Garage Door Styles

Garage door types 101: How to choose a type and style of garage door that will best meet your needs

Most people recognize the importance of carefully choosing the door for the front entrance of their home. Obviously the size, style, color and function of your front door has a huge impact on the overall appearance and operation of your home.

Fewer people are astute enough to recognize how much a garage door also reflects upon the image of one’s home and property, and therefore is also worthy of careful consideration. After all, the garage door is the primary visible element of the structure, and one’s garage should contribute rather than detract from the appearance of your home. Your garage door should blend seamlessly with the exterior style, colors and construction materials of your property.

In addition, you will want to choose a garage door with functions that best meet your needs in regard to size, ease of opening and closing, and security and safety features.

Keeping these considerations in mind, you are now ready to consider various types of garage doors.

Garage doors generally fall into three basic categories:

• Overhead types, including various models that look and function with distinct characteristics.
• Bi-folding doors, that open outward from hinges along the sides of the entrance
• Rolling doors, that slide sideways parallel to the front of the garage. These may roll along the outside or the inside of the structure. The latter require space along the inner wall which must be clear for functioning, which may limit the available storage space in your garage.

Overhead garage doors open from the bottom and slide up to rest along the ceiling of the garage; these are by far the most common type chosen for residential properties. Most models of overhead doors can be readily fitted with automatic garage door openers, and most are relatively easy to lock securely. Many models of overhead garage doors are available in a wide variety of construction materials.

Flat overhead garage doors open out from the bottom, requiring a good deal of space between your vehicle and the door for free movement. If your driveway is short, this may be a problem. You might also note that this type of door retracts completely into the garage. If you live in a rainy climate, this may be a disadvantage, because rainwater will run off the top edge and drip in the interior of your garage.

An overhead door that works on rollers, rolling straight up and then angling into place along the ceiling may be a better option in rainy areas, as the rainwater will be shed as the door rolls up.
Other overhead doors retract only partway into the garage, leaving a handy overhang outside the entrance like an awning to protect one from rain or snow.

Bi-folding doors may be a good choice for some decors or styles of homes, and their security can be ensured by using bolt-locks at the top and bottom of each side of the door.

Rolling doors are often selected for large entrances, as they do not require heavy lifting (by human or electric garage door opener) to operate. They are available in a wide selection of materials.

A garage door professional can provide you with detailed information about the pros and cons of various types of doors and help you determine the best choice for your needs.