May 13, 2024
1. Size It Up
How big is the new garage door that you need? The minimum size of a single Australian garage is 3.0m x 5.4m, whilst a double garage must be a minimum of 5.4mx 5.4m. (Indesign Live, 2022)
Therefore, you need to measure the width and height of the new garage door opener. It is also essential to ensure enough room inside your garage, specifically for the other components, like the tracks and springs. You need to remember that the requirements vary depending on the manufacturer.
2. Know Your Garage Door Type
Knowing the type of garage door that suits your needs is important. There are many garage door styles to choose from, and being one of the most important design features for your home, you want to be confident in your decision. Also, garage doors must be strong enough considering the Australian climate.
To help you with this, here are the common types of garage doors you can choose from:
Sectional doors
Also referred to as panel doors, this type of garage door is made from horizontal, hinged panels that slide up over tracks on the side and put the door panels against the roof when raised.
One of the best things about this type of garage door is that it can be designed to blend seamlessly with your home’s exterior. On the other hand, if you want to create a bold look, you can also do that with a sectional door.
Roller doors
If you have a garage with plenty of headroom, then roller garage doors may be the perfect type of garage door for you. Roller doors roll up around a centre drum, which can fit almost any size of opening.
Tilt doors
This type of garage door is used for homes with limited space inside the garage.
A sectional or tilt door consists of a singular solid panel and can be clad with almost any material, and sectional garage doors can even be equipped with windows.
So, what is your garage door style? At the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal preference.
3. Consider the Design
Choosing a design for your garage door is one of the most exciting parts of the process, especially since there are many designs to choose from today.
Think about curb appeal when choosing a design. You want something that will add more value to your home. So, when choosing a design, make sure it brings significant curb appeal that will make your home stand out.
For example, if you go for a sectional door, there are four standard designs: squares, horizontal lines, rectangles or a plain panel. On the other hand, you can even have the garage door customised if you want to.
4. Look Into the Materials
There are different materials you can choose from for your garage doors. One is wood, which is very popular but is high-maintenance and expensive.
Another popular material is steel, which requires less maintenance and can withstand extreme weather conditions.
There is also fibreglass, which may also be framed with aluminium. This material is a great choice if you live close to the sea or saltwater lake because it can resist saltwater corrosion better than other materials.
5. Choose the Right Garage Door Installer
6. Find the Right Colour
There are several considerations when choosing a garage door colour for your home. First is the area your house is in. Some homeowners would like to fit in with the style and colour of other garage doors in the area, whilst others want something completely different.
Another thing to consider is the exterior colour of your home. You want to choose a colour that will complement your home’s exterior.
Finally, you want to think about the herb appeal of your home because this will add great value to your property. This couldn’t be even truer for homeowners who plan to sell their property soon. Take the time to invest in your garage door because it’s part of your home’s facade; hence, it will play a crucial role in your overall property.
A popular colour for garage doors in Australia includes natural and warm colours, whilst darker colours are perfect if you want to evoke a more modern look to our property. Darker colours may also give your home that stylish and sleek appeal.
On the other hand, if you are not sure which colour to choose, it is best to stick to lighter colours, as they are often suitable for all colours and styles of homes today. Plus, lighter colours have that timeless effect.
6. Find the Right Colour
There are several considerations when choosing a garage door colour for your home. First is the area your house is in. Some homeowners would like to fit in with the style and colour of other garage doors in the area, whilst others want something completely different.
Another thing to consider is the exterior colour of your home. You want to choose a colour that will complement your home’s exterior.
Finally, you want to think about the herb appeal of your home because this will add great value to your property. This couldn’t be even truer for homeowners who plan to sell their property soon. Take the time to invest in your garage door because it’s part of your home’s facade; hence, it will play a crucial role in your overall property.
A popular colour for garage doors in Australia includes natural and warm colours, whilst darker colours are perfect if you want to evoke a more modern look to our property. Darker colours may also give your home that stylish and sleek appeal.
On the other hand, if you are not sure which colour to choose, it is best to stick to lighter colours, as they are often suitable for all colours and styles of homes today. Plus, lighter colours have that timeless effect.
7. Consider the Thickness of the Garage Door
If your home is situated in a noisy area, the thickness of your home will be important in mitigating the noise. Although insulated doors aren’t widely available in Australia, you can have them custom-made instead. A typical garage door has a thickness of 30mm to 51mm.
Insulate!
Most homeowners use their garage for more than just a place for their vehicles. In addition, 40 per cent of household energy use accounts for heating and cooling in the average Australian home. (YourHome, 2014)
To make your home energy efficient, insulation is the way to go. In addition, energy efficiency can also help with noise reduction, especially for homes in noisy areas. This is because the insulation is thicker, which will reduce count transfer to other parts of your home.
Also, garage door insulation will bring more comfort as it will regulate the amount of cold and hot air escaping to and from your garage.
8. Be Mindful of Wood Doors
How many times have you been captivated by wooden garage doors? Probably a lot of times. Or you probably pass by a couple of houses on your way to the office with a wooden garage door, and you love them—and you want them on yours too!
Before you do that, you need to be willing to devote a lot of time and money to maintain them; otherwise, they will not look that good for long.
We are not saying that you should not get wood garage doors. We’re saying that you need to think about it and fully commit to it. Natural finishes can last a few years before needing recoating. Waiting too long isn’t going to help.
9. Think About Adding Windows
Windows fitted to your garage door are a great idea; they can let natural light come in, making the area brighter. Adding windows across the top section of the garage door is a perfect position, and there are several options that you can choose from.
Typically, windows that are fitted to garage doors are rectangular or square and embossed. However, you can achieve a flat look if you want to.
The shapes of the windows are often plastic inserts held by edge framing that holds the insert, front, and perspex window from being fitted.
10. Manual or Automatic Garage Doors?
Do you want a manual or automatic garage door? If you want a manual or automatic garage door, it is more affordable. A manual garage door will fit perfectly if you have a small budget.
In addition, maintenance is the least of your concerns when you have a manual garage door because it is easier to maintain. Often, you only need regular check-ups and minimal servicing with a manual garage door.
The downside of a manual garage door is that it’s inconvenient compared to automatic garage doors. It’s because you need to open and close the door manually instead of simply waiting in your car for it to open or close.
Now, automatic garage doors are gaining so much popularity in Australia. Although they are more expensive, they are safer because they eliminate the risks of crashing down. Almost ten per cent experienced having a family member or pet injured by a garage door. It’s also beneficial for those with a medical condition such as arthritis or not fit to lift a garage door manually. (Homeloans.com.au, 2018)
There are many safety features that you can have with an automatic garage door, such as motion detection and auto reverse.
In addition, you get extra security with an automatic garage door. Some of its security features are encrypted wireless technology, key ring-type remote controls, and security pin-code access pads.
One of the downsides of an automatic garage door is the cost. Also, maintaining an automatic garage door is needed more compared to manual garage doors. As much as possible, an electric garage door must be serviced by a professional at least once a year.
Wrapping Up
References:
- McGee, C. (2013). Energy | YourHome. Www.yourhome.gov.au. https://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy
- Standard Garage Size Australia: What are the Average Dimensions of a Single & Double Garage? (2022, March 24). Indesign Live: Interior Design and Architecture. https://www.indesignlive.com/segments/standard-garage-size-what-are-the-average-dimensions-of-a-garage-in-australia
- garage-door-safety-risk. (n.d.). Www.homeloans.com.auhttps. Retrieved November 14, 2022, from https://www.homeloans.com.au/en/news/garage-door-safety-risk
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