What is the purpose of a garage door or shed door?
Garage and shed doors keep valuables such as cars and tools away from thieves who may not be seeking entry to the main house, but targeting more isolated and vulnerable areas instead. Above all things, garage and shed doors must lock up tightly and be difficult to break into.
What qualities should a good garage or shed door have?
Security is the prime consideration here above all else. If your beautiful lacquer veneer garage door is the envy of the neighbourhood but can’t keep your car from being stolen, it’s not of much use (except for impressing the Joneses).
The door should also be very easy to open once unlocked. Garage doors in particular are almost always heavy, and can easily cause muscle strain if they're not mechanically assisted or spring-loaded.
What sort of doors are appropriate for garage or shed doors?
Garage and shed doors have specific requirements for use and installation which are only found in these spaces. Roller doors, tilt doors and variations on the two are almost always used for garage doors. Entire companies are dedicated to manufacturing nothing other than garage doors, and there is a huge variety to choose from, regardless of how big your garage is or how much space you have.
Shed doors are normally much cheaper and easier to install. Traditionally, they're made out of a side of steel sheeting which has been specially framed and hinged to allow entry to the shed. These doors often sport a sliding bolt latch which can be secured further with a padlock.
If you have a more elaborate shed (and let's face it, a lot of people do) you may also like to consider a solid core hinged door like you'd use on the front or back of your house, fitted with a deadbolt.