Garage Door Size Guide
When it comes to garages, the cars tend to steal the show — and rightfully so. But the unsung hero of all garages is the garage door. It provides security for vehicles and is often one of the main architectural elements of a home’s exterior.
Many options need to be considered when selecting a new garage door, but one of the key components of selecting a new door is its size.
Read further to find out how to choose the best size for your future garage door. This article will also help you to measure garage doors properly and avoid common mistakes people make.
How To Measure Your Garage Door
How wide is a garage door? How tall is it? These are the most important measurements to ensure that a new door is sized correctly. What are all the measurements you’re going to need?
To get the perfect garage door, you need to make the proper measurements. What exactly do you need to measure?
1. The width and height of existing garage door opening.
These are the most important measurements. The room for drive through depends on the width and height of the opening, so pay attention to it. This also determines the size of the door you’ll need. Keep an eye on possible defects, such as an uneven opening or un-level floor.
2. Internal headroom.
This is the space between the ceiling and the top of the door opening. It’s important for fitting sectional garage door tracks or placing a curtain roll for a roller shutter garage door.
3. The width of the side room on both sides of the door.
You need this measurement to fit the door frame and the door mechanism properly. This measure requires up to 3.75” on each side. If you’re dealing with a double garage door, make a 10” wide center post.
4. The depth of the garage.
This is a necessary measurement for an up and over, sectional or side hinged door that opens inside. You need to have enough room for the door to open properly.
5. Consider all the obstructions when measuring.
What can be an obstruction? Pipes, lighting and nearly anything that interferes with the door track.
Standard Garage Door Sizes
When you have all your measurements, it’s time to choose the door size to fit your car(s). You can roughly divide the sizes of garage doors into three categories. The size of the door depends on what purpose it will serve.
Single Garage Door Size
The typical sizes for single garage doors are 8’ x 7’, 9’ x 7’ and 10’ x 7’. These are the most standard garage door sizes, and they are a perfect fit for standard homes. This size is good for one car, small truck or a van. It’s a great choice if you don’t plan to store a lot of items in your garage or switch to a bigger vehicle.
Double Garage Door Size
Double garage doors usually have sizes of 12’ x 7’, 14’ x 7’ and 16’ x 7’. If you own a big vehicle or just have two of them, the 16’x7’ garage door size will satisfy your needs.
RV Garage Door Size
This one slightly differs from the other two door sizes. To be able to fit a recreational vehicle, the standard RV garage door height is 8’ and the standard width is 16’. Still, you need to be aware of your exact RV size to be able to choose the right door size for it.
Sectional Door Benefits
Most residential garage doors are going to be sectional doors, meaning the panels of the door follow the track along the garage’s roofline. The benefits of using this type of garage door include:
Sectional doors gained popularity because of its practicality and reliability. The main benefit is that this door doesn’t swing out when opening or closing.
A sectional door type easily allows for automation with an operator either on the garage ceiling or to the side of the door on a wall,
A wide variety of size options are available for sectional doors due to:
It folds and moves into the garage instead of just hanging in the opening. This gives a maximum clearance height.
The strength of the sectional door panels allow for larger widths.
Given that the sizes of sectional garage doors are very flexible, the only limit is the maximum available size. Today, the largest available domestic sectional doors are 9.8’ high and 24.6’ wide.
FAQs
1. What are the garage door prices?
Garage door prices vary depending on the size, strength, used materials and design. An average 16’ x 7’ door starts at between $800 and $1500. An automatic door opener adds an extra $200–$500.
What are the standard garage door sizes?
Standard garage doors usually have the sizes of 8’ x 7’, 9’ x 7’ and 10’ x 7’. These sizes are perfectly suitable for normal homes with a typical car parked inside the garage. If you want to store a lot of your belongings in the bigger garage, you might want to have a bigger door too.
What is the minimum headroom size?
The minimum size of headroom required for proper door operation is 12”. A garage door opener will take up an extra 3”. The required size depends on what type of spring system your garage door will have.
Do I need an insulated garage door?
An insulated garage door reduces the cold temperature inside the garage. If you need to maintain a warm and comfortable temperature, you’ll probably need an insulated door. You should also install an insulated door if you don’t want cold air to travel from your garage to your home. Usually, an insulated door is also more quiet and has more varied designs.
What are the advantages of a steel garage door?
A steel garage door is more energy efficient, offers better value, security and strength. Modern steel garage doors cost less because of advanced manufacturing. They’re available in numerous designs and colors.
Can I paint a steel garage door?
You can paint a steel garage door using latex paint. Don’t use oil based paint as it causes the original color finish to peel off. You also need to make sure that your garage door is dry and clean before starting to paint it. Also, remember that painting adds much weight to a garage door. It can affect garage door springs, its performance and performance of the garage door opener.
Should I use torsion or extension spring?
Torsion springs offer better balance to the door and provide more safety to those who use the door. They also operate much smoother and last longer.
When is it time to replace the garage door?
Obviously, when your garage door doesn’t operate right – it’s potentially hazardous. Instead of fixing it on your own, it’s better to call professionals. Sometimes buying a new garage door brings more value than trying to repair an old one.