Are you thinking about giving your home’s exterior an upgrade? Investing in a new garage door is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to do so. Garage doors come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles – from contemporary glass panel designs to classic wooden carriage house types. Plus, they serve important safety functions while also increasing your energy efficiency. Keep reading for our top tips on how to select the best garage door for your needs!

How to Choose the Best Garage Door for Your Home

Before you even consider buying a new garage door, it’s important to know your needs. For example: How many cars will fit in your garage? How big is the space? What kind of weather do you expect to see in your area? Does it get light rain or snow annually?

When You’re Ready to Buy, Pay Attention to the Following Factors:

1. Size

Garage doors come in standard sizes, but you’ll have a better chance of finding something that fits your needs if you shop locally. For example, you might find that a two-car garage in a nearby town has a door that’s less than five feet wide. But if your biggest car is a five-foot Jeep, it might be worth a trip to the big city to find something wider and longer.

2. Type

Your home might have a wooden carriage house or a standard steel door. Or you might have seen a cool-looking glass paneled garage door on someone’s new construction and now you want one, too. Whatever style appeals to you, make sure it matches the rest of your home’s design.

3. Openers

There are many different kinds of automatic openers and it can be confusing to choose the one that’s right for you. Manual door openers are the most affordable option and can be the easiest to maintain. However, they aren’t as convenient as automatic openers. If you’re looking for something simple and affordable but still want some of the conveniences of an automatic opener, you might consider a remote-controlled opener. Finally, if you’re looking for convenience and state-of-the-art technology in one package, a fully automatic garage door opener might be right for you.

4. Materials

Wood, steel and aluminum all come in different shades of color and texture. You might have seen a door with a decorative bronze finish on a friend’s home or a beautiful painted slate color on the exterior of your favorite park. Now that you’re planning your own garage door, be sure to keep this aesthetic in mind as you shop for one.

The Benefits of Investing in a Quality Garage Door

Before you officially make the decision to buy a new garage door, consider these top benefits.

1. Safety & Security

A garage door helps keep your home and valuables as secure as possible, which is especially important if you have small children in the house. Automated garage doors are also a great way to grab people’s attention in an emergency or when you don’t want to risk opening your home’s front door.

2. Energy Efficiency

Garage doors can keep your house at a comfortable temperature even on hot and cold days. You can also use them to help keep the heat from escaping – or let it back in – when necessary, which is especially helpful if you heat with natural gas or propane.

3. Aesthetics

Your garage door is one of the first things people see when they visit your home and a great way to add curb appeal. 

How to Find a Reputable Garage Door Installation Company Near You

Looking for reliable residential garage door installation? You’re in luck! Connecticut Garage Door Service is here to help you with anything you need.

Measuring Your Garage for a New Garage Door

Before you buy your new garage door, make sure the space is actually big enough to accommodate it. Most dealers in residential garages offer free measurements, but you should make a tape measure and scale for yourself ahead of time to ensure accuracy.

You can usually break down the check measurements into three different categories: width, height, and opening (opening = opening width × width). For example, a door that’s seven feet wide by six feet tall can fit in 13 square feet of space. When you’re taking measurements, remember to consider the following factors as well.

1. Garage Door Width

Typically, a single-car garage door measures roughly seven feet tall and eight feet wide. You might find a little variation in sizing based on whether you have an older home or a newer one or whether you want a manual door opener or an automatic one (larger doors require more space).

2. Trim & Fascia

Trim is the outside part of the door frame and fascia is the inside part. If you do not have trim or fascia and you are planning on adding it, you should add it to your measurements to ensure that everything fits properly. Most trims and fascia are available in a number of different looks and colors, so don’t be afraid to get creative with your design!

3. Garage Door Height

Garage doors can be anywhere from seven to ten feet high. If you have a narrow space, we recommend a standard eight-foot door. If you have a wider space, it’s fine to go up to nine- or even 10-foot doors!

4. Garage Door Openers

Certain garage door openers are more sophisticated than others and will require extra space for installation. If you’re buying a new opener, make sure you have the necessary room to fit it.

5. Door Sections

Most garage doors are made of two, three or four sections. The number of sections is important, because it affects the amount of space each portion can use and the height of your door. A single, two-section door is the most common with a width of seven feet and height of eight feet. A typical three-section door is eight feet wide and nine or ten feet high. A four-section door usually has a width between seven and eight feet and a height between nine and ten feet.

How to Prepare for the Garage Door Installation Process

Whether you’re buying or renting your home, there are some important things to consider before choosing a garage door.

1. Financing

Depending on your credit situation, you might need to seek out a more affordable financing option that’s right for you. Some financing companies offer special rates that help offset the upfront costs of your new garage door.

2. Door Hardware

Make sure all of the hardware on your new door is included in the price, including hinges, pulls and any other parts you may need for installation.

3. Door Installation

If you’re buying your new garage door and the seller is doing the installation, make sure you know who will be on the job site and what day they plan to install it. If you’re renting your home, make sure your landlord sends a representative to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

4. Motor Lubrication and Testing

After hundreds of cycles of opening and closing every year, garage door openers tend to get noisy or even break down completely. Make sure you know how to properly lubricate your opener and how to test it before the installer arrives. In some cases, this can save you from future repair expenses.

5. Warranty Information

Be sure you understand the terms of your garage door warranty and whether or not it covers common issues that can arise when openers are installed improperly or with low-quality parts. We recommend getting a written copy of your warranty and keeping it in a safe place.

Conclusion

Congratulations on your new garage door! Now you have a space to use for storage, secure your vehicles and more, all without sacrificing the curb appeal of your home. Whether you’re living in a townhouse or an apartment complex, you can always add a garage door in your home to protect the things that matter most to you. At Connecticut Garage Door Service, we offer many options for automatic and manual doors as well as overhead garage doors in Hartford and West Hartford, CT.