What Is a Standard Garage Door?

Do you think it's easy to walk in and just purchase a garage door?

If you want the correct style, design, and size, it's not as easy as you think. There is no one-size-fits-all garage door to meet everyone's needs. Every homeowner has different criteria that need to be met based on things like height, width, insulation, design, and other elements.

Choosing a garage door can take days or weeks to complete. You have to measure, then look at designs, compare, measure again, and compare some more. The process can be very grueling.

Luckily, we've compiled a short guide to help you with this complicated process.

Your idea of a regular car could be a 1996 Ford Escort. Someone else's idea of a regular car might be a 1969 Mustang. Garage doors work the same way.

Your neighbor might need a 16-foot garage door. This might be his "regular" garage door. However, in your eyes, a regular garage door could be a 10-foot design. Maybe it is black, and yours is green. The differences could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Many different garage doors exist for the same reason so many different types of vehicles exist. Consumers and homeowners have different needs and live in varying types of areas. A person living in Alaska doesn't need the same level of insulation on their garage door as someone in Arizona. Someone with a pink house wouldn't want the same garage door color as someone with a brown house.

Purchasing a garage door doesn't have to be overwhelming. Sometimes it takes some help to understand all the specific categories that come with making the right selection.

The best place to start when beginning your search is deciding on size. These are the most commonly purchased garage door widths:

● 8-feet

● 9-feet

● 10-feet

● 12-feet

● 14-feet

● 16-feet

Start with the height of your garage door and branch out to other characteristics from there.

Take a look at this gorgeous double garage door. This model is a Moderno Multi, 16’ x 7’, Black, Azur windows.

Things to Think About Before Making Your Decision

If you're going with a completely new design of garage door, including height and width, you have your work cut out for you.

If it's a brand new door you're after, there are helpful apps online that can assist you with measurements so you can find the perfect design. One of the most important things you need to have prepared is space in your garage to install the tracks to lift the door (otherwise known as lifts). Many types of lifts are manufactured based on height, width, and other measurements. The type of lift you choose all depends on the size of the garage door you choose.

The first step to building a new garage is deciding what you will be using the garage for. You don't need the same characteristics of a garage built for two cars as you do for one. There's also no need to invest the money on a garage primarily used for storage and one used for hosting or storing multiple vehicles. It's important to plan carefully before you start making important style decisions.

How Will the Garage Be Used

Is your garage going to be primarily for storage, or will you use it to entertain guests and host events? If the primary use is for social purposes, certain door setups can still be important. You might consider using double-doors to form a line in and a line out if you're serving food and have tables with various dishes.

If you have one vehicle, remember one car will fit snug with seven feet. If you want extra space for more door clearance or storage around the vehicle, 10 feet is more accommodating.

Use this list as a guide for measurements based on specific vehicles.

● Small to medium-sized cars: 7' or 8'

● Large cars: 9' to 10'

● Full-sized trucks: 12' to 14'

● Boats: 14' to 20'

● RV's: 18' to 20'

● Trailers: 10'

Use the chart above to help you when you're drawing up your plans.

We've made this list to assist you with possible size options based on the contents of the garage and the number of doors.

● Single Doors: 7' to 12'

● Double Doors: 14' to 20'

● Safely Park One Car (Teenagers, Elderly): 14' to 20'

What are your options when you have a vehicle and an RV or boat?

You have two choices with this configuration. You can purchase a large 20-foot door and use the single entrance for both items.

Alternatively, you can use a 12-foot door and a 16-foot door to house them separately. Each one of these has its own set of pros and cons.

You would spend close to the same amount on one 20-foot door as you would on one 12 and one 16-foot option. However, you would end up spending extra money on having two garage door openers. An efficient remedy to this would be only to make one door open electronically. The boat and RV probably wouldn't be used as often as the truck. You would make the non-electric door for the boat or RV since lifting it without an opener wouldn't happen as often.

Look at this beautiful shed’s garage door. This is a Grooved design, 6' x 7', Ice White, Clear windows.

Smaller garage doors are used on "she-sheds", as your wife would lovingly refer to them. These smaller bay doors are great for driving mowers and other lawn equipment into. Walking your tools and wheelbarrow in is also perfect, especially if you have a small ramp.

Using a LiftMaster garage door opener

There's no need to invest extra work when you can have a technician do it for you. Our trained experts are waiting to assist you with routine inspections and maintenance. They're also certified in installing electric garage door openers.

Our technicians can also install electric garage door openers to make your life a lot easier. LiftMaster is a leader in the electric garage door opener industry. Some of the best models are manufactured by LiftMaster, like the model 87504-267.

If someone needs emergency access to the garage and you're not home, you can open the door from your phone no matter where you're at. The Wi-Fi connectivity and smart technology make this one of the most efficient designs at combatting thieves and break-ins. Suppose the system senses someone trying to compromise the door with force. In that case, it will automatically respond with pressure from the other side to stop it from opening.

This is only one of all the options available from LiftMaster's lineup.

The Design of Your Garage Door

When we measure and design your door, normally, they are cut to the nearest inch. The weatherstripping of your choosing fills to space leftover, leading to an efficient install that doesn't have gaps. This is important when it comes to insulation and winterizing.

Have you ever not paid extra for custom work? Dealing with us, you won't be. We provide the exact dimensions and specifications you want for no extra cost.

There are many elements when it comes to the garage door that can be unpredictable. For example, the size or pattern of the door might look different individually as opposed to when it's lined up next to another door.

This is why we provide our clients with the Design Centre, so you can preview exactly what your doors will look like in their potential configuration. There's no extra charge to use this feature.

Starting with the Style

A garage door is one of the most major elements of the cosmetics of your house. You want a perfect mixture of usability and style.

Our garage doors are broken down into three different styles to get you started: Traditional, Contemporary, and Carriage House. After you choose a style, doors are further broken down by model, size, and other characteristics.

To help you along your journey, discuss with one of our experts at Norwood Door Systems. If you're already prepared to pull the trigger, we can send you a free quotation by email.

If you want to be the talk of your neighborhood by having a stunning garage door, call us at 508-668-9393.