Garage Doors: How to Choose a Garage Door For Your Home
BySo you’ve decided that your home is in need of a new garage door. 
Since garage door styles aren’t exactly a favorite topic of conversation, chances are that you’re surprised at the number of panel styles, colours, window, and material choices available today.
You might even be a little confused as to how to choose just the right garage doors for your home.
Even though we, as homeowners, don’t typically regard a garage door as a top priority, making the right choice for your style of home can make a world of difference in the appearance and “curb appeal”. On many homes the garage doors represent one-third of the home frontage. Most Realtors will tell you how important the “first impression” is to the value of your home.
I hope these tips will help:
- First, stand back and take a real good look at your home. What is its shape? Is it a box shape or are there curves in the design of your home? Does your house have wood panels that would be enhanced by a wood-look garage door?
- What shape are the windows in your home? A carriage garage door style might look great if your windows are a curved style.
- If your home has a contemporary modern look, you might want your garage doors to enhance that with glass or wide horizontal panels rather than the smaller square panels.
- There are many styles to consider when looking at the panels of a garage door. The overall look of the door on your home will change dramatically with the different styles so take your time and consider your choices carefully.
- Before you even visit a garage door store, you might consider taking a tour of your neighborhood. You’re sure to see garage door combinations that you’ll like and that will enhance the appearance of your home. Take note of those and perhaps even some pictures.
- Do a little shopping online. All of the garage door suppliers websites, such as ours, Richards Wilcox, display their products quite well, so you can get an idea of the various styles, material, and color options. If you are shopping different brands of garage doors, take note of the manufacturer’s warranty. They’re not all the same.
- When you do visit a garage door store, try to find one that has a working display, (like Garage Door Canada), especially designed for residential garage doors. If you have pictures of your home with you, these displays will help you to visualize how each style will look on your home.
Other considerations when choosing a new garage door. Price ranges, quality, and of course safety. All garage doors are not made equally, neither are the folks who serve you at garage door outlets. Ask questions. Do you feel they’re trying to understand your particular situation, and know garage doors well enough to help you make the proper choice?
When your garage door retailer provides you with their quote, make sure that you clearly understand what’s included, and what isn’t. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, that’s what they’re there for. This could save you a lot of frustration later.
I hope these ideas will help you in making the right garage door choice for your home. You’re always welcome to contact me personally to discuss your needs in the Hamilton Niagara area, and I invite you to visit our garage door showroom in Smithville. Our working display units are very helpful in making the right style choice for your home, and I’ll be happy to help you in any way that I can.
