How to make a lift-and-fold gate. Assembling lift gates with your own hands

Up and over gates have become especially popular today. More and more people are choosing them. They will reliably protect the room from burglary and will not take up much space.

Design Features

Previously, all gates were the same, with large, heavy metal leaves painted in unpleasant colors. Today they have changed dramatically in terms of design, materials and appearance. To keep your car safe and protected, choose a garage with reliable swing-up overhead doors. A distinctive feature from other models is their unusual design. These gates are the most convenient and reliable type of garage structure, which is quite expensive.

When installing gates of this type, several conditions must be met for further high-quality operation. First of all, this is the size of the opening. The width should be no more than 5 meters, and the height should be no less than 2.85 m. The distance from the wall to the edge of the opening for installing guides should be at least 120 mm, from the ceiling to the upper edge of the opening 210 mm.

Taking into account the dimensions of the vehicle, the dimensions are adjusted.

The design is quite simple. The gate rotates around its own axis, moving from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa. Their constituent element is a frame that is mounted in the opening of the room or behind it and is the most important element for opening the gate. In most cases, it is made from pipes with a rectangular cross-section.

When opened, the roller mechanism and lifting levers are activated, which move the gate leaf along the guides and secure it under the ceiling of the room. The bottom rises up, thus creating a visor. When the gate is closed, the compensation springs immediately stretch, and when they are open, they are in their normal state.

It is known that automatic structures can be made to order. But, despite the difficulties in manufacturing, you can design them yourself.

The complexity of manufacturing depends in most cases on the model you choose, the dimensions and your skills in working with drawings, electrical tools and a welding machine.

When making a drawing of a product, it is necessary to indicate on it the main points:

• wall size;
• opening parameters;
• size of main racks;
• corner joints;
• length of guides and tires.

If necessary, you can use ready-made sketches of these models by selecting the required drawing. Before starting work, first be sure to familiarize yourself with the basic operating principle, as well as the specific installation of this structure.

Kinds

According to state standards and regulations, this design is presented in three types:

• Lifting sectional design, consisting not of a single piece of fabric, but of several sections that are attached to each other with loops. There are usually three loops - at the edges and in the middle. On the sides of the gate there are guides with recesses into which rollers are installed. When opened, the sections move along the grooves in the guides and rise upward one after another. When such a gate is opened, the top panel moves relative to the previous one, and an arc is formed. Such gates have good thermal insulation, reduce the distance to access the garage, but have a complex, expensive design. Mainly used in industrial areas.

• Lift-and-swivel design is the most optimal and convenient to use, despite its cost. When opened, it lies horizontally and protrudes slightly outward. It is easy to use and install. It's quite difficult to hack.

• Lift-vertical design Typically used in industrial areas with high ceiling heights.

How to do it yourself?

If you decide to make up-and-over gates yourself, then you need to take measurements and sketch out a drawing, prepare the necessary tools and materials for this, namely:

• return springs;
• brackets;
• counterweights;
• cable;

• roulette;
• level;
• drill;
• components for making the sash;
• welding machine;

• corner;
• screwdrivers;
• profile pipe;
• channel;
• guide skids;
• metal for finishing, etc.

Materials needed to make your own overhead gates:

• wooden beams with a section of 100x100 and 120x80 mm;
• 2 springs with an internal diameter of 30 mm;
• corners 40x40 and 4 mm thick;
• anchor bolts and screws;
• steel rod with a diameter of 8 mm.

Before installing the structure, it is necessary to take into account some nuances. Sometimes installation of the product is impossible, since it is attached only to rectangular openings. The height of the opening decreases when the gate is open. If the sash of the structure is sheathed with a solid fabric, it is dismantled, changing the entire skin.

Main components of the design:

• the frame, which is the main element, on which all other parts are attached;
• swing-type sash, which is mounted in a steel frame;
• spring required for manual closing;
• the mechanism that makes the doors work.

Installation

The mechanism that makes the doors work is best made from lightweight materials, which will make the load on the product lower, thereby extending its long-term use. Next, select the mechanism that is used to open the sash. The articulated lever is the most common because of its simplicity as well as reliability. You can also choose a counterweight mechanism. It is used in the construction of large, heavy gates.

The following installation steps include:

• Assembling a box from three beams fastened together with corners or metal plates. The bars are deepened into the floor by at least 2 cm.
• Hinges are installed. A top bracket is installed at the top under the roof.
• The sashes are made by cutting the metal corners to the required length. Using a welding machine, they are used to make a frame into which the sash elements are mounted and everything is secured with screws.

• Installation of rails is the part of the product into which articulated rollers are inserted. They should move easily and normally.
• To secure the lifting mechanism, the sashes are pre-installed.
• Attaching the hinge mechanism to the sash. For this purpose, hinges are attached. The levers must move freely and be parallel to each other.
• Connection of counterweights and springs mounted on the guide bracket. The springs must be attached to the left and right of the sash in parallel.
• Overlays are installed at the ends of the product.
• Plaster the joints.
• Install the lock. You can also control the gate opening process using the remote control.

Plastic or metal sheets can be used as a finishing surface coating.

When installing the product you must:

• measure and make the frame;
• measure the diagonal of the entire opening;
• the elements of the canvas frame must be grabbed using a welding machine so that the sash passes easily and the gaps are minimal;
• weld the lintels and all frames using the machine;
• install jumpers;

To date, many different garage doors have been developed and successfully implemented in practice. Among all the existing options, traditional overhead doors are particularly convenient and ergonomic, as they effectively slide under the garage ceiling when opened. At the same time, you can assemble and install overhead garage doors yourself.

There are 2 main types of overhead garage doors.

Lift-sectional gates

The leaf of such a gate consists of a number of individual panels, the height of each of which is about 50 cm. Steel, wood and plastic can be used to make the panels.

Hinges are used to connect the panels. Rollers, couplings and other moving elements are made of steel or plastic; stainless materials are used to make guides.

The inner part of the canvas is necessarily insulated (mainly with polyurethane foam), which allows you to retain additional heat inside the garage.

Among the main advantages of overhead sectional doors, the following points should be noted:

• safety of use;
• simplicity and maximum ease of use;
• good strength characteristics.

The main disadvantage This subtype of gate is almost completely inaccessible to burglary and illegal entry. In addition, you cannot make such a gate yourself - it is extremely difficult.

The only available option is to buy a factory kit and install the gate yourself according to the instructions.

Up and over gates

You can assemble and install such a structure yourself. When you open this gate, the whole leaf rises at once. A hinge-lever type system is responsible for the movement of the moving part. The gates are characterized by excellent strength characteristics (the final indicator depends on the properties of the manufacturing material) and provide reliable protection for the garage from attacks by intruders.

The structure can be assembled without the use of guides and rollers. Thanks to this, the canvas will move silently.

To assemble such a structure, narrow technical knowledge is not required. This event also does not require large financial investments.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like all existing mechanisms, overhead garage doors have a number of strong qualities and some disadvantages.

Advantages

The main advantage of the systems under consideration is increased burglary resistance. The only way to get inside the garage is to cut through the canvas. It is almost impossible to cut the frame and get inside without attracting attention.

The second important advantage of the design is its long service life. However, in order for the gate to serve for a truly long time, high-quality galvanized metal should be used to make the door leaf.

The gates do not take up space in front of the garage, which makes entry and exit as convenient as possible.

Flaws

Among the main disadvantages of overhead gates, the following provisions should be noted:

• heavy weight of the structure. The disadvantage is relative - other existing structures weigh no less. But in order for the operation of overhead gates to be safe, you need to pay special attention to the quality and reliability of the frame;
• slightly increased consumption of raw materials;
• some inconvenience when entering the garage. For example, you will need to constantly get out of the car before reaching the garage by about 1.5-2 m - without such a reserve the gate simply will not open.
• in the open position, the gate takes away approximately 20-30 cm of the opening height;
• in case of significant damage to the canvas, it will have to be completely dismantled.

However, despite all its minor drawbacks, such gates are an incredibly convenient and ergonomic solution.

Features of the design

Traditional overhead gates are made up of many elements. Check out the features of each one.

The frame serves as the basis for the entire structure. The frame should be as rigid as possible and securely fixed to the garage wall.

The side profile is the guide element along which the main part of the structure moves.

Guides - as already noted, you can do without them. But if possible, it is better not to exclude them from the structure.

Canvas.

Manufactured as a one-piece device. Usually made from corrugated sheets. Sometimes wood is also used to make canvases, but it is better to refuse such a solution - the material is heavy and relatively short-lived.

Insulation. Placed between sheets of canvas. It is most convenient to use polyurethane foam.

Rollers, springs and levers.

These elements are responsible for the movement of the gate leaf. The sash rises along the guide element, takes a horizontal position closer to the ceiling and is finally fixed parallel to the ceiling surface. Electronics are more convenient - to control the gate you just need to press a button on the portable remote control. Mechanics are more reliable in most cases. If you decide to use an electric drive, remember an important rule - the gate shield should have a somewhat lightweight design.

If desired, the finished canvas can be decorated with a variety of decorative elements. All of them are available for sale in specialized stores.

It is important to remember: any decorative element, especially if it is forging, increases the weight of the structure. Know your limits.

What to buy?

You can make most of the gate elements yourself. However, there are some things that are better to buy ready-made and not waste time. Give preference to devices made from good quality metals. In general, you will need the following:

DIY gates

Making and installing gates yourself will allow you to save a significant amount of money on the purchase of a ready-made system and the services of third-party installers.

Video - Installation of sectional doors

First step. Select the appropriate type of gate opener.

The most popular are hinged lever mechanisms. This design is durable and extremely simple. However, its installation requires increased precision from the installer at the stage of placing the guides and setting the spring tension level. The guides must be installed exclusively vertically and parallel.

The second option is a mechanism made using counterweights. The cable is attached to the corners of the support frame in its lower part, passes along the block in the direction of the pulley, and already at its (the cable’s) end there is some counterweight. The heavier and larger the blade, the heavier the counterweight used should be. It is recommended to give preference to this mechanism only when installing massive and very heavy overhead gates.

Video - Lifting gates, inside view

Second step.

Design a gate. Pre-measure the existing opening and prepare a sketch (or choose a ready-made version from open sources).

• Third step.
• Prepare tools for assembling the gate. You will need the following:
• high strength wooden blocks;
• brackets;
• good quality metal pins;
• corners;
• hard springs;

metal rods;

Fifth step.

Recess the bottom of the box into the concrete screed of the garage floor by about 20 mm and secure the product in the opening with metal pins.

Sixth step.

Assemble the frame and cover it with the selected material.

Seventh step.

Make a support. Use a corner as a starting material. Using a drill, make a hole in the shelf for fixing to the posts. In the second shelf, prepare 3 holes for installing the bracket. To make a spring support, use a channel bracket.

Eighth step. Prepare a plate from a strip of steel. Connect the bracket and a suitable spring using a steel plate. Bend the extreme turns of the fixed spring like hooks. Connect a tension controller made of a metal rod from below.

Ninth step. Make a bottom hinge corner. You need to drill a hole about 8.5 mm in diameter in the corner and weld the product to the supporting frame of the structure, stepping back from the bottom edge to the center of the prepared hole. The spacing will allow you to place the lift arm at the desired location on the hinge.

Tenth step.

Attach the plate to the end of the lift arm. To securely fix the elements, use welding.

Eleventh step. Make rails for the movement of the gate leaf. Use a couple of corners as the starting material. Line them up and weld along one edge. The distance between the inner vertices of the steel angles should be 50 mm.

Twelfth step.

Attach the finished rail to the previously prepared plate. Use welding for fastening. At the same time, leave an 8-centimeter gap between the axis of the guide part and the edge of the transverse product at the bottom. Attach a piece of channel to the second end of the rail by welding, retreating about 15 cm. Then screw the channel to the ceiling beam with a bolt.

Video - Guides for overhead garage doors, part 1 Video - Guides for overhead garage doors, part 2

Thirteenth step. Install several translucent inserts into the canvas. This is an optional item. Use translucent inserts if you need to improve natural lighting inside the garage.

Thus, in self-assembly of overhead garage doors there are no extremely complex tasks, but this work must be approached with maximum responsibility and knowledge of the matter. Follow the instructions, do everything as accurately as possible, and your garage door will become its reliable and durable protection.

Good luck!

Video - Do-it-yourself garage doors

In the article we will look at how to make a garage door with your own hands. The main advantage of such a gate is that when the garage opens, the door moves to the ceiling in the garage, and this is much more convenient than in the case of swing gates.

So, you have decided to install overhead gates in your garage, and do it yourself. The simplest design of overhead gates is the one that was installed on “shell” type garages. However, these gates have a technological gap from the gate leaf to the opening. Naturally, this is unacceptable, since in our conditions the garage must be insulated, and the presence of even a small gap is completely inappropriate.

It is required that the fit of the closed gate to the opening be as tight as possible; in addition, it is necessary to provide a wicket in the gate, so that in winter, cold air does not blow into the garage building when the gate is fully opened.

Overhead garage doors

To make a garage door frame, you can use an aluminum profile, and to arrange a frame for a gate, you can use wooden blocks. From the outside, a corrugated sheet or any other lightweight finishing material is attached to the gate frame with self-tapping screws.

After performing these steps, we get a gate in which the gate opens to the street side. The gate should open in such a way that when the gate is raised, it does not open on its own (this is fraught with injury).

The size of the gate is larger than the length of the opening (about 10 cm). This is done in order to ensure that there is no gap between the gate and the wall of the building (5 cm on the inner sides).

The lower part of the canvas on the sides needs to be equipped with wheels; I used wheels from ordinary roller skates. And so that they could easily move along the wall of the garage, I installed vertical guides: I bought a profile for installing drywall (metal thickness 0.6 mm) from a hardware store (UD) and used them as guides. From the beginning I thought it would bend, but practice has shown that there is not a very large load on the sidewalls of the profile and it can withstand it quite well.

The doors are hung with chains (later replaced with 25x4mm metal strips) on the front wall of the garage building in such a way that the center of gravity of the leaf is lower than their fastening, and the location of the upper part is close to the opening.

When closed, the position of the lower edge of the leaf should be in a special recess; this is necessary so that the gate does not move away from the building. The canvas should be pressed against the gate opening under the influence of its weight. In the lowest position, the gate must be locked, for which a special latch is attached to it from the inside.

What it all looks like in practice:

Another simple and inexpensive option for a gate lifting mechanism

To make it easier to lift the gate leaf and make it easier to maintain it in the uppermost position, it is necessary to equip the structure with a counterweight, the selection of which is made in accordance with the weight of the leaf. The roller axles are equipped with cables, which must be passed through the blocks and loaded with a counterweight.

At the bottom of the gate, on the outside, you should install a regular door handle, which helps when closing and opening the gate, since it is convenient to use.

That's all about production technology. Using these instructions, you can easily build a lift-type gate in your garage.

Several more options for overhead garage doors - video

Today, for many people, overhead garage doors are no longer a novelty, but a basic necessity. Due to their convenience and simplicity, they are increasingly replacing conventional swing gates. This type of garage door is especially appreciated in winter, when its owners do not have to spend time and tediously clearing snow to open the doors. Moreover, many craftsmen have learned to make overhead garage doors with their own hands.

There are two types of overhead garage doors:

1. Lifting sectional;
2. Lift-and-swivel.

Lifting sectional doors are a mechanism consisting of individual panels half a meter high, which, when opened, are pulled up to the ceiling.

Sectional door panels can be made of steel, wood or plastic. They are attached to each other with hinged hinges, and move along guides using metal or plastic rollers. The guides, in turn, are made of stainless steel. The panels must be insulated from the inside with polyurethane.

Sectional overhead doors have a number of advantages:

• Ease of use;
• Safety of use;
• No noise when lifting the gate;
• Possibility of installing an automatic opening and closing system.

The disadvantages of such gates are:

• High price;
• Impossibility of self-production;
• Difficulties with;
• Difficulty of installation;
• Poor strength (high probability of mechanical damage and break-in).

Note! Even if you want to save on sectional doors, this can only be done during their installation. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that such installation in the garage with your own hands is quite difficult. The second saving option is to abandon the mechanical drive and install a manual drive, which will lead to inconvenience during use. And the third opportunity to save the budget is based on reducing the opening parameters - in this way it will be possible to save on the size of the sectional folding gate leaf.

Up-and-over or vertical garage doors are a single piece that rises to the ceiling using a special device consisting of a hinge-lever mechanism.

The main advantages of overhead gates are:

• Reliability and strength;
• Saving space in front of the garage (compared to swing doors);
• Possibility of making overhead garage doors with your own hands;
• Variety of cladding on the outer part of the doors;
• Possibility of installing an automatic lifting system;
• If desired, a gate is available.

However, overhead garage doors also have a number of disadvantages:

• When pulled up to the ceiling, they steal about 20 cm of space (this must be taken into account if you have a tall car);
• Impossibility of partial repair if the lifting canvas is damaged (the entire structure will have to be replaced);
• Large weight of the canvas;
• Inconvenience when approaching the garage - there must be a distance of at least 1.5-2 m between the gate and the car from the street in order for it to open;
• Impossibility of installation in non-rectangular openings.

Despite all the disadvantages of folding swing gates, their main advantage is still the ability to build them yourself. Homemade garage doors will be in no way inferior to their industrial counterparts. In addition, in order to make a lifting gate yourself, you will only need to spend time carefully developing a diagram of its folding mechanism and purchasing all the necessary materials.

A homemade overhead garage door can be the pride of any man. But when producing them, you need to know how to make the gate last a long time and reliably.

Lift gates consist of four parts:

• Frame;
• Opening;
• Canvas;
• Lifting mechanism.

When making a door leaf for overhead gates with your own hands, it is advisable to use either sandwich panels or a board panel covered with a sheet of metal. A shield made of wood will be very heavy and poorly resistant to climatic conditions. It is best to insulate the canvas with basalt wool or expanded polystyrene. For aesthetic reasons, the outside of the door panel can be covered with corrugated sheets or plastic panels.

The frame of the structure is made in accordance with the dimensions of the opening. To make the frame, you can use both wooden and metal beams.

As for the lifting mechanism, it can be made either automatic or mechanical.

Important! When using an automatic mechanism to lift garage shutters, it is necessary to reduce the weight of the canvas as much as possible. At the same time, the automatic opening system is not as reliable and wear-resistant as a mechanical one.

The door opening mechanism can be made according to one of two existing schemes:

• Articulated-lever;
• Using counterweights.

The hinge-lever mechanism is based on the movement of two levers in special guides on hinges. This mechanism is considered very reliable. The main condition for its reliability is the accuracy when installing the guides (vertically and parallel to each other) and adjusting the springs.

The counterweight mechanism is designed in such a way that the counterweights are suspended on cables passed through a system of pulleys and regulate the process of raising and lowering the door panel. The counterweight mechanism is used less frequently, since its use places a very large load on the frame and frame of the gate.

If you plan to cut a gate into the canvas, then it must swing outward to avoid its involuntary opening during the lifting process.

Materials and tools required for construction

The following tools may be useful during the production of overhead garage doors:

• Roulette;
• Building level;
• Corner;
• Welding machine;
• Bulgarian;
• Screwdrivers and wrenches of different sizes;
• Drill;
• Screwdriver;
• Jigsaw.

The following materials may be needed:

• Wooden beams with sections 12x8 and 10x10 (possibility of using a durable steel profile);
• Corners 40x40x4;
• Channel 40x80;
• Steel rod 8mm;
• Two springs with a diameter of 30mm;
• Self-tapping screws;
• Anchor bolts.

When making shutters with a lifting mechanism, it will be necessary to draw up drawings or borrow them from other sources.

Algorithm of actions

1. We collect the box. We connect two vertical beams and one transverse beam using plates or a square.
2. We recess the bottom of the box to a depth of 20mm.
3. We assemble the canvas frame and cover it with the necessary material. We place rollers in the upper part of the canvas, and we place a seal along the entire perimeter of the canvas.
4. Assembling the frame for the guides. At a distance of the length of the canvas from the horizontal beam of the box, strictly parallel to it, we install a beam, to which we attach guide rails on both sides. We attach the second ends of the slats to the top of the vertical bars of the box. We mount the guide rails from two metal corners.
5. On both vertical bars of the box, using corners and fasteners, we make movable brackets, to which we attach the levers of their channels.
6. At the bottom of the vertical bars of the box we fix the springs. We attach the upper parts of the springs to the bracket and channel. The fixation of the spring with the channel and bracket can be reinforced with a tension regulator.
7. We install the rollers on the canvas into the guides.
8. We fix the canvas in the box.
9. Cut out the gate.
10. We install the lock.

To summarize, we can say that making overhead garage doors with your own hands is not so difficult. The easiest way to insulate garage doors would be.

If you need to close off the space of a garage or outbuilding, up and over doors are the best choice. The design is convenient in that when opened, the canvas is on top (parallel to the ceiling), which means it does not occupy useful space. So, let's look at how to assemble such a gate using a specific example.

Read also about: and their features!

How do up and over gates work?

In our case, the width of the gate is 3 meters and the height is 2.3 meters. The canvas opens and closes by lowering and raising suspended loads. For example, several bricks located on the right and left in a special box or plastic pipe so as not to scratch the wall. Their total weight is about 9 kg.

When the gate is closed, it is fixed using a built-in furniture ball. It pops out into a hole on the side supports.

To open the door, you need to fold the top part, holding the bottom of the gate, and then lift it up. At about 1/5 of the distance they will be raised completely horizontal to the ground.

The driving cable (for example, “six”) is thrown over the rollers (there are 2 of them at the edges): 1 – embedded inside the corner, 2 – located above the load.

The critical stage is drawing preparation

Before assembling the frame and sheathing it with sheets, you need to prepare a drawing of the gate.

Give this step enough time, because if the path of the upper and lower edges of the up and over gates is incorrectly calculated, they can rest against the ceiling, end up too low when opening and interfere with the use of the room.

Our gate is 3 meters wide and 2.3 m high. We will make a drawing on a scale of 10 cm = 10 mm.

Sequencing:

1. Draw a vertical line 23 cm long. Make a horizontal line on top (top edge of the canvas). Make marks even higher from 1 to 5 cm (extend the vertical line up by 5 cm) - this is the height of the ceiling (50 cm above the gate). You must have at least 40 cm upward from the gate opening, otherwise the gate will not work.
2. Mark the middle of the canvas 1.15 m, we are interested in the space above this point.
3. We take approximately 1.4 m. Keep in mind that the lower part of the gate will extend from the bottom to the top point - 2.3 m.
4. To see how the canvas will open, take a compass with a pitch of 1.4. We draw a vertical line on the right at the distance of the compass step from the first vertical line. Next, take the pitch of the compass from the height of the ceiling (point 50 cm above the top of the gate) to 1.4. We draw an arc (it is described by the lower part of the gate).
5. Reduce the height to 1.3. Draw a vertical line on the right again (compass step from 0 to 1.3). Draw an arc in steps from 50+ to 1.3. The point of intersection of the lines turned out to be at a height of 1.8 (it is at this point that the canvas will take a horizontal position) instead of 2.3.
6. We take the height 1.35. We repeat the steps described above. And now our intersection point is in the desired position (4 mm = 4 cm error, it will depend on the thickness of the canvas).

Thus, when the lever is attached at a height of 50 cm above the opening and the sash height is 2.3, the attachment point of the lever from the bottom is 1.35.

Assembly of the structure

When the plan is ready, we begin installation. We assemble the hinge units and interface units, and the metal frame. We install tacks in the opening, the rebate and the groove for the rollers.

To reduce play and friction, we replaced the standard bolts with automotive bushings (aka rear shock absorbers).

Finally, we assemble the moving mechanisms and the gate itself, and hang the load.