Ready to start replacing your garage door? Maybe you’re building a new home and need to work out how large your new garage doors should be. Whatever the reason, you’ve probably started looking around at new garage doors and realized there are a plethora of different options out there. Which size garage door should you go for? Here’s what you need to know about residential garage doors sizes.
Single Or Double Garage Door?
The first thing you need to think about is the size of the garage door in question. What kind of door should you have in your garage? If you’re looking for a door on an existing garage, then the decision will have already been made for you. You should have either an opening for a singular garage door or a double one.
That’s not all you need to know, though, as the size of a single garage door will depend on when the house was built. Older homes typically have a door that’s eight feet wide. If you have a newer home, though, then the standard size has been increased to nine feet wide. This is thanks to larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks becoming more popular.
A double garage door, on the other hand, will typically be double the size of a singular door. As such, the most common double garage door is 16 feet across. However, you will see double garage doors out there that are up to 20 feet and are often used to house larger vehicles such as SUVs.
Average Garage Door Heights
As well as the width of your garage door, you’ll have to consider how tall they are too. Again, the age of your home will be a factor. The older the home, the shorter the door will be. Typically, you’re going to see a height of 7 feet in older homes.
If the home is newer, the average height will be between 7 and 8 feet, although you can see some go up to 10 feet in some cases.
Picking The Right Residential Garage Doors Sizes
As you can see, in the past, there was more of an average garage door size, but the same can’t be said anymore. With vehicles getting bigger and homeowners needing different things from their garage doors, there’s a lot more variance in size.
If you need a new garage door, you’ll need to first measure the doorway you have to see how large your new garage door should be. With those measurements, you’ll be able to start looking around and see what garage doors would be suitable for you. You’ll also want to talk to a garage door fitting expert, as they’ll be able to help you get the right door.
Picking The Garage Door Material
There’s a lot more to think about when it comes to picking a new garage door, and that includes the material it’s made of. There are lots of options for you as a homeowner, so you’ll want to know what’s out there. The options you can pick from include:
- Wood
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Wood composite
- Fiberglass
- Vinyl
The material you choose will depend on a lot of things. For example, if you want to use a garage door opener on a double garage door, you’ll need a lighter material so it can handle the weight. If you want a door that comes with inbuilt insulation, a vinyl or fiberglass door will be the way to go. If you want a garage door that has a lot of aesthetic charm, then a wooden garage door will be best.
You’ll also want to consider the weather where you live when picking a garage door material. If you’re prone to storms, you may want to avoid materials that dent easily, such as aluminum. You’ll also want to consider the prospect of rust if you have a lot of wet weather, as that could lead to more upkeep over time.
Opening Style
While you’re considering which kind of garage door to get, you’ll also want to think about how you want the garage door to open. There are lots more styles than you may think, and that may influence other factors in your decision.
Overhead
This is one of the most common options, especially for single garage doors. The door is all one panel, and when lifted, it pulls up, so it’s parallel with the ceiling of the garage. These do require some room in front of the door in order to open.
Sectional
The sectional is another common option out there for garage doors. They are made up of several sections and, when opened, slide up on two parallel tracks until (like an overhead door) the door is up against the ceiling.
Carriage Style
These garage doors will open like a set of large French doors, being hung on hinges on the sides of the doorway. They offer a great old-world look and often blend in well with the rest of the home.
Aesthetic Options
The last thing you’ll need to think about when picking a new garage door is the aesthetic options. There are lots of different things you can do to make your garage door all your own and help it blend in with the rest of your home.
For example, many like to add windows to the garage door. That allows in more light, something you’ll want if you’re looking to use the garage during the day. Some may worry about security with that kind of door, and as such, you’ll want to add privacy options such as frosted glass.
There’s also the option to add decorative hardware to help the door match with the rest of your home. These can be bolted on or attached via magnet if you have a metal door.
There’s so much to consider when getting a new garage door, but the very first thing you’ll want to think about is the size. Standard sizes have changed over the years, so measure your garage door before you start shopping.