Garage doors add significant value to your home. Whether you’re a recent homeowner or you want to revitalize a house you’ve lived in for a while, a new garage door may be the perfect upgrade. With regular maintenance and an updated door, your garage can elevate your home on the real estate market and improve your quality of life.
You want to choose a garage door with function, design and affordability in mind and ensure a result that meets all your home’s needs. Our garage door buying advice will prepare you for every detail — from the top garage door styles to the critical components for an ideal budget. When it’s time to make the switch, feel confident in every step of the process with our additional tips for buying a garage door, taking measurements and hiring professional installation services.
Garage Door Buying Guide
Fall back in love with your home when you replace your garage door and expect a multitude of benefits, including:
- A boost to your curb appeal, security and efficiency.
- Improved comfort and convenience.
- A higher return on investment at resale.
Our buying guide will help you achieve these benefits and more with a new garage door.
Function and Design
When buying new garage doors, remember that function and design go hand in hand. Reach a balance that works for you by choosing the perfect style and finish. Consider how windows can enhance your home’s value with various treatment options to match any design. Incorporate your favorite selections into a practical, fashionable product you’ll love.
Style
Your garage door’s style should reflect your taste and your home’s architecture. When you choose from a wide selection of styles, including our timeless raised-panel, carriage house and contemporary garage doors, you will find a design that simultaneously satisfies the personal and the functional.
Consider starting your search with styles that best fit your home’s structure. For example, full-view style doors are excellent for modern design, while homeowners with Victorian architecture generally prefer carriage-house doors.
Remember, the choice is ultimately yours. You can install garage doors in any style, so embrace the one you love. Feel comforted by the appealing, custom design of your new garage every time you return home.
Finish
Set your property apart with a fun and fashionable finish for your door. Your garage door is a significant portion of your home’s exterior, so captivate yourself and your guests with a color that will keep you interested.
Your choice can be as distinctive or fundamental as you want with our wide range of bold hues and natural wood finishes. We use Clopay’s Color Blast® program to offer you 1,500 Sherwin-Williams® colors, so you’re sure to select a shade worthy of your home. A natural wood finish or a custom tint can provide the ideal appearance to any material or complement any style.
Residential garage doors may experience a range of climates. Choose from different finishes built to withstand various weather conditions. BlackHawk Garage Door professionals can advise you on what finishes hold up best in your area and ensure you receive a functional, cost-effective look you love. The Imagination Design app on their website allows you to visualize what the doors will look like on your home, be sure to check that option out on their homepage.
Windows
Customize your garage door with windows and benefit from their unique capabilities. The natural light from windows will visually open any space and create a welcoming atmosphere. Add windows to any style garage door — you can enhance modern homes or rustic farmhouses with tasteful garage door window placement.
If you live in an area that experiences frequent storms or high winds, consider the practical option of impact-resistant glass. Glass obscurity options provide style and sunlight to your garage while ensuring your privacy and security remain intact.
Affordability
Your budget is essential to create the best custom door for your home. A new garage door’s cost depends on various factors. In addition to the choices you make in style, finish and any window selections, the insulation, material, hardware, size and other needs of your garage door can affect its final price tag. When setting a budget, every homeowner will have distinct priorities rooted in personal, environmental and structural requirements.
Consider what is necessary for a garage door in your area — what will improve your quality of life? Factors that most homeowners consider when choosing a budget include:
- The door’s aesthetic appeal.
- The impact of insulation and the creation of a more energy-efficient home.
- The durability required for the environment and conditions it may face.
- The invariable factors, such as garage door size and the number of doors.
Additional improvements may be more beneficial in the long run, with better durability, energy efficiency and quieter operation. Popular garage door options tend to have an attractive style that boosts home value and can range in price — from under $1,000 to $4,000 and beyond — depending on the size and number of garage doors. Carefully consider how much you’re willing to invest for a fully custom garage door with everything you need.
Insulation
An insulated garage door will significantly impact your home’s energy efficiency and comfort level. When you insulate your door, you limit the transfer of warm or cool air from your garage to the outside — saving you energy and money. Homeowners who use their garage for work or storage should consider how insulation can protect property and maintain an overall comfortable environment. Most garage doors will offer insulation options, so it’s worth thinking about.
Material
Most homeowners will choose a garage door’s material based on style preferences and durability.
Showcase natural wood from various species like hemlock, redwood or cedar. Enjoy a handcrafted, natural style when you choose a Classic™ Wood garage door for your home. Homeowners in need of a durable door will appreciate our range of steel garage doors. An Ultra-Grain wood finish on any steel door option can easily replicate natural wood’s beautiful appearance. This choice is excellent for minimal upkeep and increased durability.
Hardware
Regions prone to high winds can take advantage of Clopay’s WindCode® garage doors rated for different wind speeds. These doors contain built-in hardware for an efficient and secure design. Know your home is safe against high winds when you lock your Storm Ready® door without any need for additional reinforcement.
The tracks can be as crucial to your garage door as the style and finish. They guide your garage door rollers and ensure smooth movements. Improve functionality and convenience with the right tracks for your door. BlackHawk Garage Door can let you know which track options would best suit your garage’s layout and needs, then take measurements to ensure a fully operational door.
Garage Door Size
A typical single-car garage door measures 7′ to 8′ high and 8′ to 9′ wide. Double-car garage doors are generally of a similar height with a width of 16′. Whether your garage door fits these standard measurements or happens to be a non-standard size, BlackHawk Garage Door can accommodate custom sizing and will ensure a perfectly fitted door.
Record your existing garage door’s measurements to install an upgrade with a secure fit.
- Height and width: Measure the height and width of your garage’s framed opening without including stop molding. The garage door’s size will equal this measurement.
- Side room: Measure the available space at the left and right sides of your door. Different spring systems — such as standard torsion spring, standard extension spring or EZ-SET® Torsion Spring — will require a specific amount of side room for the vertical track assembly’s attachment. These measurements ensure a smooth installation.
- Headroom: Measure from the top of the rough opening to your garage ceiling. Remove any obstructions within the space above the door. The garage door, overhead tracks and springs will need a minimum of 10″ for extension springs or at least 12″ for torsion springs to function. If your garage has restricted headroom, contact BlackHawk Garage Door about our available options.
- Backroom: Measure your garage’s length from the rough opening to the garage’s back wall. This measurement should meet or surpass the minimum distance required, which equals the height of the door plus 18″.
Professional Installation for Quality Results
Consider hiring professionals when buying a new garage door. While you might wish to do a DIY garage door installation, remember that this process will require specialized tools and a dedicated length of time. Professional installation provides comfort and convenience, making it a worthwhile investment for many buyers. Hired professionals generally need less turnaround time to complete an installation project than homeowners who choose to try the DIY route.
Promptly return to your daily routine and feel more secure with a quality job done right. When you buy from BlackHawk Garage Door, you can receive a limited warranty with our garage door installation services. Give yourself peace of mind when you switch your old door for a Clopay garage door and receive a one-year installation warranty.
Contact BlackHawk Garage Door in Wisconsin and Minnesota
When you’re ready to switch to a brand-new garage door, trust BlackHawk Garage Door for a quick and thorough buying experience. Customer service is our top priority, and we want to ensure you receive a garage door that’s perfect for your home and your needs. With many residential garage doors to choose from, our expert technicians will help you through every step of the process — guiding you from concept to purchase with additional options for professional installation.
Contact BlackHawk Garage Door today, and see how we can help you achieve a perfect garage door that’s functional, well-designed and affordable.