Windows & Doors Review: Garage DoorsCurb Appeal: Carriage styles, beefier insulation, and new technologies put garage doors out in front.

With the garage occupying a third of the average home's façade, garage doors are playing a bigger role in shaping a home's look, leaving owners and builders clamoring for unique styles and features.

"People are taking a more serious look at ... what the garage is going to look like because it does have such an effect on the neighborhood's appearance," says Pat Lohse, vice president of dealer/residential marketing at Clopay.

Garage doors are "one of the last great frontiers," in home design, says Bill Earnest, director of marketing and product management for Wayne Dalton. To conquer that frontier, manufacturers are offering packages of doors plus garage openers, doors designed to match front entrances and shutters, and other pairings.

Carriage House Styling

Once reserved for custom homes, carriage-house-style garage doors now are appearing in affordable versions made of steel, aluminum, and composite materials that mimic the look of more costly wood. The design is so popular that some neighborhood covenant committees require it, Lohse says.

Manufacturers continue to further the carriage house trend. In January, Wayne Dalton introduced the 9800 door, which features a fiberglass skin molded to mimic the appearance of wood that can be ordered pre-finished.

Also released in January, Jeld-Wen's polymer composite carriage house door is made from 100 percent recycled material. It features a pressed grain pattern to duplicate the look of wood without the maintenance issues, says David Hill, sales and marketing director for Jeld-Wen's garage doors.

Many companies sell a variety of composite, vinyl, or steel raised panels that can create a cross-buck pattern. Others offer handles, black piano hinges, clavos, and straps to create a finished look.

But some manufacturers question how long the carriage house look will last, particularly in the custom home market where buyers crave unique products. And not all houses are suited for carriage-style doors, says John Gardner, vice president of sales and marketing for Designer Doors, which now offers copper and bronze-clad units, as well as accents of thinly sliced stone and seeded or wavy decorative glass.

Insulation Issues

Most garage doors come with some insulation, typically blown-in polystyrene or polyurethane foam. In addition to protecting against heat loss, the insulation materials muffle noise.

"There is always a need in the market for higher R-value doors, especially in northern parts of the country and Canada," says Keith Tolbert, marketing development specialist for Amarr Garage Doors. "Consumers seem to be looking at that more closely when they replace their door."

This year, Amarr is offering its Classica collection with foam polyurethane sandwiched between steel panels. A single-car Classica polyurethane door retails for about $1,500 in comparison to $1,000 for a single-car Classica model made with polystyrene and an interior vinyl backer, Tolbert says.

With more builders constructing heated and air-conditioned living areas above garages, insulation is becoming even more important. So, some products manufactured by CHI Overhead Doors include a thermal barrier to prevent the door's metal skins from conducting heat or cold, which can create frost and humid conditions in a garage, says Tim Miller, the company's sales and marketing manager.

In the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, building codes increasingly require new garage doors to be wind-resistant. "A lot of doors that were destroyed in [recent] storms had been grandfathered in because they were old. If [homeowners] want to replace those doors … they have to bring them up to code with wind load," says Tolbert.

Introduced in January, Wayne Dalton's FabricShield is intended to protect homes and garages from wind- and storm-driven objects. Made of translucent, PVC-coated woven fabric panels, the shields attach to a garage's exterior with grommets.

Meanwhile, Designer Doors crafts a hurricane-rated wood garage door with impact-resistant glass panels. The model features extra through-bolt struts, longer roller stems, and a higher-gauge track, Gardner says.

In the Future

With customers always looking for fresh products, "The necessity to bring on new designs will be at a quicker pace," Miller says.

Although there will always be a place for raised-panel and carriage house doors, Miller predicts there will be increased interest in contemporary looks, which now comprise a small portion of the market.

Clopay's aluminum and tempered glass Avante door, which is based on a commercial product, exemplifies a more modern style. It pairs well with contemporary structures, Lohse says, "and in some cases, people will use this door on the back of their home–like if they live on an ocean or wooded area."

In addition to new fashions, the future will bring an increased focus on electronics (see "Wireless Wave," page 114) and garage interiors, predicts Gardner. Garage doors now can be linked to home automation systems, and they could connect to security systems and remote Internet access.

Because homeowners are sprucing up the inside of their garages with attractive cabinetry, unique floor surfaces, and fancy lighting, manufacturers are revamping garage door interiors. Designer Doors, for example, finishes the inside with beadboard and powder-coated hardware, and Gardner predicts that other companies will follow suit.

–BUILDING PRODUCTS

CHI Overhead Doors

CHI Overhead Doors. The 5200 series carriage house garage door is made of stamped 24-gauge steel and offers a choice of four window inserts, two handles, and two hinge styles. Model 5240 is shown in an almond finish with Stockton windows and standard hardware. 217-543-2135. www.chiohd.com.

Clopay

Clopay. The Avante collection features a contemporary aluminum frame and a choice of clear, frosted, tinted, mirrored, or acrylic glass. Solid aluminum panels in shades to match the frame–which can be custom-painted or sealed in clear, white, or brown–are available. The garage doors feature a vinyl bottom weatherseal to keep out the elements. 800-225-6729. www.clopaydoor.com.

Taylor Building Products

Taylor Building Products. The Country Estates garage door collection offers galvanized steel panel doors with seven embossed panel designs. The panels feature a wood-grain finish in a choice of white, almond, or sandstone colors. They are accented by white vinyl overlays in seven classic designs. 800-248-3600. www.taylordoor.com.

Designer Doors

Designer Doors. The metal-clad wood door line is intended to complement contemporary architecture. Shown in a copper-clad door, the line also offers other cladding choices including sheet metal, liquid metal coatings, and natural metal composites. The line provides the flexibility to include curves, angles, and design elements not possible with other materials, says the firm. 800-241-0525. www.designerdoors.com.

Jeld-Wen

Jeld-Wen. The Estate series features an Old World style with multi-planked, grooved designs on composite doors to complement Mediterranean or castle-look houses, says the manufacturer. The look is achieved through 6-inch on-center grooves, straight or curved door trim, and decorative hardware. 800-877-9482. www.jeld-wen.com.

Amarr Garage Doors

Amarr Garage Doors. The Oak Summit collection offers a beadboard carriage house design on a four-section door. Made of 25-gauge steel, the garage doors feature a centerline intended to give the illusion that it swings outward, says the manufacturer. Available in white, almond, and sandtone, the model comes with 17 window options. 800-503-3667. www.amarr.com.

Overhead Door

Overhead Door. Launched in October, the Renaissance V12 is an embossed steel carriage house garage door that mimics the appearance of real wood, says the manufacturer. Twelve vertical grooves in a wainscot design provide added detail, and between-section seals reduce air infiltration. The model is available with or without fully backed polystyrene insulation. 800-929-1277. www.overheaddoor.com.

Wireless Wave

Soon the garage door opener may do a lot more than just open a garage door.

Two emerging wireless technologies, ZigBee and Z-Wave, provide a means to link products like garage doors, lighting, home security systems, and other products through door openers and other devices.

"Ultimately I'm going to have devices like my PDA or my cell phone as my remote control devices" for home automation products, says Bob Heile, ZigBee Alliance chairman. Homeowners also could activate their home automation systems via the Internet.

Founded in 2002, the ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working to enable wirelessly networked control products based on a global standard. The goal is to provide the consumer with ultimate flexibility, mobility, and ease of use, according to the alliance. More than 150 member companies, including Honeywell, Mitsubishi, Philips, Motorola, and Samsung, produce ZigBee-compliant products.

Although no garage door companies offer ZigBee units, some home products are available, including lighting, keyless entry, and home security systems, says Heile.

Founded in 2005 by six manufacturers, the Z-Wave Alliance technology is a wireless two-way radio frequency that connects home products. More than 125 companies offer products using the technology, which is manufactured by Zensys. By the end of 2006, alliance manufacturers will offer 600 to 800 products, estimates Bill Earnest, director of marketing and product management for founding member Wayne Dalton. This year, Wayne Dalton plans to introduce 10 Z-Wave products, mainly for controlling lights through garage door openers.

Other garage door manufacturers are waiting for industry groups to choose which standard to endorse before investing in either technology, says Jason Moreno, residential door systems associate product manager for Overhead Door. But Earnest believes there is room for both technologies to blossom. "How many people had garage door openers 25 years ago? Certainly a much lower percentage than those who have them now," he points out.

–Monica Soladay

Wayne-Dalton

Wayne-Dalton. Founded in 2005 by six manufacturers, the Z-Wave Alliance uses a two-way radio frequency to connect home products. The Three-Button Mini-Transmitter allows homeowners to program up to six different commands to activate one of the company's Z-Wave-enabled garage door openers or its Home Access Controller to turn on lights. 888-827-3667. www.wayne-dalton.com.