I am always on the lookout for new products that will excite our customers and help people to realise that a garage door doesn’t have to be just a boring functional thing. In reality garage doors can be an integral part of the architecture of a building and a major contributor to the design. It is difficult to say whether there are just so many same old, same old designs on the market because it is what people want or because that is all they think is available. One company that challenges this mindset is Belgian manufacturer L-Door.
L-Door is a sectional door manufacturer and 5 years ago they set up their Cre8tive department. What they do there is quite unique. They take their sectional doors and clad them with an array of various materials specific to the client requirements. This may be timber façade doors in the case of Nature Line STL. It can be panel cladding from major manufacturers such as Trespa or Rockpanel, or glass, in the case of Puma Line STX. My personnel favourite is the Puma Line STL which is clad with Renson blades, this door is simply stunning and challenges all traditional ideas of how a garage door should look. See for yourself in the video below.
[blockquote]Just over-cladding a sectional door though is nothing new, what makes L-Door so special is they design and deliver the whole façade system[/blockquote]Just over-cladding a sectional door is nothing new. What makes L-Door so special is that they design and deliver the whole façade system. This can include not just the garage door and fixed panels but also windows and entrance doors. Façade doors from other manufactures are usually designed to be clad onsite. Whilst this can work, and is undoubtedly a cheaper option, often errors are made. When order a façade system from L-Door for you, everything is planned and calculated down to the last millimetre. What this means for you, as the client, is that when we come to site we are assembling and installing. Not manufacturing. This significantly improves the quality of the finished job and the time we require on-site.
A trip to see the façade doors in the flesh
Before we take on a new product I always like to visit the manufacturing facility myself. Seeing the doors on the factory floor you really get a feel for the engineering and quality control of a product product. True to the Belgian stereotype the quality and the care that goes into the L-Door product is top notch. Even before it gets to the manufacturing stage, they ensure that the whole install has been designed, 3D rendered and scrutinised, by a dedicated team. I am trying not to sound too gushing here but, the care that is taken to make sure every Cre8tive order is right from the start is another step up from most manufacturers.
We are the first UK supplier of L-Door façade doors and are delighted to be so. L-Door doors give us something unique to offer our customers with the opportunity to enhance the design of their property.
If you’d like to know more about L-Door façade doors then just contact us. We would be delighted to work with you on your special project.
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Silvelox Doors is one of the best designers of contemporary bespoke doors. Made in Northern Italy, Silvelox uses artistic designers. Their main focus is the design. However, the engineering of the doors is also of the highest quality. For over 50 years their aim has been to make the very best doors for all types of property. As a result, Silvelox offer a high level of design and beauty with practicality and suitability for all.
Craftsmanship
Using mainly wood for their unique doors, they have kept the same design rules from the start. Hence, they have built their reputation around it. The art of the craftsman and their skills have slowly started to die out throughout the joinery trade. So, Silvelox have not allowed this to happen. All of the doors are hand finished, using traditional techniques. Therefore, this gives our customers the highest quality product. Silvelox pride themselves on this quality and are devoted to innovation, using the traditional with modern technologies.
Design
Silvelox design and make a wide range of interior and exterior doors. Furthermore, each door is a bespoke design for every customer. Whatever door is needed, it is practical, has high security, insulation and is a beautiful design. The Company hold ‘vision’ and ‘passion’ as their main ideals. This alongside a need for style and attention to detail. Therefore, Silvelox Doors are always improving and expanding their product ranges. Research and development is ongoing. Consequently, the Silvelox door is always improving.
Silvelox front doors
Silvelox offer a wide range of front doors designed to client specific needs. This is because our customers can specify items such as style, colour and materials. Other options include the levels of insulation and security. By involving you, our customers, in the design process, we can ensure that you will receive a door that meets your requirements.
Silvelox garage doors
Silvelox Doors offer a variety of unusual garage doors designs to suit customer homes perfectly. Silvelox garage doors provide stunning design and eye-catching style in a practical, high security product. Up-to-date security options can be added and changed allowing customers exactly what they require from a garage door. Silvelox provide a variety
of designs, such as overlap and trackless. For more information on the Silvelox trackless garage door please view our previous blog post here.
Silvelox Doors from Lakes Garage Doors
Lakes Garage Doors are suppliers of high quality products for every home including Silvelox. For any information on any of our products, please get in touch with our friendly team or view our full Silvelox range online.
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1. Take a look around your Neighbourhood
It maybe that you have decided to ban the white. You could be looking to breathe a little life into your exterior home design by adding an element of colour. You have two choices for your garage door colour:
- To blend in with your neighbours and choose the same or similar complementing shades.
- Make a statement with a unique colour or style – you never know; you could be the trendsetter!
Have a look at what styles and shades are about in your local area, this will help you to decide what garage door colour you do or do not like. Be inspired by what others have done and just see what takes your fancy.
2. Consider the Colour of your House
When choosing a colour, make sure that you consider what the exterior of your home looks like. For example what type of brick is used. If you have a red brick home, use warmer shades such as deep red, mahogany or creamy shades. These will complement it and create a unified look. For lighter brick or pebble-dashed homes, use lighter colours A bright garage door colour will create a bold and striking look. Bricks with a yellow hue look sensational when contrasted with a deep, navy blue; as you can see from the GDS Coach House door.
3. Head to the Showroom
To get a real feel for the style of door that you’re choosing, it is recommended that you visit the showroom to view it in person. Viewing the style and colour in real life will provide you with the certainty that you’re choosing the right colour for you and your home.
4. Follow your Instinct for a Great Garage Door Colour
All in all, this is your home. Whatever aesthetic you want to achieve, or your personal preference, is all that matters. Follow your heart and your instinct. Choose the colour that matters to you. This is your home; it should reflect your personal tastes and excite you when you see it.
If you’re looking to replace your garage door and are a little fed up with white or grey. Do not despair. There are many garage door choices available to you in a vast array of colours. If you would like any advice with regards to your choice then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us. Head down to the Lakes Garage Doors showroom in Garstang.
Many people 
choose the garage as a place to store costly tools, cars and expensive equipment. Therefore, it is very important for you to ensure that your garage is as secure as possible. So what are your options when it comes to enhancing the security aspect of your garage, without damaging the look of your home?
Sectional Garage Doors
If you have a large garage, discover our range of sectional garage doors. They offer the perfect option for increasing security whilst enhancing the exterior look of your home. So we are extremely proud to offer a huge range of sectional doors. We offer a variety of different finishes that will ensure your home looks beautiful. A sectional is a very secure door that helps stop thefts from garages.
Roller
If you lack space, roller garage doors are a great choice. Our roller garage doors are made from only the strongest, most durable and robust materials. Therefore,
they will keep your home looking magnificent, whilst efficiently protecting your stored belongings or vehicle.
Up and Over
Up and over garage doors are a hugely popular choice; they can either be operated manually or electronically. You can also choose from an array of materials for your up and over garage door, including PVC, steel, timber and GRP.
One of the more recent brands we have added to our range of Garage Doors is the Silvelox. These luxury garage and 
front doors can be specified with the highest security ratings.
Every door that we have included within our collection is designed to promote security. Therefore they help ensure that your home is well protected. The crime figures reveal that thefts from garages and garden theft crime is on the rise. With the right products you can make sure that your belongings and your family are safe and sound.
So, if you’re looking to enhance the security of your home, a high quality garage door from Lakes Garage Doors will perform the job perfectly. For more information please get in contact with our friendly team by calling 01995 262020.
]]>Roller versus sectional garage doors. If you are considering a replacement garage door then you will have to make a decision on which door will suit your requirements. All of the different kinds of garage doors that we provide have their own advantages. In this article we will look into both roller garage doors and sectional garage doors so you can make an informed decision.
Sectional Garage Door
Sectional garage doors have practical advantages and high levels of security. A sectional door is made-up from
separate sections rather than a single panel, and all of these are sealed on all four sides. This allows for smooth operating and additional protection against the elements. The sections slide up vertically and then across into the roof area, so they are a good choice when headroom inside the garage is not an issue, but space in front of the door is.
As these doors are made from galvanised steel, and are coated with polyester paint, they have long term durability. You will save money in the long run as you may need never invest in a replacement. Most sectional garage doors carry a ten year warranty.
You can choose from a wide range of styles including insulated and non-insulated. If your garage forms part of your property then it is a good idea to go for an insulated option. When it comes to roller versus sectional garage doors, sectional win hands down on this. The range of our doors can fit into a variety of garage openings.
Roller Garage Door
The roller garage door will fit into more openings than the sectional garage door, as it just has to roll to fit in – perfect if you need to make use of the headroom inside your garage, as well as saving space in front of the garage door. Some of our roller garage doors only require as little as 9” of headroom. this is were the roller door is best in the roller versus sectional garage doors contest. The roller has the advantage over the sectional garage door. They take up very little space inside the garage. Again, these doors open vertically rather than swinging out like traditional garage doors. Built from aluminium, these garage doors are ideal if you wish to enhance the security of your property without compromising on the style and character of the building.
With our roller garage doors, you can choose between insulated and non-insulated garage doors. However, it has to be pointed out that they do not achieve the insulation values of sectional garage doors.
Our selection of roller garage doors are available automated or manual. If you want to save space then the roller garage door is for you.
Whichever door you choose, you won’t be disappointed with the range we have available at Lakes Garage Door. If you would like to discuss your individual requirements with an expert, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
]]>However, this pattern may actually have numerous negative effects. The most obvious is clearly the modern inclination to park cars and other household vehicles on the street. With pavements and other routes constantly under pressure to reduce the amount of obstacles that frequent them, wheelie bins in particular, losing the garage as a place to park the car is a notable downside. Yet this is not the only purpose that garages have served over the years, and some are now showing remorse over the lack of ‘traditional’ garage spaces.
Males have been found to feel the loss of a garage ‘retreat’ particularly strongly, and curiously this trend may actually be having consequences regarding the standard of the country’s DIY ability. Traditionally, the garage not only housed the car but also provided a sort of workspace where DIY skills could be honed. These practices could then be passed on to the children in a household, and many grown men admit that they regret not being able to engage with their children in this environment after the fashion that they remember doing with their parents.
With more and more people now beginning to voice their support for a more traditionally purposed garage, the long standing trend for garages to be converted into store rooms could be set to shift in the opposite direction. At the very least, many home owners are beginning to looks for ways to save space in any way that they can. Some people trial externally hired storage areas to relieve their garages from clutter, whilst others implement rigorously organised storage vessels or sliding shelves to try and get their garages under control.
One fundamental way to save room in the garage is to make use of sectional garage doors. Because these doors open vertically, they allow you to take full advantage of both the space inside and outside of your garage, letting you reclaim much of the space for more useful purposes. Here at Lakes Garage Doors we specialise in providing a huge range of garage doors to suit your needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us and find out how we could be helping you with your garage today.
]]>In the UK, we officially have the smallest homes in Europe, and unlike our counterparts over the pond in the USA and Australia, where space is abundant and homes are large, many of us struggle to fit a lifetime’s worth of possessions and mementos under one roof.
The garage has for a long time in Britain been a part of the home which is stacked up to the ceiling with boxes and shelves of unused possessions; as well as being used as a functional space to store your vehicle, repair or refurbish a vintage sports car, or to hang out with a pool or table tennis table.
However many garages are not used to their full potential, and they can in fact provide a spacious area for both storage and leisure.
For a start, if you want to utilise as much space as possible, make sure as much square footage as possible is useable. In terms of your garage style and design, the installation of sectional garage doors can save a surprising amount of space at the front of your garage. At Lakes Garage Doors, we stock sectional garage doors to fit any modern or traditional home, and in a range of sizes, so you can be sure we will have the right product for you.
Once you have a well built and protected space organisation really can be surprisingly helpful; as space is of the essence. Be dedicated and commit yourself to having a garage clear out once a year. Sell or donate to charity anything that you haven’t used in the last year which does not hold sentimental value. You may be surprised how much money you could raise by selling items you may see as junk online or at a car boot sale, and you may even raise enough to buy a new garage door to protect your more prized possessions.
A creative idea which you may not immediately think of, as seen in the video below, is to create overhead storage space. If you have reasonable height to your garage, this is a great way to allow ample storage capabilities, and also have room for that classic car or games table.
The most important thing is to enjoy the space that you have within your home, and remember that even the smallest of spaces can be useful and functional, with garages across the country having an endless list of creative uses.
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Traditional side hinged designs may look attractive but one of the downsides to these doors is that they can swing shut rapidly in high winds. However, that isn’t to say that you can’t choose to have a side hinged garage door when you have children, as you can purchase door stays to prevent this from happening.
Roller garage doors can be a brilliant choice when it comes to safety, as the roller design means there is no swinging motion in the opening and closing, it just slides up neatly. Another advantage of the roller door is that they come with a choice of automatic and manual opening allowing you a greater selection for your home.
Sectional garage doors are another fantastic option to take if you are concerned about safety as they open vertically. With this method of opening there is no swinging out motion unlike an up and over style garage door, therefore no risk to a child playing in front of the garage. They come with adjustable track rollers giving you a reliable opening action and you can even automate them for your convenience.
Here at Lakes Garage Doors we are committed to helping you find the ideal door for your home and with our wide range you should find it easy to discover the perfect one for your house. Our wonderful installation service is available on any product purchased within the UK so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 0800 1955690 if you’d like more information on any of our products. Don’t fear tomorrow, speak to one of our helpful members of staff about a garage door today for the safety and security you and your family needs.
]]>A recent installation of two Garador sectional garage doors Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Brief: Garage Doors Wilmslow
We are undertaking a major renovation and extension of a house in Wilmslow, Cheshire for a client and require two garage doors. Whilst insulation is not critical as there are no rooms above the garage. The garage is integral to the house so the door should be at least draught proof. The garage doors will be automated. This particular client is very concerned with safety, so would like the doors to be as safe as possible. The property is in a Tudor style and we are looking something which will sit comfortably on the house without specifically trying to match.
Products Used:
The garage doors chosen to fit this brief were Garador Linear Medium sectional garage doors. The client felt that this design with the woodgrain finish sat well with the rest of the house without trying be be anything they were not. These door are available with two levels of insulation – Standard and Premium. Standard insulation is 20mm thick at the thinnest point, Premium 42mm, both doors have the same level of weather sealing. As there are no rooms above the garage Standard insulation was sufficient for this project.
Finally the garage door operators chosen were the Garador Garamatic 20. The Garamatic 20 has a very powerful 1000n motor which comes as standard and
also safety photocells. Photocells strike an infra red beam across the garage opening, if this beam is broken when the door is closing the door will stop and reverse. They have no effect on the opening of the doors.
Lakes Garage Doors
Lakes Doors are a leading supplier and installer of high quality and bespoke garage and front doors. We operate throughout the North West of England. Please take a look at our full range of products.
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A well fitted and insulated garage door can drastically decrease the energy loss from your home; lost energy is lost money meaning things that decrease energy loss justify your initial investment by paying for themselves in energy savings over time. At Lakes Doors we stock a range of doors that can drastically decrease the energy lost from your home and ensure that the maximum amount of the heat generated in your house is retained. Probably the best option with regards to insulation is our sectional garage doors such as the Teckentrup Carteck GSW40-L. A recent case study into this exact door found that features, such as the 40mm of insulation and the ground seal that stop heat escaping and cold getting in, couple together to provide the ultimate in insulation.
Insulation is though only one of the benefits of our excellent sectional garage doors, the extra security that these provide over traditional garage doors is also a huge selling point for many customers. Sectional garage doors also provide the best option with regards to space, with the mechanism not intruding on the garage floor and the door lifting vertically and storing overhead it allows for no intrusion inside or outside of your garage. So If you care about insulating your home, and you’ve taken all the right steps, double glazing, insulated walls and doors and want to complete your houses insulation then why not come and see our range.
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