Whether you’re building a brand‑new garage or simply need to replace your old garage door, you need to put some thought into choosing a garage door. There are tons of models, styles, colours, materials and sizes to choose from, so if you’re feeling a bit lost, you’re not alone.
We’ve created this blog post especially for you; read on to discover the four most important factors you should consider when buying a new garage door.
1. STYLE
Garage doors can take up more than a third of your home’s façade, so you need it to fit with your home’s style. There are different garage door styles to suit all home styles, so don’t worry, you’ll definitely find the right door for you. If you have a traditional style home, pick a traditional garage door, if you have a contemporary style home, pick a contemporary style garage door.
For example, if you have a Craftsman style home, characterized by its low‑pitched overhanging roof, wood or vinyl siding and brick or stone cladding, you should be looking for a door with a similar look. A good choice would be a door with classic, embossed designs. If you have a modern style home, you should select a garage door with clean lines and limited details. A fully windowed garage door is also an excellent option for modern homes. Or, if you have a country style home, opt for a garage door with a style like the mid‑century arched carriage doors.
Garage door manufacturers do not lack imagination and unlike 20 years ago, there are now garage door styles to suit all tastes – for example, Garaga has 23 different styles! Don’t forget to look at their range of decorative Windows that can give your garage door a completely different look, and if you really can’t find what you’re looking for, get a custom‑made garage door!
2. INSULATION AND WEATHERSEALS
Although originally used for parking cars and occasionally as storage, garages have endless purposes these days: Gyms, dog kennels, craft spaces, art studios, office space, and much, much more! But don’t forget, if you’re planning on spending time in your garage, you need to make sure it’s properly insulated and weather‑sealed, otherwise you won’t be very comfortable!
A properly insulated and weatherproofed garage door will keep your garage 10° to 20℉ (5‑8℃) warmer than a low or non‑insulated garage door. What’s more, if you have a door with a thermal resistance value of at least R‑12, every time you drive your car into the garage during cold weather, the heat given off by the engine will be retained in the garage.
Having a properly insulated and weatherproofed garage door is also extremely important if you use your garage door as the main entrance to your home. If you have a low or non‑insulated garage door, you will lose the heat accumulated in your garage and humid, cold air will be transferred into your home every time you open the access door.
3. MAINTENANCE
Your final choice will likely be influenced by how much maintenance the door requires. We understand that wooden garage doors are appealing as they look natural, solid and warm, but they require extensive maintenance, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. A wooden garage door needs to be sanded down and re‑stained every two years, that’s a lot of work! Metal garage doors are on the other end of the scale, they come with baked‑on paint and galvanized steel that is resistant to high and low temperatures.
You also need to think about how durable the other components of your garage door system are, you want to get your money’s worth. So, if your garage door expert suggests a less expensive product, question their choice, is it more advantageous or is it lower quality? What you’re looking for is a product that lasts at least 20 years.
Make sure the garage door expert explains the entire garage door system to you, and don’t even think about buying a product that needs more maintenance than you’re willing to take on.
4. HOW WILL IT LOOK?
How often do you go shopping for an important occasion and buy a new suit without trying it on first? We’d guess not very often! And well, you shouldn’t invest a significant amount of money without "trying out" your garage door first. Like most garage door manufacturers, we have our Design Centre tool, where you can see what your future garage door will look like.
- You can simply design your garage door based on the size, then choose your preferred model and add windows.
- Or you can select a model home that looks like your own home, then add in a garage door to have a better view of how it will look.
- Or, and this is the best option, upload a photo of your home and superimpose your preferred garage door model onto the image to see what it will really look like.
With all the options, you can choose a door style, different colours, windows and decorative hardware, there are dozens of different options. When you’re done, simply download the image to your computer to share with family and friends and make your final choice. You can come back to the Design Centre as many times as you like!
Why not browse through this image gallery? Warning: You might get inspired!
So, you’ve been through the four important factors…
… and now you’re ready to get out there and find the perfect garage door. If you’re still feeling unsure about which type of door is best for you, give us a call at 613-749-2138.
You can also come down to our showrooms where one of our experts will be happy to show you our range and help you make the best choice for your home. Or, send us a request for an online quotation.
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