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So, you’ve finally decided to replace your old garage door. Maybe you already have a rough budget lined up as well. All you need to do now is decide what kind of new garage door you want. Well, pat yourself on the back because you’ve already done the hardest part!
Picking a new garage door style is the fun part! Fairmount Door Corporation can even assist you in choosing a new garage door! But before we get to the different garage door styles, let’s first take a look at some important elements to consider when installing your new garage door.
Considerations When Choosing Your New Garage Door
The Style of Your House
Don’t choose a garage door just by itself; consider what your house looks like! You want to choose a style, material, and color that will complement your house and accentuate its best features.
Don’t choose a garage door that matches your house so much that you can’t even see it. A solid white house with a solid white garage door is just going to blend in. There won’t be any unique features at all.
Don’t choose a garage door that is dramatically different from your current house style. If you have a sleek, modern-looking house with lots of black and white colors and a streamlined look, a brown garage door with decorative hardware isn’t going to look right.
*Tip: A good place to start is to match the color of your garage door with your front door or shutters or any other accentuating features.
Your Budget
Don’t forget to take your budget into account when choosing your new garage door. The material of the door is generally the aspect that changes the price so much. Luckily, most styles can work on a number of materials.
*Tip: The range of prices, based solely on material, tends to fall something like this: aluminum → steel → faux wood → glass → wood
Your Personal Preferences
Don’t forget that this is your garage door and your home! If you fall in love with a certain style, go for it! This is your time to get the perfect new garage door for you!
The Main Garage Door Styles
Now that we’ve looked at a few considerations let’s break apart some of the most popular garage door styles. The top three styles that cover most of the other styles are traditional, carriage house, and modern.
Traditional Garage Doors
Traditional garage doors are…well…traditional. If you think of a stereotypical garage door, chances are you’re thinking of a traditional garage door.
These garage doors are the most common type in America. They are highly customizable—color, hardware, panels, etc.
Most traditional garage doors are made of steel, making them a relatively inexpensive but durable option.
The trademark feature of these doors is uniform short or long panels, with or without windows, typically painted white.
Pros: Inexpensive, customizable, goes with most house styles
Cons: Less durable than other materials, basic designs
Carriage House Garage Doors
Carriage house garage doors—also called carriage doors or barn doors—are based off of the doors on the old carriage houses where the carriages were stored. This style is becoming an increasingly popular option among homeowners.
These doors are typically made of steel or wood. If they are made of steel, they often have a faux wood overlay to give a wood-look illusion.
Elegance is the name with these doors. You’ll find them in white or neutral wood tones, subtly complementing the house.
You can spot these doors by the characteristic “X” shape on the front, as well as by the decorative handles that make it appear like the door can swing open.
Pros: Elegant look, customizable, lots of style
Cons: A lot of window/hardware options can add up, wood doors are expensive
Modern Garage Doors
The new player in the game, modern garage doors are not named for their recency but rather for the modern style. This style is growing on higher-end homeowners.
Modern garage doors can be made from any material—wood and glass are featured most often. These doors make a big statement that will draw people’s attention.
There’s so much variety among these doors that it’s hard to narrow down characteristics. Generally, though, you can expect to find neutral colors, especially black, straight lines, no decorative hardware, and asymmetrical elements. Windows running down only one side or flush panels are popular choices here.
Pros: The customization options are endless, a wow factor
Cons: Pricey, may require more maintenance for some materials, doesn’t go with every home type
Other Garage Door Styles
While the above-mentioned styles are the main ones out there, there are a few more that are worth mentioning.
Mid-Century Modern Garage Doors
Mid-century modern garage doors are very similar to modern garage doors. They tend to include more “fun” elements, like brighter colors or more hardware. Read our full page on Mid-Century Modern Garage Doors to learn more about this style.
Contemporary Garage Doors
Contemporary garage doors refer to whatever is new and popular at the time. Currently, this would include full-view glass garage doors and some modern garage door elements.
Specialty/Custom Garage Doors
There are a lot of garage doors that you can customize to suit your exact needs. From unusual door shapes to intricate designs, the perfect garage door style can be made to suit your home.
Specialty garage doors exist for the daring homeowner who wants to make a statement. Axolotl from Amarr has the newest, most unique garage door styles available!
Contact Us for a New Garage Door Installation
Whew, that was a lot of styles to go through! What struck your interest the most? If you’ve chosen your dream garage door or still need some more help deciding, contact Fairmount Door Corporation for a quote! We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. We can’t wait to see your new garage door!
