Roller door or sectional door?

If you're replacing a garage door or building new, the choice usually comes down to a roller door or a sectional (panel-lift) door. Both open straight up, so you can park close to the door. The differences are in how they store, how they sound and how they look.

How they work

A roller door is one corrugated steel curtain that rolls onto a drum above the opening. A sectional door is a set of horizontal panels that run up tracks and park flat under the ceiling.

Space inside the garage

Roller doors need room above the opening for the roll, but leave the ceiling clear, which is handy for storage racks. Sectional doors need clear ceiling space for the tracks and the parked door, but very little above the opening, especially with a low-headroom kit.

Noise and insulation

Sectional doors are generally quieter and can come with insulated panels. That matters if there's a bedroom above or beside the garage. Roller doors are noisier in operation and offer little insulation.

Looks

Sectional doors come in more profiles and finishes, including timber-look, flat panels and windows. They suit modern and renovated facades. Roller doors have the familiar corrugated look and come in standard Colorbond® colours.

Cost and maintenance

Roller doors usually cost less to buy and install. Both need occasional servicing. Near the coast, in suburbs like Maroubra, Malabar and Coogee, either type benefits from yearly maintenance to fight salt corrosion.

Our rule of thumb

Choose a roller door for a simple, cost-effective door on a standard garage. Choose a sectional door if you care about noise, insulation or appearance, or if the space above the opening is tight. We're happy to measure your garage and show you which options actually fit.