It is hard to establish what is the “best” of anything. After all, every person has their own personal tastes about what they like most, regardless of whether one is talking about music, food, movies, even garage doors.
Yes, there is a perfect garage door type for each person out there, and to say that one is better than another is a truly subjective thought. However, general ideas can be provided as to what one should consider when choosing their best garage door, and this article looks to help you in this area.
Let’s Start with Style
The place to begin is with the style of garage door. There are three general types, including:
- Carriage house
- Contemporary
- Traditional
Carriage House
The carriage house is one where the doors open in the middle. It is like a barn door, where the doors fold open starting in the centre. This is a great look, but it may not be ideal for everyone.
Contemporary
A contemporary garage door is one where the door is divided into individual sections which gives a more segmented look to your garage door. This can also mean that segments can have a different appearance than other parts of the garage door, giving you a little more flexibility in terms of look.
Traditional
The traditional garage door is the most common. This is one that pulls and lowers from the top, with the garage door either coming up as one whole piece or in three or four segmented pieces. These are now mostly power operated with a button.
Durability and Maintenance
Besides style, you also want to consider the durability and maintenance needs for the garage door. One that has more moving parts is going to mean that there is a greater likelihood of you needing maintenance performed. Mechanical devices break down, and your garage door is no different.
You may find that you need the services of a garage door repair professional. While many services are quite reasonable to perform repairs, not everyone is the same. Plus, some are better at repairs than others. You want to hire someone who can do the job right the first time.
Location
Of course, the location of the garage door matters as well. For example, you may want to different style and design for your garage door if it is one that is at your home as opposed to one at the warehouse you own. The type of setting for the garage door is important.
What you may find is that the overall needs of the location determine the type of garage door you choose. For example, if you are at a warehouse where you want to protect the goods stored inside, then you are likely looking for a garage door type that provides optimal security. This may mean that the materials used are steel or some other form of metal. Style beyond security needs is less important.
At your home, security is not as big of an issue, but is still important. You want a garage door that deters people from trying to break into your garage or house, but it does not need to be a fortress.
All the Rest
There are obviously other factors as well. Colour, designs on the garage door, and other types of amenities matter as well. However, all these things fit within the general framework of the more important factors.