These gorgeous Princeton P-12 garage doors in Iron Ore Walnut and Ice White overlays blend perfectly into the home's design. Windows on the top allow you to see inside and out without the floor of your garage being visible from passing neighbors.
Your garage door is a crucial part of the design of your home. When it comes to making the decision, you have a lot to consider: colors, styles, windows, accents, you name it. However, you have a more important decision to make first. Do you want two single doors or one double door for your two-car garage?
What Aspects to Consider When Choosing Garage Doors
Garage doors are some of the most noticeable aspects of a home's design, so it's essential to take the time to choose the door that works best for your home. You also need to consider the practicality of different garage door styles. Different lifestyles allow for better perks of single doors or a double garage door.
Consider these points when choosing between two single doors and one double garage door.
● How many vehicles will park in your garage? What's the size of your garage?
If you have two cars that you would like to park in your garage, it has to be at least 18 feet wide and 22 feet deep for a double garage door. However, two single garage doors require more width to allow for the wall between the two doors. The size of your garage could make the decision for you.
NOTE: When building a garage, check out plans with the ideal garage dimensions on the House Plans Helper's website for visuals on what different layouts would look like. It also helps to consider the available residential garage door sizes, so you know what sizes you have to work with.
● Garage Choice Can Be Affected By Your Climate
If you live in an area that sees extreme cold or extreme heat, you may prefer two single doors. Having two doors lets you keep one side of your garage closed when you don't need to use it. This will help keep any climate-controlled air in your garage for longer. A double door will make your garage, and in turn, you feel the effects of the outside temperature must faster.
When Two Single Garage Doors are Best
The Vog garage doors, pictures here in Charcoal, provide just enough of a modern flair. The left-sided windows allow for plenty of natural lighting, so you can work in your garage without having to open the doors.
Single Garage Doors Can Be More Practical
If you have two single garage doors, it allows you to always have a backup door if one of your garage doors malfunctions. This can be a great additional peace of mind for you to know that you should always be able to get in and out of your garage door.
Single garage doors also lead to a wider garage, which can make it easier to park two cars inside. If you have two vehicles you like to keep out of the elements, this is a perfect advantage for you! One double door can make it too tight to fit two cars inside and be able to get in and out of them.
Plus, having two garage doors means you can keep one side closed off from outsiders. If you use one side of your garage for storage or other non-parking purposes, you don't have to worry about a judgmental neighbor seeing, because you can keep that side closed whenever you need to!
Having a closed-off section of your garage can really lead to a great multi-purpose area in your home. If you need some inspiration, check out these 30 garage organization and conversion ideas from HGTV.
Imagine having your own home gym! Two single garage doors can make it happen! Check out 5 simple steps to converting your garage into a fitness room from The Spruce for tips on how to get started. Image from of Pexels.
Single Garage Doors May Last Longer
Since single garage doors mean you only have to open the side you need instead of the whole garage, single doors tend to have fewer cycles per year compared to double doors. When you use a garage door less, its life expectancy will extend. Ideally, you can get up to 25 years out of a garage door, and only having to use the motor when you need that specific side will help you achieve that goal!
Single Garage Doors are Better for Insulation
Having two single garage doors is great if you live somewhere with any type of extreme weather. Being able to open only one side at a time will both slow down the loss of climate-controlled air inside as well as slowing down the amount of rain or other weather that makes its way into your garage from outside.
One double door will make your insulated air leave your garage much faster, which can raise your electric bills! Regardless of which style you choose, research what R-value, or level of resistance to heat flow, you need. Putting in information about your climate here will help you get an idea.
These Eastman E-21 garage doors in Claystone and Ice White overlays look like barn doors, which are super popular right now. Choosing accents for your garage door can help make it unique to your style.
When a Double Garage Door is Best
This Moderno Multi double garage door in Chocolate Walnut has windows only on the left side. This style allows you to let in a ton of natural light while still keeping an entire side of your garage hidden from anyone passing by when the door is closed.
A Double Garage Door Can Give You More Garage Space
A larger garage door can allow you the freedom of using your whole garage. A large door lets you park in the middle if you'd like, giving you the entire perimeter for use in any way you like. Having the whole area allows for ample space to create the storage area of your dreams.
If you need some inspiration on where to start, HGTV has 55 ideas for practical and aesthetically pleasing storage of your belongings. Imagine having ample storage while still parking your car in your garage and being able to fully open every car door while inside!
This North Hatley LP double garage door Moka Brown has subtle accents on it to create a beautiful statement piece on an otherwise lightly colored home. Garage doors can blend in or stand out. The choice is yours!
Garage Doors Mean Half the Maintenance
Having one garage door means having one set of cables, gears, motor pieces, chains, and other moving parts of a door. Having half the pieces than people with two single doors means you only have to worry about half the maintenance when it comes to your doors.
Speaking of maintenance, you should apply a lubricant made for PVC parts and another one for hardware. You can find these products online as well as at hardware stores. If you aren't sure about the best products for your garage door, talk to a professional about it, and they can point you in the right direction!
You also need to schedule an annual tune-up for your garage. These checks will help prevent problems before they occur and extend the life of your garage door. Find a reputable garage door technician in your area to schedule this service today!
The Standard+ Shaker-Modern XL double garage door in Iron Ore Walnut blends effortlessly in with the color of this modern home. Sometimes monochromatic is the perfect statement to make when it comes to garage doors. Coordinated with Soho entry door from Novatech's Shaker Collection.
Garage Door Openers Are Key!
Your garage door can only be as great as your garage door opener. You should take at least as much time to consider which garage door opener works best for your needs. Choosing a quality opener will ensure that the mechanical side of your garage door lasts for years to come.
LiftMaster garage door openers are some of the most popular on the market. They are the high-end division of the Chamberlain Group, a world-renowned garage door opener company. Their current offerings can even include myQ technology, which can let you control your garage door from anywhere!
MyQ is great for anyone who likes the peace of mind of being able to double-check that their garage door is closed. Simply open the app, and you can close your door (or open it!) from wherever you are. Plus, you can get notifications about movement in your garage, so you can always have an eye on your home.
Modern technology has made its way to garages. Check out Nine uses for a smart LiftMaster garage door opener to see why myQ is worth the price!
Choosing a Garage Door Opener
Choosing a garage door opener comes down to certain specifics, including height, budget, features, and door size. When choosing an opener, make sure you also factor in how much traffic your garage will see. If you open and close your garage many times a day, you want to choose an opener that can stand up to the wear and tear.
If you're having trouble making a decision, you can always talk to a specialist to decide which model of garage door opener is best for your needs! The opener is what makes your garage door work, so you want to make the right decision!
Which Garage Door Style Should You Choose?
Garage door style choices are based on your personal needs and preferences. While there's no wrong choice, there's the right choice out there for you. Consider the style of your home, the way you want to use your garage, your climate, and the area you have to work with to get an idea of whether you should choose a double door or two single doors.
It's time to design the garage door of your dreams
When you're ready to create your garage door, check out Dor-Co Garage Doors' large selection of residential garage doors. You can choose from three style groups: Traditional, Carriage House, and Contemporary. From there, you can choose the specific door, color, windows, and other accents that you want.
You can also try out our Design Centre from home! The site allows you to design any garage door you're considering online so you can get an idea of what it would look like. Plus, if you're working with a specific budget, you can request a free quote on any of the doors you're considering. The quotes will go to your email, so you have them to look back on.
After the Installation
Dor-Co Garage Doors offers other garage door services as well! They will install your garage door, but they will also do tune-ups and repairs on your doors if the need arises. Give them a call at 519-737-6915 or 519-352-5200 to set up whatever service you need!
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