Garador Cathedral Steel Up & Over Garage Door

The Garador Cathedral uses a one-piece up-and-over door panel that pivots upwards and moves into the garage as it opens. Unlike a sectional or roller door, the panel remains in one piece throughout the opening cycle, with the exact movement determined by whether canopy or retractable lifting gear is selected.

Galvanised steel construction

The door panel is made from high-grade galvanised steel, with a zinc coating protecting the underlying metal against corrosion. A powder-coated finish is then applied across the panel to provide further protection from weathering while giving the door its finished appearance.

Garador uses spot welds rather than visible rivets to join the steel sheets and rear braces, creating a smooth external surface. The panel is built around a galvanised steel box-section chassis, with twin galvanised back braces reinforcing the door leaf and helping it remain rigid during operation.

12-panel Georgian design with a curved top row

The Cathedral uses a 12-panel Georgian layout with deep, raised and fielded embossments, distinguished by curved panels across the top row that give the door its traditional, church-window-inspired appearance. Garador positions the Cathedral as an ideal match for front doors of a similar traditional design.

Locking and safe operation

Two-point locking is fitted as standard, with the locking arrangement changing according to the lifting gear. Canopy doors use a tubular latch system at the top of the door, while retractable doors use rotary latches positioned at the lower corners.

The safety mechanisms also differ between the two systems. Canopy lifting gear uses an anti-drop device to stop the door falling in the event of a spring or cable failure, while retractable lifting gear uses a triple spring system and a secure parking position to help keep the door controlled when open.

Canopy or retractable lifting gear

The lifting gear determines how the Cathedral moves as it opens, how much space the mechanism uses inside the garage, and whether the door is well suited to electric automation. Both options use the same one-piece door panel, but the opening path and supporting hardware differ.

Canopy lifting gear
With canopy lifting gear, the door pivots upwards without horizontal tracks running back into the garage. When fully open, around one-third of the door projects outside the opening, with the remainder forming a canopy overhead.

Garador offers canopy lifting gear on certain standard Cathedral door sizes up to 2438mm wide and 2136mm high. A zinc-coated torsion spring helps raise and lower the panel, with steel cables running around a cast-alloy drum to control its movement. Guide rails keep the door travelling in a fixed path, while an anti-drop mechanism prevents it from falling if a spring or cable fails.

Retractable lifting gear
With retractable lifting gear, the door travels upwards and then back along horizontal tracks inside the garage. When fully open, the bottom of the panel sits flush with the garage opening rather than projecting outside.

Retractable gear is available for standard single Cathedral doors up to 2438mm wide. Solid steel pivot arms, a triple spring system, and horizontal guide rails control the movement of the panel, while a secure parking position helps prevent the open door from rolling forwards unexpectedly.

Garador recommends retractable lifting gear where electric automation is planned, making it the better choice for buyers intending to add a GaraMatic operator. The exact Cathedral size available with either lifting system depends on the final door specification.

The Cathedral is available on this page in standard single-door sizes up to 2438mm wide. The dimensions and space required depend on whether the Cathedral is ordered with canopy or retractable lifting gear and whether a Garador steel frame is included.

The steel frame is manufactured to suit the selected door size and supplied pre-painted to complement the door finish. Because the lifting gear and frame affect the space required around and behind the opening, choose the configuration before finalising the ordering dimensions.

Check the structural opening and available internal clearance carefully before ordering, particularly where retractable tracks or an electric operator will extend back into the garage. Follow our up-and-over garage door measuring guide for the dimensions required.

Colours and finishes
The Cathedral is available in Garador’s range of 19 standard colours for steel garage doors, including Traffic White, Anthracite Grey, Jet Black, Moss Green, Steel Blue and a selection of other RAL and BS shades. A durable powder-coated finish is applied to the steel panel to protect it against weathering and provide the finished colour.

Handle options
A black plastic handle is supplied as standard and operates the door with a simple twist action. Alternative diecast handles are available in brass effect, chrome effect and white.

Quick-fit steel frame
An optional galvanised steel frame can be supplied to match the selected door size, providing a ready-made alternative to fitting the door to a timber frame. Garador pre-paints the frame to complement the door colour, with a 60mm-wide frame used for canopy doors and a 75mm-wide frame for retractable doors.

Electric automation options
Standard Cathedral doors can be paired with a Garador GaraMatic electric operator for remote-controlled opening and closing. Garador recommends retractable lifting gear where automation is planned because it is better suited to powered operation.

The GaraMatic range includes the GaraMatic 9, 10 and 20, with the appropriate model depending on the door size and specification. Each operator includes two four-button hand transmitters, automatic safety reversal, an anti-lift mechanism and integral LED lighting.

All three operators support remote status checking, although this requires an optional five-button bi-directional hand transmitter. The GaraMatic 10 and 20 also include an integrated Bluetooth receiver, allowing compatible doors to be controlled through Garador’s BlueSecur smartphone app.

Garador provides a five-year warranty on its GaraMatic operators. See our garage door operators and controls for the available models and accessories.

The Garador Cathedral is covered by a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty on the safe and reliable function of the garage door from the date of purchase. The door mechanism and Garador steel frame, where fitted, are also covered for 10 years. Replacement parts are covered for six months or for the remainder of the existing warranty period, whichever is longer.

Regular maintenance helps keep the door operating correctly. Garador recommends lubricating the pivot points, checking screws and connections, and keeping the running tracks clean after installation and then every 5,000 operations or at least once a year. On canopy doors, the lifting cables should also be checked every six months under normal use and replaced by an experienced fitter if wear is found.

Clean the steel door and frame regularly with a mild soap-based solution to remove dirt, salts and other corrosive substances. Any scratches or damage to the finish should be repaired promptly to help prevent corrosion. Garador’s warranty does not cover damage caused by improper installation, negligent care or maintenance, or repairs by non-qualified persons.

See Garador’s warranty and care information for the full maintenance guidance, conditions and exclusions.