Garage Door Buying Guide
Garage Doors: Choices, Choices
Your garage door is not just a functional element of your home; it’s also a significant contributor to its curb appeal and security. With a wide array of styles, materials, and features available, choosing the right garage door for your home can be overwhelming.
This comprehensive garage door buying guide aims to provide you with a detailed overview of the various options available, helping you make an informed decision that meets your needs and preferences.
Section 1: Understanding Garage Door Styles
When selecting a residential garage door, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is choosing the style that best complements your home’s architecture and your personal taste. Here are some of the most popular garage door styles:
Traditional Raised-Panel Garage Doors:
- Features: Classic and timeless design with raised panels that add depth and texture.
- Material Options: Available in steel, wood, and fiberglass.
- Ideal For: Homes with traditional or colonial architecture.
Carriage House Garage Doors
- Features: Mimics the look of historic carriage house doors with decorative hardware and window inserts.
- Material Options: Steel, wood, and composite materials.
- Ideal For: Craftsman-style homes and those seeking a rustic or vintage aesthetic.
Contemporary Garage Doors
- Features: Clean lines, minimalist design, and sleek finishes for a modern look.
- Material Options: Aluminum, glass, and steel with brushed or matte finishes.
- Ideal For: Contemporary and modern-style homes, as well as urban or industrial settings.
Custom Garage Doors
- Features: Fully customizable designs, including custom materials, finishes, and window configurations.
- Material Options: Virtually limitless, including wood, glass, steel, and composite materials.
- Ideal For: Homeowners seeking a unique and personalized garage door that reflects their individual style.
Section 2: Exploring Garage Door Materials
The material of your garage door not only affects its appearance but also its durability, maintenance requirements, and cost. Here are the most common materials used for residential garage doors:
Steel Garage Doors
- Features: Durable, low-maintenance, and available in a variety of colors and finishes.
- Pros: Resistant to dents, rust, and warping. Suitable for all climates.
- Cons: Prone to scratches and may dent if impacted with sufficient force.
Wood Garage Doors
- Features: Natural beauty, warmth, and character with a wide range of design options.
- Pros: Offers unparalleled aesthetic appeal and can be stained or painted to match your home’s exterior.
- Cons: Requires regular maintenance, including staining or painting to protect against weathering and moisture.
Aluminum Garage Doors
- Features: Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and available in modern finishes.
- Pros: Ideal for contemporary designs, with options for full-view glass panels.
- Cons: Prone to dents and scratches, especially in high-traffic areas.
Fiberglass Garage Doors
- Features: Resistant to moisture, insects, and warping, with the appearance of wood without the maintenance.
- Pros: Low-maintenance, energy-efficient, and durable.
- Cons: Limited design options and may yellow or fade over time with exposure to sunlight.
Section 3: Choosing Garage Door Features and Accessories
In addition to style and material, there are several features and accessories to consider when selecting a residential garage door:
Insulation
- Features: Improves energy efficiency, temperature regulation, and noise reduction.
- Options: Single-layer, double-layer, or triple-layer insulation with varying R-values.
Windows
- Features: Enhances natural light and visual appeal, available in various shapes, sizes, and designs.
- Options: Clear, frosted, or tinted glass with decorative inserts or grids.
Hardware
- Features: Decorative handles, hinges, and accents add character and charm to your garage door.
- Options: Traditional, rustic, or contemporary styles in a variety of finishes, including black, bronze, and stainless steel.
Smart Technology
- Features: Allows remote operation, monitoring, and control of your garage door via smartphone or smart home automation system.
- Options: Wi-Fi-enabled garage door openers with built-in security features, smartphone apps, and voice control compatibility.
Section 4: Garage Door Installation and Maintenance Tips
Once you’ve selected the perfect garage door for your home, proper installation and maintenance are essential to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Here are some tips to consider:
Professional Installation
- Hire a reputable garage door installation company with experience, expertise, and proper licensing and insurance. Installing a garage door is typically not suitable for DIY. Even if an adjustment is off slightly, it can lead to premature wear at best and lethal accidents at worse.
Regular Maintenance
- Schedule annual inspections and maintenance checks to identify and address any issues before they escalate.
- Lubricate moving parts, tighten hardware, and check springs, cables, and tracks for wear and tear.
Seasonal Care
- Prepare your garage door for seasonal changes, such as lubricating springs and hinges in cold weather and cleaning and inspecting seals in hot weather.
Section 5: Top 5 Garage Door Manufacturers
Here’s a description of five of the top garage door manufacturers in the USA, including Clopay, CHI, Amarr, Wayne Dalton, and Hörmann:
1. Clopay
Overview: Clopay Corporation is widely recognized as North America’s largest manufacturer of residential and commercial overhead doors. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Mason, Ohio, Clopay has over 50 years of experience and a reputation for durability, energy efficiency, and innovative design.
Key Features: They offer an extensive range of styles, from traditional to contemporary and carriage house designs, utilizing various materials such as steel, natural wood, composite, and aluminum and glass. Clopay is known for its meticulous attention to detail and offers customization options for colors, windows, and hardware. They also operate four U.S. manufacturing facilities and 56 distribution centers.
Specialty: Clopay is noted for its wide variety of customizable designs and materials, making it a go-to for homeowners seeking to match their home’s aesthetic.
2. CHI Overhead Doors
Overview: C.H.I. Overhead Doors, established in 1981 and based in Arthur, Illinois, has quickly grown to become a prominent manufacturer of residential and commercial sectional, and rolling steel doors. They pride themselves on quality craftsmanship and value, with all five of their plants co-located in Arthur.
Key Features: CHI emphasizes quality materials, innovative design, and strong engineering capabilities. They offer a diverse range of garage door options, including popular carriage house styles, and are known for their durable and stylish doors. They also highlight their commitment to sustainability, with doors made from 100% recyclable Nucor steel.
Specialty: CHI is recognized for its unique Accents Woodtones series, which uses full-color digital imaging on insulated steel to create realistic wood-look doors, offering the aesthetic of wood with enhanced durability.
3. Amarr
Overview: Founded in 1951 by the Brenner brothers, Amarr is a leading U.S. brand in the design, manufacture, and distribution of sectional doors for both residential and commercial markets. Headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas (with operational headquarters in Winston-Salem, NC), Amarr is part of Entrematic, a global leader in entrance automation.
Key Features: Amarr has a legacy of innovation, quality design, and sustainability, with all products proudly made in the USA. They offer a comprehensive line of garage doors, including traditional, carriage house, and modern styles, with options for polystyrene or polyurethane insulation for energy efficiency. Amarr places a strong emphasis on safety features like pinch protection.
Specialty: Amarr is known for its wide selection of designs and its commitment to environmentally friendly practices, utilizing up to 90% recycled steel in their doors and recyclable insulation materials.
4. Wayne Dalton
Overview: Wayne Dalton, founded in 1954 in Holmes County, Ohio, has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the largest garage door manufacturers globally. They are a respected brand known for ingenuity and customer service, offering a comprehensive product portfolio.
Key Features: Wayne Dalton provides a wide variety of styles in steel, wood, fiberglass, and aluminum, catering to diverse aesthetic and performance needs. They are particularly known for their innovative and technologically advanced products, including the state-of-the-art TrueChoice™ Custom Color System which offers 6,000 custom colors. They also offer an extensive commercial door portfolio.
Specialty: Wayne Dalton is a leader in customizability, with their vast color options and diverse material offerings, allowing homeowners to significantly enhance their home’s curb appeal.
5. Hörmann
Overview: Hörmann, a family-owned German company founded in 1935, is Europe’s leading supplier of doors and has a significant global presence, including in North America. Their North American headquarters are located in Sparta, Tennessee.
Key Features: Hörmann is known for its high-quality doors, frames, and operators, with an emphasis on cutting-edge technology and stylish design. They offer a range of residential and commercial doors, focusing on durability, functionality, and security. Their European craftsmanship is a hallmark of their products.
Specialty: Hörmann combines German engineering and design with North American manufacturing, offering robust and technologically advanced garage door solutions for both residential and commercial applications. They have expanded their North American presence through strategic acquisitions, including Northwest Door.
Summary
Investing in a new garage door is a significant decision that can enhance the appearance, functionality, and value of your home.
By understanding the various styles, materials, features, and maintenance requirements, you can confidently select the perfect garage door that meets your needs and complements your home’s architecture.
