This is the G-5000 design in Ice White. As these are made specifically for larger applications like farm buildings, the doors measure an impressive 16' x 18' in size. This protects your space and enhances visibility when entering and exiting the building.
With every farm, comes the need for various farm buildings. And they’ve been through several iterations over the centuries, but their basic functions remain the same.
Buildings began, of course, as a way to protect livestock, crops, and tools from would-be thieves and potential weather. Today, that’s still their main function.
Of course, with the evolution of farm buildings comes a need for more utility-specific doors. Fortunately, agricultural garage doors have evolved just as much, and we have custom solutions for all farm needs!
As farmers constructed various agricultural structures to protect their farms, we’ve seen everything from horse barns and dairy barns to granaries, hay barns, equipment sheds, and more. It’s less common today, but many farms even had a dedicated outbuilding to use as an ice house.
Regardless of what buildings you have on your farm, you need to make sure that you get the right agricultural garage door and commercial garage door operator. Here are four factors to consider.
1- Large and In Charge: Agricultural Doors Can Protect Expensive Farm Equipment and More
Here are the G-1000 Construction agricultural garage doors, which can be perfectly sized to store all kinds of equipment, from trucks and tractors to plows, seeders and spreaders, and even your wagons, balers, and more!
Your farm equipment is essential—you must protect it!
Farmers rely on agricultural machinery to get work done around the farm in less time and with less effort. These expensive machines should be kept out of the elements to protect them from rust and other potential incidents.
- Tractors and seed drills are versatile tools that provide plenty of year-round assistance on the farm.
- Trucks and farm trailers make loading and transporting a breeze.
- Harvesters make the process quick and efficient, helping improve farmers’profits and productivity.
Farms all have their own requirements for equipment and tools. Your land, farming methods, and other factors will play into choosing the right agricultural garage door for your situation.
You can also benefit from consulting a garage door expert to assist in determining the perfect model, size, and features for your new garage door.
Regardless of the door you choose, you’ll ensure that your equipment and tools are protected from the elements and the risk of theft when you install a large agricultural garage door in your outbuilding(s).
Our G-5000 agricultural doors offer durable support with plenty of unique options for doors of this size. This model comes in at an impressive 28 feet high and 16 feet wide, which is 2.5 times the height of basketball great Michael Jordan!
You’d think that with the weight of the equipment and its obvious size concerns, theft might be unlikely. However, thieves might want parts for scrap or sell on the black market, and the boldest ones won’t care how big the equipment is. Indoor, secured locations are a must!
There are always incidents that occur, even in the safest conditions, but taking caution with a proactive approach will reduce the risk!
Big doors need big hardware.
Here you can see the details of the hardware options available for the G-5000 model garage door that we offer. You’ll pick the level of duty based on how much you use the door or the cycles (opening and closing) that happen each day.
2- Keep Equipment and Farm Animals Warm and Dry with an Insulated Agricultural Garage Door
Got livestock? Family pets? Other farm animals? You’ll want to protect everyone, from the pigs to the chickens, the cows and horses, and even the barn cats that hang around.
Animals, like people, need to be protected from the elements to remain healthy and prevent the spread of viruses and germs. Weather control and temperature maintenance will go a long way and adding an insulated garage door will help.
To prevent disease and illness, and save money, consider premium garage door weatherstripping. This is a PVC retainer that holds a weather seal that is installed on the door to prevent water penetration.
Storing food or crops indoors and need to keep them warm and dry? That’s another great use for an agricultural garage door, and extra insulation can ensure that your goods are protected from outside temperatures, humidity, and other elements.
Do I really need weatherstripping?
Yes, absolutely. Your equipment and animals are the heart of your business. You must protect them at all costs, which includes adding extra protection when and where you can. This can be done with polystyrene or polyurethane insulation.
If you’re looking for the toughest protection, check out this massive G-5000, which comes in all types of insulation: R-12, R-16, and even premium R-18 value for maximum protection. This model measures 24 x 14 feet and is shown in Ice White with windows for additional safety and visibility.
Here’s what you should know about polyurethane foam and polystyrene (Styrofoam).
- Polyurethane
This injected material is designed to fill in the gaps between door panels and around the edges of the door. Because it’s an expanding foam, it gets into all the crevices and provides premium protection. It lasts longer and is more flexible, which makes it desirable.
- Polystyrene
For a cheaper option, doors can be filled with sheets of polystyrene, or Styrofoam. However, this doesn’t have the same protection level and it also leaves a lot of gaps for wind and weather to get through.
Above, you see both types of insulation: polyurethane on the left and Styrofoam on the right. See why the former is better?
Which R-value do I need for my farm buildings?
Ultimately, you’ll need to assess the energy efficiency of your building and determine what type of protection you want. Plus, it’s not just the R-value that matters—heat loss around the edges of the door and between panels isn’t factored in here.
It’s best to consult with an agricultural, industrial & commercial garage door professional so that you get the appropriate insulation for your new door.
3- Choose Garage Door Openers and Accessories with Waterproofing
Check out the versatility of these two doors. They’re both the G-5000 construction, but featured here in two different sizes, 12 x 12 feet and 18 x 14 feet, both in Ice White finish.
The garage door openers that you choose are just as important as your new doors. Water and humidity can create rust and damage the electronics and machinery within your farm buildings.
If you’re dealing with a damp environment, you’ll want to choose waterproof, weather-resistant equipment that’s designed to withstand the elements.
There’s one clear choice: LiftMaster’s CRBH commercial door opener featured below.
The LiftMaster CRBH is nearly identical to the RBH model, with the exception of being totally waterproof. Like the RBH, it’s a Jackshaft model that installs on the wall instead of overhead. This is great for larger sectional doors, as well as those that have a high lift. Manual operation with the chain hoist is available if there is a power outage, and it features roller bearings and a clutch adjustment. This heavy-duty opener is rated for 25 cycles an hour and up to 90 cycles each day.
Farm equipment and outbuildings see a lot of dust and debris, specifically during the harvest season. If you’ve got grain systems, those can create a lot of dust, too. To reduce the risk of electrical fires, all garage operators in agricultural settings need a protective casing.
Conestoga Buildings has a great piece on the 8 most common causes of barn fires. Some of the ones discussed include:
- Baled hay (concerns about it drying out and becoming perfect kindling)
- Smoking (any farmer worth his salt knows smoking around the buildings is bad news)
- Improper storage of food, bedding, and other materials
- Space heaters (it’s important to choose commercial-grade equipment with safety features and shut them off when not in use)
- Old wiring, extension cords, and other hazards
Fortunately, several LiftMaster commercial door openers automatically feature waterproof housings to protect the motor and other components. Today, LiftMaster also offers waterproofing on:
- Control panels and opener buttons
- Photo eye sensors
- Optical edge systems
All of these meet NEMA 4 requirements for water resistance and protection.
You can find details on this keypad here. This KPW250 model is ideal for use with commercial LiftMaster garage door opener systems. Its sealed design provides total weatherproofing, making it ideal for damp environments like outbuildings.
4- Don’t Forget Garage Door Maintenance to Increase Your System’s Lifespan!
Farm equipment is subjected to some pretty filthy conditions. From dust and mud to rain, snow, and even extreme heat, it’s important to keep your equipment cleaned and maintained. Thanks to Farm Progress, you can find some helpful. advice on how to manage dirt and dust to keep farm equipment running all year long.
Dust, mud, puddles, and other hazards are all over the farm—inside and outside of buildings and, of course, in the fields and on the tractor paths. You’ll want to stick with a material for your garage door that’s easy to clean, such as aluminum or steel.
Agricultural garage doors need to be serviced by certified garage door repair specialists. They can do the work quickly and properly, as they have the tools and equipment to get it done. They will inspect, adjust, lubricate, and then perform any necessary repairs.
Here’s what you need to know to clean your steel or aluminum garage door safely to prevent damage.
Choose high-quality car wash products and waxes to clean and shine your new garage door. Avoid abrasive products or strong chemicals because those can cause the door to delaminate or damage your paint finish.
To keep things running smoothly, you need to keep up with garage door maintenance.
The last thing you need is to head out to the farm to do your work, only to find out that the door is broken or not operational. This can impact your livelihood in the long run, and in the short term, it makes your work a lot more difficult, if not impossible.
Here’s what commercial door maintenance needs to cover. It should be done annually, at the very least:
- A visual inspection of the agricultural garage door and commercial opener system to check its condition. This should be performed by a skilled, experienced garage door technician or installer.
- Preventive maintenance and measure to avoid future damage or issues. This includes the adjustment, alignment, and lubrication of garage door springs, tracks, and other components.
- On-time maintenance appointments and top-quality customer service.
Check out the annual garage door maintenance steps that you can perform (or hire someone to handle) to extend your door’s life.
How often should I have my door maintained or serviced? We recommend a schedule based on the type of building and door, how frequently it is used, and other factors:
3 months: For high-frequency use of commercial garage doors on a large or busy farm.
6 months: For moderate use of your agricultural garage doors.
12 months: For farms and properties that only use the garage door a few times a day (or week, month, etc.).
Ultimately, your garage door technician will help you determine your maintenance needs based on your usage, hardware, and other elements.
The Details are Done; Let’s Talk Design for Commercial Agricultural Doors
Why not go for color?
Your farm is your pride and joy. It should reflect your personality and your preferences. Stand out from the rest by choosing a bold new color for your garage door, whether it’s Moka Brown or Evergreen, or even just select the perfect shade of beige to suit your taste. As you can see, there’s plenty to choose from.
Once you cover the essential features of commercial doors for your farm buildings, it’s time to let your creativity shine. Choose different design elements, door colors, window frame colors, and more.
A lot of people just stick with white, and that’s fine. However, if you want to stand out and show off a little, a color could be ideal. You can even ask for an exact match to a color that you’re already using, thanks to our sample or color code delivery.
Farms see a lot of traffic, both from vehicles and from foot traffic. With the G-5000 garage doors, you can add windows for visibility and safety. Plus, there are plenty of door colors to choose from along with coordinating frame colors, and even your choice of glass.
When you add windows, you’re enhancing safety and letting in that natural light, which can help make all of your buildings more efficient.
For those who thought it was all or nothing with windows, we present this model. You can easily choose to only add one single window to your garage door. You can even choose to have two or three strategically placed, thanks to custom designs.
Windows can also add safety to your outbuildings. If you have a lot of movement outdoors, having windows ensures that you can see as you enter and exit the buildings. This reduces accidents and makes things run more smoothly.
If you’re ready to find out what your agricultural garage doors will cost, just ask for a free quote via email.
The Garage Door Store is committed to delivering the solutions you need. We’ll help you find the best commercial garage door and agricultural building opener system for your needs and your budget.
We understand that your needs are unique and that protecting your farm business and its property is essential. We, too, run a business and understand the importance of reducing expenses while finding the best tools for the job. Let us advise you on your next project.
Ready to discuss your farm building garage door needs with one of our garage door experts?
Give us a call: 705-327-7408. Or, visit us today.
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