Are Two Single Doors or One Double Garage Door Right for You?

These garage doors are in the Princeton P-12 design, 9' x 8', Iron Ore Walnut doors and Ice White overlays, 8 lite Panoramic windows.

If you want to keep half of your garage out of sight, you’ll want two single garage doors like on this home. These homeowners chose the Princeton P-12 design in a 9' x 8' size with Iron Ore Walnut paint and Ice White trim, as well as eight Lite Panoramic windows.

You can’t design your dream garage without making some important practical considerations. This is a good thing though because you’ll learn a lot and feel more involved in the process!

Consider These Issues before Deciding on the Best Garage Door for Your Home

A garage door should have excellent curb appeal, but it also needs to be highly functional. Your garage door should meet your unique needs. A high-quality door that is taken care of can last over 25 years! It should be practical, functional, and beautiful.

You don’t buy a new garage door every day! We recommend taking your time and fully perusing all the available options so that your choice meets all your specific needs. Knowing what you want and what you need will make the process much more positive and satisfactory.

Some technical restrictions may influence your decision regarding 2 single doors or 1 double garage door.

You’ll want to weigh these considerations before deciding on two single garage doors or one double.

Your garage size and the size of parked vehicles

If, for example, you want to park two average-sized cars in your garage, it will need to be at least 18x22 feet (width by depth) and your doors will need to be even wider. This will allow you to still enter and exit from the front and open and close your doors safely.

Note: Whether you want a single, double, or even a triple garage, you can find great visuals with your ideal plan dimensions at this House Plan Helper site. You can also search all the available sizes of residential garage doors, which will help you determine what size and how many vehicles you can park in your garage.

The climate

If you live in a place that’s very cold for a good portion of the year, a double door might not be a good fit. A double door will allow a lot of air to escape each time you open your garage!

It’s always best to seek professional help from an experienced technician. They can make sure your desires match up to your needs… and that they’re not only possible but safe.

When Should You Choose Two Single Garage Doors?

These garage doors are the Vog design, 9' x 7', Charcoal, window layout: Left-side Harmony.

This wood-finished home with beige hues is complemented by the Charcoal colour on the 9' x 7' Vog single garage doors, both with left-side Harmony windows.

Practical Matters

Two garage doors that operate independently of one another are always a good thing. One of them might break or need a tune-up, and then you can use the other one without worry. This way, you can always get in and out and get your vehicles and belongings where they need to go without anything being blocked.

If you’ve been having to park your cars in one spot, one behind the other, you know how inconvenient that is. This worry will be gone when you can park both cars next to each other in your double-door garage!

Even further, having two individual garage doors means that you can keep half of your space out of sight of your neighbors or passers-by. This private spot could be a home gym, an office, or storage for belongings that you just don’t want everyone else to see.

You can find so many ideas on the Internet or in magazines! Get your creative juices flowing with HGTV’s 30 organization and conversion ideas.

An inspiring picture of garage transformed into a home gym

A home gym like this would motivate anyone to work out! You could exercise in any season, working out to your favorite music in your favorite space. The Spruce gives you a head start with five easy steps to turning your garage into a home gym. Photo Credit: Pexels.

Durability Considerations

With two single garage doors, you’ll open each one less. Fewer opening and closing cycles each year mean that your doors will last longer than a double door, which you’ll need to lift and lower each time you want to get into either part of your garage.

Insulation Is Key

If your residential climate has a lot of rain or heavy, cold winters, then two single garage doors mean a better-insulated garage. Opening only half lets less snow, rain, or cold air in and out of your space. No one wants high utility bills!

Double garage doors mean a much larger opening that allows for the weather to affect the temperature of your garage space. If you do decide on a double door, it will need to be well-insulated with a high R-value. A garage door technician can tell you about R-values and let you know what you would need for your particular space, but you can get a basic idea here.

These garage doors are in the Eastman E-21 design, 9' x 7', Claystone doors and Ice White overlays, 8 lite Panoramic windows.

Choosing two single garage doors can balance the look of a home’s overall appearance, like on this home. These garage doors are the Eastman E-21 9' x 7' doors appear in Claystone with Ice White trim and eight Lite Panoramic windows.

When Should You Choose a Double Garage Door?

This garage door is a Moderno Multi design, 16' x 8', Chocolate Walnut, window layout: Left-side Harmony.

If you’re looking to transform the look of your driveway, it can be done with a double garage door! Shown here is the Moderno Multi design in 16' x 8' with Chocolate Walnut paint and left-side Harmony windows.

Maximizing Your Space for Flexibility

When you choose a large double garage door, it gives you more options for what you can do in your space. For example, you could park a car in the centre of the garage and still wash, work on, or clean out your car with ease. You can even choose to park more than one inside if the weather calls for it!

A double door provides ample space for outdoor tools, DIY supplies, exercise equipment, etc. This HGTV blog shows 55 ideas for practical and visually pleasing garage storage.

This garage door is North Hatley LP design, 16' x 8', Moka Brown, 4 vertical lite Orion windows.

A double garage door looks great during the day and at night! This North Hatley LP, from our Carriage House Style designs, 16’ x 8’ door in Moka Brown with four vertical Lite Orion windows looks perfect on this home.

Easy to Maintain

One door means one system and half the maintenance of two single doors, each with its own garage door opener. You’ll only have one door and one set of mechanisms (springs and cables) that need to be maintained.

These parts should be maintained with a lubricant for the PVC and one for the hardware. These can be found in your local hardware stores or online. A professional technician’s advice or a close reading of the reviews can ensure that you are getting exactly what you need.

You should have a garage door expert come perform an annual tune-up to maintain the long-life potential of your new garage door. This person will inspect your whole system, making sure that nothing is broken and everything is in order.

This 2-car garage door is a Standard+ Shaker-Modern XL design, 16' x 8', Iron Ore Walnut, Sandblasted windows / Coordinated with Soho entry door from Novatech's Shaker Collection.

A double garage door brings extra space and extra convenience! This Standard+ Shaker-Modern XL garage door in Iron Ore Walnut with Sandblasted windows blends perfectly with the Soho entry door from the Novatech's Shaker Collection.

Last but Not Least… the Garage Door Opener!

A double garage door requires a powerful, durable garage door opener system. It also needs to be compatible with your particular door choice. A large, heavy door (like a double door) means that you need a top-of-the-line garage door opener to lift and lower the door safely. Two single doors can use more basic models, though, and then you can upgrade with extra features if desired.

If you’re going with a top-of-the-line model, it doesn’t get better than the openers by LiftMaster. These are the highest-quality made by Chamberlain, the global leader in garage door openers. Their newest models are equipped with myQ technology, which allows you to control your garage door from wherever you are.

Whether you’re on vacation on the other side of the world or around the corner at the store, your phone will get a notification if there’s any movement in your garage or with your door. You can see what’s happening right from your phone screen!

Try the most recent LiftMaster garage door openers with myQ app technology.

The myQ technology in the new LiftMaster garage door opener systems means you can always keep an eye on the outside and inside of your garage. There are also many more uses for the smart LiftMaster garage door opener system.

What’s the Best Choice for Your Garage?

First off, set your budget and accurately measure your floor space and height, as well as the door size you need. Decide how often you think you’ll open and close your garage each day. Put all these together to decide which type of door is best for you.

Designing a garage door opener is much more than just designing a button that opens and closes a door. It’s in your best interest to talk to a specialist who can give you the rundown on all the different LiftMaster models.

You’ve Got All the Information… Which Garage Door Will You Choose?

The final decision is ultimately up to you because it’s your garage, your space, and your home.

That being said, we always recommend consulting with a professional garage door specialist who will make sure that what you want fits with what you need.

Let Us Help You Design the Garage Door of Your Dreams

If you’re overwhelmed with design options, Upper Level Doors has a wide selection of top-notch residential garage doors. They come in three trendy styles: Traditional, Carriage House, and Contemporary. Then, you can choose the colour, panel design, and window panels that fit your style.

Check out our Design Centre and create your unique garage door, all from the convenience of your home! You can mix and match all our available styles and features until you’ve created your dream door. Aesthetic taste is not the same for everyone, so you’ll want to create a door that fits your particular home and style. This online tool is also a budget planner.

Ask us for a free quote and we’ll send one over through email!

What If Your Garage Door Needs Maintenance, Repair, or Full Installation?

At Upper Level Doors, we can help you not only repair but install your new garage door. Our friendly team of experienced, skilled professionals knows the ins and outs of all things related to garage doors.

Call us at 613-547-4566 or 613-966-5655 and one of our representatives will help you as soon as possible!

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