You're driving home at the end of a long day. It's a rainy winter's evening. When you pull up outside your house, you struggle out into the freezing rain and manually open your garage. You 're cold, soaked, and fed up. Not a good way to start your night!

Now imagine this: instead of getting out into the rain, and struggling with a heavy door, you simply reach for your remote, press a button, and watch as your garage door opens smoothly and the light automatically comes on. You roll into the garage, press a button, and watch as it closes and locks securely.

Motorised (otherwise known as automated) garage doors are the way forward and have become immensely popular. Here are some answers to common questions about motorised garage doors:

Can I automate my existing garage door?

Automation is possible for the majority of garage doors, including canopy, roller and retractable. Make sure you take advice from a reputable garage door supplier, who will be able to tell you what equipment is needed and help with installation. You should also look into the cost of a brand new automated door as they are often more affordable than you think. Good products include Garador garage doors and Novoferm garage doors.

What is a drive system?

This is essentially the mechanism by which the motor opens and closes your door. The two most popular are chain or belt drive systems. Chain drives use a metal chain to run the garage door on its track - they're usually the least expensive, and the most rugged, but can also be noisy. Belt drive openers are almost silent, as they run on a rubber belt.

What motor power do I need?

The power of your motor will depend on the weight of your garage door. As a rough guide, if your door is up to 8' wide, a motor rated at about 45kgs should be fine. If it is larger, go for a unit rated at 60kgs or more.

How secure are motorised garage doors?

All automated doors are self locking. Once closed, it can only be opened with your remote transmitter. As a result, automated garage doors are often more secure, as it can be easy to forget to lock your door once you have manually closed it.

Could the door hurt someone if they're in the way?

Most automated garage doors have a safety protection system. This means that they will instantly stop if there is an obstruction in the way. If you're at all worried about this, make sure you choose a supplier with an effective safety protection system - and ask your garage door supplier for advice.

This article was written by Up and Over Doors Ltd, a supplier and installer of all types of garage doors and accessories, including sectional, retractable and roller doors in Bristol.