Door types and construction
What is a sectional garage door?
A sectional garage door is made of horizontal insulated panels that travel up and back on tracks to sit flat under the garage ceiling, using no space over the driveway. UK installed prices for a single sectional door start around £1,895 manual, rising to £2,495 or more for an electric insulated version.
How the panels move
Unlike an up-and-over leaf, a sectional door is built from several hinged horizontal panels. As the door opens, each panel bends slightly at the hinge and rolls up on side tracks until the whole door sits flat against the ceiling, parallel to the floor. Because nothing ever projects forward, sectional doors can be parked right up to the opening — useful on a short driveway.
Insulation and pedestrian access
Sectional panels are almost always insulated double-skin construction as standard, which is one reason they cost more than a basic up-and-over. A sectional door can also be built with a pedestrian access door set into one panel, typically for around £4,700 installed.
Questions people ask
- Do sectional garage doors need a lot of headroom?
- Sectional doors need a reasonable amount of clear ceiling space inside the garage for the horizontal tracks, typically at least 300mm below the ceiling and further back for the full track run — an installer will confirm this during a survey.
- Are sectional garage doors more secure than up-and-over?
- Sectional doors are generally regarded as strong because the panels lock into side tracks along their full width, but security depends on the specific product and lock, not the door type alone — look for products with recognised security certification such as PAS 24 or LPS 1175.
- Can a sectional garage door be manual?
- Yes — a manual insulated sectional door typically costs around £1,895 installed, with a range of £1,650–£2,600, though most UK buyers choose the electric version for convenience.
UK standards and regulations referenced
- BS EN 13241
Related
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