business.
Distinctive features of the design
Lifting garage doors are distinguished by the fact that for their operation, reinforced lifting drives are installed, which can be of several types. Today the following types of mechanisms are distinguished:
- Articulating lever device.
It is capable of opening a solid sash thanks to built-in rollers, springs and levers. This type of equipment is the most common and the vast majority of car owners equip their garages with gates based on it. The principle of operation is extremely simple.
Along the edges of the opening, corner guides are installed, which are fixed under the ceiling. The door leaf is driven by springs and levers on its lower part on the sides.
When opening such overhead garage doors, the door moves smoothly on rollers that are fixed in its upper corners.
When installing such a system with your own hands, you should pay attention Special attention precision adjustment of guides horizontally and vertically. Also keep in mind that the space from the opening to the ceiling should be at least 30 cm, and to the walls - about 45 cm.
In this case, the automatic drive is installed on the ceiling and opens the door using a cable, one side of which is attached to the sash, and the other to the drive itself. This cable is located in a metal profile, which is also suspended on brackets to the ceiling.
- Counterweight system. This type of mechanism is mainly used in industrial purposes, to open the massive gate. Often large garages for buses are equipped with such gates.
The principle of operation is that garage doors are opened with special weight bars, which weigh slightly more than the weight of the door itself.
So, one edge of the winch is attached to the bottom of the door leaf, which is passed through a mechanical block on the ceiling and a counterweight is attached to its second end.
When the gate opens, the counterweight lowers and when closed, it rises. For greater clarity, the principle of operation of the system is shown in the diagram below.
- Hydraulic drives. Such mechanisms are the most practical and easy to operate, however, they are the most expensive. It will be very difficult to build such a system with your own hands, but drive kits can be purchased in specialized stores.
Everything is simple here: two powerful drives are mounted on the two extreme sides inside door leaf, and the hydraulic tubes with which they are equipped are mounted in the inside of the opening. An important factor for this device is proper care. It is necessary to constantly monitor the smooth operation of the drives.
If you find the slightest difficulty, you should lubricate the hydraulic tubes with special oil. Garages with such a mechanism are reliably protected, since the drives use technologies that virtually eliminate the possibility of hacking.
Having decided on the lifting mechanisms that are suitable for you, you should think about what material the garage door can be made from. It is better, of course, to opt for a metal product.
Metal gates will last longer, unlike wood products, which are less protected from environmental factors and are at risk of fungus.
However, in this case it should be understood that the weight metal gates must be commensurate with the power of the lifting system. Ideal option in this regard are garage lifting structures made of corrugated sheets.
We make the gate ourselves
When thinking about which gate is best for your garage, you can go one of two ways. You can build overhead gates entirely with your own hands or purchase a ready-made kit and install it in your garage yourself. If you choose the first option, you will need to consider some important points.
First, you will need to carefully take the necessary measurements, decide on the design parameters and draw up a drawing. It is best to make a gate with a hinged lever mechanism, the diagram of which is presented below.
When making a drawing, you can use ready-made drawings; the most understandable and complete is shown below.
Based on this drawing, all you have to do is plug in the numbers of your measurements and get to work. For construction you will need the following materials and tools:
- building level and tape measure;
- metal sheets for forming the sash leaf;
- welding machine;
- electric hacksaw for metal;
- dowels and brackets;
- electric drill;
- metal profiles and corners.
Having prepared all these elements, begin work by making a frame for the sash. To do this, take profiles required length and place them on flat surface so that you get a square or rectangle corresponding to the size of the opening. Then weld the corners.
Now take the metal sheets and attach them to the finished frame around the entire perimeter, weld all the contact points.
When the sash is ready, you will need to make guides. Take metal profiles of the required size and connect them with a corner, welding the joints. You will end up with two corner guides that need to be secured in the opening using dowels or welding if a metal frame is installed. The upper ends of the guides will need to be connected to each other by welding a horizontal beam.
Now weld the brackets with rollers to the upper corners of the finished sash. Insert the rollers into the guides.
Attach spring-lever mechanisms to both edges of the canvas.
Install the lever bracket in the middle of the top of the sash.
Finally, install the drive and the central profile on the ceiling and pass a cable through it, one end of which is secured to the drive itself, and the other side to the lever bracket.
Now your overhead garage door is completely ready. All that remains is to check the functionality of the entire system.
As you can see, building such a garage door with your own hands is not so difficult. The main thing is to take accurate measurements and be careful when installing the guides. Taking these nuances into account, you will equip your garage with a reliable product that will last a long time.
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