Choose the Right Garage Door Opener with this Ultimate Guide 2024
The garage doors take up about 40 % of your exterior house. From the time one drives through your main gate, a garage door is among the first things that a visitor set their eyes on. Other than protecting your home from bad weather and intruders, it also beautifies the general curb appeal of your property. This may be enough reason to pay attention to the style and type of garage door you choose.
Unlike all other doors in your house, garage doors are installed on the outside. Consequently, they are always exposed to sun, wind, and other elements. For this reason, you will want to decide on a garage door that is robust and long-lasting enough to put up with unfavourable weather and any other possible hazards.
Fortunately, garage doors are made up of various kinds of materials, styles, and sizes. You come across many options in the market, and often it gets confusing to pick the right choice. As a house owner, you will be supposed to pick a door that would be durable and perfect for your house. But you may take the help of a garage door expert to remove your dilemma. That said, we have provided a detailed guide on garage doors to help you understand what is best for your house.
Check The Weather in your Area
A few of you may be unaware, but the weather condition of your area plays a huge role when choosing an appropriate type of garage door. This is because it directly impacts the life of the installed garage door and how it functions.
If you live in a colder area, you are responsible for protecting your vehicles from snow, frost accumulation, and ice formation. The only practical way is to choose insulated garage doors. This will enable you to keep the interior temperature of your garage at a comfortable setting. Then, you must select a cold-resistant door material that does not warp. You can use metal or composite doors in this case because they tend to have protective coatings.
For high-wind areas, you should consider using a wind-rated garage door. These garage doors differ slightly from typical garage doors because they were built with the view to withstand substantial wind velocity. This garage door is suitable for those individuals residing in zones prone to tornadoes, or coastal areas.
In areas where heavy rainfall is experienced throughout the year, garage doors are made of water-resistant materials. Materials that must be resistant to rust and corrosion should be selected. It is very important to seal your garage doors properly so it can stop water from entering your home.
Given these climatic conditions, you can choose a suitable garage door for your house. Alternatively, you can also get your garage door customized according to the specific climatic needs of your area. Remember that you spend extensively to install a garage door, so you should not be casual about this. After all, you would never like to waste your money on an inferior-quality door.
Measure the Dimensions Of Your Garage Door
You cannot go out to shop for a garage door without the correct measurements. The garage doors are of different sizes, meaning you’ll have to make an appropriate measurement to get a proper fit.
Width, height, side room, headroom, and backroom are all crucial considerations when you measure your garage door. This way, you know exactly what size of a garage door would work for you, and it might help let you know if you need a custom-made door.
Here’s a brief breakdown:
•Width
You can take the width of your garage door with a tape measure. All that you need to do is take a measurement across. This will help in finding out how wide your garage door actually needs to be.
•Height
To measure the height of the garage door, start at the threshold and go to the top of the door opening. You could determine the height of your garage door based on the measurements taken.
• Side Room
It is not enough to take only the height and width measurements of your garage door. You should also take measurements from both sides of the frame of the door. You need at least 3.5 to 5 inches of side room to install the vertical tracks.
• Headroom
Another essential thing to measure is the headroom: this is the distance from the top of the door opening to the lowest obstruction. This will give you an estimate if you have enough room for track installation and garage door opener. You should make sure that at least 12 inches of space is available.
•Backroom
Finally, you need to measure the space from the door opening to the garage wall at the back. You would be doing this to ensure adequate room for opening and shutting the door. You would require around 18 inches of space to ensure your door functions properly.
Consider Your Garage Door Usage
You will use your garage door many times a day, but the other doors in your house are way different from your garage door, which is a heavy structure designed to work on a mechanism. The more you open and close your garage door, it all depends on how many times you open and shut your garage door. Therefore, when choosing a garage door, it is prudent that you make a selection which can bear the daily usage.
House owners who use their garage doors more frequently should seek out a more robust and higher-quality option. A garage door will require a powerful mechanism and motor to withstand heavy usage. Therefore, look for these things before choosing the correct garage door for your home.
Heavy-duty springs and reinforced tracks will also be required for a higher frequency of usage. With many uses within a day, a normal garage door opener may not be sustained in the long term. This is why you will need a door with robust motors designed for this high level of use.
A durable garage door is long-lasting enough to stand with daily usage and may live long. In fact, it is better to pay higher price for a high-performance door instead of facing high maintenance or repair expenses.
Material of Garage Door
One of the most important choices you will make is the type of material your garage door will be made from. So many different types are available that it’s often a little confusing to choose just one. Each different material used in making a garage door has characteristics all its own that make it differ from other materials. As you venture out and begin your search for the perfect garage door for your home, you should know a little about the different types of materials that exist.
Here is a brief overview:
• Steel
This is arguably the most common type of garage door material out there. Homeowners prefer it because it is hard, tough, and can take harsh weather. Additionally, it’s low maintenance, hence, there is no need to service it every now and then.
But, on the other hand, the disadvantage of using steel for the garage door is that this specific material has a tendency to rust and corrode with time. You must use galvanise steel to save your door and make sure it lives long. Galvanised steel is more expensive when you compare it with regular untreated steel, but it doesn’t rust.
The other thing that is worth mentioning is that steel is not a natural insulator. This simply means you will have to spend extra on insulation features. The good thing about insulation is that it will keep your garage warm and strengthen your door.
• Aluminium
Another popular garage door material is aluminium. Like steel, aluminium is also cost-effective, so more people choose it over expensive materials.
With an aluminium garage door, you will have a great number of designs and styles to choose from, and this will make your selection process much easier, which will lead to finding a door that exactly suits and matches your house. In addition, aluminium does not corrode or rust, so you are not in danger of having to replace or repair the door anytime soon.
Aluminium garage doors are also known for their low R-value for measuring thermal efficiency. In this case, garage doors with a high R-value always trap a lot of warm air inside. For this reason, such types of garage doors are very helpful during winter months. However, since aluminium has a low R-value, heat can escape easily.
•Glass
If you fancy something unusual, glass garage doors may be perfect. Of course, this is not the ordinary door type, but you can use it in your house. Still, it will also turn out to be safer than you think.
The glasses used in glass garage doors are tempered glasses. Well, they are capable of withstanding colossal impact before breaking. Tempered glass will most probably come in car windows, bulletproof glasses, and in your shower doors.
For those who cherish privacy, they can be tinted or frosted. This would keep outsiders peering into your home.
Even though the durability of glass garage doors is less than steel or aluminium, it is tougher compared to the ordinary glass. Plus, it allows natural light in your garage
• Fiberglass
You may opt for a fibreglass garage door if you want low maintenance. It is a composite material with insulating properties for those who may not know. It will keep your garage warm even in the coldest winter months. Another added advantage of fibreglass is that it blocks many noises. This is one more reason to have peace of mind within your house.
The good thing is that in the case of fibreglass, you will get some styles. If your budget permits, you can customise your fibreglass garage door.
Fibreglass is mainly used for entry doors. You can install this material for the garage door as well. By installing such materials, you can add curb appeal to your house.
• Wooden
When it comes to garage door materials, wood is far more expensive compared with the rest. Most people select wood since it gives their home an elegant and classy appeal. In that aspect, wooden garage doors are also pretty resilient. They might not be as strong as steel, but they do the work just fine.
Before choosing a wooden garage door, you should know that it is high maintenance. So, unless you are willing to commit to that sort of upkeep, you should not choose a wooden door.
Wooden doors need upkeep regularly. It requires repaints and repairs often. Plus, it is not weather-resistant, which is why it might rot or warp. If you feel you can handle these things, then you can choose wood for your garage door.
•Wood Composite
On the other hand, wood composite is a good alternative for those who would like a wood garage door but cannot afford it. It’s made from wood fibre and plastic and resembles the look of natural wood. They are also referred to as faux wood garage doors, which are cheaper than regular ones.
This is less intensive than maintenance for natural wood. Furthermore, faux wooden garage door installation is relatively easy. By installing this type of garage door, you will be adding value to the beauty of your house and increasing its resale value.
Another good thing is that the wood composite garage entry has many customisation options. You can easily make any kind of modification or changes you need to make it look more suitable to your home.
• Vinyl
You can also choose the vinyl garage door because it is easy to install and also to maintain. Even though it is made up of synthetic plastic, it is pretty rigid and durable. Unlike a wood composite garage door, vinyl doesn’t contain any wood in it.
The biggest advantage of the vinyl garage door is that it allows noise insulation. The vinyl doors are also quite resistant to wear and tear, rust, and decaying. Vinyl is, however, a poor choice as far as heat insulation goes, if that is what you’re looking for.
The other thing about vinyl garage doors is these won’t allow customization. You can only choose the desired colour of the door but can’t make any changes to it. If you are fine with such restrictions, you can install a vinyl garage door.
Think About The Maintenance Required
Periodic maintenance must be performed on a garage door to run it problem-free. From applying grease in the parts to checking for all sorts of defects, you must do whatever is necessary to keep the garage door functional.
As you might have guessed it, some garage doors require more maintenance as compared to others. However, this depends on numerous factors such as materials, climate conditions, etc. With regular maintenance and servicing being performed, you would be able to take your garage door for granted.
Now, the question you have to ask yourself is: how much maintenance are you willing to do? Not everyone will find the time or energy to maintain a garage door. You’re going to want a low-maintenance door if you are a busy person.
Generally speaking, how much maintenance is needed depends on the material of the garage door. A wooden door stands out as infinitely high maintenance than its steel counterpart. When one chooses a wood garage door, one will be required periodically to repaint it to protect it from damage by moisture.
On the other hand, steel doors require very little maintenance. Once installed, they can work fine for an extended period. The best part about the steel garage doors is that they resist pests and weather conditions. And unfortunately, you cannot expect these things from a wooden garage door.
Even aluminium and fibreglass doors are low maintenance. By installing these doors, you can increase the aesthetic value of your home and be tension-free. It is unlike wooden doors that require frequent inspection or servicing. Moreover, these are suitable for all types of weather and climates.
The other great option would be vinyl, which is said to be resilient and resistant. Save for cleaning it with soap and water, you don’t have much to do in maintaining a vinyl door. Composite garage doors need more moderate care. Although it only mimics the appearance of a wooden door, it doesn’t crack, rot, or warp.
These are critical factors to remember when picking a garage door, or you might regret it later. Just because something looks pretty doesn’t mean you should choose a high-maintenance kind of garage door; that can create problems later on. You could do it for an aesthetic feel, even with low-maintenance material.
When you leave your garage door unattended for a long period, it starts malfunctioning and sometimes stops working. To avoid such things, you should choose low-maintenance material so you don’t have to put in much effort.
Choose Your Garage Door Application
Garages are mainly used to protect cars. Garages help protect people’s vehicles, and they are used for the safety of their homes where garages are available. You can also utilise your garage for other purposes like storage, home gym, workshop, etc.
The most significant advantage of having a garage is that it helps to protect your car from the outside elements in the air, including rain, snow, wind, and sun. In addition, it also keeps the burglars away who aim to steal your car. You will require a bigger garage space if you have more than one vehicle.
This could also be used as storage for tools, seasonal decorations, or any item used within the house. Stuff of this nature should be kept inside your garage to avoid cluttering your home.
Some homeowners set up a home gym in their garage. That’s intelligent use of the place, besides keeping your house separate. You can install various gym equipment in your garage without crowding your home.
A garage is also an ideal place to organize workshops, especially when one needs a place for tools and materials. Having to do home repairs, woodwork, or craftsmanship, one can convert it into a workshop space.
The type of garage door also depends on what purpose it will serve. For example, if the protection of your car is involved, a high-performance door will be required. But if you want to convert your garage into a workshop or need it as a store, you may use a light gauge door. These things are to be considered to make it easier for an individual to select an appropriate door for their garage.
Set A Budget: Installation of a new garage door or replacing the old one is expensive. You need a relatively sufficient amount of money to get the project completed. This is why you should fix your budget before getting started.
It is always good to know the total expenses involved, so that you may proceed accordingly. The cost of the garage door depends on various factors like size, material, style, installation, etc. If you opt for a fancy look for the garage door, it will cost you more than a standard garage door. Similarly, if you go for a high-end model, then it will cost you a fortune.
Having a budget for the garage door will help in filtering options. Choose a durable door but at the same time one that fits your budget to avoid compromising on the quality and performance of the door due to budgetary reasons.
Coming to the materials, steel is the cheapest variety out in the market. If you want a high-end option, wooden doors can be a fantastic choice. As far as other materials like vinyl, fibreglass, and aluminium go, they are mid-range options. You may choose any one of these materials according to your budget.
Your garage door becomes even costlier once you customize it. As these modifications are extra and added, you must pay extra for them. And you will have to spend even more if you select the use of other features such as automatic reverse sensors, pinch-resistant panels, battery backups, etc.
Even the size of the garage door plays a factor in the price: oversized doors tend to cost more than smaller doors. Added on top of this are the installation and labour costs, which no doubt vary with the service employed.
Setting a budget for your garage door will require consideration of everything we discussed. It will give you an approximation of the overall expenses involved. If these sound too much for your wallet, you can opt to finance your garage door. Many professional services offer in-house finance options which include making monthly payments.
Types Of Garage Doors
As far as a garage door goes, you are spoiled for choices. There are just so many types out there, that it is pretty easy to get confused if you have less idea about them. Here we have put down the details to give you a brief idea about different garage door types.
• Classic Sectional Style
As luck would have it, this is the most common garage door style on the market. Several panels hinged together are attached to rollers on dual parallel tracks. An electric opener could open and close the garage door, or you may open it manually if you do not want to pay for a garage door opener.
The raised-style panels are classic. This adds a clean, classic look to a garage door. The great thing about sectional doors is that you can choose from many available styles depending on the style of your home.
• Modern Style
The modern style garage door is very much in trend in recent times because of its aesthetic appeal. Clean lines make it suitable for both modern and contemporary homes.
What we like the most about modern-style garage doors is that they include clear glass panels through which you can see your car collection. However, if you want more privacy, you may get frosted glass.
• Carriage Style
Carriage-style garage doors, sometimes known as side-hinged or swing-style doors, are most often made of wood. These garage doors have hinges attached on both sides to the jambs.
This style is perfect for individuals who love the old-fashioned look. You can also choose carriage-style garage doors if you have a low ceiling. The carriage style is more energy-efficient than the other garage door styles. You will be able to reap the most benefit from a carriage-style garage door by installing an automated opener.
• Roll-Up Style
Roll-up garage doors are standard in commercial buildings, but you can install them in your home garage, too. That is only if you have enough space in your ceiling.
As the name suggests, you open the garage door by rolling it up. Given the construction of these doors, they are best suited for heavy usage. Before choosing a roll-up style garage door, you should be informed that it is more expensive than a traditional one.
• Slide-to-the-side Style
The slide-to-side type is an optional style for those of you who have very little space to install a garage door. As compared to the other styles of garage doors, this one is not that common; however, the good thing about them is that they are pretty easy to operate.
The door will use a track and open parallel to a wall. Instead of horizontal panels, slide-to-the-side style garage doors have vertical panels. You choose this kind of garage door you are not going to be required to install springs, you might alternatively automate it for greater convenience.
• Tilt-Up Canopy Style
This type of garage door has a pivoting based on a hinge mechanism that allows them to tilt into and out of the garage. Because of this eccentric mechanism, the door extends outward from the garage.
If you do not like this style, you can opt for its relative style, a retractable garage door. It has a similar mechanism, but it does not stick outside the garage. On the other hand, it should be mentioned here that a retractable garage door needs more space compared to a tilt-up canopy style.
Check The Duration Of Warranty
Like everything else, garage doors have a warranty period. When purchasing a new garage door, check the warranty details beforehand. The terms and conditions involved in a warranty need to be read through so you will not regret it later.
Garage doors are made by different manufacturers who offer various warranties like a limited-period warranty, full warranty, extended warranty, among others. It’s good to know the types of warranties to see what you may expect.
The various hardware and other components covered under a garage door warranty vary depending on the source offering the warranty. Most warranties given usually include basic parts like door panels, springs, rollers, and tracks. A few manufacturers may also include finish, paints, and insulation in the warranty cards.
Except for the coverage, the warranty duration should also be checked. Though most warranties remain valid for a year, an extended option is available from some manufacturers for an added price. Of course, you can extend the warranty duration by paying a few hundred bucks extra.
To ensure that your warranty does not get void, you have to act according to the rules and regulations provided. One of the most essential factors is that of maintenance. If you don’t do periodic maintenance on your garage door, then it can void your warranty. You have to be really cautious about these things.
Security Features
Installation of security features in your garage door can enable you to enhance the safety of your home. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do to keep your home protected. First, you have rolling code technology, which happens to be a feature in most of the latest garage door openers. The speciality of this technology is that it changes the access code every time you open up the garage door, making it difficult for anybody to capture your code and gain entry into your garage.
Others include smart garage openers, manual locking, motion-sensing lights, cameras for security, automatic reverse mechanisms, and so many others. It is important to note that installing all these features will cost you an extra amount. But the good thing is that it will secure your home.
Most wouldn’t even think a proper garage door makes all the difference. Along with protecting your house from outsiders, it adds to the curb appeal of the exterior. To make sure you make the right choice, consider these tips. If overwhelmed, then you must consult garage door professionals. You can get help from a garage door service to select one of the best garage doors in your house.