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Difference Between a Belt Drive Rail & Chain Drive Rail

Chain drive rail systems and belt drive rail systems are commonly used for automatic garage doors. Although both systems are reliable, your choice will be based on the issues of noise, expense and the weight of your garage door.
  1. Noise

    • The chain drive rail system is the noisiest of the garage door opening systems. If your garage sits below family bedrooms or is located close to a neighbor's house, it would be wise to choose the belt drive rail system which uses rubber instead of a chain.

    Expense

    • The belt drive rail system is more expensive than the chain drive rail system. This is due to the belt drive system's superior design and focus on minimizing noise.

    Motors

    • The chain drive rail system, specifically the Chamberlain PD752D, can handle automatic doors that are heavier than most garage doors. If your garage doors are heavy it is best not to choose a belt drive rail system because they are not as durable with heavy loads.