Should you choose a double garage door or two single doors?

So, you’re building a new house – this is such an exciting time! You’re poring over home designs, and weighing the benefits of two single garage doors over a double width door. Which is best for you?

There’s no right or wrong answer. Your garage door choice will depend on your personal preference, as well as the design of your home. Here are some things to think about that will help you to make the right decision.

What are the dimensions of the garage?

It doesn’t matter whether your garage is attached or detached. What does matter is the dimensions. If you’re going to be parking two vehicles in the garage, then you need dimensions of 18 feet in width by 22  feet in depth at minimum if you plan on installing two 8×7 garage doors. If you’re considering 9‑foot doors, then you’ll need to increase the width to 22 feet and the depth to 24 feet, again, at minimum. If you’re planning on an access door at the front of your garage, as opposed to the side, then you’ll need to increase the width of the garage even more.

Another thing to consider is the type of vehicle you’ll be storing. Putting it this way, a Toyota Yaris is going to need a lot less space than a Humvee. You’ll also want to consider storage space. Realistically, no one uses their garage just for parking their cars. You’ll have to remember that you need room to open the doors of your vehicle as well.

So, that’s the technical stuff. You’ll need to keep it in mind, and, obviously, also consider how much of your home-building budget you want to devote to your garage.

A few words on PRACTICALITY…

• Temperature and humidity

  With two single garage doors, less cold air will enter your garage. So, if you keep your heat at somewhere between 8 and 10°C (45 to 50°F), you can lower your heating bill. The converse is true if you live in a hot, humid area – two doors will lower the humidity and help you to save money on air conditioning.

• In the event of a malfunction

  Something like a torsion spring break on a 16‑foot door is going to mean that both of your cars are going to be stuck inside the garage. The chances of the springs breaking on two single doors at the same time are slim to none, so if you have two doors, you will be able to at least get one vehicle out of the garage.

• Three compact cars

  If you have three compact cars, and you want to keep all three of them in the garage, then a wide double door is highly practical. With single doors, you’re going to have to do a lot of maneuvering to get all three inside.

• So, with three cars, why not a triple door?

  Most real estate developers don’t include double garage doors in their plans, never mind triples. Sometimes, you might find a double door with a single next to it, but again, this is rare. You can, of course, often work with your developer to get the configuration you need.

…and on APPEARANCE

• Everyone has their own preference, but…

  Most architects and designers believe that the garage looks best on the front of the house, and that two single doors have greater visual appeal than one wide door. The reasoning behind this is that since your garage takes up so much of your home, with a double door, the overall design of your home tends to take a back seat to the overwhelming garage door.

  That said, though, you can soften the appearance of a double door by adding climbing plants or large planters on either side of the garage door.

• If you want a carriage‑house style, then you’re limited.

  Unless you want your house to stand out, and not in a good way, then you’re going to have to go with two single doors. The carriage‑house style is really only suited to eight‑foot or nine‑foot garage doors.

Wouldn’t it be more expensive to go with two single garage doors?

There’s actually not all that much difference between two single doors and a double. The difference in the cost of materials is minimal. You also have to consider that if you have two doors, then you’ll need an electric garage door opener. You have to think about the additional carpentry that will be needed to create the wall between the doors too.

The double door will cost a bit more, but you’ll only need a single opener, and it doesn’t have to be more powerful as long as it’s properly balanced, which means that the spring system does the work of opening and closing the door.

To conclude…

Ready to get started? If you are, then contact us at 709-368-7222. There’s nothing we enjoy more than talking with people about garage doors, and all the openers and accessories that are available. We can help you to make the best decision based on your budget and your needs. We’ll also be glad to provide you with an online quotation.

Finally, if you have an idea of what you’d like in your next garage door, but you’re having trouble visualizing it, we have just the tool for you. Visit our design center and take some time to manipulate various colors, styles and accessories. If you need a bit more inspiration, you can also go to our image gallery, which offers a wealth of photos that are sure to give you some great ideas for your own garage door design