Commercial Garage Door Services in Ottawa

Residential garage doors are typically smaller, designed for home use, and made to accommodate cars and bikes. They’re usually more about style and convenience. Commercial garage doors, on the other hand, are built for durability and high traffic. They’re often larger and designed to handle heavier use, like frequent deliveries, forklifts, or industrial equipment. Commercial doors are also designed for security, safety, and efficiency in a business setting.

The most common issues with commercial overhead doors include:

• Worn or broken torsion springs
• Damaged or misaligned tracks
• Faulty openers or control systems
• Frayed cables or bent rollers
• Sensor malfunctions or wiring problems

Because commercial doors are often opened and closed multiple times a day, wear and tear happens faster than with residential doors. Regular maintenance and prompt attention to small issues can prevent bigger (and more expensive) breakdowns down the line.

A commercial garage door can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, depending on the type, material, and how well it’s maintained. With regular maintenance, like checking the springs, opener, and tracks, you can make sure your door lasts as long as possible and continues to run smoothly. Neglecting maintenance or using the door in extreme conditions might shorten its life.

For warehouse settings, the best commercial garage doors are typically sectional overhead doors or rolling steel doors. Sectional doors are ideal for environments where insulation and durability are important, they’re available with high R-values and can be customized with windows for visibility. Rolling steel doors are a great choice for tight spaces or high-cycle usage, as they’re compact, strong, and built to handle heavy-duty operation. The right choice often depends on your specific warehouse needs.

The weight of a commercial garage door can vary depending on the material and size. Generally, these doors can weigh anywhere from 100 pounds to over 400 pounds. Steel and insulated doors tend to be on the heavier side, while lighter materials like aluminum are a bit more manageable.

For commercial garage doors, it’s a good idea to schedule maintenance at least once a year. However, if your door gets a lot of use, like daily shipments or constant vehicle traffic, you should consider having it inspected every six months. Regular maintenance helps catch small issues before they turn into bigger, more expensive problems.

The depreciation life of a commercial garage door is typically around 15 to 20 years, depending on how much wear and tear it gets. For accounting purposes, many businesses will depreciate the cost of the door over this period, though actual performance can last even longer with regular maintenance. Keep in mind, replacing individual parts like panels or springs doesn’t impact the overall depreciation cycle.

Commercial garage doors are often referred to by their style or purpose. Some common types are overhead doors, sectional doors, rolling steel doors, and high-speed doors. Depending on your business’s needs, you might hear these doors called things like “rolling doors” for their security or “insulated doors” for temperature control.

Commercial garage doors should include several key safety features to protect both property and personnel:

• Photo-eye sensors to detect obstructions and prevent the door from closing on vehicles or people
• Manual release systems for power outages or emergencies
• Heavy-duty torsion springs with containment cables to reduce the risk of sudden failure
• Safety brakes on rolling doors to prevent uncontrolled descent
• Fire-rated doors with automatic closing for facilities with strict safety codes

Proper installation and regular inspections are just as important as the features themselves, especially in commercial settings where doors see more frequent use.

Choosing the right size commercial garage door starts with understanding the clearance needs for your vehicles, equipment, and workflow. Most commercial doors range from 12 to 24 feet wide and 12 to 16 feet high, but custom sizes are available for specialized use. It’s also important to consider headroom and side clearance, especially if you plan to use a motorized opener or overhead track system. Our professionals can assess your space and give you the best size for it.