6 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Garage Door

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We use 6 tips for choosing the perfect garage door for your home’s style. There are considerations to think about when selecting a garage for your home. Many homeowners are faced with a garage dilemma.  You want curb appeal but also don’t want to spend the money on a custom garage. We are always searching for what you need to know about garage doors so our designers at brick&batten can help you make the best decision for your home’s architecture and your personal style.

Many times your garage becomes the most used entry point in the home, so you want it to be beautiful and functional. Because of this, garage manufacturers are always modifying technology to offer the perfect door, creating beautiful designs out of a variety of materials. 

6 Tips to Keep in Mind When Choosing the Perfect Garage Door

 

1st. What TYPE of garage do you need? 

Sectional.

A sectional garage door is most popular and is created from a handful of horizontal sections which roll up and down on a track.

Onyx

Swing Out.

A swing out garage door is like the old carriage doors. Hinges on the side of the door and wall allow the garage to fully swing open. Now carriage garage doors not only swing out but also operate as a sectional.

Sliding.

Sliding doors allow the homeowner to push a button and the doors do exactly what they’re named for. They slide in one direction or another, similar to a barn door.

2nd. What SIZE and STYLE door is best for you?

Measure and Measure Again.

Measuring your current garage door is one way to figure out the size that works for your space. Most single garage doors are about 8 feet high and 9 feet wide. Double garage door may measure about 8 feet high and 16 feet wide. 

Design Style.

The style of your garage door is important for your home’s curb appeal. Many homes we design have the dreaded front loader… which takes up a huge amount of space right on the front of your home. That said, you have two options. One, make it go away by painting it the same color as the house. Two, make it beautiful with style and windows!

3rd. What MATERIAL is best for your garage?

There are so many options for beautiful garage doors made from a variety of materials. Now, manufacturers can make a steel door that looks almost identical to a traditional wood door but with less maintenance! 

Aluminum or Steel.

This choice may cost a bit more; however, steel and aluminum garage doors are a great choice because they are fairly easy to maintain and very durable.

Wood.

Wood is gorgeous! It’s traditional, warm, and always improves curb appeal. That said, this look comes with a cost… wood requires upkeep because it will rot or split if not re-painted or re-stained. There are many engineered wood options available that also look beautiful and require far less maintenance. 

Composite.

Composite material is made from wood fibers and plastic resins. Think of some of the planters a wood look but feel lighter weight and don’t fall apart when watering. 

Glass.

With more contemporary homes hitting the market, we are seeing more and more glass garage doors. These are being put on garages but also in kitchens and other living areas to open up the space. The tempered glass allows light inside but also protects against weather elements. 

4th. What is the PURPOSE of your garage?

Is your garage just going to be used for cars? 

Are you also storing bikes, lawnmowers, outside toys, etc?

Do you have pets or young children that may tear up the material?

Would you be using this space as a workshop or hobby room?

Are you one that parks outside and stores everything in the garage? 

5th. What is your BUDGET?

Ultimately, the cost of the door is probably a huge part of the choice made. That said, I’ve seen doors cost as little as $1,000 and upwards of $10,000. I would average $3,000 for a semi-custom option.

6th. Have you thought about SAFETY?

Honestly, when my kids were little, the garage door scared me. It was fun to play with, jump over the sensor, push the button, etc. and suddenly, as they got older, many times the code was given out to friends and the garage was left open at night. In my mind, the safety features a garage door provides is worth the extra money.

Things to think about for safety:

Can the garage door be linked to my car so there isn’t a remote control floating around somewhere that I can’t find?

Is there a keypad to operate the garage so kids don’t have the remote? I prefer a keypad code that can be easily changed when friends end up with the code. Which WILL happen.

Do you know and are you comfortable using the emergency release pull cord so when the power goes out you can still get your car out of the garage?

Is there a sensor that will override the garage if something is in front of it that shouldn’t be there?

Does that manufacturer offer a way alert you when the garage has been left open?

I don’t know if this is an option, but I would love a sensor that alerts me when I’m getting ready to pull in with bikes on the top… 

Speaking of safety… some areas require a garage door made to withstand hurricane force winds and weather.  That said, Clopay makes a WindCode garage door that can’t be beat.  Beautiful. Stylish. AND SAFE. Simply shut and lock.

 

Overall, garages are a convenient way to keep your cars protected and provide extra storage if needed. They don’t need to be expensive and flashy, but they do need to serve your specific need and should improve your curb appeal, not create an eye sore. That said, these are the 6 tips our designers recommend for choosing the perfect garage door. 

Need help with your curb appeal? Sometimes it’s a garage door…other times it’s finding the exact paint color, shutters, gutters, doors, porches, columns, gable accents, roof color, walkways, windows, etc. We would love to partner with you on a virtual exterior design, giving you the information you need to move forward in making wise home exterior changes. 

Contact brick&batten for more information.

Author

Cassie co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Alli, but her love of home design was born years earlier. Cassie’s passion for design can be traced back to her childhood, when she’d accompany her parents on road trips through small towns in search of inspiration for properties they would buy, fix up, and sell. Prior to launching brick&batten, Cassie worked as a fourth grade teacher, but her love of design, architecture, home renovation, and open houses inspired her to pursue a new career. When writing for brick&batten, Cassie aims to empower homeowners to make the best informed decisions for their property. She knows from experience how challenging home renovation can be, and when she writes, she puts herself in the shoes of every homeowner with similar frustrations. Cassie currently lives in Florida with her four children, an old dog, and her loving husband. When she’s not working, Cassie is most likely checking out a nearby open house or traveling to learn about the latest house trends.