So you’re considering upgrading your garage doors to improve the curb appeal, increase energy efficiency, or simply make using them easier, but you’re not sure what sort of door installation to select? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer; different types and styles of garage doors fit different homes. However, you can consider some of the most popular styles and materials available to understand your options and find out how different garage door materials can impact the exterior appearance of your home.

Table of Contents

1. Types of Garage Doors
2. Garage Door Styles
3. Garage Door Materials

Types of Garage Doors

Sectional Garage Door

If you’re in Canada, you’ve probably seen these doors. Most Canadian homes are best off with a sectional door, as they’re an appropriate type of door for the harsh winter weather. These doors are operated by a wheel and vertical-track system. 

The resting open position of a sectional door is parallel to the ceiling, which means the door must be able to make a 90-degree turn in order to clear the garage door opening. To allow for this turn, sectional doors are composed of several smaller panels, connected by hinges, which allow the door to curve during operation. This reduces the opening clearance, which makes these doors the most common. 

Although they are similar, it’s important to note that a sectional garage door is different than a roll-up garage door. While it may technically “roll up”, this term is more often used to refer to non-residential garage doors.

Roll-Up Garage Doors

Roll-up garage doors, also known as coiling garage doors, roll up into themselves in order to create the required clearance. They’re built to withstand heavy usage and are more often used in commercial settings. Due to the heavy-duty nature of this garage door design, the up-front costs are typically higher than the more common sectional designs. 

Side-hinged garage door

Side-hinged Garage Doors (also known as side opening or ‘swing’ garage doors) are a more traditional style of garage door that is rare in climates where snow accumulates. While they are sometimes chosen for their attractive appearance and function, after just a few inches of snow they can become inoperable. These doors operate in a similar fashion to large French doors, swinging on side hinges to open outwards. Typically built as wood garage doors, other options, such as galvanized steel garage doors, have become available in recent years.

These doors are similar in appearance to large barn doors and are an alternative to sectional garage doors or roll-up garage doors with overhead obstructions or limited headroom. Installation of these types of doors is fairly straightforward, as they can be fitted into existing openings in pre-hung steel frames. 

Canopy style garage door

You’ve likely encountered this type of door at a grandparent’s home. It operates in a very similar fashion to a sectional door, with a resting opening position parallel to the ceiling, but this single-panel garage door requires more clearance in order to operate. If there is limited space available, these doors can be more of a hassle than a more modern sectional garage door.

Canopy-style garage doors are operated by a spring mechanism which lifts the door from the sides. During operation (or if not fully open), these doors can resemble a canopy, as a part of the door will stick out on an angle. 

Tilt-up retractable garage door

These doors are an improvement in terms of functionality compared to canopy-style garage doors, but are slightly more complex than a sectional garage door. Tilt-up retractable doors were designed to solve the problem posed by canopy doors, so they do not protrude from the front of the house. The door panel opens on horizontal tracks, with retractable gearing as a key feature of these doors. 

Because of the complexity of these doors, they were designed for use specifically with an electrically-operated garage door opener. However, this also means they don’t function manually as smoothly as a sectional door. 

Garage Door Styles

As with all trends, the most popular garage door styles change over time. They’re often dictated by the style of home you have; for example, a carriage house or a craftsman-style home will often differ from a minimalist, modern home design. Some customers prefer a mix-and-match approach, giving their home the maximum curb appeal by combining different garage door styles and home styles. Canadoor offers a multitude of different options, so we can help you find the perfect garage door style for your home. Here are some of the options:

Traditional Panelled Garage Doors

Traditional panelled garage door styles are very common and easily recognizable. These doors are typically classic, symmetrically designed, and monochromatic, and come in both wood and steel options. Window panels can be added to complete the look and add light to the garage. Panelled doors can also be insulated, if desired, to keep the garage warm during the chilly Canadian winter.

Carriage Garage Doors

A charming, country-classic look, carriage wood style garage doors are inspired by old carriage houses from the horse-drawn carriage era. These doors offer a throwback, rustic, and historic look, combined with the convenience of electrically-operated garage door openers. These doors come in wood, steel, and wood composite, and are easily insulated if you want to keep your garage storage warm during the winter.

Contemporary Garage Doors

A contemporary garage door is clean and modern and is chosen for the unique look of each door. Rather than the symmetrical rectangular design of traditional panel doors, contemporary style garage doors feature asymmetrical patterns which look especially sleek next to more modern home designs. These doors are available in steel, wood, and wood composite, but also include options like aluminum and glass to accompany any modern home design. 

Wood and Wood Composite Garage Doors

Wood and wood composite doors both achieve a rustic feel with wood-grain textures and appearance. Unless an authentic wooden door is a must-have, we typically advise our customers to go with a faux wood garage door, as it achieves the same look while providing extra durability and strength.

Garage Door Materials

1. Steel Garage Doors

Steel garage doors are commonly chosen for their heavy-duty strength and durability. They’re available in a wide range of styles and price options, which differ depending on inclusions such as insulation and metal gauge. These doors are easily painted to match or contrast the colour of your home. 

2. Wood Garage Doors

Real wooden garage doors are a commonly-desired material for their rustic charm. These doors look great in all kinds of styles, including traditional, contemporary-modern, and carriage-house. Reclaimed wood can add a rustic charm while reducing the use of lumber. Wooden doors can be made from a wide variety of timber species, including cedar, hemlock, and more. 

Most of these options can be insulated for warmth and can be stained, primed, or finish-painted to your preferred style to provide added protection to your door. It’s worth noting that while wood doors look great, they’re more susceptible to degradation over time as they’re exposed to moisture and harsh weather conditions. If you’re considering a real wood garage door, it’s worth comparing it to a wood composite door to make sure you’re making an informed decision.

3. Wood Composite  

If you want the look of a wooden door, but want a low maintenance solution over the life of your investment, a composite wooden door is a great option. Commonly constructed by layering wood composite on top of steel, these doors provide a similar look to a real wooden door while reducing the risk of long-term degradation and function issues. 

Wood composite materials are commonly moulded from real wood pieces to reproduce a natural, authentic wood-grain texture. Wood composite garage doors are also less likely to twist and warp in the steel frame than real wood, which provides added longevity. 

Conclusion

If you are looking for the most popular type of garage door, a Sectional Garage Door is your answer. Beyond the type of door, you will also need to consider what material will fit best with the style of your home – steel for a more modern look, Carriage Wood for a classic feel, or wood composite for a similar rustic charm without the hassle of maintenance. 

The overall style of your garage doors is up to your personal preference, but with these factors in mind, you’ll be sure to find the perfect garage door for your home. Contact Canadoor’s garage door experts when you’re ready to begin remodelling your home.

About Canadoor Garage Doors

Canadoor Garage Doors specializes in residential garage door installations in Barrie. Since 2009, our reputation has been built on superior quality garage door system installation and reliable service repairs. No project is too big or too small for our technicians. We provide complete residential overhead door solutions, including garage doors, openers, springs, cables, and additional hardware.