7 popular types of garage doors
A home can undergo several modifications over the years to reflect evolving styles and preferences. But what about the garage? While the inside of a garage is usually hidden from outsiders, the garage door can enhance curb appeal. Further, garage doors must be replaced when they get rickety or too old, and it affects how they work. With a wide variety of design options today, getting a suitable garage door can be an easy process.
Types
For a front-facing garage, the design door makes all the difference, as it is often the first thing people notice when visiting your home. But, finding a garage door that not only looks the way you want but also functions well is important. Based on the design, you can choose from the following 7 types of garage doors:
Sectional garage door
The most popular type of garage door in the country is a sectional garage door, which is made of panel components connected by hinges. Wheels at the edge of each console move on vertical rails on either side of the opening when the door opens and closes. The hinges between each section of the panel flex over a curved stretch of the track. To hold the door half open, two high-tension springs above the opening are connected to wires that control the panel. These low-maintenance doors can be customized with window inserts, hardware, textures, and colors and are commonly made of steel. Both insulated and non-insulated variants are available.
Slide-to-the-side door
As it works just like a sectional door, a slide-to-the-side garage door moves horizontally rather than rolling up. The door has a safer mechanism, as it cannot fall on an object or person opening the gate. It usually comes with an automated system, so it can be operated by remote control or an app on the phone.
Roll-up doors
This is a straightforward design, which makes it timeless. It is one of the best options for garages with limited ceiling space. However, you are more likely to find this style in commercial buildings than in residential ones. The structure consists of 2- to 3-inch steel slats that rotate around a drum above the opening of the door. Without springs or with a cover, roll-up or coiling doors can use materials that resist rust, corrosion, and freezing. They are built to withstand continual use. Due to its heavy-duty mechanism, the roll-up form has higher initial expenses than a sectional design.
Carriage doors
Carriage-style garage doors are traditional designs that elevate the look of modern homes. Inspired by carriage houses, these designs offer the appeal of traditional swing doors. However, today, you can customize the door to fold open with motorized openers or choose the traditional mechanism of the doors swinging open manually from the center. Either way, this classic style works wonders for the curb appeal and bringing in old-school charm to contemporary homes.
Contemporary slab door
The importance of finding a garage door design that matches the exterior style cannot be overstated. Today, a modern home design calls for sleek lines and high-tech materials. One common option here is doors with tempered glass panels that are either clear, frosted, or tinted and enclosed in aluminum frames that are preferably painted. Slab doors open by folding up as one continuous panel rather than three or four individual ones that bend at hinges. This style is making a comeback in retro-modern designs. They come with a specific automated opener, just like carriage doors.
Raised-panel door
This is the design that most people associate with garage doors. In contrast to the traditional raised-panel doors, which had floating panels that sat inside a rail-and-style frame, modern ones typically have solid consoles that are simply molded to seem like the former. You can choose materials like fiberglass, wood, aluminum, and steel for your raised-panel doors.
Side-hinged door
The side-hinged design resembles enormous barn doors. The doors swing upward and inward. These can be customized to fit into preexisting garage openings, or you can buy them with steel frames already installed. Traditionally manual designs, today you can choose an automated mechanism to open these huge doors and make operating them a smoother experience.
Pricing
A garage door typically costs around $1,200 in the country, although the pricing can vary substantially based on variables like materials, size, and type of door. Further, the value of the door is only a portion of the cost. The total price includes the charges for labor and installation, door accessories, and electrical work to install your door correctly.