Frequently Asked Questions

We have tried to be as thorough as possible with the information we’ve given out to you on this site but, in case there is anything we may have missed, please now take the time to have a look around these frequently asked questions and see if they solve your problem. If they don’t them please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Why should i buy a wooden garage door from you?

We’ve beenin the business a long time and we’ve been learning every step of the way. This means that, whatever your reason for coming to us, we are able to offer you a superior and professional service which really is a cut above our competition in the market place. We have customers who come back to us time and time again and are always impressed with the vast selection of doors which we have on offer and how swiftly we can offer to deliver them. Our doors are not only safe and secure, the most vital aspect really, but they are also very sleek and stylish- this is what brings normal families to us as well as businesses.

What garage door size do I need?

This is a very important question; you don’t want to pay loads for a door only for it to arrive and you find that it’s not actually the right size or that it doesn’t fit correctly- there is one way to avoid this; digest the figures which are coming your way right now! All door sizes shown in Cardale literature are the actual size of the opening that the door is to go into. Sizes shown are given as opening width x height in feet & inches. Therefore a 7066 door is made to fit an opening 7ft wide by 6ft 6 inches high. Similarly a 1470 door is made to fit an opening 14ft wide by 7ft high. Cardale generally build a tolerance of approximately 19mm into the width and 25mm into the height of the door panel supplied, this leaves a gap around the edges of the panel to allow for the unhindered operation of the door gear. I think we should all have a breather after that!

Can I have my new door fitted to my existing timber frame?

This is question which crops up a lot as many people who are looking into buying a new garage door have a very old garage which they are looking to upgrade. Provided the frame is fitted firmly and it hasn’t got any rot then there really shouldn’t be a problem with fitting a new door to it; it would also need to be a minimum of 70 X 70mm. If you aren’t sure whether your wooden frame can meet these expectations or if you are worried it may be susceptible to damage in the future then there is an alternative. You could replace it with a Cardale steel frame that comes pre-fitted on some of our doors.

How do go about choosing a wooden garage door?

Obviously, upkeep of your aestetically pleasing timber doors will be high on your list of priorities; specific instructions really do depend on what type of finish your doors have however. The best thing which can really be said is that you need to keep a really close eye on the doors and, if any cracks start to appear, you should cover them up as soon as possible and treat the door again; how well you look after the doors will obviously have a bearing on well they fare in the long run.

What is GRP garage door?

This is more commonly known as fibre glass; Glass reinforced polyester is a term which is used to describe a two component ‘plastic’ like material which is stiffened and reinforced by bonding polyester resin and glass ‘mat’ together. This creates, through scientific procedures we won’t go into here for the sake of our sanity, a very durable and secure product which doesn’t shrink or rust. It has no seems or joins on the visible face of the door and thus gives an incredibly sleek and authentic finish; it can pick up a woodgrain effect which can also give the flawless impression of a wooden garage door- many industry experts cannot tell GRP Doors and wooden doors apart.

How do go about fitting my new wooden garage door?

We know that getting a new garage door fitted can be a very stressful time; if it’s the first time you’ve ever embarked upon something like this then there can be lots of unknowns and things that you need making much clearer. We are on hand on email or by phone should you need anything making just that little bit clearer. We will hopefully be able to sort out your problem or talk you through the various options which are available to you.

How often do I need to treat my timber garage doors?

Which top coat brush stain should I use on my timber garage door?

Get the person who has a head for D.I.Y in quickly, because here come the facts:

Light Oak top coat brush stain: Sikkens BL31 006
Burnt Oak top coat brush stain: Sikkens BL31 020
Mahogany top coat brush stain: Sikkens BL31 045
Walnut top coat brush stain: SIkkens BL31 010
Dark Oak top coat brush stain: Sikkens BL31 009
Teak top coat brush stain: Sikkens BL31 085

Can I use exterior grade varnish to finish my timber door?

If you are going to use varnish on your door then we would highly recommend that you use one which allows the timber to breathe properly. There are many products available which will enhance the look of your door and it’s simply a case of choosing one which will do the best job for you. You should always remember, too, to paint the inside as well as the outside with the same materials; the door, if this is not done, could encounter damage which will not be covered by the warranty of the supplier.

Can I delete a handset if it’s been stolen/ mislaid?

This is clearly a very important safety feature to have and you will be pleased to know that yes, this is most certainly possible. All instructions on how to delete and reprogramme a handset can be found in the instruction manual which is delivered with all our Cardale garage doors. If you have mislaid the manual and we know it happens when you have so many things to try and keep on top of then don’t worry, a replacement guide can be downloaded from our website and this will help you do what needs to be done.

Can my side hinged garage door be automatically operated?

Sadly they cannot- the system which would need to be used is simply not compatible with this type of door- never mind though- the exercise will do you good!

Can you get inward opening side hinged garage doors?

No, these aren’t available and, if you think about it, there are logical reasons why- you couldn’t open doors into a space where a car was being kept or items were being stored. All our Cardale side hinged doors are thus made to open outwards as seems most sensible and logical.

How do I know if I have a retractable style garage door?

Ah yes, one of life’s philosophical and searching questions; can you ever really know if your door is retractable? Well yes you can actually, the handle will be located towards the bottom of the door and the springs will be on the bottom sides of the door- these are the giveaway signs that you in fact have a retractable door!

I am interested in a wooden garge door but what should i do next?

Take a look around the rest of this website, there is no one type of wooden garage door; they come in various different mechanical forms, in various different finishes and in various different grains; you need to choose one which you think will fit the aesthetic ambience of your familial set-up; if this is too hard a decision for you, and we really do have a lot of different possibilities to choose from, then don’t worry: drop us an email or give us a call and we will be more than happy to talk through your options with you!

We hope we have been comprehensive but, as always, there will be something which we have missed out and which you may need to bring to our attention or query us about. If this is the case then we would be delighted to hear from you.