Your garage door is one of the first items you see when you return home. How would your day change if you were greeted by a garage door you love? Installing a new garage door is an excellent way to reinvigorate your home. Picking out a garage door can be both exciting and overwhelming — especially if you’re unfamiliar with the variety of options available. Garage doors come in a wide selection of styles, materials and types, so how can you pick the best option for your home?
The garage door that works best for your home will satisfy two primary needs:
- Functionality: Your garage door should match your lifestyle and make your life easier. Consider your safety, durability, privacy and insulation preferences to pick a functional garage door option.
- Curb appeal: Garage doors aren’t merely pragmatic. Your selection can add curb appeal when you choose an aesthetic and design that complements your home.
With so many Clopay® options available, there is something to match every home size and type. Before you shop, consider these details to choose a door you’ll love for years to come!
Types of Garage Door Styles Popular in Ohio and Michigan
A garage door’s style encompasses its exterior appearance, design and coloring. The style of your garage door can enhance your home’s design, tie together your home’s color scheme and serve as a stunning focal point. When you find the perfect style, you’ll be amazed at the ways it impacts your home’s overall appearance.
Selecting a style will depend on your budget, home design and aesthetic preferences. Regardless of your situation, there are several common style categories that match well with different homes. Here are some of the most popular types across Ohio and Michigan.
Traditional
The traditional garage door style is one of the most common and recognizable designs. Traditional doors feature classic, monochromatic panels with symmetrical raised rectangles. Many traditional doors come in steel or wood options, both of which can be insulated.
One of the best assets of a traditional style garage door is its versatility. With many available colors, an array of panel styles and a simple design, these garage doors match a wide variety of home styles. Traditional garage doors also feature options with windows to add a customizable touch. If you’re looking for a door with a classic, polished look, the traditional style may be for you.
Clopay collections that offer a traditional style include:
Contemporary
Contemporary-styled garage doors feature sleek, modern designs. These garage doors use clean, asymmetrical patterns to achieve a unique look especially suited for modern homes. With options available in aluminum, glass, steel and wood, you can achieve a contemporary look with a variety of materials.
Many contemporary garage door styles feature large windows, which come in a variety of configurations. You can customize these windows with 12 different glass types. This enables you to filter light into your garage with full control over the amount of privacy you need. You can also select insulated options for energy efficiency. If you’re looking for a stunning garage door to match your modern home, the contemporary style may be for you.
Clopay collections that offer a contemporary style include:
- AVANTE™ collection
- MODERN STEEL™ collection
- CANYON RIDGE® collection MODERN series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection MODERN series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection CUSTOM series
Wood-Look
Wood-look garage doors use faux wood materials to combine the rustic look of real wood with extra durability. The composite wood materials used in these doors are molded from actual wood pieces to reproduce the most natural wood-grain texture. Many of these garage doors feature a two-door look that emulates the carriage house style.
With options to incorporate a variety of window configurations, insulation and decorative hardware, you can customize a wood-look style to fit your preferences. Wood-look doors come in an array of wood grain colors, including mahogany, cypress, walnut and more. A wood-look door matches a variety of home styles, which makes it a versatile choice for any home. If you’re looking for the gorgeous appearance of natural wood in a low-maintenance garage door, the wood-look style may be for you.
Clopay collections that offer wood-look styles include:
- CANYON RIDGE® collection LIMITED EDITION series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection ULTRA-GRAIN® series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection MODERN series
Carriage House
Carriage house style garage doors emulate the rustic charm of classic barn-style doors. This style gains its name from door types common in “garages” used to store horse-drawn carriages. A carriage style garage door offers the same historic charm as classic carriage doors with the convenience of automatic operation. With options available in steel, wood and faux wood, you can incorporate this look into your garage door with a variety of materials.
Carriage house garage doors come in a wide array of colors and configurations. Some styles emulate barn doors with diagonal intersecting x-shaped planks. These garage doors can be customized with a variety of colors to complement your home. Other carriage house styles feature a double door look with customizable windows. Many carriage house styles also feature decorative handles, hinges and plates to achieve their charming look.
This garage door type can be insulated and fits well with Craftsman and farmhouse style architecture. If you’re looking for a classic, rustic garage door, the carriage house style may be for you.
Clopay collections that offer carriage house styles include:
- COACHMAN® collection
- CANYON RIDGE® collection LIMITED EDITION series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection ULTRA-GRAIN® series
- GRAND HARBOR® collection
- GALLERY® collection
- RESERVE® WOOD collection SEMI-CUSTOM series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection LIMITED EDITION series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection CUSTOM series
Types of Garage Door Materials Best Suited for Ohio and Michigan
A garage door’s material refers to the type of interior and exterior components it is made of. The type of material you choose may depend on your budget. Clopay’s different material options span a range of budgets, allowing you to choose a garage door you love at a variety of price points.
The material types best suited for Ohio and Michigan are those that take into account two items:
- Durability: When you’re traveling in and out of your garage during the week, your garage door has to keep up. Garage doors with layers of long-lasting, sturdy and reliable material will serve your family for years.
- Weather: Ohio and Michigan winters bring low temperatures, harsh winds and strong snowstorms. The garage door you select can help protect your home from these elements with heat-trapping insulation. Clopay’s Intellicore® insulation technology uses a dense polyurethane foam that expands between material layers. This insulation can keep your garage warmer during the winter, save you money on heating costs and make your door quieter altogether.
Here are some materials to consider for your budget, durability and weather-related needs.
Steel
Steel garage doors offer the widest range of style, insulation and price options. A selection of carriage house style and classic style garage doors come in steel, which can be painted to match the color of your home. Choose between insulated or non-insulated steel to build a garage door that matches your location and lifestyle.
A steel garage door with Intellicore® insulation offers some of the following benefits:
- Multiple layers for increased durability
- Dent-resistance
- Energy efficiency
- Quiet operation
Clopay collections that offer steel garage door options include:
- COACHMAN® collection
- CANYON RIDGE® collection LIMITED EDITION series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection ULTRA-GRAIN® series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection MODERN series
- GALLERY® collection
- MODERN STEEL™ collection
- CLASSIC™ collection PREMIUM series
- CLASSIC™ collection VALUE PLUS series
- CLASSIC™ collection VALUE series
Wood
Real wood garage doors present a luxurious and elegant style. These doors come in a variety of styles, including carriage house, traditional, contemporary and flush-panel. Some options can even feature reclaimed wood for an added rustic look.
Clopay’s wood garage doors are handcrafted from the finest timber right here in the United States. Choose from a variety of wood species and finishes, including hemlock, cedar, redwood and more. If you’re looking for a classic white-painted garage door, a wooden option may achieve just the right look. Many of these material options can be insulated, primed, stained or finish-painted white to match your home needs.
Clopay collections that offer wood garage door options include:
- RESERVE® WOOD collection MODERN series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection LIMITED EDITION series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection CUSTOM series
- RESERVE® WOOD collection SEMI-CUSTOM series
- CLASSIC™ WOOD collection
Wood Composite
The look of a wooden garage door is undeniably stylish. Many of these doors layer wood composite on top of steel to achieve the perfect balance of durability and style. This allows for carriage house, contemporary and traditional styles with an elevated, sophisticated appearance. With the ability to add Intellicore® insulation to your wood composite door, you can arm your garage door against the cold and increase its durability.
For some, a wood composite garage door may be the best way to achieve a wood look. This may depend on your budget, durability needs and preferences. Some of the differences wood composite presents include:
- Fewer maintenance needs
- Less expensive than real wood options
- Durable in extreme weather
While both real wood and wood composite make stunning garage door options, one material may work better for your home than the other. Talk to an experienced Clopay dealer for advice on what may be best for you.
Clopay collections that offer wood composite garage door options include:
- COACHMAN® collection
- CANYON RIDGE® collection LIMITED EDITION series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection ULTRA-GRAIN® series
- CANYON RIDGE® collection MODERN series
Aluminum
Aluminum garage doors achieve a sleek, contemporary aesthetic with clean designs and glass features. As a rust-proof and corrosion-resistant metal, aluminum provides durability without sacrificing an ounce of style. Some aluminum styles feature symmetrical or asymmetrical windows to allow light into a garage space. Other styles feature solid aluminum panels for maximum privacy.
An aluminum garage door can be painted or powder-coated in a variety of tones to complement your home. For a durable, customizable door that matches a modern motif, consider an aluminum garage door.
Clopay collections that offer aluminum garage door options include:
Glass
Glass garage doors offer a unique advantage compared to other materials — natural light. In addition to their contemporary style, glass doors transform dark garages into pleasant, light-filled rooms. This type of door can be great for garage conversions or garage workspaces where light and comfort are important. Select the number and configuration of windows you like best to complement your home and fit your needs.
Clopay’s glass garage doors feature options to include insulated glass and customize the glass type to your desired level of privacy. Glass panels come in 12 different designs with different materials and transparency levels.
Available options include:
- Clear glass
- Gray tinted glass
- Bronze tinted glass
- Mirrored glass
- Obscure glass
- White laminate glass
- Frosted glass or acrylic
- Clear acrylic
- Gray acrylic
- White acrylic
- Clear polygal
- Bronze polygal
Clopay collections that offer glass garage door options include:
Types of Garage Doors
A garage door’s type also refers to the way it opens and closes. The movement mechanism may differ depending on the style of garage door and its intended purpose. Each movement type requires different hardware or tracks, which may take up different amounts of space in your garage.
When deciding what type of garage door you want, consider the following three elements:
- Lifestyle: How do you and your family typically use your garage and driveway? You may be in and out frequently and require a garage door that opens quickly. You may also need as much space as possible to park cars and store belongings in the garage. These requirements will influence the type of garage door that will work best for your lifestyle.
- Aesthetic: Is it most important that your garage door conveys the aesthetic of your home? The way your garage door opens plays a role in its style and appearance. Thinking about this may influence your choice and can help ensure every element of your selection aligns with your vision.
- Garage space: Some garage door types require ample headroom to install tracks and an automatic opener, whereas some take up less space. Consider the amount of space your garage door has to make sure your door type will work.
Here are some of the most common garage door types you may see while you’re shopping.
Sectional
Sectional garage doors are some of the most popular across the United States. You’d likely recognize this type by its horizontal panels that hinge and travel upward on tracks. When a sectional garage door is open, the door sections rest parallel to the garage ceiling. Sectional garage doors balance maximum function with a classic look.
This type of door has several defining characteristics, including:
- No clearance requirements which enables you to park cars close to the garage door and still open it
- Low maintenance opening mechanism
- Lots of styles and options available
- Easy to operate with an automatic opener and remote
- Required overhead room for tracks and opener
Roll-Up
Roll-up garage doors are a heavy-duty, performance-oriented door type. Often found in commercial settings, roll-up doors are made from thin steel panels that roll up into a spring-loaded shaft installed on the garage header. This type gives an industrial appearance, which may work well for garages that channel this aesthetic.
Some of the defining characteristics of a roll-up door include:
- Little required garage headroom
- Built to withstand tough conditions
- Strong and durable for maximum security
- Automatic capabilities with a garage door opener
Slide to the Side
A side-sliding garage door works similarly to a sectional garage door, except it operates from side to side instead of up and down. Side-sliding garage doors use vertical panels that slide either left or right onto a track. The key advantage of this type of garage door is that it doesn’t require any headroom for track installation.
Slide to the side garage doors have several defining characteristics, including:
- Well-suited to small garages with little headroom
- Some space requirements for side walls
- Easy to operate with an opener and remote
- Can handle slight slopes on a garage floor
- Less common, which may limit style and design options
Side-Hinged
Also known as “swing-out” garage doors, the side-hinged type looks and operates like a pair of large double doors. Instead of sections, side-hinged doors use two solid pieces of material that meet in the middle of the garage door opening. These doors attach to the door opening’s sides instead of the ceiling. This allows the garage door to swing open from the middle with doors on the left and right.
Some of the defining characteristics of a side-hinged garage door include:
- Classic, barn door style
- Unique opening mechanism that matches a rustic appearance
- Can be equipped with an automatic overhead opener
- Comes in a variety of materials and styles
- Clearance requirements to avoid hitting vehicles while the doors swing open
Tilt-Up — Canopy
A tilt-up garage door with a canopy configuration uses a single solid piece of material for the door. This door attaches to an opener on the garage ceiling and slowly tilts out and up until it is parallel with the ceiling. When open, this type of garage door extends out like a canopy.
Tilt-up canopy garage doors feature some of these defining characteristics:
- Sleek and smooth appearance with an uninterrupted door piece
- Required headroom for track and opener
- Equipped with automatic opener and remotes
- Convenient canopy when garage door is open
- Clearance requirements to avoid hitting vehicles while the garage door tilts up
Tilt-Up — Retractable
A tilt-up garage door with a retractable configuration works like a sectional garage door without hinged panels. Like a canopy configuration, a retractable tilt-up door uses a solid material piece for the door. This piece retracts up into the garage ceiling like a sectional door with a different motion to account for the lack of panels.
Some of the defining characteristics of a tilt-up retractable garage door include:
- Sleek and smooth appearance with an uninterrupted door piece
- Required headroom for track and opener
- Equipped with automatic opener and remotes
- Clearance requirements to avoid hitting vehicles while the garage door tilts up
The Clopay Advantage
At Quality Overhead Door, we partner with America’s favorite garage door brand to bring you the highest quality products. Clopay offers durable products that live up to our standards of service excellence, which is why we choose to partner with them. We are a Clopay Master Authorized Dealer, and we have earned Clopay’s Presidential Award every year dating back to 2005 and achieved the Dealer Milestone in 2014. Our credentials and Clopay’s outstanding products ensure that you will receive the best service possible.
When you choose Clopay for your garage door, you can find the styles, materials and types that fit your budget and goals. Your Clopay garage door purchase offers all of the following advantages:
- Each Clopay garage door is built to order so that it matches your exact requirements.
- Clopay’s Door Imagination System enables you to digitally test and evaluate different door styles on your home before you purchase.
- Clopay offers fiberglass or steel entry doors to complement popular garage door styles and tie your home’s look together.
- High-quality sales, service and installation by a Clopay Authorized dealer.
For an unparalleled experience, shop for your Clopay garage door with Quality Overhead Door.
The Ohio and Michigan Garage Door Dealer You Can Trust
Quality Overhead Door has been serving the Toledo area and beyond for more than three decades. We’re dedicated to superior customer service and products to ensure your garage door shopping experience exceeds your expectations.
Choosing a garage door is a significant commitment and investment. Why not work with experienced professionals you can trust? For a garage door you’ll love, shop our huge selection today or contact us for more information!
Additional Resources on Types of Garage Doors:
- Best Carriage House Style Garage Doors
- Best Contemporary Garage Doors
- Best Traditional Garage Doors
- Buyer Guide for Wood-Look (Faux Wood) Garage Doors
