If you’re looking for a home or renovating your home in Seattle, selecting the appropriate garage door style not only keeps you safe and secure but also enhances the curb appeal of your home. A captivating garage door style makes your home more eye-catching. However, finding the best garage door style that blends well with the breathtaking landscapes and architectural framework of Seattle is a daunting task. But we are here to help you! In this blog, we will explore different garage door styles, determine what garage door style is best for your Seattle home, and learn important factors to consider when choosing the garage door style.
Matching Garage Door Styles To Your Seattle Home’s Aesthetic
Located between the Puget Sound and Washington Lake, Seattle is a piece of land well-known for its architectural diversity and captivating landscapes. Each of Seattle’s neighborhoods, like Bremerton and Evertt, has a different architecture, from traditional and classic to modern and contemporary. While choosing the right garage door style, it is important to go with the type that effortlessly matches Seattle’s unique aesthetic framework. The right garage door style will enhance the elegance of your home and match the vibes of Seattle.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Garage Door Styles
Here are some important factors to consider before figuring out the best garage door type for your Seattle home.
1. Material Options
The material in your garage door determines its durability, maintenance needs, and insulation capacity. You must choose the right material for your garage door as per your needs. Here are some of the material options that you can choose from:
- Steel: It is the most commonly used garage door material due to its durability, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness. However, they are not the best insulators. Therefore, steel garage door manufacturers add an extra layer of polystyrene or polyurethane to enhance energy efficiency. You can paint it to mesh with the rest of your home.
- Wood: Wooden garage doors have many benefits, like adding a natural look and warmth to your home and providing good insulation. However, they require regular maintenance, as the paint may chip due to exposure to the sun and weather. Therefore, a wood garage must be painted or stained after a few years.
- Faux Wood: Faux wood doors are used as an alternative to wooden garage doors. These materials are fabricated from an amalgamation of plastic fibers and wood. Similarly, they have a realistic wooden texture. However, faux wood garage doors also require an extra layer of insulation.
- Vinyl: Vinyl is a cost-effective and lightweight material option for garage doors. They are durable and less prone to cracks. However, you might need an extra layer of insulation for your garage door if you choose vinyl doors.
- Aluminum: Aluminum makes garage doors lightweight, durable, and affordable. That’s why they are also a popular material choice for a garage door. And even though these aluminum garage doors are prone to dents, their maintenance is cheap. Additionally, they are built with an extra layer of insulation.
2. Design Elements
A garage door has different design elements like panel design, material, hardware options, symmetry, insulation, texture, and finish.
- Material: Steel, wood, vinyl, aluminum, and more!
- Panel Design: Garage doors comprise raised panels, flat panels, or flush panels.
- Raised Panels: Raised panels are thick, horizontal square or rectangular panels surrounded by an embossed frame. These panels are commonly used in traditional-style garage doors.
- Flat Panels: Flat panels are wide with monolithic cladding and can be roll-formed or folded. They’re more common in modern-style garage doors, providing a sleek look.
- Flush Panels: Flush panels are on the same plane as the surrounding external wall. They have clean lines. They give a minimalistic and smooth look to contemporary-style garage doors.
- Hardware: A garage door usually comes with all the necessary hardware. However, adding decorative garage door hardware can enhance the visual appeal of your home. Dummy strap hinges, Clavos nails, and different types of door handles (e.g., carriage door style handles) are some of the popular decorative hardware for garage doors.
- Insulation: Adding an extra layer of insulation material like polyurethane or polystyrene to your garage door helps increase its energy efficiency.
- Texture and Finish: Adding textures to the garage door enhances its visual appeal. For instance, painting the steel door can help it seamlessly integrate with your home design.
- Symmetry: There is symmetry in everything. So, to maintain symmetry, you can make sure that the garage door design is in proportion to the rest of your home and its surroundings.
3. Customization Options
You also have the option to customize your garage door. Customization helps you match garage doors with the rest of your home, making it visually appealing. You can choose the desired color, glass panels, and windows or change the panel size according to your taste.
4. Design of Your Home
Wondering what is the best garage door type? It’s the one that seamlessly integrates with the design of your home, thereby combining style with functionality.
Different home designs require different garage door styles. For instance, carriage-style doors will go well with the Victorian home setting, whereas a sleek and minimalistic garage door like a glass garage door will complement the aesthetics of a modern home. Similarly, if your home has a lot of wooden items, a wooden door will be the best option.
However, always make sure that the color of your garage door blends well with your home design, creating a balanced exterior. Similarly, you can also add windows to the garage door to allow natural light to reach the garage.
5. Color Options
The color of your garage door should not only complement the aesthetics of your home but also represent your taste. You can choose any color for your garage door. However, here are some popular color options for your garage door:
- Brown
- Black
- White
- Green
- Gray
- Blue
It is better to go with neutral colors that exhibit urban sophistication, but sometimes adding a pop of some bright color can enhance visual appeal.
An important factor to consider here is the architectural style of your home. For instance, garage doors with earthy tones will harmonize well with craftsman-style houses, but the same earthy tone will look odd in a modern-style home with a minimalist design.
Popular Garage Door Styles in Seattle
With its unique architectural diversity and captivating landscapes, different garage door styles are popular in Seattle that blend well with the vibes of the city. Some popular Seattle garage door styles include:
1. Carriage House Style
If you want to update your house yet revive the original Seattle home style, the elegant and artistic carriage house garage doors are a good option. These types of doors are quite common in neighborhoods like First Hill. With natural wood and automated openers, these carriage house-style garage doors add to the historic charm of your home.
2. Modern and Contemporary Designs
Modern-style houses in Seattle are a reflection of the architecture that existed in the 1930s. However, this style is still reflected in many houses in Seattle. However, contemporary home styles keep changing over a certain period. Some of the common features of contemporary Seattle houses are:
- Natural light
- Large windows
- Asymmetrical facades
- Open floors
- Use of glass
- Flat roof lines
- Earthy tones
For contemporary and mid-century modern-style Seattle homes, some of the good modern and contemporary garage door options can be aluminum doors with glass panels, heavy-duty galvanized steel doors, and faux wood garage doors.
3. Full-View Glass Model Designs
Want to give your home an elegant appearance? Choose a full-view glass model design for your garage door. The reason is quite simple! This design harmonizes well with Seattle’s natural light and contemporary design. Additionally, the full-view glass model design for your garage door helps you maintain privacy.
4. Classic Raised Panel Doors
Garage doors with raised panels are the most common type of garage door in Seattle. They comprise floating panels fitted into the frame. Additionally, they have a recessed edge with a slightly raised internal panel, adding details to the classic garage door design.
Adding Elements to Your Home’s Garage Door
Do you want to remodel your garage door? Are you looking for customization options? Have a look at these elements that can be added to your garage door to give it a visually balanced look:
1. Windows
Are you thinking of remodeling your garage because it lacks natural light? Instead of spending money on replacing the garage door, you can customize it by adding windows. Window placement not only embellishes the front facade of your home but also brightens up your space by letting natural light enter your garage.
2. Double Doors
If you want to use your garage for more than just parking purposes, like storage space or a workshop, converting your single garage door into a French double door is a good option. Skilled professionals can help you with the following:
- Single-to-double conversion
- Double-to-single conversion
Single doors suit you well if you live in colder areas, as they allow less air to enter your garage. However, double doors provide numerous benefits over single doors, such as:
- Additional walking space
- Improved accessibility
- Easier maintenance
3. Garage Door Sections
Garage door sections refer to the components of garage doors that move up and down while operating an overhead door. Some important garage door components include:
- Section joints: The joint is an area between the door section, and it provides flexibility to the door.
- Hinges: These metal parts connect garage door sections and enable door movement by bending along with them when they open or close.
- Jamb: It acts as a frame for the garage door.
- Rollers: They enable smooth up and down-door movement.
4. Technology Incorporation
Technology incorporation in garage doors ensures convenience in day-to-day life. In your garage door, you can incorporate smart garage door openers. If you have an automatic garage door opener, it allows you to operate your garage door from anywhere in the world. On top of that, special sensors help determine your garage door’s position when you’re away from home. You can also connect the garage door to your home’s WiFi so that it only opens from outside by using the:
- Smart Phone: You can use your smartphone to control your garage door position from anywhere.
- Remote Control: It allows you to auto-lock your garage door while closing and opening it.
- Tricode: With this technology, the door opens only after entering the designated code.
What is the Best Garage Door For the Seattle Weather?
Seattle has a temperate climate with moderately warm summers and mildly cold winters. The frequent rainfall in Seattle makes it crucial to select a garage door accordingly. So, rather than just going for an aesthetic appearance, the garage door should harmonize well with the climate and the architectural landscape of Seattle. Considering the Seattle weather, you can consider the following garage door styles for your Seattle home:
- Steel: Garage doors made out of steel are a good option to withstand heavy rainfall in Seattle due to their durability and strength.
- Glass: Glass garage doors, apart from being eye-catching, are durable and provide a sleek look to your door while at the same time protecting it from heavy rainfall.
- Vinyl: Although not as durable as steel, vinyl doors are tough enough to withstand more than 37 inches of annual rainfall in Seattle.
- Faux Wood Composite: While natural wood requires high maintenance, fax wood doors are an excellent and affordable option that can withstand the Seattle weather.
However, no matter what material option you choose, always make sure to go with an insulated garage door in your Seattle home. Insulated garage doors have underlying characteristics:
- They maintain your garage temperature in the wet winters and dry summers of Seattle.
- Insulation helps to reduce noise reduction.
- Insulated doors have improved energy efficiency.
Best Affordable Garage Door Styles In Seattle
Raised-panel steel garage doors are the most affordable option if you live in Seattle. Steel doors are not only budget-friendly but are also durable and require low maintenance. Therefore, if you are looking for a variety of materials for your garage doors and have a limited budget, steel garage doors are a timeless yet affordable choice for your Seattle home.
While you might only be focusing on the buying costs, maintenance costs are also an important factor to consider. So, if you have a limited option, never go for wooden garage doors, doors with intricate designs, or customized garage doors. These types of doors might cost you an arm and a leg and require high maintenance.
Apart from the material, style is also an important factor when considering pocket-friendly options. Raised panel doors are quite popular and are manufactured in large quantities. High demand and mass production reduce the unit price, and that is why they are cheap.
Another important factor to consider when getting a budget garage door is the return on investment (ROI). Garage doors have an ROI of around 98.3%. In other words, you get back the money you spent on the garage door while selling your house. So, if you are planning to install a new garage door before selling your house, choose an expensive one.
Current Garage Door Trends In Seattle
Currently, garage door trends in Seattle are a fine blend of modern yet minimalist design. This fine blend of modern style and minimalistic design creates a contemporary look that harmonizes with the sophisticated urban landscape of Seattle. The trending sleek garage door designs represent modernism in Seattle’s architectural tapestry. Glass garage doors and customized designs are also trending. Garage doors with glass panels and an aluminum framework not only add to your home’s curb appeal but also allow natural light to reach your garage. On the other hand, customized designs add a personalized touch and impact individually to your home’s exterior.
The incorporation of technology in garage doors is also trending. Smart technology has enhanced the functionality of the doors and improved the security of homes in Seattle.
Contact A Reputable Garage Door Service Provider In Seattle
Are you looking to install a new garage door in Seattle? Or do you just want to repair your current garage door? Let AAA Garage Door Services help you! We are a reputable and trusted garage door service provider in Seattle that offers several garage door options, installation, and repair services in the Seattle, WA, area. Contact us now at (206) 309-8798 to make your garage door investment worth it! We work with some of the best garage door manufacturers in Washington.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best garage door style harmonizes well with the architectural style and landscapes of a region. When choosing the right garage door style, you should consider various factors like material options, design elements, customization options, the design of your home, and color options. However, commercial modern garage door trends in Seattle include minimalist design with technology incorporation and customization options. If you want the best garage door solutions in Seattle, contact AAA Garage Door Services today!
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