Hormann sectional doors: advantages and disadvantages

When talking about goods from Germany, the first thing they remember is German quality. Therefore, when purchasing a garage door from Hormann, first of all, they think that this company occupies a leading position in the European market and is a reputable manufacturer of doors with 75 years of experience. Making a choice between swing and sectional gates, today many reasonably stop at the latter. Indeed, the vertical opening of the sectional door is located on the ceiling and saves space both in the garage and in front of it.

Hormann is a recognized leader in the production of sectional doors. The cost of these garage doors is considerable. Let's consider the pros and cons of the EPU 40 model - one of the most popular in Russia and find out if these German products are adapted to Russian realities.

Distinctive features of the brand are the following indicators:

• Hormann door sections are extremely robust because they are made of hot-dip galvanized steel. There is a protective coating that prevents scratches, chips.
• A big plus of sandwich panels is the preservation of their integrity. Thanks to the closed contour, they do not delaminate, hitting the floor surface or being under the rays of the sun.
• There are two types of springs in the EPU 40 model: tension springs and more reliable torsion springs. They allow you to install a gate of any weight and size.

Hormann cares about its reputation with the utmost attention to the safety of its products:

• The door leaf is securely attached to the ceiling. To prevent the curtain from jumping out accidentally, the doors are equipped with sturdy roller brackets, running tires and torsion springs with a breakage protection mechanism. In a critical situation, the gate stops instantly and the possibility of the leaf falling is completely excluded.
• The presence of multiple springs also protects the entire structure. If one spring becomes unusable, the rest will prevent the gate from falling.
• An additional measure of protection against damage is a cable inside the structure.
• Sectional doors are equipped with finger trap protection from the inside and outside.

An important advantage of Hormann products is their design versatility. They are suitable for absolutely any openings, do not require lengthy installation. The special tank has a flexible structure, due to which it compensates for uneven walls. Neat installation can be done in a day. Even an inexperienced master will cope with it by following the instructions.

Elegance is a sign of aristocracy. Hormann adheres to a classic that is always fashionable. The EPU 40 door has many attractive decorative details that reflect a holistic design concept. The buyer has a great choice. Sectional products can be chosen in different colors and finishes. The trim panel is always combined with the overall style of the door in the lintel area.

A buyer who has decided to purchase Hormann products should remember that his garage is located in Russia, not Germany. Significant temperature changes during the calendar year and an abundance of precipitation make more demands on thermal insulation, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of materials. A number of problems can be noted that the Russian owner of Hormann EPU 40 sectional doors will face.

The door panel is 20 mm in the main part and 42 mm in the tops. For a typical city in central Russia, the required heat transfer resistance is 0.736 m2 * K / W, in Siberia - 0.8 / 0.9 m2 * K / W. At the EPU 40 gate - 0.56 m2 * K / W. Accordingly, in most of our country in winter, the metal parts of the gate will freeze over, which will lead to frequent jamming.

Of course, Hormann invites the buyer to purchase an additional plastic profile that improves thermal insulation - a thermoframe. But it is not included in the basic package. These are additional costs.

The doors of this manufacturer have some unfortunate design features.

• Hormann product guides without bearings, on bushings. This is not very convenient. In the warm season, dust, precipitation will get in, condensate will settle, and the gate will warp. And in cold weather, the bushings will seize and freeze. Sealed bearings in the idler rollers must be used.
• Fixed bracket for lower section. In our climate, when the soil often “walks”, freezing and thawing due to the temperature amplitude, gaps will form between the opening and the panel. We'll have to make a powerful concrete screed under the gate. Otherwise, the cracks will reduce sound and heat insulation.

• The bottom seal of the structure is made in the form of a tube. It is highly likely that in winter it will probably freeze to the threshold and, due to the thinness of the tubular seal, will break.
• Supplied plastic handle. The handle was originally made of low-quality materials, it is difficult to turn due to its round shape, it lies poorly in the hand. Reinstallation will be required at an additional cost.

• Polyester (PE) primer on the inside and outside of the panel. There is a strong degree of discoloration and corrosion, little weatherability and surface abrasion resistance. But this is, rather, a defect, rather than a drawback. If desired, the gate can be repainted.
• Expensive spare parts. For example, torsion springs can fail after a certain number of door open / close cycles. The cost of two springs is 25,000 rubles.

The side cable for lowering / raising the gate is quite reliable. Please note that it must be galvanized or plastic coated. Plain metal will rust and tear in our climate.

Equipping the Hormann EPU 40 sectional products with the ProMatic electric drive makes their use convenient and comfortable. Modern automation significantly reduces power consumption while in "sleep" mode.

Energy efficiency is another advantage of the Hormann door.

• Thanks to the remote control, you can save time by opening the gate leaves from the car in an average of 30 seconds. When the need arises to drive into the garage at night or in bad weather, the ability to stay in the car is a good bonus.
• It is possible to lock and open sectional structures from the inside both automatically and mechanically if there is no electricity.

• There is also a convenient function of limiting the movement of the gate, which locks the leaves, which does not allow the gate to damage the car in the garage opening. Installed infrared motion sensor. If you need to ventilate the garage, you can leave the sash slightly open at a low height.
• The anti-burglary function turns on automatically, and will not allow strangers to open the structure.
• The BiSecur radio system with copy protection provides the actuators with maximum protection.

The assembly procedure for Hormann sectional doors with a wicket door is not very complicated. That is why customer reviews are mostly positive. Some buyers testify that in Slavyansk it is possible to buy Hormann products at a bargain price.

“Forewarned is forearmed,” says the proverb. It is useful to know not only about the advantages of the product, but also to really imagine all its disadvantages. Only then will the choice be deliberate, and the purchase will not bring disappointment.

You can learn how the HORMANN garage doors are assembled from the video.