Garage doors are an important element of the architecture of the house – they must fit in with the surroundings, but above all be functional and comfortable. This is a device that will be used every day, even several times a day. Therefore, they must be flawless and easy to use. Find out what you need to consider when choosing a garage door. Immediately think about who will be fixing your gate, ask the gate vendor. We recommend a garage door repair company GTA Garage Doors in Canada, visit their website and read about their services.

Garage door – according to the needs of the home

Garage doors need to match the needs of the occupants. There are several aspects to consider when equipping your garage with a specific closing mechanism. Depending on the number of cars and the size of the garage, an individual way of opening should be chosen. 

A garage with one parking space is usually closed with a standard sized door. In a garage with more than one car space, choose between one wide door or two pairs of narrower doors. The right garage door should not only fit the number of cars in the house, but also be easy to operate.

Types of Garage Doors

Garage doors are characterized by different designs and opening methods. There are 4 most common types: sectional, roller, lift and casement.

Sectional doors

This type is very popular because of its properties – they are windproof, have excellent thermal and sound insulation. They are easy to use and safe, as well as protected against burglary.

Lift gate mechanism

Prices are a little higher for these, as they are the only ones with an automatic drive. This type of door takes up little space because the door blade lifts the entire door without bending or twisting. At the highest point of lift, the door is parallel to the ceiling. They can be designed and manufactured in any material and weight. They are perfect for non-standard openings. They are easy to operate and many options can be added, such as noise insulation. It is rather difficult to install such gates. Therefore, it is worth to study the offers on the market and order the lift gate from those who provide a full cycle: design, calculations, installation.

Overhead doors

They are popular because of their low price. However, they are not as insulating, so they are recommended for use in unheated garages. Non-breakable panel requires some space in front of the garage, because when it opens, it first overlaps the driveway.

Swinging gates

These types of gates are not the most convenient and also require a lot of space in front of the garage. They are especially troublesome in the winter, as you have to shovel snow off the driveway to open the door. However, the low price speaks in their favor.

When buying a gate, you should pay attention to the way it opens, wind resistance and thermal insulation. Another issue is the appearance of the gate – you can choose different colors, imitation boards, caissons or moldings.

Here’s a little bit about unusual large garages that don’t need doors and don’t need fixing, either

The façade of a parking garage in Miami

Six well-known American architects will design the facades of a multi-storey garage complex being built in the famous Design District on the outskirts of Miami. This neighborhood, home to bohemian artists, designers, fashion designers, and people who are “close to art,” is densely “populated” by galleries, boutiques, and cafes. No wonder that here even such a utilitarian thing as a garage changes its meaning and transforms from an ugly duckling in the backyard into an object of pride and envy.

The new art garage is the second such facility at Design District. The City View Garage, designed by architecture firm Iwamoto Scott, opened here in 2015. The building, which houses a 559-space parking garage, offers beautiful views. At the same time the space serves as a platform for art and design installations. By the way, parking here costs only $3 for the first four hours and is extremely popular with area residents and their guests.

The success of the first art garage inspired the developer to build a second facility called Museum Garage. It will be a multifunctional seven-storey building, the first floors of which will house stores, and the rest – parking for 800 cars. Just as the “Garage with a view of the city”, the new building will solve several problems. The parking lot will separate the area from the busy highway and will be another space for all kinds of artistic activities.

The work is being overseen by Terence Riley, co-owner of K/R Architects, a firm known for creating cultural spaces. The façade of the new garage will be divided into six sections, each designed by a single architectural firm. The list of participants includes architectural firms from around the world – Work Architecture Company (WORKac); 

• J. Mayer H.; 
• Clavel Arquitectos; 
• Nicolas Buffe; 
• K/R Architects; 
• Sagmeister & Walsh.

The “Cork in the City” façade by Miami-based Clavel Arquitectos will adorn 45 old decommissioned cars painted with silver and gold paint. The result will be a “surreal, vertical automobile traffic jam.

The Nicolas Buffe Bureau (headquartered in Tokyo and Paris) created the “Serious Games” façade, which combines video game plots and characters with baroque elements. “The Message.” – Modern art blends beautifully with history.

Berlin-based designer J. Mayer H. shaped his part of the facade with “matching” surfaces that mimic a puzzle.

The K/R Architects office uses separating road barriers placed vertically in their work. This striking façade is called “Barricades”. Floating lanterns will be placed between the barriers, which rotate like weathervanes in the wind and illuminate the facade at nightfall.

The New York bureau WORKac has planned a special space in its part that will house a playground, an exhibition area and a library. This part of the garage is called the Anthill.

The most romantic façade was created by architects from the New York bureau Sagmeister & Walsh. The painting titled “I Only Want You,” a candle burning on both sides, can read both as a call to live life to the fullest and as a reminder that even the most passionate love will one day come to an end.