In our previous post, we explored how to improve curb appeal for your home with several detailed examples. Though it might take time to make all of your home improvement dreams a reality, there’s one element that can make a big impact on your home’s overall look and feel: the condition of your garage door. Whether large or small, your garage door adds to the structural aesthetic of your home and can drastically change the overall look of your property if it isn’t in good shape.

Garage doors can come in a variety of colors, styles, and finishes. The materials also vary from house to house, and there are several things to factor in when choosing the right style of door for your garage that matches and creates a beautiful addition to your home.

Here, we’ll take a closer look at which door options are available and what to consider when choosing the best one for the look you want to achieve:

Depending on if your house is an older, more traditional style, or more contemporary, you might want to choose a garage door style that reflects one of these. That being said, you can choose something that’s a little more current but still goes with your home and garage design and colors. This can be an especially fun way to give your home an overall lift in appearance and increase property value.

One example of a common door design is traditional or raised panel, which are generally made in white and other neutral colors and many contain raised shapes or finishes that give them more texture and depth. They can be made of aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass and are generally a less expensive option.

Carriage-house doors sometimes look like farmhouse or barn-style doors, and can be great for more traditional homes, but some can be made with wood and can create a more contemporary look with the addition of windows, inserts, and metal hardware on the outside.

Contemporary garage doors tend to fall more on the minimalist side of design. Single color doors that match the garage structure itself are popular, as they blend right in to create a uniform look. Sectioned glass panel doors are also becoming increasingly popular, due to their simplistic look that merges well with modern home design.

Styles of garage doors can vary greatly and materials can range from fiberglass and vinyl to sturdier materials, like wood and steel. Other factors to consider when choosing materials are durability and energy efficiency. Wood can be a beautiful option for a garage door, but if you live in an area with a lot of precipitation and ongoing moisture, the wood can buckle, warp, or rot with repeated exposure. Vinyl and steel doors, on the other hand, can withstand the elements more easily and can be more cost-effective to maintain. To keep energy bills lower, wood and steel doors are a great choice, as they generally resist high heat and won’t let much air in or out of your home.

The Up & Up Garage Doors is a family-owned company in Austin, Texas. We are fully-committed to providing the best customer care possible, offering more than a decade of experience in garage door repair and installation. Our company is also fully-licensed, insured, and bonded with an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and many positive testimonials from past customers. We offer 24-hour emergency service, so we are always available, whenever you need us.