For added privacy and style, check out the Princeton P-12 design, 9' x 8', Iron Ore Walnut and Ice White overlays, with 8 windows that let in natural light while keeping the garage less exposed. When you don’t want your whole garage on display, this is a good solution
Of course, you can’t just dive into designing a garage. Some steps need to come first, including taking the time to make some very important decisions. It’s not a bad process and you do stand to learn a lot. Plus, you’ll be a lot more involved in the process by knowing what you want.
You can’t choose sizing until you consider functionality and restrictions
Although we talk a lot about garage door style, the functionality deserves just as much consideration, if not more, because it will be the difference between whether the garage ends up living up to your needs and expectations. Most well-cared-for garage doors can last up to 25 years or more, which is why you need to consider practical function as much as curb appeal when making your decision.
This isn’t an everyday purchase and it deserves that extra attention. Take the time to think about what you want and need in a door and get to know the available options. You will quickly find that having a better idea of your preferred design and features will make the entire garage design or renovation that much simpler.
When choosing between 2 single doors or 1 double garage door, there are some technical factors to keep in mind.
● Garage size and vehicle type(s)
The two biggest factors that determine your garage door selection are the size of your garage and the vehicles that you’ll be parking or storing inside. For example, you’ll need at least 18 feet of width and 22 feet of depth for two medium-sized cars or trucks. If you want to guarantee access, the dimensions of your single doors must be a bit wider than if you were parking small vehicles or recreational vehicles.
NOTE: Get plans with the ideal garage dimensions from House Plans Helper’s website depending on whether you want single, double, or even triple doors. Plus, you’ll see every possible residential garage door size, to ensure that you know how many vehicles and what types of vehicles will fit in your space.
● Climate Considerations
Double garage doors might be a bad idea in extremely hot or cold climates—especially when the garage is attached to the house. Opening one large door will allow more air to escape than if you open smaller single doors individually.
When it comes to these technical details, you’ll be much more successful if you enlist the help of a garage door expert.
So, when should I choose single garage doors?
Our Vog design garage door in charcoal, 9' x 7', with left-side Harmony windows, is pictured above. Note the warm charcoal that complements the beige and wood tones of the openings.
For Practical Reasons
From a practical standpoint, it almost always makes sense to have two doors that work on their own instead of one large door. For starters, if that large door stops working for some reason, you can’t access your garage at all. With single doors, one might remain working so that you can get in and out until the other is repaired.
With two single garage doors, you can also enjoy leaving whenever you like. No more musical cars in the driveway or worrying about who can get out first because the cars can be parked side by side and accessed separately.
Some people appreciate having two single doors for their garage because it offers more privacy. Whether it’s a mess you’re hiding or valuable vehicles or ATVs, you’ll be able to ensure that the whole neighborhood isn’t looking inside your garage. You could even use one side as a storage space, home gym, or office space and keep one door closed to ensure that your space isn’t visible to the world.
You’ll find plenty of inspiration with these 30 garage organization and conversion ideas from HGTV or other sites like Houzz or Pinterest.
This gym looks great, doesn’t it? If you’re thinking about creating a home gym, check out the Spruce’s article on step-by-step conversion of your garage into a home gym. Image courtesy of Pexels.
Durability and Longevity
When you have two doors, you run fewer opening and closing cycles, which means that separate doors will provide more longevity and less maintenance when compared to a single, larger double door that has to open and close much more frequently.
For Insulation and Climate
Regions with cold winters, extreme heat, or heavy rains will enjoy having two doors to help protect the space from the elements. You’ll limit outdoor exposure by only opening the door that you need. This means that there is less air leaving or getting into the garage and that your utility bills aren’t sky high because of your attached garage.
A two-car garage with a single door has a much larger opening to allow in the wind, rain, and other elements. If you do opt for the double door, make sure that you choose one with premium insulation. The experts will help you choose the best R-value, or level of resistance to airflow, that will be needed. You can also get an idea for yourself right here.
Check out our Eastman E-21 garage doors with ice white overlays and a claystone finish, in 9' x 7' size with panoramic lite windows. Check out how the individual doors help balance the exterior and add to the curb appeal? A double door might not look as good.
So, when should I choose a double garage door?
If you’re looking to make a statement, a double garage door could enhance your driveway and more. This model is our Moderno Multi in Chocolate Walnut, 16' x 8', with left-side harmony windows.
Flexible Space Options
If you choose to go with a double door, you’ll have more options on how you use the space. You can choose to park one car and use the rest for a workshop or storage, or even park two vehicles inside when you know the weather will be bad.
This will give you plenty of room to move around and still use the space in any way that you like, including for storage. Check out HGTV’s 55 cool ideas for storage that are practical and still stylish.
The North Hatley LP design in Moka Brown shows how great a double garage door looks at night. This model features Orion windows and measures 16' x 8'.
Maintenance is Simpler
With a single garage door, there’s less maintenance involved. You only have one set of tracks, springs, cables, and a single garage door opener. With two doors, you end up with twice as many parts to maintain and that could become damaged.
You’ll want to invest in lubricant made for hardware, as well as one for PVC. You’ll want to ask a professional what they recommend, but you won’t have a hard time finding them. You can consult this online guide if you don’t want to venture out to a store.
You’ll also want to have an annual tune-up performed by a technician that’s experienced in garage door maintenance and care. Whether you’ve got one, two, or even three garage doors, a technician will inspect everything to ensure it’s working and not in need of repair. This can extend the life of your double garage door and all of its components.
This is about all the space a double garage door will give you, not to mention convenience. The 16' x 8' Standard+ Shaker-Modern XL design, in Iron Ore Walnut with sandblasted windows makes a great match with Novatech's Soho door from the Shaker Collection.
And of course, there’s the garage door opener to consider…
When you’re investing in new garage doors, you’ll want to take the time to consider a new garage door opener. Some people have relatively new garage door openers and just need a new door. Others require a full replacement. In any case, you’ll want to make sure that you choose a garage door opener that is high-powered and strong enough to easily lift a double door. There is a lot to consider. Single doors are lighter and could be totally fine with a basic opener. It’ll be up to you to choose what’s best.
And when you’re choosing, don’t forget about the leading styles of garage door openers from LiftMaster. These are some of the best openers available, offering high-end style and design from the Chamberlain Group. Plus, you’ll even find smart door openers that feature myQ technology, so that you can open, close, and monitor your garage door right from your smartphone.
With myQ technology, you could be down the street or around the world, and you’ll be notified as soon as movement is sensed in the garage or the door is accessed. This will ensure that you always know what’s going on and that your home is safe.
Check out 9 uses for a smart LiftMaster garage door opener. With this new technology, you’ll never worry about what’s happening with your garage.
How do I choose a garage door opener?
The first consideration will be the space you have, including height. Your budget and the door size will also impact your choice. Plus, you can’t forget to factor in how many times you open and close your garage door every day. That will help you ensure that you get the best door opener.
It’s a lot more than a button that opens the garage door. If you enlist the help of a specialist, you can get all the details about different garage door opener models from LiftMaster and what they offer.
So, now that you’re armed with information, what’s it going to be?
Regardless of what you choose, the final choice is yours to make because this is your home and it will be your garage door and opener.
Of course, it’s also a good idea to talk to garage door experts that can help you consider all of your needs and make the best purchasing decision.
Are you ready to design your perfect garage door?
The Door Company offers a huge selection to help you decide on the perfect look for your new residential garage doors. These high-quality doors are grouped into 3 trendy styles: Contemporary, Carriage House, and Traditional. Beyond those categories, you can choose whatever panel design, colours, and even windows that suit your tastes.
You’ll get even more inspiration in our Design Centre, where you can create your own unique garage door and even try it on your home. It’s not easy to provide enough options for every single person’s taste, so being able to customize your design to fit your home will make it that much easier. Plus, if you find what you like, just request a free quote and it’ll be in your email in no time.
What about maintenance, installation, and repairs?
The Door Company has a team of skilled techs that will assist with every aspect of garage door maintenance, installation, repair, and more. You can reach out to us at 613-821-2130 and one of our experienced team members will be ready to help right away.
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