The Barlow sectional garage door stands out with its striking horizontal tongue and groove boarding, neatly enclosed within a prominent solid cedar perimeter. This creates a distinct picture frame effect that adds instant architectural depth and character to your home. The robust structural framing significantly enhances panel rigidity, making the Barlow an exceptional choice for large double width garage openings. Behind the beautiful traditional joinery is a state of the art sectional mechanism, featuring safe panel designs and premium lifting gear tailored to your specific garage dimensions. The horizontal grain pattern catches natural sunlight beautifully, creating a stunning visual display that is best enhanced with a high quality translucent woodstain to protect the timber while showcasing its organic charm.
Cedar Barlow Timber Sectional Garage Door
The Barlow timber sectional garage door offers an elegant and understated design, characterised by a robust outer solid frame housing beautifully detailed horizontally tongue and grooved boards.
Elegant Horizontal Styling
This specific horizontal aesthetic provides a wider, more expansive visual appeal that effortlessly enhances the kerb appeal of any residential property. Hewn from select kiln dried Western Red Cedar, the Barlow relies on authentic traditional joinery. Every crucial joint is securely glued and wedged using classic mortise and tenon techniques, creating an incredibly rigid structure.
Superior Structural Integrity
Perfect for luxury self builds and expansive double garages, the Barlow is fully structurally capable of being manufactured up to a massive 18 feet wide (5487mm). If built as a traditional one piece up and over door, a large solid timber structure inevitably suffers from sagging across the middle span. The sectional door inherently spreads this weight across several reinforced panels, providing a far better final solution that will not bow or warp.
Bespoke Colour Matching
To ensure the door perfectly matches your exterior design scheme, it is available in 9 standard factory finished colour options: Light Oak, Medium Oak, Golden Oak, Dark Oak, Mahogany, Rosewood, Teak, Ebony/black, and Walnut. If your build project demands a highly specific palette, you can have many other finished options matching RAL references or luxury Farrow and Ball colours.
Space Saving Operation
The strict vertical operation allows you to pull your vehicle right up to the door, significantly maximising space inside and outside the garage. Furthermore, because the door drops vertically in its final phase, it closes firmly down onto the ground for the best bottom seal possible, while premium rubber weather strips provide much better sealing all round the door.
Advanced Drive Systems
Despite its heavy construction, the Barlow features surprisingly easy operation aided by precise mechanical spring balancing. Automating the Barlow significantly boosts your property security. An electric door requires no external physical handle, meaning there are far fewer places to force the door and create movement. We offer a fantastic selection of branded electric operators including motors from Hormann, Sommer, Carteck, Chamberlain, Seip, and Somfy.
Hardware Specifications
Operating a solid timber door requires robust internal hardware, safely utilising DOCO International modular HOME tracking systems:
- HOME X: Smooth side extension spring operation.
- HOME F: Front mounted torsion springs for garages with 200mm of available headroom.
- HOME R: Rear mounted torsion springs needing only 70mm of clearance.
Due to the bespoke nature of these timber structures, the Barlow is presented as Price on Application (POA).
Cedar Timber Sectional Door Options
Our Cedar timber sectional garage doors offer complete flexibility, allowing you to specify the exact features, mechanics, and finishes required for your home.
- Made to measure as standard: Every door is custom built to your exact dimensions, ensuring a flawless fit for your garage opening.
- Bespoke designs: Select a panel style and architectural design that perfectly complements your property's aesthetic.
Operating Gear & Automation
Configure the internal workings of your garage door to suit your daily lifestyle and physical space constraints.
- Tailored operating mechanisms: While the appropriate lifting gear is largely determined by the door's final weight, you often have a choice of systems to suit your internal garage layout. Options include side tension springs, front mounted torsion springs, or low-headroom rear mounted torsion springs, each catering to different clearance requirements.
- Electric operation and controls: Maximise your convenience by pairing your door with a premium electric operator. Customise your daily access with remote control handsets, wireless wall switches, secure coded keypads, intelligent safety sensors, and integrated lighting systems.
Factory Finishing Benefits
We strongly recommend opting for our professional factory finish so your door arrives fully sealed, treated, and completely weather ready the moment it is installed.
Using top-tier German Remmers coatings, our multi-layer, satin-finish treatment creates a resilient shield against the elements, drastically reducing the need for maintenance compared to traditional on-site staining. It guarantees deep wood penetration, immediate UV and moisture defence, and enhanced timber stability.
Standard Translucent Woodstains
Our semi-transparent woodstains are specially formulated to enhance the natural grain patterns and tonal character of Western Red Cedar.
- Light Oak: A subtle, pale finish preserving the raw appearance of the cedar.
- Medium Oak: A timeless, warm mid brown ideal for traditional aesthetics.
- Golden Oak: A vibrant, honey coloured stain that accentuates natural grain contrasts.
- Dark Oak: A richer, deeper brown offering a distinguished and mature character.
- Mahogany: A classic reddish brown that replicates the luxurious look of exotic hardwoods.
- Rosewood: A deep, dark red brown finish with a highly premium feel.
- Teak: A welcoming, golden brown shade reminiscent of traditional tropical woods.
- Walnut: A deep chocolate brown perfect for creating a striking contrast on modern or heritage homes.
- Ebony / Black: A semi transparent black finish (similar to RAL 9005) that lets the natural timber texture shine through.
Standard Opaque Colours
Choose from our curated selection of solid paint finishes, designed to completely mask the wood grain for a sleek, uniform, and contemporary appearance.
- Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016): A striking, dark grey highly sought after for modern UK builds.
- Jet Black (RAL 9005): A profound and absolute black.
- Traffic White (RAL 9016): A crisp, brilliant white.
- Pure White (RAL 9010): A slightly softer, classic white.
- Cream (RAL 9001): A gentle, warm off white.
- Light Ivory (RAL 1015): A traditional, heritage inspired cream.
- Slate Grey (RAL 7015): A sophisticated mid to dark grey featuring subtle blue undertones.
- Window Grey (RAL 7040): A versatile mid grey frequently matched with modern window frames.
- Agate Grey (RAL 7038): A delicate, muted light grey.
- Pale Green (RAL 6021): A tranquil, sage-inspired green.
- Pigeon Blue (RAL 5014): A soft, greyish-blue shade.
- Ruby Red (RAL 3003): An intense and vibrant red.
Bespoke Colour Matching
If you require an exact shade to harmonise with your home's existing front door, window frames, or unique architectural details, we offer a comprehensive custom colour matching service.
- RAL Classic and RAL Design palettes.
- British Standard (BS) colour ranges.
- Farrow & Ball paint shades.
- Little Greene paint colours.
Please note: As timber is a natural product, it features inherent differences in texture and porosity. This can lead to minor variations in the final sheen and colour. For highly critical colour matches, we strongly advise requesting a physical timber sample beforehand.
Barlow Cedar Sectional Door
The Barlow offers a robust, traditional aesthetic by featuring horizontal boarding securely framed within a solid cedar perimeter. It maintains a clean, boarded appearance while benefiting from the structural strength of a full outer frame. This horizontal layout naturally draws the eye across the opening, creating a wider visual appearance that suits a massive variety of architectural styles.
Key Practical Features
- Ensure your door is correctly proportioned for your garage, with custom heights available up to 3048mm (10 feet) for those with taller openings. Please email or call for exact details and pricing for doors above 2134mm high.
- Protect your investment right out of the wrapper. Opt for our white or grey primer if you are painting on site, choose from the standard colour palette, or request any specific RAL, BS, or Farrow & Ball colour at an additional cost.
- Where applicable, optional top-section windows feature 4mm safety glass in clear, obscure, or stipple finishes, complete with plain, diamond, or square leaded designs.
Technical Construction
The core strength of the Barlow comes from its kiln dried Western Red Cedar boards bonded tightly into a robust timber framework. Because cedar is quite a lightweight timber species, it makes for a highly practical sectional door that places less stress on the moving parts, while remaining very stable outside once properly treated. Traditional mortise and tenon, glued and wedged joints are used throughout the structural frame.
Track And Installation Options
The vertical lifting sectional mechanism operates smoothly on reliable Doco sectional door gear. To accommodate different garage layouts, this system offers three mechanism options: side springs for standard setups, front torsion for heavier door balances, or a rear torsion mount when you need to minimise the headroom required above the door.
* In a perfect world we would recommend checking your side room clearance before committing to a specific spring arrangement.
Electric Automation Options
Automate your Barlow door using the premium SOMMER base+ or SOMMER pro+ systems. Both options provide everything needed for a standard ceiling installation, plus two hand transmitters for secure access. While the base+ is a fantastic all in one unit, the pro+ gives you the advantage of a separate wall mountable control panel.
When specifying the motor, the general rule of thumb applies: use the 600N motor for a single size door up to 2438mm wide, step up to the 800N motor for intermediate sizes between 2.4m and 4.3m, and choose the 1100N motor for larger double size doors. This intelligent control technology ensures that if the door meets an obstruction while closing, it will instantly stop and reverse, providing maximum safety.
Warranty and Care Instructions
The Nature of Timber
Timber is a beautiful organic material that will constantly adapt to its surrounding environment. As a result, you should expect to see natural variations in both the grain and the colour. This is a highly sought after feature of Western Red Cedar rather than a manufacturing defect. While components are carefully matched by hand during production to ensure a harmonious look, the authentic charm of real wood means no two doors are ever exactly identical.
Please remember that all timber substrates will naturally expand and contract as humidity and temperature levels fluctuate. This natural movement can occasionally lead to minor curvature or the slight opening and closing of joints. This behaviour is completely normal and will not compromise the durability or performance of your garage door over its lifespan.
Finishing and Protection Guidance
- Standard Basecoat: Unless specified otherwise, timber doors arrive with a basic dip immersion coating of Remmers Light Oak 006. This provides minimal temporary protection designed strictly for transit and the installation process. If left exposed to rain, water marks will quickly appear. To prevent damage, you must apply a complete set of Remmers finishing coats immediately after installation.
- Fully Finished Option: For maximum longevity and peace of mind, we highly recommend selecting the full factory finish. This comprehensive coating system creates a protective barrier that offers up to five years of erosion resistance.
- The Curing Process: Should your fully finished door be exposed to rain shortly after fitting, you might notice some light staining. This is a completely normal reaction as the finish cures. These marks will naturally fade and disappear as the treatment fully hardens, which can take up to six months.
- Selecting Your Colour: Please be mindful when choosing dark paint shades for doors facing the sun. Darker colours naturally absorb far more heat, which can extract moisture from the timber and potentially cause unusual distortion or warping.
Pre Installation Storage
If you are not fitting your garage door straight away, correct storage is vital to keep your manufacturer warranty valid:
- Store the door entirely upright in a safe area protected from the weather and site debris.
- Leave the protective polythene shrink wrap securely in place until you are ready to begin painting or installation.
- Never store the timber in direct sunlight and ensure it is kept completely away from any water or damp areas.
Quality Checks and Visual Inspections
While strict quality control procedures take place before delivery, we require all customers to carry out their own visual inspection in natural daylight before attempting installation.
To perform this check correctly, please stand approximately 3 metres (10 feet) away and assess the overall appearance. The door meets acceptable quality standards if you cannot clearly see any of the following from this distance:
- Manufacturing marks or noticeable distortion.
- Minor scuffs, indentations, or blemishes in the paint and stain.
- Vertical or lateral deflection exceeding 25mm (1 inch) on doors up to 8 feet wide, and exceeding 60mm (2.5 inches) on doors up to 16 feet wide.
If you notice any anomalies, you must report them directly to Garage Doors Online within 48 hours of receiving your delivery.
Warranty Limitations
As your dedicated specialist supplier, Garage Doors Online is here to facilitate the manufacturer warranty on your behalf. However, please be aware that we cannot accept liability for natural timber phenomena, including:
- Natural fading or variations in colour over time.
- Longitudinal or lateral movement of the wood.
- Resin exudation, splitting, or natural shakes in the timber.
- Water damage resulting from a failure to follow the finishing and maintenance instructions.
For complete details regarding warranty terms, or for expert advice on caring for your cedar garage door, please get in touch with the team at Garage Doors Online.
Measuring Guidance for Cedar Sectional Doors
Taking accurate measurements is the first step to ensuring your bespoke timber garage door fits flawlessly. The most effective and highly recommended installation position for any sectional door is directly behind the structural aperture.
When fitting behind the brickwork, your ordering size should ideally be the exact same as the smallest width and height measurements taken from your opening. This approach maximises your clear opening width, although it assumes you have sufficient internal clearance for both the headroom and side room to comfortably house the operating gear and steel tracks.
Between Opening Installations
If your garage layout dictates that fitting behind the piers is not an option, these doors can also be installed directly between the opening. To achieve a secure fit and a premium aesthetic with this method, you will typically need to use a timber sub frame that perfectly matches your chosen door finish.
We offer a variety of bespoke timber sub frames that you can purchase directly alongside your door. These frames are carefully specified to accommodate the exact headroom requirements dictated by the overall dimensions of your door and your chosen lifting gear mechanism.
For any assistance on understanding the ordering dimensions and options for specifying this Cedar door please email or call us directly to discuss.
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