While garage doors’ function has continued to evolve into smart applications that are both voice and motion-activated, the garage door’s overall look for most properties has mainly remained the same until now.
Many homeowners are deciding to take their garage from boring to showstopper with some smart updates. Here are some of the diverse designs that property owners create to highlight a previously overlooked area of their homes.
Would you ever consider a garage door made of glass? It is a hot trend that is looking more likely to become a permanent style-choice in homes. There are multiple styles for this. The garage doors do not have to be made of glass, but the overhead doors made of glass open up the garage to the rest of the house or for the windows facing outward allows the great outdoors to be visually accessible. The glass garage-style doors can also make beautiful entrances to man caves, she sheds, dens, and more.
Some of the benefits of this door style include a gorgeous view no matter which way it faces and the ability to incorporate a natural landscape view inside the home. Insulated glass with a good weather seal can make a difference in your heating and cooling bills. Also, the trend right now for glass garage doors is in more expensive homes. But as more homeowners utilize this style in less expensive properties, it is becoming more frequently seen as a way to entice buyers when you are ready to sell your home.
Traditional Garage Door Construction
To understand the style choices available in traditionally-made garage doors, it is essential to understand their construction basics. There are three basic designs:
Single-layer garage doors get stamped from a single sheet of galvanized steel. These are among the most economical designs and most commonly used in both residential and commercial applications.
Double-layer steel doors have the same galvanized steel used in a single-layer door. Still, they have an added thick layer of polystyrene or polyurethane as a backer, which serves as both insulation and soundproofing.
Triple-layer doors are constructed of the same materials as double-layer doors, with the polystyrene/polyurethane sandwiched between two galvanized steel sheets. These are the most robust and most insulated door styles of all.
Traditional Garage Door Styles
There are four main panel designs among traditional garage doors. One of the most common is carriage house panels. This door style has typically embossed wood-grain texture and looks like a classic carriage house door from days gone by.
Flush Panels
These flat, slightly textured panels can be used to complement the surrounding wall area without drawing too much attention to the door itself. This is a very low-key style that blends with a home design rather than calls attention to itself.
Long Raised Panels
This is one of the most familiar garage door designs with panels with a slight depth. Often there is a single row of windows. This style works well for single-car garages as well as two or three-car structures.
Short Raised Panels
This type of garage door also delivers depth in its design. The door blends particularly well with Victorian, Colonial, and Tudor homes as these properties tend to have strong architectural lines in their structures.
Slide To The Side
This type of door slides opens horizontally, much like a sliding glass door on a home. There are usually separate panels, and the entire door moves on a roller system. These are ideal designs for garages with very little headroom.
Side-Hinged Doors
This garage door is not often seen in residential installations, and consists of a garage door split into two large doors that open, allowing vehicles to enter.
Updating the Garage
Many homeowners realize that their garages are a lot of unused space. With well-done doors, the room can get used as an extension of the home’s living space. As a play area for kids, workshop, or place to do a favorite hobby, laundry room, and more. The door chosen for the garage should assist in maintaining a comfortable temperature and other points:
- Make sure your garage door has excellent insulation
- Weather sealant should be in place to keep the cold and heat out
- The threshold on the door should be flush with the ground when closed to keep rain, ice, and snow out of the garage.
Use these tips to put together the exact look you want for your garage door. Bring in the outdoors with a glass door, or go for a traditional panel door for a more traditional look and feel.