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Garage door buying guides

Choosing a new garage door: materials, insulation, glass, styles, noise and wind ratings.

Guides

Buying guides: 20 guides

Gray steel garage doors with windows on a modern home, thumbnail for the insulated garage door guide, for homes near Culver City

Insulated or Non-Insulated Garage Door?

Insulation changes temperature, noise and strength. Here is when an insulated garage door is worth it and when it is not, with a simple way to decide.

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Beige stucco home with a flat black garage door under a wood soffit, thumbnail for the choose a garage door guide, for homes near central Los Gatos

How to Choose a Garage Door for a Southern California Home

Choosing a new garage door? Answers to the questions people ask first: insulation, R-value, steel or wood, style, and whether you need a new opener too.

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Two dark brown arched garage doors on a stone wall, thumbnail for the carriage house garage doors guide, for homes near central Elk Grove near Laguna Palms Way

Carriage House Garage Doors: Steel, Wood or Composite?

Carriage house garage doors come in steel, composite overlay and real wood. See how they compare on upkeep, price and look, and if the style suits your home.

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Contemporary garage door with glass panels and a wood accent wall, thumbnail for the modern garage doors guide, for homes near downtown Eureka near the Municipal Auditorium

Modern and Contemporary Garage Doors: Glass and Aluminum Styles

Flush steel, full-view glass and aluminum garage doors explained: what they are made of, how they handle light and heat, their upkeep and what they cost.

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White raised-panel garage door with a window row, thumbnail for the garage door r-value guide, for homes near Historic Sutter Street in Folsom

Garage Door R-Value Explained: What the Number Means

R-value measures how well a garage door section resists heat flow, not the whole installed door. Learn what the number means, what U-factor adds, what to ask.

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Dark flush garage door with a vertical window and flowers above, thumbnail for the garage door materials guide, for homes near downtown Stockton near the waterfront

Steel, Wood and Aluminum Garage Doors Compared

Steel, wood and aluminum garage doors differ in upkeep, rust, weight and insulation. See a side-by-side comparison and how to pick for your home and climate.

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Stone and stucco home with two glass-panel garage doors, thumbnail for the full view glass garage door guide, for homes near central Lincoln near City Hall

Full-View Glass Garage Doors: Privacy, Heat and Care

Full-view glass garage doors bring in light, but privacy and heat need a plan. Compare frosted, tinted and insulated glass and how to clean the frame.

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Two arched dark-wood garage doors on a cream Mediterranean home, thumbnail for the garage door windows guide, for homes near central Oroville near City Hall

Garage Door Windows: Styles, Placement and Privacy

Garage door windows add daylight and curb appeal. Compare window styles, top-row placement, frosted and insulated glass, and why to order them with a new door.

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Dark garage doors on a two-story gray home with stone, thumbnail for the garage door colors guide, for homes near central Rancho Cordova near City Hall

Garage Door Colors: Choosing a Finish and Getting HOA Approval

Choosing a garage door color? Learn what California law says about HOA approval, why dark colors can bow insulated doors, and what painting yourself can void.

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Two-story home with a three-car garage under a gabled roof, thumbnail for the how long do garage doors last guide, for homes near downtown Redding near the Cascade Theatre

How Long Do Garage Doors Last?

Garage doors last about 15 to 30 years depending on material, climate and care. See lifespan by material, which parts wear out first and when to replace.

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Gray brick colonial home with a green paneled garage door and columns, thumbnail for the garage door wind load rating guide, for homes near central Fontana

Garage Door Wind Load Ratings, Explained

A wind load rating is a pressure in PSF, not a wind speed in mph. See what the label shows, who sets the number and how to ask for the right door.

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Yellow two-story home with a tan raised-panel garage door, thumbnail for the quiet garage door guide, for homes near central Newark near City Hall

Making a Garage Door Quieter

Most garage door noise comes from metal rollers, dry hinges and a loose opener mount. See which upgrades quiet a door and which sounds mean a repair.

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Garage door opener rail and chain above the door, thumbnail for the garage door sizes guide, for homes near central Roseville near City Hall

Garage Door Sizes: Standard Dimensions, Single vs Double

Standard single doors are 8 or 9 feet wide and double doors 16 feet wide, both usually 7 feet tall. See the sizes, how to measure and what room you need.

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Gray two-story home with a dark garage door, thumbnail for the garage door replacement guide, for homes near central Atwater near City Hall

Garage Door Replacement Day: What to Expect

A garage door replacement usually takes a day. See the order of the work, how to prepare, what to avoid and when to call if something is not right.

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Modern townhome with two dark gray single-car garage doors, thumbnail for the diy garage door installation guide, for homes near central Dana Point

DIY or Professional Garage Door Installation?

Installing a garage door yourself takes a full day and helpers, and the springs are the danger. Compare DIY and professional installation side by side.

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Gray garage door on a hip-roof house, thumbnail for the garage door permit guide, for homes near central Oakley near City Hall

Garage Door Permit and HOA Approval: What to Check First

Replacing a garage door? Whether a city permit applies depends on your building department, and an HOA has its own rules. Here is what to ask first.

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Townhome row with three tan single-car garage doors, thumbnail for the garage door styles guide, for homes near downtown Long Beach

Garage Door Styles by Home Type: Spanish, Craftsman, Ranch and Modern

Match a garage door to your home: arched wood-look doors for Spanish homes, carriage styles for Craftsman, long panels for ranch and flush panels for modern.

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Two-story Spanish-style home with a dark bronze garage door in an arched opening, thumbnail for the new garage door new opener guide, for homes near central Orinda near City Hall

Do You Need a New Opener With a New Garage Door?

In California a replacement door cannot connect to an older opener with no battery backup. Here is when you can keep your opener and when to replace it.

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Gray steel double garage doors on a two-story home, thumbnail for the steel garage door gauge guide, for homes near central Greenfield near the Cultural Arts Center

Steel Garage Door Gauge and Layers: One, Two or Three?

A lower gauge number means thicker steel, and more layers usually mean more insulation and stiffness. Here is how to read both when you compare steel doors.

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White paneled garage door on a gray-sided home, thumbnail for the garage door panel styles guide, for homes near central Lynwood near City Hall

Short Panel, Long Panel, Flush: Garage Door Panel Designs

Short panels look traditional, long panels look cleaner, recessed panels sit between, and flush doors are smooth. Here is how to choose a panel design.

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