• Two Garage Doors or One?

    April 4, 2016 | Blog

  • Any garage designed for more than one car will raise the question of how many garage doors to install. When possible, it’s best to ask this question during initial construction, but it’s worth considering during a renovation. Ask these questions to help you make the best decision for your home.

    Cost

    Are two doors necessarily more expensive than one? There are a lot of variables in selecting garage doors and openers, as well as the required framing to support a single or double door. Depending on your situation, the costs may be comparable, so the decision will depend on other factors than cost. Some considerations:

    • Double doors need stronger headers to span the width and support the framing above so that there is no sagging down the road that will cause the door to bind or fail to operate properly. That’s why residential garage doors are not wider than two cars, so if you have a 3+ car garage, you’ll be buying at least 2 doors anyway. Plus, if there is living space (a second floor) above the garage, more expensive steel framing may be required over any double doors.
    • Regardless of whether you choose one or two doors, you’ll want them to be energy efficient, and they need to be compatible with FL hurricane codes. Smaller doors may be more resistant with a simpler structure, but you’d still be buying two. Consult your garage door pro for estimates to see if one or two are better once these construction factors are included.
    • Two doors will require double the tracks and hardware, garage door openers (though they may not need to be as rugged), and labor.

    Appearance

    Often the first reason two doors are considered versus one is the style and appearance of the home. This depends on your architecture, tastes, and even the neighborhood you live in. There may also be written (or even unwritten) rules about how homes in the area can be designed, including such things are garage doors.

    • Simplicity vs. symmetry
    • Uniform vs. custom
    • Modern vs. traditional

    Usability and Security

    Each configuration has its own advantages and disadvantages.

    Two doors:

    • Only one door needs to be opened at a time
      • Does not expose all the contents of your garage to onlookers
      • Does not reveal if both cars are gone, indicating an empty house
      • Does not let as much conditioned air out of the living space as a larger door (saving on energy)
      • One door can still be used if something fails with the other door
    • Can be easier to lift manually in the event of a power outage
    • Provides more space between vehicles for walking and to prevent car door dents
    • Can use twice the energy if both doors are used often and controlled by automatic openers
    • Can be difficult to pull into if the door is side entry (versus straight on from the street)
    • Can create wasted interior storage “dead space” between the doors

    One door:

    • Offers flexibility to park anywhere within the opening (helpful for car maintenance)
    • Can accommodate wider vehicles (even if only temporarily, such as a trailer)
    • Can allow for more margin when parking (for inexperienced or unskilled drivers, odd driveway angles)
    • Can trap both cars inside (or outside) if hardware fails (such as the torsion spring)
    • Can be less energy-efficient

    Choosing Your Door Configuration

    There is no clear “winner” when deciding between a single wide garage door, or two narrower doors for a two-car garage. But these comparisons should help you narrow down some of the critical features that will inform your decision, and then you can talk to the pros at the Overhead Door Depot for a custom quote and recommendations.