Garage Doors - Matching Architectural Style to Your Home

Matching your garage doors to the existing architectural elements and design of your home is important for curb appeal and value. A mismatching appearance can look tacky and decrease the curb appeal of your house. In order to get the look right, it's always best to choose a custom door. However, some companies offer models that fit with common architecture designs such as a ranch-style house. Paint or accessories like windows can then be utilized to make it blend in more seamlessly.

The type of material you choose will greatly influence how well the garage doors match your home. Many people prefer to choose steel because it's durable and the cost is more agreeable than wood. While steel can be painted and a few style elements such as etching can be added, it is not nearly as easily customizable as those made out of wood. Metal can be quite basic and will fit well with modern, clean designs or geometric styles. Panels and borders can be fit to create more interest, and if paired with contrasting colors this style can really shine. The material is prone to rust, denting, and scratches that can greatly take away from its appearance. It may not be a good choice for homes with children, pets, or bad drivers.

Although they're more difficult to maintain, wooden garage doors are still highly valued in homes. The biggest costs are associated with damage prevention rather than actual repair. Unlike metal or vinyl, wood won't get little dents and scratches that can be expensive to fix. The biggest concern for most homeowner would be mold, rot, or warping due to moisture, which is usually completely preventable with some care. As far as styling goes, wood is a more natural fit with many types of architecture and it can be manipulated with ease. Whereas with other materials designers have to be a bit more creative to get similar effects that still look realistic.

As an alternative to metal and wood, vinyl garage doors are the best choice for those seeking longevity and fairly fuss-free durability. It won't rust, scratch, or rot (but it can crack in some circumstances). While more expensive than steel, they come with longer warranties which you probably won't even need considering how tough they are. The big disadvantage is that they aren't nearly as customizable as steel or wood. They can be colored and even etched to mimic wood, but most people complain it looks very unrealistic. Panels and some cutouts can be added, but the few accessories possible don't really detract from the somewhat flimsy façade.

So how do you choose the design elements that will best compliment your home? Take a look at the existing front door and windows. How the glass is framed and the colors should be your starting point. You want to echo these touches as best you can. If you have an older historical home, consider checking out some books from the library to see what the original garage doors looked like and try to replicate that.