What Is the Most Popular Style of Residential Garage Door

03/08/2024
popular style of residential garage door

Wondering what the most popular style of residential garage door is? Garage doors come in various shapes, styles, and sizes. A garage door should be functional and play a role in improving your home’s curb appeal. It takes up much of your home’s exterior space, so choosing a garage door style that best suits your exterior can boost your home’s overall aesthetic. While many styles are available, the most popular style of residential garage door is the sectional door, often provided by Whitaker Garage Doors.

What Is the Most Popular Style of Residential Garage Door?

The most popular residential garage door style in the US is sectional doors. A sectional garage door is the most popular because it’s inexpensive, not prone to problems, and easy to operate. These garage doors are made of panel sections connected by hinges and fitted with wheels at the edge of each panel.

As you open and close the door, the wheels roll inside along the two parallel vertical tracks. The door aligns parallel to the ceiling when fully opened and entirely in line with the walls when closed. This feature maximizes space inside and in front of the garage. It gives extra room in front of the garage for your wider vehicles.

popular style of residential garage door

The sectional panels are available in styles and shapes, from traditional and contemporary to arched and square. They are also available in various material options, including aluminum, glass, and wood. Aluminum is often the most preferred material since it’s cost-effective, while glass gives your home a more modern appearance.

Some sectional doors come designed with windows to take advantage of natural daylight, or you can have windows installed if you want some natural lighting. Additionally, sectional doors can be manually and electronically operated. These doors use high-tension springs that allow you to operate manually and efficiently. The springs also prevent the door from dropping down when left partially open. Some come insulated to keep your garage protected from harsh weather.

Carriage / Swing-Style

A carriage door is another popular residential garage door style. They operate like French doors and are often made of wood hanging from jambs on vertical hinges. They are elegant and classy in appearance, creating an architectural focal point to your exterior.

Swing-style doors are more energy-efficient since they seal perfectly at the header and side jambs. This makes them great for protecting your valuables inside the garage from weather elements. However, they usually require more clearance and can be time-consuming to open and close manually. Automating carriage garage doors can also be quite expensive.

What Is a Common Garage Door?

Knowing standard garage door sizes is crucial when installing a new garage door or replacing the current old garage door. A single garage door is the most common size for residential garage doors. These garage door sizes are ideal for standard homes with standard vehicles.

These garage doors usually measure 10 by 7 feet, 9 by 7 feet, and 8 by 7 feet. But the sizes can vary depending on where you live. However, you may consider installing a larger garage door if you have a larger-than-average vehicle or RV.

How Do I Choose a Good Garage Door?

While there are many garage doors available to choose from, not all will be great for you. They come in different styles, shapes, materials, and colors. Hence, there are several things you need to consider when choosing a garage door. This will ensure you choose the best one for your unique needs.

Type of Garage Door

First, you need to decide on the type of garage door you want to buy. Choose the right type of door based on your home’s style, color combination, and specific needs, like how you intend to use the garage. For example, a carriage house garage door would make an excellent choice if you have colonial-style or modern farmhouse architecture.

Garage Door Material

Once you’ve chosen the right type, you must pick the most suitable material for your garage door. Available in a variety of materials, garage doors may be constructed of the following:

Steel

This is the most common material for garage doors since it’s cost-effective. Steel garage doors are typically double layers of galvanized steel with a composite coating. Some come painted or primed with a waterproof topcoat finish. While they are sturdy, steel doors are prone to denting and rusting. And can cause higher energy bills when not insulated.

Aluminum

Aluminum is mainly used for manual garage doors due to its lightweight design. It doesn’t rust but can easily dent. Aluminum doors are available in different colors and finishes and can be customized with translucent glass for natural lighting.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass makes an excellent garage door material since it doesn’t rust or dent, is incredibly lightweight, and requires less maintenance. However, they can break or crack when subjected to harsh weather conditions or impacts.

Vinyl

Vinyl garage doors don’t dent or break easily. They are incredibly durable and also aesthetically appealing. But they come in fewer color options and are more sensitive to extreme temperatures.

Wood

Although expensive to buy and maintain, wood is one of the most popular and versatile garage door materials. Wood garage doors are usually factory-treated to prevent insect damage. You can also paint your wood door to match your home’s textures and colors.

Wood Composite

This material features a natural wood-like grain. The doors are made of fiberboard sheets connected to a wood frame. Some models come filled with polystyrene insulation.

Color Options

Then, you need to choose the right color for your garage door. Some of the most common color options for residential garage doors include beige or taupe, white, brown, and light or dark gray.

When picking the right garage door color, choose one that matches your home’s color scheme and style. The right color can significantly impact your home’s overall curb appeal. This is also an opportunity to add your statement to your home.

Energy Efficiency

Apart from the type of material, you may also want to consider the level of insulation of the garage door you’re looking to purchase. This is vital in areas that experience extreme weather conditions. Ensure that your garage door has ample insulation to protect your home from the hot and cold weather. Other factors to consider include your lifestyle, budget, and how you intend to use your garage.

Let Professionals Help You Choose the Right Garage Door

As you’ve seen, investing in one of the popular styles of residential garage doors is a superb way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Installing the right garage door also ensures your valuables are safe from burglars and harsh weather elements. Be sure to choose the right garage door style for your home to ensure you get maximum benefits from your investment. The material you select is also crucial as it determines the energy efficiency and durability of the door.

Are you unsure what style, material, and color to choose for your garage door? At Whitaker Garage Doors, we have various garage doors in different styles, shapes, and colors.

Contact us at (914) 690-7773 today, and our team will help you decide on the best garage door for your home. We also offer garage door installations and maintenance services to ensure your door lasts for many years to come.


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