Is a Carriage House Garage Door Right for My House?

Whether your home was built last week or last century, a carriage house garage door can provide charm and elegance to any home. This style of garage door was used at a time when the main type of transportation was a horse and carriage. The barn these carriages were stored in needed to have doors that would swing out wide enough for the carriages to fit, hence the name.

Carriage garage doors have changed a lot since that time, but their beauty and workmanship still remain true. If you’re thinking about an upgrade, there are benefits to choosing this type of door, like energy savings and personalized options.

Efficiency and Energy Savings

Modern carriage house style garage doors can swing outward like originally designed, but they can also bifold, slide, and open upward like a standard sectional door. This allows homeowners to keep the attractive style of a carriage house door but add efficiency of operation, since there is no need to have extra space for the doors to swing out.

The type of material you choose for your carriage house door can contribute to overall energy savings. For example, you can choose a door with a high R-value (higher the R-value, better insulated the door), to keep your garage and home protected from the cold of winter, as well as the heat of a Midwestern summer.

Keep the nostalgia and elegance of the classic carriage house door by incorporating the original sophisticated style and details, intricate woodwork and hardware, and window styles across the top.

Options for Personalization

Carriage style doors can be made of wood, aluminium or steel and range in price points. With all of these options available, homeowners are able to choose the right material for their homes, their budget, and their location.

In the Midwest, we need our garage doors to withstand anything Mother Nature can throw at it, so a steel carriage door could be your best option. Steel doors will never rot, warp, or expand like their wood counterparts. Steel by nature is heavy and durable, so they will last for years to come. Steel carriage house doors are also energy efficient and low maintenance, taking the stress out of upkeep.

If you’re attracted to the elegance of a wooden carriage house garage door, you can also customize the stain and/or color options of the steel door, giving it the strength steel offers with the look of wood.

Although upgrading your garage door to a carriage house style can add instant charm and curb appeal, it should never be attempted by yourself. Contact a professional if you're looking to upgrade.

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