Welcome back to the final blog in our series: Weighing Your Options. We’ve already covered the benefits and drawbacks of overhead sectional garage doors as well as roll-up garage doors in our previous blog (feel free to check out Weighing Your Options Part II: Overhead Roll-Up Garage Doors). Finally, we’re going to cover another popular garage door style: the carriage house door.
Carriage house doors can be a stylish addition to any garage. Folks love the classic appeal of these doors, and the character that they can lend to a home. Let’s take a further look at some of the pros of this garage door style, as well as some drawbacks that you should consider. And don’t forget, you can always count on the crew here at Front Range Raynor of Fort Collins for garage door installations, parts, and repairs!
What is a carriage house garage door?
Carriage house garage doors fold out in a manner similar to a traditional hinged door that you’d find in a home. However, the double-door design of a carriage house door (as well as the size of the doors themselves) makes these doors big enough to enclose an entire garage bay. Carriage house doors can be installed with or without an operator, which means that they can be opened manually or automatically, depending on the configuration at hand.
The Benefits
While folks flock to carriage house doors for their beauty, these doors also offer a couple of additional benefits. You can enjoy extra garage space, as well as improved durability with a carriage house door.
Aesthetic: Nothing says welcome home like a carriage house door. Homeowners cherish the classic look of a carriage house door, making these doors ideal for high-end homes and for homeowners who keep a hot rod or two in the garage. Carriage house doors are available in an endless variety of materials and configurations, so you can perfectly match the aesthetic of your garage doors to your home.
Space: Since carriage house doors swing outward from hinges at the sides of a garage opening, they don’t take up much space, if any at all. Even overhead automated operators for carriage house doors are fairly small and only require about 6 inches of clearance, depending on the model. If you’re planning on using all of your garage space, or if you simply like keeping your garage looking clean, you’ll love carriage house doors.
Durability: Carriage house doors are generally more durable than other doors, thanks to their simplicity. While the hinges of a door may fail or droop over time, there’s really not much that can go wrong with these doors. If you have an automated door, the operator is just as likely to require repairs over time as an overhead door.
The Drawbacks
While beautiful, space-efficient, and durable, carriage house doors are more expensive, they can be difficult to use, and they may not be suitable for larger garages.
Cost: Carriage house doors are generally more expensive than sectional overhead doors (the most popular choice for homes). These doors can range from $500 to $3,000, depending on the design and material involved, and that’s without an automated operator or the cost of installation. That said, these doors do tend to add value to a home, since they can vastly boost the curb appeal of a house, should it be sold.
Ease of Use: If you purchase a manual carriage house door, you’ll have to hop out of your car to open it every time you pull in the driveway. While that will only take you a few seconds, some folks find these doors inconvenient. That said, you can always install an operator to automatically open and close your carriage house doors.
Size Limitations: Carriage house garage doors are usually only used for garages with single-bay doors. If you have a tall garage or a multi-bay opening, than a carriage house door may not be the best option. Fortunately, for larger, multi-bay doors, you can install a bi-fold carriage door to span the space. Take note, these doors are more pricey than traditional carriage house doors.
Count on Us for Installs & Repairs
Have you discovered the perfect garage door for your home? If you’ve decided on the right choice for your abode, feel free to call us for an installation, or visit our showroom in Fort Collins! We’d be happy to provide you with the ideal garage door to fit your home!
