Garage Door Buying Guide: Pick The Best Door For Your Home

Purchasing a new garage door for your home will surely elevate your home's curb appeal. Though choosing a new garage door can be exciting, it is not something you should rush into blindly. Investing time in researching garage doors is necessary as this is not something you will be doing again anytime soon. 

To ease your worries, we have written a complete garage door buying guide that will help you choose the perfect garage door for your home.

 

COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUYING GARAGE DOORS

When purchasing a new garage door, it's common to get confused by the modern designs, features, materials, and latest innovations. Our garage door buying guide is all that you need to consider while buying a garage door.

 

1. GARAGE DOOR SECURITY

Your garage door is the largest entrance to your home, and hence it is critical to consider the security factor when buying a garage door for the safety of your family and possessions. 

These days, many garage doors come with in-built rolling codes and encryption technology to prevent intruders from breaking into your garage. The latest technology requires installing an application on your mobile to check the status, open and close the door, program the lights, and receive alerts on your smartphone.

 

2. GARAGE DOOR BUDGET

Price is the most important factor you must consider when purchasing a new garage door. Garage doors usually range from £400 to £500, depending upon their size, style, material, and features. Setting aside a budget for all such investments is always an ideal practice.

Ensure to select the garage door that fits within your budget range. With a minimal budget, you can find simple garage doors that look decent and work smoothly.  Whereas, with a higher budget, you can find garage doors with the latest technology and extravagant designs.

 

3. GARAGE DOOR TYPE

There are many types of garage doors to choose from. The six most common ones are sectional garage door, roll-up garage door, slide to the side garage door, side hinged garage door, tilt-up canopy garage door, and tilt-up retractable garage door.  

Recently, there has been more demand for side hinged garage doors, especially for garages with obstructions or limited headroom. Select the garage door type depending on your space and the opening you want.

 

4. GARAGE DOOR STYLE

Style is also an important factor in summarising your lifestyle through your garage door. Garage doors take up a large portion of the exterior of your home, so you might want to opt for something beautiful that complements the rest of your home exterior.

Garage doors are available in traditional, raised panels, carriage, and contemporary styles. Depending upon the rest of your home style, pick the one that blends in perfectly. Of course, your personal preferences will matter too. We suggest you go for a solid garage door with pretty window panels.

 

5. GARAGE DOOR OPERATIONS

Not all garage doors have the same features or functions. In contrast, some garage doors open horizontally, and some open vertically. Depending on your space, you can select the opening according to your convenience.

Nowadays, automated garage doors are trending as they come with in-built motion sensors. These sensors allow the door to open and close automatically when your vehicle passes through it. This option is great if you wish to get rid of opening the garage door manually.

 

6. GARAGE DOOR SIZE

Not all garage doors come in the same sizes. Usually, single garage doors fit in between 6 to 10 feet wide. Whereas, double garage doors fit in between 14 to 16 feet wide. This is considered the standard garage door size, but you will need to know the exact measurements before purchasing a garage door.

Finding a garage door with a perfect size that fits well could be quite challenging. However, some companies measure the door space for you and make an ideal fit door. But this could be quite pricey and could exceed your allied budget. We suggest you take the measurements using a tape measure and order a garage door accordingly.

 

7. GARAGE DOOR MATERIAL

The material of your garage door will significantly impact the overall look of your garage door as well as your facade. Garage doors are usually available in wood, aluminium, steel, and fibreglass material. 

It is advisable to match your garage door’s material to your home’s exterior material. This is because different exterior materials in a single facade look scattered and mismatched. The wooden garage doors are all-time classic and vintage, making them the most preferred material for a garage door. 

 

8. GARAGE DOOR COLOUR

The colour of your garage door will depend upon the exterior of your home and the nearby surroundings in your facade. You can either choose a soft shade for your garage door for a subtle look or make a bold statement with dark and loud colours.

We suggest going in contrast with your garage door colour. For instance, if the walls on your home exterior are light-toned, you could opt for a dark wooden garage door or black coloured garage door. Whereas, if your exterior walls are dark coloured or brick toned, you could go for plain white or subtle light shades for your garage door.

 

CONCLUSION

While your external door may seem to grab all the attention, it’s actually the overhead garage doors that can either make or break your home’s curb appeal. It is always a wise decision to consider all the necessary aspects before investing in a garage door.

Emerald Doors does not just sell high-quality garage doors but also a wide range of other external doors to select from. 

 

GARAGE DOOR BUYING GUIDE FAQS

 

1. WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR GARAGE DOOR STYLE?

Carriage house doors are the most popular door style in the UK as they resemble the old-fashioned barn doors. These doors have been around for centuries as they give a traditional rustic look to the exterior of your home.

 

2. HOW LONG DOES A GARAGE DOOR LAST?

Garage doors usually tend to last around 15 to 30 years, depending upon the way you maintain them. If you want them to last for a longer time, ensure that you take proper care by maintaining them to avoid costly repairs.

 

3. WHAT IS THE BEST EXTERIOR DOOR FOR A GARAGE?

Fibreglass doors are the best exterior door for a garage as they are low on maintenance and resist damage easily. These doors are less prone to dents and can be painted in accordance with the rest of your home’s exterior.

 

4. WHY ARE GARAGE DOORS SO EXPENSIVE?

Garage doors are expensive when compared to the rest of the external doors. This is because garage doors come with additional in-built technology such as motion detectors, automated movement, etc., which is beneficial for the safety of your home and family.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SHABANA KAUSER

Shabana Kauser is the dynamic owner of Emerald Doors, the famous door-selling company in the UK with immense knowledge and experience in working with architecture, interior design, and home decor. She continues to share tips and technical know-how of balancing interior elements, door fittings, room aesthetics, and the like. Personally, she loves coffee, always dabbling with several blends.