How Big a Garage Door or Garage Doors Does One Need?
Posted by Sasha the garage doors replacement expert on Monday, 05 July 2010
Tags: garage doors size, new garage doors, custom garage door, los angeles, Garage Door, Garage Door Repair
How Big a Garage Door or Garage Doors Does One Need?
When most home buyers are looking at property they evaluate the number of bedrooms and bath, but pass only a cursory glance at the size of the garage doors. This may not be a priority for everyone, but some home buyers are looking for more than a simple statement like “2 car garage”. Owners of large trucks and SUV's can tell tales about how daunting some garage doors can be.
The standard size for a single car garage is nine feet wide. This is generally wide enough, even large SUV's are only about 6.5 feet wide. Some of the largest trucks only get 7.5 feet wide. Of course height could be an issue. Standard garage doors are 7 feet tall. If the owner is going to build the garage the height can be increased by the size of the door pieces. Garage doors are built from a series of panels about 20 inches tall. If the garage is being built from the ground up, making the door a little taller can provide extra space for suspended storage of bicycles as well as accommodate some of the taller vehicles.
Two car garages are also not all made the same. They range from 12 feet to 18 feet wide. The smaller sizes for a two car garage doors will make owners of larger vehicles wince again. Many owners will only park one car in the garage if the door is too small and then use the rest of the garage for storage or a workshop. The double size can make it easier to perform minor maintenance inside on a single car as you can pull into the center and have plenty of space to either side of the car.
Many two car garage owners find two single doors suit their needs best. There is never a question of one car pulling in too far to one side and causing the second car trouble.
The depth of a garage is also a challenge. Most garages will be 20 feet long, which should accommodate most SUV's. Here some larger trucks could be left hanging in the elements. Some garages are 24 or more feet deep. This becomes a building preference. If the current owner doesn't have a large vehicle, they might use the extra space for storage. If the garage is finished or even connected in to the house the space could be for laundry or an extra pantry.
A house's garage should not be overlooked. The foyer is likely a homeowners first view of a house, but the garage is often going to end up being the point where they come and go every day. Making sure the garage door is the right size and style can go a long way toward making that transition to and from home pleasant.
A home that already has a garage does not have as many options, if it's not the right size. Any homebuyer should take a good look around the garage, and anyone in the market for a new garage should make a careful assessment of their current and potential future needs. Never forget that there are professional garage door installation professionals ready to answer questions.