Nick Noyes Architecture Garage (especially large,for two or three cars), which goes outside, can take a lot of space on the site. If your garage doors are in poor condition, do not maintain the architectural style of the house, or are simply boring, you can replace them by improving the general appearance of the property. Readers are offered useful information regarding installation, cost and other important points on this topic. 
Saussy Burbank Upgrade garage doors maymake the use of housing more comfortable and rational, and in the case of built-in room for cars - also more secure. The best time for arranging the garage is warm, dry weather, because the work will be done outdoors. But if you do not plan to paint or install complex structures (for example, pergolas), then the weather conditions are of no particular importance (unless it is freezing or a thunderstorm). 
Polhemus Savery DaSilva Who to hire? Due to the required accuracy, experience and knowledge in the field of assembly of garage doors, it is better to leave this work to professionals. Do I need permission? Maybe yes. In some cities, it is really necessary to get appropriate approval, because garage doors, in fact, are an external wall that faces the street. Any competent specialist in this field will tell you whether permission is needed or not. But if you are still not sure, then contact the administration of the city or district and find out.
Modern finishing materials:
- wood - a wide range of design options, successful operation in all climatic conditions, but high cost;
- steel is much cheaper than wood, but the downside is that it can rust, so you should avoid using it in coastal areas;
- aluminum is not susceptible to corrosion, unlike steel materials;
- tempered glass in a wooden or aluminum frame is great for modern buildings;
- fiberglass and vinyl are good budget options, do not rust, but the choice of design may be limited and there is a risk of destruction in very cold weather.
Estes / Twombly Architects, Inc.
Gate types:
- sectional - the most common option (moving up and down along special guides);
- retractable - shifted to the side (as in the photo above), require more space in the open state;
- swing doors - double doors opening outwards, which is not a good choice for a cold climate: snow drifts can block movement.
All these types of garage doors can be supplied with different types of opening: manual, automatic and remote control system options.
Project Duration
If you buy a gate for a standard garagesizes, and they are in stock, the installation can be completed the next day. For an individual order will take more than a month. This time will go on delivery, and installation will require only one morning. 
mark pinkerton - vi360 photography
Cost
Price of steel garage doors, as a rulevaries from $ 300 to $ 3,000, glass in an aluminum frame cost from $ 1,500 to $ 3,000, vinyl - $ 600 and more, and fiberglass - from $ 1,500. Wood products are usually the most expensive: from $ 1,000 to $ 10,000. Installation costs vary by region, but you can expect to spend between $ 100 and $ 200. To remove and recycle old garage doors, you will need another $ 100. Making pergolas above the garage door can cost from $ 5,000 to $ 8,000. Street lighting will cost $ 100 per unit, plus installation. Automatic lights will cost from $ 5 to $ 100 or more per piece, depending on the materials used. Decor or coloring can be made as a design project and include only the cost of materials. 
Todd Soli Architects
Design and details
It is better if your garage door will match the architectural style of the house. Therefore, it is necessary to find an option that echoes the peculiarities of the materials and the color scheme of the entire building. For example:
- arched garage doors with glass inserts for a traditional mansion;
- wooden doors with iron hinges for a Spanish colonial style villa;
- rustic gates for a townhouse;
- emphasis on elements of applied art in wooden garage doors;
- smooth glass gates for contemporary living.
Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction AfterOnce you have chosen your version of the garage door, you can go to the accents that best finish the new image. Decorative cornices under a canopy will add grace and brevity, bringing the style of the garage to the overall design of the building. 
Three River Stone If there is not enough space under the roof of the box to install brackets, you can create an imitation using wooden pergolas. 
Siemasko + Verbridge Next, go to the lightingand other finishing touches that can have a big impact on the final result. Even without changing the garage doors, but simply by updating them with wood stain or new paint and replacing street lamps, you can refresh the image of the building in a very budgetary way. McKEE CARSON
Important safety notes
Automatic garage doors have functionsprotection from accidental contact of children and pets under the closing door. In order to be sure that these important aspects of the gate work, we need to periodically perform two small tests:
- wave the broom under the garage door. Sensors must recognize movement and the door will roll back;
- pressure sensitivity test. Place a roll of paper towels under the door. When, going down, the gate reaches the convolution, the protection should work and the mechanism will lift the doors.
If at least one of the tests fails, call the company that installed the gate for you to have it repaired immediately.
The first steps:
- Look at the photo of the garage door to determine the style.
- Ask your friends and neighbors for installation recommendations.
- Take measurements if your doors are non-standard size.
