The Complete Guide to Choosing a New Garage Door
August 22, 2024
If you’re researching garage doors, you may not know where to begin — many different garage door styles exist, and it’s important to take your time and weigh your options. With an array of colors, materials and additional features, you can choose a garage door that suits your needs and adds plenty of curb appeal to your property.
Browse our garage door buying guide below to discover tips and factors to consider when investing in a new garage door for your home.
Table of Contents
- Different Types of Garage Doors
- Garage Door Material Options
- Standard Garage Door Sizes
- Best Colors for Garage Doors
- Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Garage Door
- Adding Windows to Your Garage Door
- Choose Halo Overhead Doors for Your Garage Door Installation
What Are the Different Types of Garage Doors?
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a new garage door is type. There are a few main types of garage doors, categorized by how they open and are installed in a garage:
1. Sectional Garage Doors
This is one of the most popular types of garage doors. These doors are made of panel sections connected with hinges. When you close or open the garage door, wheels at the edge of the panel roll inside a vertical track, allowing the doors to open vertically. Sectional doors are available in many materials, including aluminum, wood, wood composite and fiberglass.
Some of the benefits of these garage doors include:
- Impressive insulation qualities
- Great strength and security
- Available in large dimensions for bigger garages
- Well-engineered and stylish
2. Side-Hinged
These garage doors open like traditional double swing doors and can also be called carriage garage doors. They open out toward the driveway, giving you unrestricted space inside the garage. These doors are typically made of wood, although galvanized steel doors are also available.
A few benefits of side-hinged doors include:
- Low maintenance
- Quick access
- Easy to install
- Stylish, traditional appearance
3. Up and Over
These doors are made of one solid piece — they don’t have sections. Up and over garage doors have a pivoting hinge mechanism, allowing them to tilt into the garage. Common materials used for these doors are wood composite, steel and wood.
Some benefits of these doors include:
- Canopy or retractable options for the opening mechanism
- Many choices of colors, materials and designs
What Material Should a Garage Door Be?
Once you know the type of garage door you want, the second factor you want to consider is material. When browsing different garage door materials, consider the local climate, your design preferences and your budget.
1. Wood
Redwood, meranti, fir and cedar are some of the most common types of wood used to manufacture garage doors. These doors may be factory-stained or painted but can also be finished on-site. Wood garage doors are aesthetically pleasing and easy to customize. They can also be treated to prevent warping or swelling during temperature changes.
Wood garage doors require regular maintenance, including painting, staining and sealing to protect against moisture, pests and weather damage. They are also heavier than other alternatives.
2. Steel
Steel is one of the most popular choices for garage doors because of its durability, flexibility and value. In addition, it is available in endless style options and is a lower-maintenance alternative to natural wood. That said, steel is not a natural insulator and can be vulnerable to dents. Extra protection against corrosion from salt exposure may be necessary for homes near bodies of saltwater.
3. Fiberglass
Fiberglass is less prone to cracking or denting, and it doesn’t rust. In addition, it’s durable, lightweight and low maintenance. It can also provide good insulation properties and is naturally resistant to corrosion, making it a go-to choice for beachfront properties. Fiberglass closely mimics wood but doesn’t crack, shrink or warp. That said, fiberglass material has limited design options and can sustain damage on impact.
4. Aluminium
Aluminum offers similar benefits to steel but at a lower cost. It’s naturally rust-resistant, highly customizable, and a low-maintenance material. However, aluminum is not as durable as steel. In addition, it is not a great insulator and is not fully waterproof.
Modern garage doors made with aluminum are a great choice if you plan to fit them with glass windows to allow natural light into the space.
5. Wood Composite
Wood composite is a blend of wood fiber, plastic and a binding agent. It’s the material of choice for homeowners who want a garage door with a wood look but without the high maintenance requirements of genuine wood doors. Wood composite is also resistant to rot, warping and splitting.
What Are Standard Garage Door Sizes?
Size is also a crucial factor when looking for a new garage door. Garage doors come in standard sizes to fit a range of standard garage door openings. If you have a smaller or larger opening in your garage, you may have to order a customized garage door. If you’re replacing an existing standard door, here are the sizes you can expect:
- Single-car garage: Garage doors for single-car garages come in four standard widths — 7, 8, 9 and 10 feet. The standard heights are 7 and 8 feet.
- Two-car garage: Standard garage door measurements for these garages are 16 feet wide by 7 or 8 feet high. Instead of one single 16-foot door, many homeowners prefer two 8-foot doors separated by a central column.
- Triple-car garage: The garage doors for these spaces are 32 feet wide by 7 or 8 feet high.
- RV garage: Garage doors for RV garages are typically 12 feet wide and 14 or 16 feet high.
What Is the Best Color for a Garage Door?
In addition to the material and style, your choice of color has a significant impact on the overall appearance of your home. By selecting the right colors, your new garage door can complement the exterior of your home and enhance its curb appeal.
The answers to these three questions should give you ideas on the right choice of colors to use for your garage door:
- What is the primary color of your house? You can pick colors that either contrast with or match the primary color of your house.
- Should the garage door and your home’s front door match? If you want both doors to work in harmony, you should match the colors. Otherwise, you can choose similar colors or have your garage door’s color stand out on its own.
- How do colors look in different lights? Visualizing colors online can be tricky. Try to see the available colors in person on a door or in print on a sample to get a better idea of what they’ll look like.
A general rule is to use a garage door color that is similar to the dominant colors of your home. In addition to answering the three questions above, considering three basic color schemes — monochromatic, analogous, and complementary — can guide you in your choice:
- Monochromatic: Choose a color that matches your home’s exterior, or choose a shade or two darker or lighter. These color schemes are easy on the eye and create a sense of cohesion.
- Analogous: Use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel instead of staying within the same color palette.
- Complementary: Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, and these color schemes are ideal for painted homes by offering an exciting contrast.
Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Garage Door
As there are different types of garage doors, different approaches may be required when installing them. For example, are you installing an automatic door or a manual door? In addition, a tilt-up door has different installation requirements from a side-hinged door. Keeping these additional considerations in mind will help you choose the best garage door for your home:
Create a Budget
Garage doors come in various styles, materials and sizes, and each has its own price point. Determine your garage door budget, including the installation cost. If you want additional features such as automatic openers or insulation, consider these factors in your budget, too. With this information in mind, you can more easily narrow down your options.
Measure Your Garage Door Opening
Be sure to measure your garage door opening before buying a garage door. Measure the width and height from the edges of the doorframe, adding an extra inch or two to ensure a good seal when closing the door. Having a professional garage door installer complete the measurements for you can help eliminate any miscalculations.
Invest in a Garage Door Opener
Consider buying a powerful garage door opener to make opening your new garage door a breeze. Get an opener with a lifting capacity that matches your door’s weight. Automatic openers are highly convenient and have additional features, like sensors, to prevent accidents.
Customization Options
Explore customization options that help you tailor the garage door to your needs and preferences. These options include finishes, colors, automation systems and window designs. Working with an experienced garage door company can help you customize the perfect garage door for your home.
Get Professional Help
Garage door installation should always be left to the professionals. Hire a garage door company with an experienced team to complete the job for you. These professionals know how to remove old doors and install new ones safely. They can also install a new opener, track or any other equipment needed to improve the functionality of your garage door.
Should You Add Windows to Your Garage Door?
Beyond your garage door’s material and color, you may want to add extra features to make it truly unique. One of the best ways to elevate the appearance of your garage door is by adding windows.
Garage door windows offer the following benefits:
- Natural light: Windows in your garage door will allow natural light into the garage. With natural light, you can use the garage space for more than just storing your car. Natural light is essential when converting your garage into a gym, home office or storage room.
- Design trends: Windows are a common exterior feature in specific design and architectural trends, including modern and contemporary styles, and they may work perfectly with your home’s visual appearance.
Despite these benefits, windows may not work for every garage door. The following are some common concerns about garage door windows to consider:
- Garage door balance: If the garage door didn’t come with windows and you’re installing them as a DIY project, ensure you gauge the added weight to your door. Garage door openers are programmed to take weight distribution into account and lift the door evenly, and tampering with the doors may create balance issues. To avoid these problems, hire a garage door technician to install a garage door with windows already built-in.
- Privacy: Outsiders may be able to see the inside of your garage through your windows. However, most garage door windows are positioned high on the door, and you can also use frosted or tinted options for added privacy.
- Damage: Garage windows can break, but using tempered glass can help address this issue.
- Insulation issues: If the windows are not insulated, the indoor temperature of your garage won’t be regulated properly. To avoid this problem, choose high-quality glass windows and have them professionally installed.
Choose and Install Your Garage Door With Halo Overhead Doors
A new garage door is a worthwhile investment that keeps your belongings safe and adds to your home’s exterior visual appeal. Choosing the right garage door requires some consideration, but taking the time to look through your options will ensure you select the best option for your needs.
If you need assistance finding a high-quality residential garage door, Halo Overhead Doors is here to help. Since 1991, we’ve been selling and installing garage doors and offering garage door services in Houston, Texas, and the surrounding areas. We offer a large range of new garage doors from the industry’s leading brands, giving you plenty of options in materials, colors and styles.
From selection to installation, our professional team is ready to assist you along the way. After installation, we offer continued support to ensure your garage door stays in great shape. You can reach out to us whenever you need a garage door repair or inspection.
Choose Halo Overhead Doors as your go-to garage door dealer in the Houston area. Contact us today for more information about our services and to request a quote!