subject: Garage Door: Choosing The Right Style Suiting Your Home [print this page] A garage door is not just an opening in which to enter and exit your garage. It is a design statement that accessorizes the exterior of your home. The right sort of door is an investment in the beauty and value of your home. Curbing appeal and first impressions are very important.
Is it time to buy a new garage door? Perhaps yours in worn out, broken, or simply weary looking. Maybe you're building a new home and you want to find one that coordinates appropriately with your architectural design. You'll want to select the style, material and mode of operation that will coordinate with your needs in the best manner possible.
Styles include Carriage, Contemporary and Raised Panel. Carriage ones are modeled after the quaint carriage houses that stored the earliest automobiles and even the horse and buggy. This is a classic and adds old fashioned personality to your garage. It is an excellent complement to the traditional or Victorian style of abode.
The Contemporary is more sleek and modern and complements the cutting edge in architecture. This type appears sleek and can have an array of window or be window-less. Raised Panels are classics that have been around for many years. This type can go with almost any style of home. All of these styles are produced by a variety of manufacturers to fit a variety of budgets.
Materials that they are made of include wood, steel, aluminum, and fiberglass. The type of material you select will depend on your needs, budget. Wood is classy looking, but requires a bit of maintenance.
Steel is a heavy weight and may last for many years. Aluminum is one of the more inexpensive choices but may become dented too easily. Fiberglass is lightweight and doesn't dent but may not last as long as the other materials.
All of the above come in choices of either 1) up-and-over, 2) sectional, 3) side hung or 4) roller. The up-and-over goes upward in a single motion and comes in one piece. The sectional is divided into multiple sections that separate as they move upward. The side hung opens like a regular household door, swinging to the side. The roller type rolls into the garage and is a good space saver.
Go online to look at the huge variety of styles available on today's market. Look at designer magazines to see what styles of garage doors have been installed on homes with your architecture.
Visiting a dealer will also be a good idea as they usually have samples to check out and a designer on staff that can answer any and all of your questions regarding the compatibility of various options to your home's design.
