These agricultural garage doors (G-5000 design in Ice White are 16' x 18' in size) offer excellent visibility and accessibility when using farm equipment.
As long as there have been farms, there has been a need to protect tools and equipment used in the process. Farm buildings were responsible for this.
Originally, they were used to store tools, grain, and even livestock during inclement weather and to protect them from theft.
Today, farm buildings have become much more advanced with very specific functions. Thankfully, we provide customized agricultural garage doors that suit your needs perfectly.
Over time, farmers designed various agricultural structures to fulfill specific requirements. Barns held horses or livestock, chicken coops protected fowl, icehouses kept processed foods cold, smokehouses helped preserve meat, dairy barns protected milk cows, and equipment sheds held tools and gear needed for daily activities.
If you own an agricultural operation, you know that the purpose of a specific farm building will influence how you enter and exit the structure. That’s why you need the right agricultural garage door and commercial garage door operator.
1- A Large Garage Door Offers Easy Entrance and Egress for Expensive Farm Equipment
These agricultural garage doors (G-1000 Construction) offer customized access to different parts of the building for various types of equipment depending on what’s required at the time.
Farm Buildings and Garage Doors Help You Protect Your Investment
To maintain an operating farm or ranch, agricultural machinery is vital. However, that equipment is susceptible to damage from the elements, so it can’t be left exposed. Rust, corrosion, and other damage can easily occur and reduce the value of your investment, as well as the usability and reliability of your equipment.
- Tractors and seed drills provide critical help in a wide range of tasks, from tilling to seeding and fertilizing.
- Farm trailers and pick-up trucks ensure that you can transport equipment, animals, supplies, and more around the farm and to other locations off the property.
- Harvesters dramatically reduce the time and effort required to harvest crops.
These are just some of the equipment types today’s farmers and ranchers must use every day to keep their operations running smoothly. Every farm or ranch is also unique in terms of the specific equipment required.
Since farm and ranch requirements differ, consulting with a garage door expert is recommended before buying a garage door or opener. With expert guidance, it’s possible to get exactly the right height, width, construction material, and opening speed to suit your needs.
Installing an agricultural garage door tall and wide enough to house tractors, combines, and harvesters will ensure that your expensive equipment is easily accessible but protected from theft and weather-related damage.
G-5000 agricultural doors offer outstanding protection and durability and are designed for use with large farm equipment. This one measures 28' x 16'.
Don’t think that the size and weight of farm equipment will protect it from thieves, either. Often, thieves remove individual components, such as catalytic converters. Keeping tractors and other engine-powered equipment in a well-secured building deters theft and protects your investment.
Of course, agricultural garage doors require the right hardware. Conventional garage door hardware used with residential installations will not work here.
We offer 2 types of heavy-duty hardware for agricultural garage doors, specifically the G-5000 model. Choose the hardware you need based on your usage requirements.
2- An Insulated Agricultural Garage Door Protects Livestock
It’s critical to protect the animals you raise.
Like all other mammals, farm livestock must be protected from temperature extremes. Housing them in a barn during the winter is a great idea, but don’t forget that the barn door is a source of heat loss.
One way to help reduce heat loss and protect your livestock, while also reducing your energy bills, is to install high-quality garage door weatherstripping. With a weather seal mounted in an extruded PVC retainer around your door, heat loss and cold intrusion are dramatically reduced.
A well-insulated agricultural garage door doesn’t just protect against temperature fluctuations. It can also help prevent humidity and even water intrusion into the space. That can protect livestock feed and other essentials from damage and spoilage.
Is garage door weather stripping worth your time and money? In a word, yes.
So, how do you go about protecting your livestock and farming equipment? What’s necessary to insulate your garage door? For many farmers and ranchers, it’s as simple as adding another layer of polyurethane or polystyrene.
The G-5000 is one of our most robust and durable agricultural garage doors. It’s available with R-12, R-16, or even R-18 values. This one measures 24' x 14' and is Ice White in color with windows for light and safety.
Not sure which you need? Let’s explore the differences between polyurethane foam and polystyrene (Styrofoam):
- Polyurethane
This is a foam that’s injected into the gap between garage door panels. It’s twice as resistant to temperature intrusion as polystyrene and it’s also more flexible and able to withstand more significant weather extremes.
- Polystyrene
Sheets of Styrofoam are installed between the layers of a garage door. While it’s easy to install and costs less, it also has a much lower thermal resistance rating.
Above, you’ll see detailed views of the different types of garage door insulation. Polyurethane is on the right, while Styrofoam is on the left. You can see that polyurethane fills the garage door gaps better.
What R-value is best for your agricultural needs?
Concerned about your farm building’s energy efficiency? If so, you need to think carefully about overhead doors. Two insulated doors with the same R-value are not the same when it comes to heat loss because loss around the door’s perimeter is not factored into the R-value of the door.
As you can see, R-value is just one factor to consider when choosing overhead doors. We strongly recommend that you consult with an agricultural, industrial & commercial garage door professional.
3- Garage Door Openers, Remote Controls, and Accessories That Resist Water
Featuring G-5000 construction, these agricultural garage doors are of different sizes (18' x 14' and 12' x 12'). They’re shown here in Ice White and offer flexibility for your farm or ranch.
While the right commercial doors are essential for your operation, you can’t neglect the right garage door openers and other equipment. Like any other equipment, moisture can do a number on them.
For any equipment exposed to moisture, water resistance and reliable sealing are critical factors.
When it comes to farm operations, LiftMaster’s CRBH commercial door openers offer reliability, durability, and water resistance.
The LiftMaster CRBH garage door opener is identical to the RBH opener, but it is waterproof. This Jackshaft opener can also be installed on the wall and is well suited for use with very large sectional doors with vertical or high lift. You’ll also find a chain hoist with an electric interlock for manual operation if the power goes out. It’s designed for intensive use needs and offers a maximum of 25 cycles per hour (under 90 cycles per day). It features an oil-soaked motor, clutch adjustments, and roller bearings.
For farm buildings, fire is always a very real threat. This is due to the significant exposure to flammable dust, particularly during harvest and with the use of grain-handling systems. Garage operators should have special casings to reduce the risk of electrical fires.
Conestoga Buildings points out the 8 most common causes of barn fires, which include the following:
- Smoking in the building
- Baled hay
- Improperly stored dried bedding, hay, and food
- Improperly installed frost-proof hydrants
- Dust and cobwebs
- Extension cords and faulty barn wiring
- Space heaters
To reduce the risk of fire, many electric LiftMaster commercial door openers have waterproof and corrosion-resistant covers over the motor. LiftMaster’s product catalog also includes water-resistant equipment including photo eyes, bottom weather stripping, button stations, and more that meet or exceed NEMA 4 water protection requirements.
The KPW250 keypad pairs well with LiftMaster commercial openers. The sealed weatherproof design (NEMA 4X) is an ideal option for use in high-humidity situations. Learn more here.
4- Maintaining Your Agricultural Garage Door Running for Reliable Operation
Agricultural equipment is exposed to some of the harshest working conditions on the planet. That includes heat and cold, dust, and so much more. Protecting your equipment from dust is an essential consideration, and Farm Progress gives you a great introduction to that with this blog post.
It’s not just your equipment that suffers when it’s exposed to dust and mud, though. You also need to consider your commercial garage door. The right material can make it easier to clean and maintain your garage doors – we recommend something easy to clean like steel or aluminum.
With a certified garage door technician, maintenance for your commercial garage doors is a breeze.
Not sure how to go about maintaining your commercial garage door? Here’s what you need to know to effectively clean your steel or aluminum garage door.
One quick tip – use a good quality car wash and wax to clean your garage door. However, we recommend that you avoid using anything abrasive. It will scratch the paint and provide a point for rust to begin or even start the delamination process.
What’s the key to ensuring that your agricultural garage door offers reliable operation for years to come? Good garage door maintenance practices.
Your nightmare scenario is waking up to begin the day, only to find that your garage door won’t open, or that there’s damage somewhere in the system. That costs you time, money, and hassle.
Here’s a quick look at what should be included in your commercial door maintenance:
- Only work with skilled garage installers and technicians.
- Maintenance should be handled on time, every time.
- The entire garage door system should be visually inspected and documented.
- Avoid damage by investing in preventative steps.
- Align and adjust garage door tracks, springs, and other components.
- Customer service should be a priority for your provider.
Want to extend your door’s lifespan? Make sure to follow the annual garage door maintenance steps.
We recommend garage door maintenance be carried out every 3, 6, or 12 months depending on the frequency of use/number of daily cycles.
Commercial Door Designs for Agricultural Uses
A colorful garage door that matches your barn
You take pride in your property. It’s probably been in your family for generations, and you take good care of the buildings and equipment. So, why not try something that stands out better than white when it comes to colors? We offer multiple options, including beige, brown, black, silver, and charcoal to choose from so you can easily tie into other colors on your farm.
By this point, you should have a good understanding of the factors to consider when shopping for commercial doors for agricultural applications. Now it’s time to turn your creativity loose. As you can see from our photos, most people pair white garage doors with white barns, and so forth. You don’t have to be locked into that bland, boring pattern, though. You have options!
Want to show off your barn or building? Just request a sample or color code to see what our shades look like in person.
Our G-5000 garage doors are available in 9 colors. They can also be equipped with a variety of garage door window sizes, glass types, and frame colors.
Don’t limit your creativity to colors. We can also customize the size and number of your garage door windows to add to the look of your property while maximizing natural light inside the building.
We can customize any window configuration, from entire rows to single windows. It’s all about what’s right for your building.
Adding windows is about more than just allowing light into the building. It’s also about visibility. The right window configuration can add safety and convenience, particularly for business farms and ranches.
Interested in learning more about our agricultural overhead door(s)? You can request a free quote by email.
At Dor-Co Garage Doors, we take pride in offering only the highest quality commercial doors and openers. We’re also committed to ensuring that you have a customized solution that fits your farm’s unique needs.
We understand how critical it is to have equipment you can rely on, as well as the need to maximize your investment. That’s why we offer a full range of services, from installation to maintenance.
It’s time to take the next step. Get in touch with us today.
Call us at 519-737-6915 for service in Oldcastle and 519-352-5200 for service in Chatham or visit us online.
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