Your agricultural buildings hold important goods: your livestock, harvest, and equipment. It’s important to protect them. You don’t build the walls of your agricultural building out of flimsy, unreliable materials, so don’t weaken the structure of your building by choosing a flimsy overhead door. Dozens of options are designed to suit a variety of structural and budgetary needs. Here's what to consider when choosing an overhead door solution for your agricultural building.
What to Consider
When choosing an overhead door for your agricultural building, it’s important to consider several criteria. Depending on your needs, one of these aspects may be more important than others, and some may not be important to you at all. Regardless of your specific priorities, you should select a door that will meet your needs for years to come.
Type of Building
Before you decide on a door, you’ll first want to assess the building it will serve. If you're working with a fully insulated barn where you keep livestock, the overhead door you choose will be dramatically different than the door you would choose for a pole barn where you store large farming equipment. Your overhead door will only be as strong as the structure it's in, and conversely, your building will only be as strong as the door that's installed.
Impermeability
If your agricultural building is holding goods that need to be kept dry, you'll need a door that is waterproof. Overhead doors that are highly waterproof will be able to keep your building's contents safe, regardless of the weather.
Durability
Replacing an agricultural building’s overhead door involves significant labor and expense. To avoid having to replace your overhead door more often than absolutely necessary, choose a highly durable system. Reinforced doors with a sturdy body will withstand the heavy use of a busy agricultural setting.
Efficiency
Energy efficiency is crucial if you are heating and/or cooling your building. Look for a high R-value and a low U-value. These ratings will give you clear indications of how energy efficient the overhead door will be. Energy efficient doors can be beneficial even if you aren’t paying to heat or cool your barn. Choosing an energy efficient door will keep the elements out and help keep the temperature of your agricultural building more moderate.
Security
Security is likely a top priority for you. Doors for your agricultural building can come equipped with industry standard safety mechanisms to protect you, your building, and your property. Depending on the model you choose, features may include reinforced hinges, manual locks, steel latches, and more. Installing a durable new door to replace an old fashioned sliding door can make your building much more secure.
Pros & Cons of Different Types of Commercial Doors
Each type of commercial door has its own advantages. Consider the attributes of each to decide which option better suits your needs. When it comes down to it, only you will be able to determine what overhead door is best for you.
Sectional Door
Sectional doors have a multitude of benefits. They fold up easily and allow you to quickly access your agricultural building. They come in highly energy efficient models and are easy to maintain. Sectional doors are relatively inexpensive to install and provide exceptional protection for your building. They also come in a variety of materials; the most durable are made of steel or aluminum.
Pros
- Tight door joints for high security
- Can accommodate large openings
Cons
- Requires headroom within building
- Typically more expensive than rolling doors
Rolling Door
Rolling doors can also be a great option for agricultural buildings. They come in a variety of materials, can be custom built to suit your needs, and are cost effective.
Pros
- Compact in size
- Leaves head room open within building
Cons
- Requires a space for the door “roll”
- Not typically insulated
Get a free quote!
If you need new doors for your agricultural building located in or around Des Moines, contact WD Door for a free quote!
