Whether you are building a new structure or refurbishing an existing one, it is immensely important that any entry way in the building is filled with a closure that meets the needs of that specific application. When a commercial overhead door is needed, there are two main types from which to choose – roll up or sectional doors. One is not better than the other, they each have their own pros which allows each to excel when installed into the proper application.

Performance

One thing you should always question when deciding on a closure is how much traffic will be coming through. Not all roll up doors are made for heavy traffic, however, there are high performance roll up doors that are designed for use in high cycle applications.  Some commercial doors even offer up to 1 million cycles. While there aren’t any sectional doors that come with this high cycle option, many manufacturers provide the option of specially designed springs which allow sectional doors to cycle up to 100k times. When choosing your application, remember that if extra cycles are not necessary, more is not always better.

Mounting

Both roll up and sectional commercial doors are not installed the same way. The location of space will differ between the two. A roll up door can be mounted face of wall or between jambs – it requires headroom right above the doorway since it coils up onto the shaft. If you have little headroom and do not want to restrict access, this is the best application. There are many ways a sectional door can be mounted: standard lift, high lift, full vertical lift or low headroom. The space and location of space will differ based on the style that is chosen. For example, a sectional door that is mounted vertical lift will require the most head room and a sectional door that is mounted low headroom will require the most backroom. Various mounting styles allow for flexibility when installing a sectional door.     

Installation & Maintenance

Installation is a one-time event while maintenance is a continuous obligation. Many have said that roll up doors are more straightforward to install due to less parts, however, they are more cumbersome which means there may be specialized lifting equipment needed to complete the install. Since there are fewer movable exposed parts, roll up doors require less maintenance, but both doors require routine checks.

Size

Both roll up and sectional doors can be customized to fit your opening, but roll up doors can be built to fit larger sizes. Sectional doors are only available in predetermined increments while roll up doors can be built to the exact dimensions needed. Steel sectional doors are available in 2” increments in width and 3” increments in height. Aluminum sectional doors are available in 1” increments in either direction.  

The slats, or sections, for each kind of door are quite different. A roll up door consists of slats that are commonly 2 5/8” high, but can be 1 ½” high, while a sectional door can be made up of sections that are either 18”, 21” or 24” high. Both variations of doors will create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Material, Gauge & Finish

Gauge, material and finish will vary based on the manufacturer, however, roll up doors come in steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Sectional doors are most commonly available in steel (99% of the time), but is also available in aluminum.

Each door type has various gauges that can used, but roll up doors are usually manufactured in a heavier gauge than sectional doors. 

Roll up doors take the cake for the numerous options of finishes, but sectional doors have a secret. Roll up doors are available in powder coated steel, stainless steel, aluminum mill, aluminum clear, aluminum color, powder coat and hot dip galvanized on steel components. Sectional doors come in anodized aluminum, pre-finished painted steel or powder coat steel – their trick is that the sections can either be smooth or embossed.

R-Value

When it comes to R-value, sectional doors are the main attraction! R-value is the measure of how well a barrier resists the conductive flow of heat. Roll up doors commonly have an r-value of up to 8 and sectional doors up to 22.2.

Operation

Both roll up and sectional doors can be operated using a hand chain, push up or motor operation. 

Hard Decision when Both are so Appealing

As you can tell, each type of commercial door has several components. It is crucial that you understand the requirements of your application in order to choose the type of closure that best fits your opening. Fortunately, Cookson, offers both roll up and sectional doors!. We would be thrilled to help you pick the correct door for your application.

Cookson  continues to lead in innovations in roll up door, security gate and closure products. To inquire how Cookson’s experts and customer service can help you with your next roll up door project, call 1-800-294-4358