Walking Through Your Garage – Good Idea or Bad Idea?

Garage with Walk Thru Door

Well, it looks pretty good, doesn’t it? You’ve seen these pics on the Internet with the cool side doors next to your main garage doors, but is it worth the bother?

Maybe. These doors are known as “pedestrian doors,” obviously because they’re too narrow to admit a car or even a motorcycle but just fine for people who want to come in and out.

Most of the time, these doors are installed when the garage is located “below grade” – in other words, in the basement area. However, you might also find them in industrial or commercial settings, because they are very energy efficient. Any time you open a big garage door, you’re letting heat out in the winter and cool air in during the summer. It just makes sense to open a smaller door when you can.

Pedestrian door sizes can vary quite a bit, but usually, they’re less than 3 feet wide, and about 6.5 feet tall. Generally, they’re also about two inches thick, and well insulated.

ADVANTAGES

  • If your garage is below grade, it can be very helpful to have access to your house from the garage. You don’t always want to be opening up the double door.
  • In some areas, you might not have enough access to the side of your house. In such situations, a pedestrian door next to your main garage door can give you the access you need.
  • If the power goes out, you won’t be able to access your garage using an automatic opener. If you use your garage for storage as opposed to just a place to park your car, you’re still going to want a way in, and this type of alternative entry can be extremely practical.

DISADVANTAGES

  • The main disadvantage to adding a pedestrian door is cost. It can actually be as much as installing a full garage door without the walk-through feature.
  • If you have an electric garage door opener and the pedestrian door isn’t properly closed, your garage will not be secure.
  • The width of your main garage door will be a factor. You can’t install a pedestrian door if your main door is less than eight feet.
  • It’s another opening. What this means is that there are more areas where hot air can get out in the winter, and cool air can escape in the summer. In other words, pedestrian doors aren’t all that great when it comes to energy efficiency. Given that they’re incredibly convenient, though, you might choose to just accept the fact that you’ll be paying more for heat or air conditioning depending on the weather.

Ready to Get Going?

Give us a call at 207-784-0622. We can help you to choose the garage door that’s just right for you, and talk with you about pedestrian doors. We’ll help you figure out if this is a good system for you, and we can also provide you with a “no obligation” quote.

Come and visit our showroom. We’ll show you what’s available, and help you to choose the best option for your needs. We can also provide you with an online quotation.

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