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Garage doors come in many shapes on styles. And is usually the first thing people notice when pulling in your driveway.
The most common types are Sectional, Roll-up, Tilt-up, Tilt-up retractable, Swing-out, Slide to side, and Bifold. Materials include steel, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, vinyl, glass, And composite.
If you are thinking of replacing your garage door. There are things to consider like type, material, style, color, cost and insulation.
Let’s look at the options below.
Sectional Garage Doors
These doors are usually made from steel, are low maintenance, and customized to include window inserts, hardware, textures, colors, and ventilation grilles. They come in both insulated and non-insulated models.
The panel of a sectional garage door is divided into sections, which are held together by hinges. As the door opens and closes, wheels at the edge of each panel roll at vertical track sides. Sectional garage doors are the most common type in the United States.
The hinges allow the garage door panel to bend, which affects how it opens. This feature allows the door to sit parallel to the ceiling when open or in line with the wall when closed.
A pair of high-tension springs above the opening is connected to wires that operate the door and hold it from falling down when only partially open.
Roll-Up Garage Doors
The roll-up garage doors are the strongest of all types. Though typical for commercial and industrial or storage places, they are now making their way into residential garages.
As a roll-up garage door is opened, it starts rolling around a cylinder found above the garage door opening inside the garage. It can do this because the door is made of horizontal 2″-3″ steel or aluminum slat sections that allow the door to curve and bend.
They occupy little vertical space when opened, and you can create lofts and storage space along with the ceiling.
Tilt-Up Garage Doors
Tilt-up garage doors don’t have sections like slide to the side and roll-up garage doors. They’re made of one solid piece. When they open, they tilt up and into your garage.
The canopy-style door sits parallel to the garage ceiling and extends somewhat past the house’s front when the door is open.
Tilt-Up Retractable Doors
Works likewise to a canopy garage door, but there’s no part of the garage door that extends from your home when it’s open. They are suspended separately from the frame. This configuration requires more space than canopy garage doors. While some homeowners opt for this type, they are more challenging to operate than other styles and are more expensive.
Swing-Out Garage Doors
Another classic garage door style is the side-hinged garage door, also known as the swing-out garage door. These look very traditional and are easy to operate. They are mostly swing-out type but can also have a faux design that looks like carriage doors but go up and down. More industrial-type galvanized steel doors are also available.
There has been more demand for these classic doors, especially for garages with obstacles or limited headroom. Side-hinged garage doors can be bought in pre-hung steel frames or fit into existing openings. You can customize the hinges to swing inwards or outwards from your garage. They can also be automated with special openers.
Slide to Side Garage Doors
The slide to the side garage door operates exactly as the name implies- Slide to the side, or around the corner, garage doors are one of the earliest ways of operating a garage door first used for garages with little or no headroom.
They run along with lower trolleys that are flexible enough to work with slight slopes in the floor or ceiling. Slide to the side doors do not need balancing springs and can have a retractable motor for automated operation. Track length is about twice the door width.
Bifold Garage Doors.
Like closet doors, pairs of hinged vertical sections fold back against the sides of the opening. Bifolds aren’t as heavy as swing-out doors and don’t open out as far, but snow or mud buildup could still block them from working. Usually manually operated. It can’t be sealed as tightly as swing-out or sectional doors.
Garage Door Configuration
Double Wide Door
A Doublewide door is ideal for larger cars, and you will only need one garage door opener.
Single Bay Doors
Single bay doors have two openers. If one fails, you may still use the other door. Also, Double garage doors can be a design element.
Doublewide And Single Bay
Doublewide door and the single-bay is a good choice for 3 car garages.
Read more about different types of garages here and garage sizes here.
Garage Door Materials
Steel Garage Doors
Steel garage doors are the most popular. They are practically maintenance-free, durable, and have the lowest cost. They are often available in many colors and styles with lots of window options and are available with many insulation options. Most garage doors sold nowadays are steel.
These tough doors are inexpensive. You don’t have to worry about them needing significant repairs or being damaged to the point that you have to replace them – unless there is severe damage to the door.
One downside of steel doors is that they can dent if hit, so you have to be careful when playing sports in the driveway, and any scratches will need to be coated soon, or your door will begin to rust.
You can lower the risk of this happening to your door by choosing a steel panel with a lower gauge or buying a steel door that comes with an overlay.
This overlay is usually made of fiberglass, which is more rigid than steel and won’t rust but will have to be repainted due to the fading that will occur in the sun. Make sure you find out about any warranties offered on the door, as some manufacturers will provide lifetime warranties on certain components, depending on the quality of the door you buy.
Average Price $500 – $3,200
24-Gauge Steel
If you’re going to buy an uninsulated steel door, make sure it’s made from steel that’s at least 24-gauge. Many economy garage doors are made from 25-gauge or thinner steel (the bigger the number, the thinner the steel). Insulation helps reduce denting by providing a backer for the steel. Without this reinforcement, you need thicker steel to prevent dents.
Wood Garage Doors
Offers the widest selection of styles, shapes, and decorative add-ons.
Real wood doors look excellent when they’re new. But unless you’re willing to devote time and money to maintenance, they won’t look good for long.
Wood garage doors are sometimes made from exotic woods like hemlock and mahogany. These are perfect for high-end homes, especially when the exterior facade is stone or stucco.
Wooden garage doors are very popular and for a good reason. There is a certain charm that wood doors have that other doors can only mimic, making them a great choice for any home style. It’s easy to have them made to the exact size you need, so if your garage door opening isn’t a typical or standard size, you can opt for a wood door.
Also, they are sturdy and can stand up to bumps from kids playing. The major problem with wood doors is that if you want to make sure that they stay as new, you will need to refinish or repaint them regularly, or else they will begin to chip and peel and lower the curb appeal of your home.
They also vary in price, as you can choose a frame and panel door that are completely made of wood or a less expensive option made of foam insulation contained in a lightweight frame and then covered with a thin skin of wood to make it look like it is made completely of wood.
If you want a wood door, you will most likely need to have it custom-made, as most manufacturers will not carry this as a standard option.
Wood: Homeowners who want a visual statement piece usually opt for wood garage doors. But wood is not as durable as other materials.
Wooden Garage Door Prices
Wooden garage doors range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more. On the lower end, you’ll find the premade plain varieties. On the high end, you’ll find customized carriage doors with intricate designs.
- Premade: $1,000-$7,500. Predesigned and preconstructed from a variety of tree species, they’re ready to ship and install.
- Custom: $5,000-$10,000+. A solid wood design that comes commonly in cedar, redwood, hemlock, or mahogany but can be found in other tree varieties.
- Faux or Composite: $1,000-$8,000+. You can find faux wood and composite laminates over steel in a wide range of styles. Higher-end varieties use real wood veneers over insulated cores with 3 to 4 layers.
Composite Garage Door
Cellulose fibers fused with resins create a material that won’t crack, warp, or rot like wood or rust or dent like metal. Each section has a foam core for stiffness and insulation. This low-maintenance material is also used as a trim over wood and steel doors.
Average Price $450 – $4,000
Wood Composite Garage Doors
Wood composite is used when you want the look of wood, but you also don’t want to have all the maintenance. Wood Composite doors do not come painted. So they are often purchased when a custom color is sought. They are less expensive than wood doors.
Average Price $450 – $4,000
Vinyl/Fiberglass Garage Doors
Fiberglass can look like painted or stained wood, but it isn’t as heavy, won’t decay, and doesn’t dent or rust like steel. Vinyl doors have a stiff foam core that provides good insulation.
Vinyl is great for seaside locations as it will not rust. It is also extremely durable. The price is a little higher than steel.
- Vinyl is a relatively new garage door material making its debut. Vinyl offers homeowners an affordable, durable, and low-maintenance option when selecting a garage door.
- Fiberglass: Fiberglass is durable, but when exposed to extremely cold temperatures, fiberglass doors are prone to cracks.
Average price $700-$3,000
Full View Aluminum Garage Doors
Full view aluminum doors are a little higher-end and will look great on a modern-style home. They are definitely trending in the industry right now, and the number of options is increasing.
All-glass garage doors can be framed in black, white, bronze, green, almond, wood-tone accents, and custom-painted aluminum. Homeowners can choose frosted glass panels for their all-glass garage doors to give modern, mid-century, and Craftsman homes a contemporary yet welcoming update.
These are the latest in garage door design with a translucent window-like panel in an aluminum frame.
These translucent doors are lightweight and look excellent at night as they emit light, increasing the luminosity of a home from the curb.
Are glass garage doors safe?
Glass doors are safe. Most of them have impact-resistant glass. Tempered glass is also available.
Average Price $1,000 – $5,000
Garage Door Styles
Contemporary
A contemporary garage door will add a lot of visual interest to your home and is perfect when the rest of your home is more modern than traditional.
You can find many details on these doors, and each will add visual attention to your home and further set it apart from your neighbors.
A new garage door is a great home improvement project that will add value to your property while also improving the curb appeal. A contemporary garage door is no exception.
If you are interested in this style, look for windows, straight lines, and bold color choices that will make the door stand out from the rest of your home.
Craftsman/Carriage
Carriage house garage doors, known by some as “barn style garage doors,” have a distinctive, rustic look that can stand out and are often the perfect complement to craftsman style or mission style homes, among others. It all depends on your preference and your existing home exterior.
Look for details that will set your door apart and reflect the style you like including handles, faux hinges on the side, and even cross beams across the door.
While gorgeous, these doors are as functional as their modern or traditional counterparts. They are also great for adding visual interest to your home and completing your house’s style and appearance.
Traditional/Classic
These garage doors are characterized by symmetrical, raised rectangular panels.
For a timeless look and feel at your home, you will want to choose a traditional door. These styles are still popular for a good reason – they continue to look great, are high quality, and improve any home’s appearance.
Instead of worrying about whether the door you choose will overpower the appearance of the rest of your home, you can rely on a natural-looking wood grain that won’t be affected by changes in the weather and will last for a very long time.
Employ Manufacturers’ Websites to Choose a Door Design
When you are looking for garage doors, you don’t have to guess how a particular style and color of the door will look on your house when you check garage doors online.
Some manufacturers have software on their websites. That lets you choose a door style, including the design features you like, pick windows and color, and even add hardware. You can play around with different styles until you find one you like. Then print out the specs for an accurate price quote from dealers.
Check out garage door manufacturers and door designers here.
Choose Garage Windows
It’s worth considering how much better a garage door looks with the right windows. And beyond adding style, windows can supply light to the garage interior. Here are a few tips for choosing glass.
- If your garage is heated, upgrade to insulated glass.
- For extra privacy and security, install safety glass and or use frosted glass.
- Match the glass style to your house windows if possible.
When looking at the various styles and types available, it is important to choose if you want a door that will blend in with the rest of your home or that will make a statement. What about the ambiance of the neighborhood?
Would you prefer a door that has windows or a solid door panel? Take the time to consider all your options to ensure that you are getting a door that you will be happy with.
Read all about garage windows here.
Side Doors for Attached Garages
If your garage is attached to your home. Side doors are convenient as they allow you to go in and out of your garage without going outside. This is a quicker way to access your garage and also keeps you comfortable when it’s cold or raining outside.
One thing to acknowledge is that this side door could also serve as an extra entry point to robbers if they manage to break into your garage. So, if you have a side door between your home and garage, then it is essential that it is secure and that it remains locked when not in use.
Check out this article about side doors and their many benefits.
Side Doors for Detached Garages
If you use your garage for parking your car, then having a side door on your detached garage may not be a big priority for you. But suppose you frequently access your garage for other reasons, such as using it as a workshop or storage. In that case, a side door can add many conveniences.
It is quicker and easier to open a regular side door as opposed to a larger garage door. If you need to go in and out many times, you can shut the door behind you each time, which may be time-consuming with your main garage door.
Again, if you have a side door installed in your detached garage, it must be as secure as your primary garage door. Otherwise, it could be a vulnerability that allows entry to thieves.
Upgrade Your Garage Insulation
Depending on where you live, an insulated and heated or cooled garage may be vital so you can keep everything in your garage at a fixed temperature, even during extreme weather changes.
This is important for people who live in harsh climates, as they don’t want the inside of their garage to drop below freezing. Still, it’s also something you should consider if you are storing a valuable car or other vehicles inside the garage.
Even if the rest of your garage is insulated, a lot of cold air can leak through the door itself and lower the garage’s temperature. If you want to keep items in your garage from freezing or being damaged in the cold, you will want to opt for an insulated door.
This is also something to think about if you have pets who sleep in the garage, as you will want to keep them as warm as possible, or if you ever store liquids, plants, or antiques in this space.
Besides, suppose your garage is attached to your home, especially near a bedroom. In that case, you will want to opt for an insulated door, as they will do a much better job at keeping some of the cold air and street noise out of your home.
This will also reduce your electric bill. Read all about insulation in this article.
Better Garage Door Springs
Springs are what help your garage door go up and come down. Most garage doors use torsion springs. You can see these coiled torsion springs above the door. Standard torsion springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles.
That may sound like a lot, but if you open and close your door six times a day, which is pretty ordinary, you’ll reach 10,000 cycles in less than five years. Spending an extra $50 when you shop garage doors will buy you a spring rated for 20,000 cycles.
Read all about garage door springs here.
Installing Your Own Garage Door
You could save a few hundred dollars by installing the door yourself, but it’s one DIY project that doesn’t have a big payoff. For starters, there are many parts, and it’ll take you at least a full day to put them together. Plus, winding the spring needs special tools and lots of arm strength and is dangerous.
If you hire an expert to install the door, the new door will be delivered and the old one hauled away, and the work will be done in hours. (typical time is 3-6 hours). Installation time depends on the door size, required modifications, compatibility, and the existing wiring and brackets. And you’ll have a warranty.
Can You Install a New Garage Door on Old Tracks?
New garage doors are not compatible with the old tracks, and reusing the tracks is dangerous and voids the warranty. The door could jam or derail, and springs could break. New garage doors typically come with compatible tracks, while others can be adjusted for different tracks.
Can Garage Doors Be Painted?
Garage doors can be painted, regardless of whether they are made of aluminum, metal, or wooden material. Primer and paint are the necessary supplies to get started.
It is recommended to begin painting when the temperature is moderate, the air is dry, and when the weather is clear outside.
Avoid painting when the outdoors are damp from rainfall or when the temperature is either too hot or too cold.
These circumstances can impact the paint’s potential to dry, which would be detrimental to the finish. Suppose you want a custom color or want to renew a faded factory finish. In that case, you can apply two coats of acrylic latex over any door material, even fiberglass and vinyl. Sand and reapply the same type of paint every five to six years.
Read how to paint garage doors here.
Are Garage Doors Standard Size?
Manufacturers usually sell garage doors in widths ranging anywhere from 8 feet to 20 feet.
The doors that are 8 feet in width are more common with older garage setups than with more recent designs, though they still exist. A garage will be 9 feet in most cases, which is the modern standard for a single-door garage.
For a double door garage, 16 feet is the most common width.
Garage Height is 7 or 8 feet as the normal range. This height applies to both single and double door garages.
Are Insulated Garage Doors Worth the Money?
There are both non-insulated and insulated options when it comes to garage doors, with the insulated options being the more expensive choice.
Insulated doors are only worth the money if you have an insulated garage and proper sealing around the door.
Read how to insulate the garage door DIY here.
Can Garage Doors Be Repaired?
Yes, repairs can be done on both the opener and the door itself. You can either conduct the repair job or contract it out to a professional.
Read about repairing garage door panels in here.
New Garage Door, Installation, and Repair Cost
If you want the job done by professionals, Here is up-to-date info at Homeadvisor.com and Homeguide.com
https://homeguide.com/costs/garage-door-prices
https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/garages/garage-door-prices/
https://homeguide.com/costs/garage-door-installation-cost
https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/garages/install-a-garage-door/
https://homeguide.com/costs/garage-door-repair-cost
https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/garages/repair-a-garage-door/
Getting the Garage Door
No matter what size or shape your opening, there’s a door to fit your budget and taste.
What to measure. Before you shop for a sectional door, measure the opening’s height and width to see if you need an off-the-shelf or a custom size.
Most stock sectional doors cover openings 7 to 8 feet high and 9 to 16 feet wide. Doors for much bigger openings and nonsectional doors are custom-built, so have an expert do the measuring.
Where to buy. Find stock and semi-custom doors for standard openings at home centers, window-and-door retailers, and garage-door manufacturers.
The salesperson can recommend an installer who should double-check everything before you place the order. Order custom doors from a manufacturer or through distributors.
How long it takes. Stock steel doors can be delivered as soon as the following day or up to two weeks after the order is placed. Semi-custom steel takes three to six weeks; a custom wood door, eight to nine weeks. Professional installation takes about half a day, regardless of type.
What’s included. New tracks, rollers, spring, and hinges are part of the door’s purchase price. Installation and removal of old doors are not. Expect to pay $150 to $700 to have the new door put in and $75 to $200 for the old door to be taken away.
How Long Do Garage Doors Last?
Average is 15-30 years, depending on the daily usage, maintenance, door quality, and climate. Garage door openers last about 10-15 years, and springs last 7-14 years or 10,000-15,000 cycles, depending on opening frequency.
Garage Door Warranties
- 10-year to limited lifetime warranties on most insulated doors.
- 1-year labor warranty.
- Section damage or delamination coverage is typically up to 5 years.
- Garage door windows have 10-year max warranties.
- Garage door springs have 1-3 years of warranty coverage.
Don’t order garage door over the phone or online. Garages are different, and experts can check details like opening size, headroom, and clearance. And can help you make design decisions.
