Roller garage doors for double garages

In short

A double garage has an opening, or a pair of openings, wide enough for two cars. A roller garage door suits it because even a wide curtain coils into a single box above the opening, keeping the ceiling clear and the drive free of swinging panels. The main choices are one wide door or two single doors, the lath size and how the doors are powered.

Wide anthracite roller door across a double garage on a stone house at sunset

Computer-generated image

Should I fit one wide roller door or two single doors on a double garage?

It depends on whether your garage has one wide opening or two openings with a pier between them. If there's a central pier, two single doors are the natural choice, and each can open on its own, which keeps heat in and saves wear when you only need one side.

If the garage has one wide opening, a single wide roller door gives you the full width with no post in the way, which makes parking two cars or a larger vehicle easier. One wide door has one motor, one box and one set of guides. Two doors have two of each, so they cost more, but one side still works if the other needs attention.

What lath size does a wide roller garage door need?

Wider doors usually need larger laths, typically around 77 mm, because bigger laths add rigidity across the span. Smaller laths of around 55 mm suit narrower doors and coil into a more compact box.

The trade-off is space. Larger laths and a longer, heavier curtain need a bigger box, so a wide door needs more headroom above the opening. Domestic boxes are roughly 205 to 300 mm or more depending on door height and lath size. We choose a lath and box within the manufacturer's limits for your width and height and explain the headroom it needs at the survey. Our wide and double doors guide goes into more detail.

How much does a roller door for a double garage cost?

Prices for double garage roller doors depend on the width and the lath type, and all include supply, fitting and removal and disposal of an old roller or up-and-over door. For an opening 3.0 to 4.0 m wide, an electric single-skin door is £1,795–£2,595 inc VAT and an insulated electric door is £2,195–£3,295 inc VAT.

For openings 4.0 to 5.5 m wide, an insulated electric door is £2,595–£3,995 inc VAT. Openings wider than 5.5 m, and steel doors wider than 4 m, are priced on survey. If you're fitting two single doors instead, each is priced on its own width. See our prices page for the full table.

Can you remove the pier between two garage doors?

Removing a central pier is structural work, so it can only happen after the right checks. The pier usually helps support the lintel and the wall or floor above, and taking it out means a new beam spanning the full width.

That kind of change normally needs a structural engineer's design and building regulations approval (a building warrant in Scotland, or building control approval in Northern Ireland). Any structural work is priced on survey, and it only goes ahead once the design and approvals are in place. If it isn't practical, we'll say so and quote for two single doors instead.

What else should I plan for with a double garage door?

Plan for power, controls and headroom early. A wide electric door needs one power supply near its box, and two single doors need power at both, which a qualified electrician can usually provide.

With two electric doors, a multi-button remote can usually be programmed to operate each door separately, and a smart receiver can let you check both from a phone. Make sure the headroom suits the box for each door, and check the floor is reasonably level across the full width, because an uneven floor leaves gaps under a wide bottom rail.

Questions

Will a wide roller door sag in the middle?

A correctly specified wide door shouldn't sag, because the laths are chosen for the span and the curtain is held at both ends in the guide rails. Wider doors use larger laths, often around 77 mm, which add rigidity. We stay within the manufacturer's limits for lath size and width, and if your opening is beyond them we'll recommend a different arrangement.

Can one remote open both doors?

Usually, yes. Where two electric doors use compatible receivers, a multi-button rolling-code remote can be programmed so each button operates one door. We confirm this at the survey once we know which motors and controls are being fitted. Extra handsets are £39–£69 inc VAT each when ordered with a new door.

Is a roller door possible for an opening wider than 5.5 m?

Openings wider than 5.5 m are priced on survey, because the lath size, box, guides and motor all need checking against the manufacturer's limits, and the lintel or beam must be able to carry the box. In some cases two doors with a central post work better. We'll explain the options and show the price in a written quote.