Choosing a garage door may seem easy at first, but there’s a lot of thinking to be done. The look of a garage can have a huge impact on a home’s image. It’s not just the practicality of the door that needs to be taken into consideration; the colour, materials and even the way it moves will all contribute to the final appearance.
Luckily, there are plenty of options these days when it comes to choosing a door for your garage. Options range from the traditional one-piece door to sectional garage doors for those who want a smooth mechanical movement. Wooden garage doors can add a touch of elegance to a house’s fascia, but modern designs are also worth considering. In fact, with so much choice, a systematic approach to choosing can often help considerably. With this in mind, here are some things to consider:
The style of home
The look of the house or terrace is always going to be a major guiding factor in choosing a garage door. An oak-panelled door might suit a classical Victorian home, but it may be a little too much for a house which has been designed along modern lines. Something which was built in the style boom of the seventies, on the other hand, might benefit from segmented doors. It’s a good idea to sneak a peek at houses in similar styles, and see what other home-owners have gone for.
The desired effect
Council by-laws allowing, a garage door doesn’t necessarily have to conform to the style of the house it’s attached to. With modern homes, it’s possible to install a door that has a bit more artistic flair than you may find with more moderate doors.
The main question to ask yourself is what are you looking to achieve? The obvious answer is to replace an old door, but what’s the motive behind the replacement? Is the house being renovated for sale, or is a general brightening up required?
Garage doors can also be used as an opportunity to boost the style factor of a home. A plain brick terrace can be livened up considerably by a well-chosen door. It is good to be cautious, as even cheap garage doors can be inconvenient to replace because of style issues, but there’s no need to be completely conservative.
Take the practicalities into account
The final part of the puzzle is, of course, practicality. A garage door might seem perfect, but if it swipes the car as it retracts into the roof, it will be impossible to use. Some of the practical factors owners need to consider when choosing include the level of maintenance it will require, how often it’ll need to be cleaned and whether it’ll be able to withstand the heavy handed use of young children who may be using it. There are also plenty of options for window panels in garage doors, which can be handy when the garage doubles as a garden shed.