Garage Door Installation

Garage doors are available in a variety of sizes, and one of the first things you will normally be asked when shopping for a new door is what size the door(s) is/are and how many you need. Do you have one large door for a two car garage? One small door for a one car garage? A combination of multiple doors of the same or different sizes?

The standard size for a double wide garage door that fits two cars is 16 feet wide by 7 feet tall. The standard size for a single car garage door is 8 feet wide by 7 feet tall. However, it is very important to take a tape measure to the opening of the door to get exact sizing, because many times the size may be taller, wider, or shorter than the standard sizing. It is not uncommon to have sizes such as 16×8, 17x8, 18x8, 8×8, 9×8, 9×7, 10×7, 16×6’9, 8×6’9, etc. We are very happy to give pricing over the phone or over email, but are happy to come out for an onsite bid as well if you feel you may need the doors looked at to determine proper pricing.

Most of our doors can be ordered with different levels of insulation to help keep your garage and home warm in the winter months and cool in the summer months. If you have an attached garage, that can translate into hundreds of dollars in energy savings. When choosing to have your door insulated or non-insulated, there are two important things to consider: insulation will affect the temperature of the garage, and it will also affect sturdiness and durability of the door.

Three most common garage door construction types:

Non-Insulated:
This construction type will be one layer of steel with a hollow interior

2 - Layer Insulated:
This construction type will be a layer of steel on the front with an insulated interior, and vinyl covering the back of the insulation. This construction type is a less common choice for our customers because, in comparison the following option, it has a less durable backing and is more prone to cosmetic damage over time.

3 - Layer Insulated Steel Back:
This construction type will have a layer of steel on the front, a layer of insulation on the interior, and then another layer of steel on the back of the door for maximum insulation and durability.

We have a wide variety of styles that are offered in many of the construction types to fit your needs. It is important to note that, if the reason for insulation is because of desire to have the garage temperature controlled, it will have a greater impact if the garage already has insulated walls, which acts in combination with the garage door in maintaining the desired climate.

The next step in purchasing a new garage door is to determine the best material, style, and color that blends with your home’s aesthetics and aligns with your budget.

Material of Door:

When choosing the material of the door, aesthetics, maintenance, and pricing will be the priority. Most economical, yet very durable, steel garage doors are considered the standard on most new homes and come in a variety of styles from traditional to elegant. We do, however, offer doors in other materials such as fiberglass and wood overlay.

If you are looking for a wood look door, we tend to recommend the steel, faux wood look garage doors over the wood overlay doors because the real wood will be more costly (extra layer on top of a standard garage door) and will require maintenance (sanding, staining and resealing) every few years. The manufacturers that we use, in our personal opinion, have one of the most beautiful finishes on the market today for the steel, faux wood doors.

Style of Door:

Traditional Raised Panel
Steel raised-panel garage doors are the most common garage doors in America. Sturdy and reliable, they have a timeless design with raised square panels (short panel) or raised rectangular panels (long or ranch panel) and a deep wood grain overlay. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and window options.

Stamped Carriage House
The carriage house style is a more elegant style that is steel imprinted to resemble the old carriage house doors that would swing or slide open to let the owner’s carriage in or out. This style combines the elegant carriage house look with durable steel construction and overhead technology and usually has a deeper wood grain overlay than the traditional styled door. It has the mechanics of a standard garage door, but it looks like it will open outward with faux hinges and hardware. Customize your design by choosing from a large selection of color, window style, and decorative hardware options. (You may order the doors without decorative hinges/handles if you prefer.)

Designer Styles
We have a wide variety of additional styles such as designer carriage house, recessed panel, steel/fiberglass/wood overlay, and more! We are confident that whatever style of door you are looking to purchase for your home, we will be able to help you find the perfect door to meet your needs!

Please feel free to send us an email if you are interested in the specialty doors, and we will be happy to send over some literature for you to browse through or set you up for an onsite visit to discuss the options with our professionals!

Color of Door:

Most of our steel garage doors will come in a variety of basic colors such as, but not limited to, white, almond, sandstone, desert tan, chocolate brown, and black. Certain models will have a wider variety of additional colors, and many of the models will have several options for the beautiful wood tone finishes.

Windows or Solid?

Windows are a nice addition to the door’s design and can add another layer of beauty to the door. They let sunlight into the garage, and they allow capability to see out of the garage.

It is, however, important to keep in mind, if temperature control is an important factor that the light coming into the garage may bring additional heat into the garage, and, unless they are insulated, may allow heat to escape in the colder months. Additionally, as you are able to look out, someone on the outside will be able to look in, unless you go with a design that limits this, such as obscured glass.

Our doors come with either plain glass squares or can have a design with various decorative inserts that fit your style. We also have options for insulated glass, obscured glass, and specialty designer windows.

Please feel free to contact us today online if you are interested in some literature/photos of the specific and current styles/colors/options to browse. We’d be happy to get this over to you! Please mention in the note section that you would like a link to view the different options for your area and include as many details as possible as to what you are looking for.

The last consideration when you are purchasing a new garage door is to determine whether or not you will need a new automatic garage door opener. If you have an opener that functions properly and has the strength and durability to operate your new garage door, we are more than happy to reconnect it to your new door. If you are looking to upgrade your automatic garage door opener to a new one, please feel free to check out our options for garage door openers!

Below are some important security features to consider when deciding whether your current garage door opener continues to fit your needs:

Advanced Encrypted Wireless Technology
With all of the benefits that come with technological advances in modern living, there are an equal amount of security concerns. Older garage door openers have been wrought with issues involving hackers and code grabbers who find ways to intercept your remote’s opening codes and let themselves into your home. This makes investing in newer models – with more secure technology – all the more essential

Trolley Release System
Perhaps one of the most common methods used to break into home garages involves the exploitation of the emergency release cord. This cord, when pulled, allows your garage door to be operated manually meaning that if it’s accessible from the outside, it can be a fairly serious security risk. Thieves have been known to use a simple wire hanger inserted through a crack in the door to pull this cord to open the garage door manually. Here’s where complicated advancements aren’t always necessary! Newer, quality garage door openers come with a design tweak requiring the cord to be pulled backwards rather than down. It’s just as easy to operate in an emergency situation, but much more logical for security purposes.

Remote Lockout
Smart-home enabled garage door openers, like in the Chamberlain and LiftMaster myQ series, are able to be controlled from your phone. This gives you, the homeowner, the ability to lock your garage door from anywhere in the world. You can also open and close your garage door from your phone, set automatic door locks, and even enable the battery backup when the power is out.

See more about garage door openers!