Choosing a New Garage Door

Find the Perfect Style & Type of Garage Door 

Garage doors serve as a home’s focal point and a protective barrier that keeps the valuables stored in your garage safe from the elements, extreme temperatures, and intruders of both the human and furry variety. Choosing a new door with so many factors to consider can be a daunting task, but rest assured our experts are here to make choosing the right style easy. Read on to learn how to select the right garage door style and what accessories are needed to make safety and style a reality! 

Judge a Book (or Home) by its Cover 

Never underestimate how your home looks from the curb. Beyond impressing your neighbors, a high curb appeal increases the value of your property and contributes to a higher selling point and potentially lower insurance! Choosing a door that complements your home’s aesthetics can greatly increase your luck in the housing market and in taking out home loans. 

Style Goes Miles 

Finding a complimentary garage door can be done by identifying the architectural style of your home and choosing a door that aligns with its design, time period, and other fixtures visible from the curb. Your door should not draw attention to itself, but blend in as a natural part of your home's exterior. If your home is visually screaming "modern suburbia" for example, a sliding door with barn decor will be jarring to onlookers.

Windows Garage doors can have windows installed or be windowless, and each style has its pros and cons. Windows are aesthetically pleasing and will raise the curb appeal of your house. They also can be highly functional to allow natural light inside of your garage so you can use the garage without an electrical light source any time you are in the garage when the doors are closed. 

However, windows can be a security risk by allowing potential thieves to see the contents of your garage, including yard and recreational equipment along with other valuables. Glass windows can also be broken during extreme weather or by a wayward baseball, which can create both a security risk and a safety hazard in your driveway. 

Opting out of windows on your door may increase security, help insulate your garage, and cost less, but it does come at the expense of aesthetics and your home’s curb appeal. If you want the visual perks of owning windows without the hassle of upkeep, consider installing screw-in faux windows that are available in a variety of colors and styles. We supply options that are shatterproof and highly reflective to keep your home visually pleasing without the hassle of traditional windows.

To Insulate or Not to Insulate 

Many garage doors have the option to be installed with or without insulation, and your lifestyle and local climate play a key role in determining which option is best for you. A garage without an insulated door will be almost the same temperature as the outdoors, and if your garage is attached directly to your house, that undesirable air will be seeping inside your home and raising your energy bill as your heating or cooling system work overtime. In contrast, insulation can keep a garage 25 degrees cooler than the outdoors in the summer and 12 degrees warmer during winter’s chill, which is a huge difference if you live in a climate where temperature fluctuates. 

There are various forms of DIY insulation you can attach to a non-insulated garage door as a money-saving alternative to buying an insulated door, but these options are a complicated headache at best and dangerous at worst. Adding insulation to the interior of your garage door will never be as effective as if it were preinstalled between the interior and exterior like insulated garage doors have. 

What's more, common DIY insulation materials such as polystyrene need to be covered with additional materials as a safety guard due to the insulation's highly flammable nature, and other insulation addons can potentially break your garage door system due to the excess weight. All in all, if you reside in a climate with temperature fluctuation, spending a little extra upfront for an insulated garage door can save you the hassle and potential repairs down the line. 

It should be noted that even the most insulated of doors will be unable to completely seal off outdoor drafts from getting inside of your garage through the natural spaces between the door and the jamb. Installing quality weather seals on the sides, top, and bottom of a door will maximize your energy efficiency.

Wind Resistance Makes All the Difference 

Another important factor to consider when choosing your door is how well it can handle high winds and flying debris. Doors installed in coastal regions or climates where hurricanes and tornados occur can buckle or be pulled out during a natural disaster and result in catastrophic damage to both a garage and the home it is attached to. When a garage door is torn off during extreme weather, the high winds enter the enclosed space and pressure “increases until it explodes your home from the inside out like a balloon popping," as stated by Leslie Chapman-Henderson, CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. 

Luckily, a door with a high wind code rating can weather any gale, and having one installed can even lower the premium on your home insurance. A door’s wind code rating is measured by the pounds per square foot (PSF) of wind pressure your door can endure. A door with a higher level of PSF will be able to withstand higher winds blowing both against the door and pulling it outwards. Doors in climates that are not at risk for wind-based natural disasters can get away with a 20-30 PSF, while garage doors in proximity to hurricanes should aim for a 70-120 PSF range. The winds from tornados are no laughing matter, and will require a door with a 250 PSF rating minimum to protect your home. These ratings are usually listed on a garage door dealer’s website, but can also be found on a label on the side of the door facing the inside of the garage.

Garage Types 

Different types of garage doors open and operate in a variety of ways that fit a range of lifestyles. The most common styles on the market are sectional doors, roll-up doors, counterweight doors, and sliding doors. 

Sectional Garage Doors 

Sectional doors are the most popular type of door for residential homes, and likely what comes to mind when you think of a garage door. They are made up of individual horizontal panels that are hinged together and open vertically by moving into the ceiling space. Sectional doors have a variety of insulation options that greatly increase a garage's energy efficiency as well as having locking systems to increase security. They are also highly customizable and a great way to raise a home's curb appeal. The main drawback of sectional doors is that they require a large amount of ceiling space, so older garages that are abnormally shaped may not be compatible.

Style

The customization options for sectional garage doors cannot be understated! Most have specific aesthetics that are often dubbed as having a traditional, modern or coach house style. 

Modern Doors 

Modern doors are your classic suburban look and feature simple details and clean lines that separate them from the aesthetics of carriage house and traditional doors that have more decorative overlays and ornamentation. Modern door designs feature clean vertical or horizontal flush panels that are meant to blend into the exterior design of a home, though having a door that stands out is not unheard of. Adding windows and custom fixtures are popular methods to raise curb appeal. Paint jobs that offer a stained wood-like look or matte finish are popular choices too. 

Traditional Doors 

The traditional garage door aesthetic is one of being fashionably old fashioned. These doors fit perfectly on homes with Victorian architecture. Traditional doors have a natural look and minimal fixtures, often relying on wood or a wood-like composite to achieve this effect. Additional finish and paints can match a home’s color scheme to carry the style further. These doors often have raised panels of varying sizes and can have molding applied for further detail. A wide range of accessories and decorative hardware can further compliment a traditional style.

Carriage House 

The “carriage house” style is self-explanatory: it offers the rustic aesthetics of a carriage house with the advantages of an easy to manage sectional door. They typically rely on wood as the primary material and have a variety of grain finishes. Crossbuck panels are a common addon, and the wide range of panel layout options and window arrangements offers a wide range of customization.

Roll-Up Garage Doors 

If ceiling space is an issue in your garage, roll-up doors are a great option. Roll-up doors are designed with horizontal slats that roll up and down, making them ideal for ceilings with limited space. While they tend to be more expensive than other door types, their interlocking slats will secure your garage. The doors can also withstand harsh weather elements like snow and heat. However, roll-up doors are not as efficient at energy conservation compared to sectional doors. 

Counterweight Garage Doors 

Garages that are incompatible with horizontal tracks or have low ceiling space are ideal for counterweight garage doors. However, counterweight doors have a more complicated setup compared to other options and lack the insulation capabilities that sectional doors boast. 

Sliding Garage Door 

Commonly seen on barns, sliding garage doors open and close horizontally instead of vertically. Their use of side space can make them a great door for garages with low ceilings, and they come in multiple styles such as metal, glass, and wood. While they may have a unique aesthetic, their insulation capabilities do not hold up as well as sectional garage doors.

Once you know what type of door you want, contact your local garage door installer to get their best recommendation on manufacturers and quote/ordering options. If your list of specifications is daunting, numerous door manufacturer websites makes selection easier with interactive modules that allows users to pick the features and styles they want to bring their dream door to life! 

Don’t Stop at the Door! 

Our experts are knowledgeable on all things garage and will gladly answer your questions. Get in touch with our support crew: 

• Call: 800-783-6112 
• Email: support@northshorecommercialdoor.com