If you’re thinking about replacing your garage door, chances are you’ve already discovered that the market is a crowded one. There are dozens of brands, hundreds of styles, and an awful lot of noise to cut through. That’s where this guide comes in handy.
At Littlehampton Blinds, we supply and install SWS garage doors across West Sussex. We’ve seen first-hand why they consistently stand out from the competition. SWS have been manufacturing garage doors in Britain since 1985, and their SeceuroGlide range has become one of the most trusted names in the industry. This guide covers everything you need to know: the different types of door on offer, what makes each one different, and how to figure out which is right for your home.
Who Are SWS?
SWS is a British manufacturer based in Lancashire. Everything they make is produced at their purpose-built factory, from the aluminium slats right through to the remote controls. In 2024 they invested in the UK’s only fully automated rollformer. This machine precision-cuts sheets of aluminium into garage door slats with no manual handling, which means tighter tolerances, consistent quality, and a door that fits exactly as it should.
Garage doors from SWS are sold under the SeceuroGlide brand name and carry some impressive credentials. Several models hold Police-approved ‘Secured by Design’ accreditation. The flagship security model has been independently tested to LPS 1175, the same rigorous burglary resistance standard used for commercial security products. All doors are CE marked and fully compliant with UK product safety standards.
Warranties run to up to 10 years across the range. Most electric roller doors carry a 7-year motor warranty as standard.
Roller Doors vs. Sectional Doors
Before getting into individual models, it’s worth understanding the two fundamentally different types of garage door that SWS offer.
Roller doors work exactly as the name suggests. The door is made up of horizontal aluminium slats that roll up into a compact drum above the opening. Because the door travels straight up rather than swinging out or sliding back into the garage, it takes up almost no space inside or outside. Roller doors are a great match for modern homes, tighter openings, or anyone who needs to park close to the door.
Sectional doors are made up of hinged horizontal panels that rise vertically before sliding back along the ceiling on a track. They sit flush with the opening when closed, so there’s no swing-out at the front. This is useful if you have a short driveway. Sectional doors tend to offer more scope for customisation in terms of panel style, finish, and appearance, and they provide excellent insulation and weather sealing.
Both types are available with electric operation as standard. In most cases, neither type requires any structural changes to your garage.
The Roller Door Range
SWS make five different roller door models under the SeceuroGlide name. Here’s a brief overview.
SeceuroGlide Original
The best-seller, and for good reason. The Original is built from twin-walled insulated aluminium slats and is operated by a motor with a 7-year warranty. It comes with two remote controls as standard and is available in 18 paint or wood-effect finishes, with any RAL colour available on request. It holds Secured by Design accreditation and can accommodate openings up to 5.59m wide and 3.7m tall. Smart home integration is available via the SeceuroGlide Connect system, which lets you control the door from your phone. This is the door that suits most homes and most budgets.
SeceuroGlide Excel
The Excel is the security flagship. It was the first garage door in the UK to be independently tested and approved to police and insurance standards (LPS 1175 Issue 7). If your insurance policy requires a door that meets specific security criteria, or if you simply want the best protection available, this is it. It carries Secured by Design accreditation and uses a reinforced guide system with 90mm guides throughout. Maximum width is 5.2m, and the 7-year motor warranty applies here too.
SeceuroGlide Compact
The Compact remains the go-to solution for garages where space above the opening is restricted. It requires just 205mm of headroom, making it viable in situations where other doors simply won’t fit. Maximum width is 3m and maximum height is 2.15m, which covers the majority of standard domestic openings. It uses an endlocked curtain design and comes with a 7-year motor warranty and Autolock locking system as standard.
SeceuroGlide Manual
The only non-electric door in the roller range. The Manual is the right choice when there’s no power supply available at your garage, or when you specifically prefer to operate the door by hand. It’s a straightforward, no-frills insulated roller door with the same aluminium slat construction as the electric models. It accommodates openings up to 3m wide.
SeceuroGlide LT
The LT is the entry-level electric roller door in the range. It’s more affordable than the Original and comes with a slightly smaller specification: a 5-year motor warranty rather than 7, and an endlocked curtain rather than a webbed one. It still carries CE marking, a standard remote control, vacation security mode, and internal manual override. Maximum width is 5.2m. It’s worth considering if budget is the primary concern and the higher-end security accreditation of the Original isn’t a priority.
The Sectional Garage Door Range
SWS produce one sectional door for the domestic market: the SeceuroGlide Sectional Elite.
SeceuroGlide Sectional Elite
The Elite is a made-to-measure sectional door, manufactured in the UK and available in widths up to 5m. The standout engineering feature is a patented track-connecting system unique to SWS. It increases the structural strength of the whole mechanism and gives noticeably smooth, reliable operation over the lifetime of the door.
The insulated panels use a 40mm PIR (polyisocyanurate) core sandwiched between two steel faces. If you use your garage as a workspace, gym, or utility room, that thermal and acoustic performance makes a real difference. The double weather-seal system provides an external seal against rain and wind, plus an internal thermal break within the panel itself. The door has been wind-load tested to 166km/h.
Safety features include fingersafe joints between every panel, double anti-spring-break devices, and an automatic motor stop if any obstacle is encountered. The motor fits into just 100mm of headroom (130mm for electric operation), making it one of the most space-efficient sectional doors available.
In terms of design, the Elite offers seven panel styles. These include the popular Georgian cassette design and the more contemporary Visio panel with glazing, across three surface finishes: smooth, woodgrain embossed, and sandgrain. Standard colours include white, black, and anthracite. Metallic finishes, wood-effect colours, and full RAL availability mean there’s plenty of scope for something more individual. Accessory options include windows, design decals, and advanced control systems including smartphone and home automation integration.
Which Door is Right for You?
With six models to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s a simple way to think about it.
Choose a roller door if you prefer a modern style, your garage has limited internal depth, or you tend to park close to the door. The compact drum mechanism means the door takes up almost no room above the opening.
Within the roller range:
- Most homeowners: SeceuroGlide Original. The best all-round combination of security, features, and value.
- Maximum security: SeceuroGlide Excel. Independently tested to the highest standard, and ideal if your insurer specifies an approved door.
- Low headroom: SeceuroGlide Compact. The only viable option if you have less than 300mm above the opening.
- No power supply: SeceuroGlide Manual. Simple and reliable.
- Tightest budget: SeceuroGlide LT. Good specification at the entry level.
Choose the sectional door if you want maximum insulation, you have a short driveway, or you want the widest range of design and finish options. The Elite’s PIR panels outperform standard roller door slats on thermal efficiency.
Colours, finishes, and customisation
The roller range comes in 18 standard paint and wood-effect finishes, with any RAL colour available on request. SWS recently added 25 new RENOLIT laminates along with additional grey tones, so the choice is now broader than it has ever been.
The sectional Elite offers smooth, woodgrain embossed, and sandgrain textures, plus the option to specify any RAL colour. The SWS door designer tool lets you experiment with different panel styles, finishes, and colours on a digital render of a house. It’s a useful starting point if you’re not sure how a particular colour will sit against your brickwork.
Getting a Door Fitted
SWS doors are sold exclusively through authorised installers. They’re not available off the shelf like a generic garage door might be. Every door is made to measure for the best fit possible, and a proper site survey and professional installation are part of the package. At Littlehampton Blinds, we’ll come out to measure up, talk you through the options, and provide a no-obligation quote.
If you’d like to see some options in person, you’re welcome to visit our showroom in West Sussex. It’s the best way to get a real sense of the quality, operation, and finish of the different models.
Ready to take the next step? Get in touch with us here or come and see us in our showroom. We’re always happy to help you find the right door.
