Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1385297
Sonoma Walnut steel panel garage doors. J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 53 P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY C R E AT I V E D O O R S ERV I C E S Doors & Hardware With its seven-foot-wide design, Aluflam is one of many manufacturers right now offering bigger doors than have ever been possible before. This bigger-is- better drive is partially coming from consumers and designers interested in wider offerings, but building code does drive innovation in this regard, too. "The minimum width keeps getting wider as code laws change," says Fred D. Fulton, who represents Aluflam via his specialty glass business, F1 Glazing Solutions. Aluflam's tempered glass is part of what helps it accommodate such spans (and equally expansive curtain walls that also often make up entrances). "It's stronger, which is important for wide spans and also to accommodate higher wind-loads," says Fulton. The ultra-durable glass is also crystal clear, fire-rated, and impact-safe. PARK IT The conventional indent panels of a traditional garage door have made way for flush faces. "We're also seeing many homeowners wanting to match the colour of their garage door to the colour of their home, which can easily be done with the many colour options we have in our product selection," says Lana Winterfeld, regional manager of marketing and commu- nications for Creative Door Services, who also notes the current popularity of steel woodgrain. As homeowners trend towards modern, contemporary looks, garage door designs are following suit. "For garage doors this means plank panels, smaller windows or aluminum doors with glass throughout," says McNamee. The company's recent introduction of a Mid-Century Modern style features a weathered wood finish on top of panels that pres- ent themselves as classic wood planks. In the residential market, those steel woodgrain garage doors and designer garage doors with overlay designs are still as popular as ever. Glass doors and vertically stacked windows (particularly with a stained, obscured, or opaque finish) are also on trend and a great way to add a modern touch to your home – assuming you don't need a door with a high R-value for good insulation. Glass options are a great choice for designers who prefer the garage door to fade away – which explains the popularity of Steel-Craft's tempered-glass Esteem series. Each door is completely customizable, including the number of windows and the colour of the aluminum frame, to let in the light with style. Commercially, meanwhile, the four-fold design door is making traction. This door opens from the middle (like a bi-part closet door) but in half the time of a standard sectional overhead door. "We continue to see commercial access solu- tions that are reducing down time, reducing service costs," says Winterfeld, who points out that the latest high-speed doors for car parkades can move upwards of 100 inches a second. With exceptionally large sizes available for custom spaces, the applications are far ranging. For the commercial market, Steel-Craft has introduced its thickest garage door yet: the two-inch-thick SC Industrial, which has the company's highest-ever R-Value at 19.0. Similarly innovative is Steel-Craft's new SA6500 and SA7500 designs, which feature Hydr-O-Guard technology to keep water out. As we continue to spend more time than ever in our homes, it's clear that homeowner interest in health, safety, and security are trumping esthetic choices. What will the industry bring when lockdown restrictions loosen up? Like so much in life right now, we'll have to wait and see. A CP Distributors_AWARD_0220.indd 1 2/10/20 9:56 AM