June 2, 2017

4 things to consider when buying a new garage door

What is a wall-mounted garage door opener?

Your garage door is past its best so you’re in the market for a new one. But just how do you choose the right door for your garage? There seem to be endless models, types and accessories on the market now, do you really all those options?

If you’re feeling a bit lost, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 4 important factors you should consider when buying a new garage door.

If you’ve got an adjoining garage and it’s at the front of your house, you’re going to want to think more carefully about the style you choose. Garage doors can take up to a third of your home’s façade, so choose wisely! You definitely don’t want it to stick out like a sore thumb!

Choose the right style

Choose a style that works well with your home, if you’ve got a modern style home, choose a contemporary or modern style door, if you’ve got a traditional home, go with a traditional style door. Garaga has over twenty different styles to choose from, you can even find the perfect carriage‑house style door!

Here are some examples:

  • For a bungalow style (Craftsman) home, you’re going to want to select a door with a similar look, go for one with a classic embossed design.
  • For a modern and contemporary home, select a modern door with clean lines and understated windows, maybe even a fully windowed garage door.
  • For a country, carriage-house style home, select a style like the arched carriage doors we used to see in the 1950s.

Twenty years ago, there were nowhere near as many different garage door styles available, but now there are designs for every taste. Have a look at Garaga’s full range of decorative Windows, they can give a plain garage door a whole new lease of life! They even manufacture custom-made garage doors, so let your imagination run wild.

Don’t underestimate the importance of insulation and weather‑sealing

Garages are no longer concrete cubes you simply store your car or lawn mower in. In 2017, garages are extensions of the home, used for everything from gym spaces to art workshops. But, of course, you’re not going to want to spend any time in there if you’ve got to have your hat and gloves on!

Did you know that a properly insulated and weatherproof garage door will keep your garage 10 to 20°F (5‑8°C) warmer than a low or non-insulated door? We don’t necessarily mean that you should install heating, but a properly insulated door with a thermal resistance value of at least R‑12 will retain the heat given off by your car’s motor!

Garage doors are often used as the main entrance to your home. A properly insulated door will also ensure that the accumulated heat in your garage doesn’t dissipate, and thus, cold air won’t be blown into the house every time the access door is opened.

Don’t buy anything until you have an idea how it will look with your home

There’s nothing worse than realizing that the item you’ve bought just doesn’t go. You wouldn’t add an extension on to your home without seeing an architectural sketch of the overall look, so why should you buy a door without checking it will fit with your home’s look? Like many garage door manufacturers, we have a tool so you can virtually “try” a garage, our Design Centre. Use it to do the following:

  • Design a garage door according to the size you are looking for. Select your preferred model and add windows, if you wish.
  • Select the photo of a home that looks the most like yours, and then choose your garage door model to see what it will look like.
  • Upload a photo of your home and superimpose the garage door model you’re thinking of buying to see what it will look like.

Choose the style you like the best, choose the colour, add windows, add decorative elements… There are so many different combinations available! Then download the image to your computer to show your friends/family and get their opinion. You can do this as many times as you want!

If you’ve got a few minutes, browse through this image gallery for inspiration to get you started!

Well that’s it: style, insulation, maintenance and overall look…

We understand that it’s a lot to take in, if you’re still unsure or are looking for specific advice, give us a call at 1-877-828-5279.

You can also pop down to our showroom where one of our salespersons will be happy to show you our full range and advise you on the best choice for your home. Or simply send us a request for an online quotation.

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