Now that you’ve built your dream home, it’s time to select a garage door. Unsure of where to start with that? While some may suggest that a garage door isn’t really all that important to the look of the house, we would like to point out that it will form a good part of the front fascia of the house. As such, you need to get a beautiful garage door that complements the look of the house and does its job. To get the best garage door for your home, let’s look at some tips that you should pay attention to.
If you are still not convinced on how much a garage door can make or break the look of your house, just go out in the street and look at the size of the door relative to the house. It takes up quite a lot of the front fascia of the house, and as such, will dictate how your house looks; the wrong door could end up making your house look mismatched, while the right door could elevate the look of the house.
So, let’s look at how you can choose the right garage door for your home.
Choosing the best garage door for your home
Let’s start with some tips and things to look out for when in the market for a garage door for your home.
i. Pick your style
With a garage door, the first thing you want to do is pick up a door that matches your style. Considering that the house is built around your personal preferences and style choices, the garage door should not be an exception. If the house is of the modernist type, with straight lines, the garage door ought to match that design. Homes with a specific fascia need a specific door to go with it. And don’t think that money will buy you the best design; good money does not always mean good taste, and your garage door should be reflective of your style and should go with the house just like a hand in a glove.
ii. What build is the door?
By build, we mean what is the type of the garage door. Many garage door companies offer pre-fabricated doors and custom-made doors; it’s up to you to decide which one you want for your home. Prefabricated doors come in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes, and most of them fall within a certain price range, which is usually affordable, since they are mass-produced. If, on the other hand, you go with the custom one, these will cost more than the prefabricated ones, but you will have a garage door that is made exactly as you want it, design and all. Let us state this: prefabricated garage doors don’t look nearly as good as the ones that show a bit of personal style.
iii. Material the door is made out of
Some people prefer wood, others may prefer aluminum and some may go with another material. While choosing your garage door, you should know the pros and cons of all materials that are available. For example, wood might look classy and upscale, but maintaining wooden garage doors can be a bit difficult. Similarly, doors with metal fittings might rust out if you live somewhere where it rains frequently. Therefore, doing a bit of research beforehand can be good; know which materials will serve both form and function without the need for extensive upkeep, and you will then finalise the material of the garage door.
iv. Prioritise either form or function
Let us be honest: there is no gate out there that is made of some exotic, beautiful material that delivers 100 percent protection against even a chainsaw. A delicate balance is required while searching for the perfect garage door for your house, and it is here that you should prioritise one thing: either form or function. Form means beauty, elegance and an aesthetic design whereas function would be security and less upkeep. Beautiful wood designs and ornate materials will look good, but will require more maintenance than usual. Garage door designs geared towards security will not look as good, but less maintenance will be required plus they’ll be nearly impenetrable. So, prioritise: either you want a beautiful gate or a secure gate. Or find a good balance of both.
v. Keep in mind: maintenance
With garage doors, the point is to keep the contents of the garage safe. Whether it’s a priceless car or really your next big project, a garage door is supposed to keep people out. It won’t be much help if the door itself has rotten or rusted out or needs constant care. Therefore, also factor in maintenance work that might be required with a garage door. Beautiful designs, as stated beforehand, will require more maintenance, as will some materials. Solid, sturdy designs with iron used as a base material will require less maintenance. If you are the kind of person to enjoy working on things, a garage door that requires maintenance is a good option. On the other hand, if you cant be bothered with things like these, get a maintenance-free iron garage door.
vi. Who is the supplier/ installer of the garage door
This bit is really important. Imagine selecting a garage door that is just perfect, only for it to come out worse. That’s not your fault, it’s the supplier’s. Similarly, you get a nice garage door, but it is mishandled during installation and it snaps in two. Not good either. Therefore, selecting a garage door should also include selecting the vendor and the installer of the door. If a vendor has a bad reputation for messing up designs, don’t go with them. And if Yelp says a certain installer bungled up the process, steer clear of them. Remember: your garage door is as good as the company you hire to build and install it.
vii. Price
A Lot of people tend to throw money away while building their dream house, but remember: good money does not equal good taste. You can have extremely expensive garage doors that don’t match the house, and it will look horrible. On the other hand, you can have a quality-built, classy garage door for way less. The trick is to go with style rather than price, or go with what your budget allows. Do not overspend: price matters a lot, since you will also have to shell out for installation and any other expenses that might come up. Try to look for a garage door that suits your budget and the design of your home. Don’t overdo it with flashy doors that ruin the look of an otherwise clean, sophisticated house.
viii. Warranty, always
Warranty for a garage door is imperative. We’re not saying that they are bound to break, but there is always some degree of risk with a manufactured product. And without a warranty, should something happen, you’re left with a giant door that doesn’t get the job done and a burn hole in your wallet. Many suppliers offer a warranty, some don’t. Always go with the ones who offer a warranty; the longer the better. Because it’s not just manufacturing fault, sometimes other factors may come into play as well, and since a garage door is a hefty investment, well, we don’t want you to not be rewarded with that investment. A warranty will protect you, your garage door, and some will even offer you an extended warranty should the garage door break and damage anything else that comes in its way. That is a really nice deal: the bottom line is that you should ensure that all bases are covered when in the market for a new garage door for your house.
Trust Universal Doors for the best garage doors
Whether it’s a wooden garage door for your dream house or a rollup door for your business to keep out the hooligans, you can trust Universal Doors to bring the best options for whatever requirement you might have. Providing excellent installation and after sales services, they have a sterling reputation when it comes to doors of any kind. From residential doors to commercial applications, Universal Doors has an extensive catalog of doors designed for all purposes. If you want a garage door that fits your dream house, look no further than Universal Doors.
The best thing about Universal Doors? You don’t have to compromise when you get them on your case. There is no tradeoff between form and function when you get a garage door from Universal Doors. They have a multitude of beautiful, classy and elegant designs that will really elevate the look of your house. However, they are not all about form. Since a garage door’s primary function is protecting whatever is inside, with the best design from Universal Doors, you will also have security to match. High-grade steel and aluminum garage doors will do more than just look good; they will also be nearly impenetrable and built to the highest standards. That is Universal Doors for you.