MyE28.com

Here in the US that is. I am looking for the solid, one piece flip-up style retractable garage door that was on nearly all mid-century homes that actually had a garage. I can't find anyone who still can make these.

Similar to this:

I have two, and prefer them to the others, but haven't needed to replace or repair them. They seem more secure and easier/safer to operate.

You might also try "monolithic" and "single panel" as alternate names in your searches though they didn't seem to help much when I looked.

Good Luck

These guys make one style. They're also called California style tilt doors, and there are a couple of manufacturers in Kali.

http://www.raynor.com/products/american_list.cfm

Lots of garage info here,
http://www.garagejournal.com/

no2tracks wrote:Lots of garage info here,
http://www.garagejournal.com/

This is more about building a man cave, tools, cabinets, flooring, etc. Nothing about doors.... without searching the forum.

I think I still have all the hardware off the one-piece door that was on my old garage, when I tore it down I got rid of the wood for the door itself but saved the arms, springs, etc. They worked okay but weren't the greatest thing to have in a northern climate, if there happened to be a lot of snow on the ground they could be difficult to open.

Also, one time I parked my motorcycle too close to the door while it was closing, that wasn't a good thing.

I remember them well, they were the standard when I was growing up. They were ok, but replacing a broken spring every year or so was no prize, and they tend to warp as they age. I wasn't even aware they had become so obsolete.

Mike W. wrote:I remember them well, they were the standard when I was growing up. They were ok, but replacing a broken spring every year or so was no prize, and they tend to warp as they age. I wasn't even aware they had become so obsolete.

Also because they were/are heavy (you're essentially moving the equivalent of a framed wall, if it's wood). And because of the weight, they would warp the brackets easily if they're lifted unevenly. Not so much a problem with a single door, but when it's a double door, it's pretty common to have them repaired often.
Overhead sectional roll-up doors are more superior in that regard because they are more stable and less prone to mis-alignments. But they do look different.
Sectionals also have the advantage in that they require no clearance in front of the door when they open. My current rental garage has a double wood lift-slab on an alley. I've mis-judged a few times where I park the car when I get out and open the door and have to move the car.
The main advantage the lift-slabs have (other than looks) is that they require no overhead tracks or hardware unless you have an automatic electric opener. So if you have a high vaulted ceiling or a low ceiling, these work much better than overhead sectionals.

The tilt-up or lift-slab doors are essentially a kit of parts for the side brackets and springs that you can put any type of door on (aluminum, wood, etc.).
Here's an image:


Here's a link to a web company selling parts from Holmes:
http://www.aclickawayremotes.com/Holmes/index.html

My god I hate hate hate the huge wooden slab of tilt up garage door on my 1985 house.

I long for a simple, slide up metal door.

Costco? I saw they have custom garage doors and I think I saw those too.

Mike W. wrote:I remember them well, they were the standard when I was growing up. They were ok, but replacing a broken spring every year or so was no prize, and they tend to warp as they age. I wasn't even aware they had become so obsolete.

Mine may not be original to the house (1953) but I'm sure they're close. The rails are THICK iron/steel not aluminum, and support my 240lb self with ease without bowing or twisting. The springs and hinges likewise.

I also like the ~200 sq.ft. of storage over the doors.