Automatic garage doors openers 

Opener to choose?

The latest generation of high tech good quality garage door openers kicks into touch the normal list of things you'd have on your check list when buying a new garage door opener. Automatic garage doors openers

Today's Automatic garage doors openers are numerous. You can see offerings of up to 6 or 8 models offered by a manufacturer and you'd be likely to ask "Why so many?" They all look the same apart from the colour - and the prices of course

Latest new versions of automatic garage doors openers are virtually maintenance-free. Some are totally maintenance free. Automatic garage doors openers from one manufacturer have self-lubricating systems so that the chains always run smoothly. These better ones are whisper quiet.

There's no need now to dampen the noise from one of the mains driven models from the 70's - you should hear mine - it certainly wakens Dougal, our family dog. But it is still trundling on after all this time.  I really must replace it with a newer one. I might get round to doing it soon. That's the garage door opener - not Dougal

Most automatic garage doors openers are easy to install, even for an inexperienced handyman. It's difficult to find a lot to say in the installation instructions. Most parts are common sense though there are one or two things to make a better installation.

No electrical expertise is required. Just plug into the household circuit.

Lets talk prices. In the 70's, the two early brands of garage automation would cost around £400 each. In today's terms (inflation up to 2007) you'd be looking at £3,000 and upwards. Then the average user would have to think hard to justify it, and the amateur installer would have fun getting it into working order.

In the 70's you would expect a service or maintenance call. Not any more.

Thank goodness for modern technology. Some automatic garage doors openers are childs play.

So the difficulties in deciding which automatic garage doors openers to use for your family have less bearing on the old problem of cost and more on the the trimmings. Colour's not important - most people can't answer the question "What colour is you garage door - looking at the back that is?

These brainy little machines are so simple to add on to a garage door that I would be surprised if the next generation is programmed to fitted themselves. Already the ones we offer set up the programme for your door without the installer needing to think about it.

So how do you decide on yours? In money terms you can start at the top, which is not far from the bottom in reality. Fitting is broadly similar for all the models of any particular manufacturer, so that's not a factor to consider. Other aspects can differ greatly.

To be sure you need a good guarantee, and be sure to choose the best model for your door.

Don't get confused by all the various models being scattered around. It can be a bit confusing.

I know one customer who's been using a model with 900 N motor on a very old (20 years old) sectional door (14 feet wide x 7 feet high) for several years now. I tell you honestly - I can hardly open and close it by hand, and I'm a big strong feller.

That's how different they are to some of the steam driven jobs which you can still see on offer.

• The one to choose is the garage door opener with a good specification,
• just right or better capable for your garage door,
• easy to fit to your garage 
• a good guarantee - and 
• within the budget you have set.

When you decide which is the right one to do the job you ask it to do, then that's it.