Whether you’re building a new home or upgrading an existing garage, choosing the right garage door style is an important design decision. The garage door is a prominent exterior feature that can either complement or clash with your home’s overall architectural style. With so many options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. In this post, I’ll break down the main garage door styles and provide tips for selecting one that fits your home.
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Traditional vs. Contemporary Styles
Garage doors generally fall into one of two broad style categories – traditional or contemporary. Traditional styles include raised panel, carriage house, and wood panel doors. They feature individually raised or recessed panels separated by framing. These classic styles work well for most historic home styles like Colonial, Tudor, or Craftsman.
Contemporary styles have cleaner lines with fewer dividing elements. Some popular contemporary options are flush panel, sectional roll-up, and composite doors. Flush panel doors have a homogeneous surface without raised or recessed panels. Sectional roll-up and composite doors function like tall horizontal blinds that roll up overhead. These modern styles pair nicely with Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, or minimalist home designs.
Consider Materials and Colors
Garage door materials also influence the overall look. Wood pairs beautifully with most traditional home styles but requires more maintenance. Steel and fiberglass mimic wood grain patterns at a lower cost and upkeep. Painted steel comes in a huge range of color options to match or accent your siding and trim colors. Unpainted aluminium, while affordable, may be too contemporary for some home styles. When in doubt, match or complement your siding material and earth tone colors. It’s also a good idea to consider insulation for energy efficiency.
Proper Scaling and Proportion
The size and proportions of your garage door should relate appropriately to the scale and massing of your home. On smaller homes, avoid doors that feel overwhelming. On larger homes, petite doors may get lost. Tall, narrow carriage doors work for smaller garages while large panel or sectional styles suit two-car garages or barn-style detached garages. Make sure the trim, framing, and panel details coordinate with other architectural elements like windows. A garage door that’s correctly scaled to the home’s overall footprint creates visual harmony.
Garage Door Replacement in Petersburg offers professional installation of all major brands to ensure your new door looks great and functions properly for years. Having an experienced local company handle the job takes the stress out of such an important exterior remodelling project.
Matching Hardware and Openers
Don’t forget about hinges, rollers, and other hardware components. Purchase a hardware package matching your door material and style from the manufacturer. For sectional roll-up doors, choose a powerful opener unit with standard safety features like sensor beams. Mount openers inside the garage or conceal them within the header for a cleaner exterior appearance. Matching hardware finishes everything off nicely and maximizes curb appeal.
With so many options, choosing the right garage door for your home can feel overwhelming. But focusing first on your home’s architecture and style will help narrow it down. Consider traditional vs. contemporary styles, materials, proper scaling, and matching hardware details. Selecting a door that enhances rather than detracts from your home’s curb appeal is worth the time and effort.
Thomas is a home improvement blogger who strives to improve his life and the lives of others. He provides homeowners with helpful tips on how to renovate their homes. His goal is not only to provide easy-to-follow instructions, but also share his own personal experiences for those seeking guidance.
