Typically, we don't notice the garage doors on other people's homes, and it's not because we can't see them. Many homes have their garage doors facing the street, and you can't miss that. We just don't take note of the garage doors because they are all nondescript. They're not ugly. They're not pretty. They're just, well, your average garage door.
At the end of the driving tour, it's easy to think there aren't many garage door styles available. But that's not the case. There are numerous beautiful garage door styles, and taking that driving tour really makes you appreciate them.
Garage Door Styles that Boost Your Home's Value
Making your home look much more attractive is incentive enough to get a new garage door, but when you find out changing your garage door can also increase the value of your home, everyone starts to pay attention.
In 2006 realtors across the country were asked to do the same thing I just suggested. Only instead of driving around, they were given pictures of the same home with the only difference being the garage door. After looking at the pictures, the realtors were asked to assign an asking price to each picture.
The study, which was conducted by Stratamark Research and garage door manufacturer Clopay Building Products, found that replacing your garage door with one that enhanced the curb appeal of your home could increase your asking price from 1 to 4 percent.
So if you've needed an excuse to get a new garage door, there it is. The trick is you must purchase a garage door that matches the style of your home in order to get that increase in your asking price.
Why More Homes Don't Have Attractive Garage Doors
Knowing that beautiful garage doors are available and owning one can increase the value of your home, you'd think that more people would have attractive garage doors. But if you take the driving tour, you'll see that's not the case. So naturally, you start to think that getting an attractive garage door will cost a fortune - far more than the 1 to 4 percent you could get in return when selling your home. But that's not the case.
During my visit to Clopay Building Products, I asked the company's marketing manager, Pat Lohse, if beautiful garage doors were simply too expensive for most homeowners to afford.
"[Garage] doors are not that expensive especially when you look at the impact that it has on the home," Lohse said. "[We don't see more] because people are so used to seeing the standard raised or recessed panel door."
So the lack of beautiful garage door styles isn't due to insanely high prices. It's all about a lack of information, which means updating your garage door is not only a good idea, but one that will make you the trendsetter of your neighborhood.
"It's amazing," Lohse said. "When one person starts to buy [an attractive garage door], the 'Joneses,' you know, the neighbors start to see it, and they go, you know, 'Boy, that really looks so much better on the home. I want that same door."
How to Select the Right Garage Door Style
Selecting the right garage door style for your home is easier than you would imagine, and with the following three tips, you'll have it picked out in no time at all.
Use Your Home's Architectural Features as a Guide. Stand far away from your home. If your garage door is on the front of your home, stand across the street. Examine your home's architectural features. Does your home have many horizontal lines? Then you should look for a garage door that also has horizontal lines. Does your home have numerous arches? Then you might select an arched garage door window. The lines and shapes on your garage door should match those seen on your home.
Consider the Garage Door Material. Not all garage doors can be customized to match the colors on your home. The three main garage door materials are wood, steel and aluminum. Wood can be both stained and painted to match your home, but it requires the most maintenance. Steel can often be painted to match your home and requires little maintenance. Aluminum, which requires little maintenance, can't always be painted. It is often offered in only a few color choices.
Add Decorative Accessories to Your Garage Door. Even the most beautiful garage door style benefits from having decorative hardware and windows. Consider adding door handles, door knockers and strap hinges to your garage door. Choose a garage door with decorative windows that match the styles of the ones on your home.
Consider the Garage Door Material. Not all garage doors can be customized to match the colors on your home. The three main garage door materials are wood, steel and aluminum. Wood can be both stained and painted to match your home, but it requires the most maintenance. Steel can often be painted to match your home and requires little maintenance. Aluminum, which requires little maintenance, can't always be painted. It is often offered in only a few color choices.
Add Decorative Accessories to Your Garage Door. Even the most beautiful garage door style benefits from having decorative hardware and windows. Consider adding door handles, door knockers and strap hinges to your garage door. Choose a garage door with decorative windows that match the styles of the ones on your home.