Garage Door Installation
High-quality, commercial grade, built to last!
Step-By-Step Garage Door Choice Guide
Welcome to our step-by-step garage door builder guide! We understand that there are many options to choose from when it comes to choosing the right garage door for your home. We are here to help guide you through that process, offering as much information as possible so that you are able to make a fully informed decision as to what meets your needs regarding insulation, style, color, and function.
Top Priority: Quality!
When it comes to quality, O’Brien knows best! We have carefully chosen our garage door manufacturers to ensure that we are installing the highest quality products for our valued customers. Our partnered manufacturers such as Safeway, Amarr, and DoorLink, are known for their durability, longevity, and strength. Our garage doors are not only top of the line with the doors themselves, but the crucial moving parts as well. Our doors will come with commercial grade, high-lifecycle hardware to ensure optimal functionality and longevity. Often, garage doors will come stock with plastic rollers, undersized hinges that hold the door together, low lifecycle one spring systems, low gauge steel, thin cables, etc. Not at O’Brien! We believe in delivering the best to our community and that if quality parts are not installed, you will run into major repairs quickly.
Lets get started! If at any point you need assistance, please feel free to give us a call, or reach out to our garage door specialist team, or book an onsite estimate!
Step One:
Size and Quantity
The most common size for a residential one car garage door is 8x7 and for a two car, 16x7. However, often garage doors will be slightly taller or wider. It is important to take a tape measure to the door opening (the frame itself) to ensure the correct size, as the size does affect pricing.
Before a door is ordered, we will always send a technician out to do a final measure to make sure the correct door is ordered. If you prefer to have a technician come out to go over doors and pricing from the start, give us a call or book online today!
Step Two:
Insulation Type
There are a few factors to consider when deciding between insulated and non insulated. Are you looking for temperature control in your garage? Do you prefer a thicker or sturdier door? The insulated door may be the door for you! It will help keep the garage warmer in the cooler months, and cooler in the hotter months. This can save hundreds of dollars in energy savings over time. An insulated door will also be quite a bit more durable than a non-insulated door due to all its layers!
Three most common garage door construction types:
Good: One Layer, Non-Insulated
One layer of steel with a hollow back. This door is ideal for those that do not need their garage temperature controlled and are looking for the most cost effective option.
Better: Two Layer, Insulated
This door has a layer of steel in the front, a layer of insulation behind it, and a vinyl backing. While slightly more cost effective than the 3 layer steel back, this door is the less common choice of our insulated doors for two reasons:
The vinyl back is less durable than the steel and is prone to knicks/dents over time.
The insulation factor is lower.
Best: Three Layer, Insulated Steel Back:
The three layer insulated steel back garage door is our top seller and our top pick! It has a layer of steel on the front, high-quality insulation on the interior with another layer of steel on the back. Whether you are needing to keep your garage temperature controlled or not, this door will be the most durable because of its three layer design. Its solid construction will help the door to run more smoothly and may help with noise control as well.
**It is important to note that the insulated doors will work in tandem with a garage that is already insulated for temperature control.
Step Three:
Material, Style, Color, Windows
Now the fun part! Whether you are looking for a classic raised panel design, a classic carriage house design, or a specialty door, we have an abundance of options! Below will be our most commonly purchased garage door styles, but if there is something specific you are looking for that you do not see listed, please reach out to our staff, we are happy to work on customizing a door for you!
Conventional Styles:
Steel Traditional Raised Panel
Our Traditional Raised Panel design offers a classic look an is the most common choice across the country. This construction design adds to the door’s stability and durability. You may choose the short panel or add a touch of elegance with the long panel design. This door comes in a wide range of colors and window patterns to represent your unique style!
Steel Carriage House
The steel carriage house is one of our favorites! It takes the classic design and gives it a little character. You can choose from short panel, long panel, windows or solid, and if you want to dress it up a little, you can add decorative hardware to give it the barn door look!
Product Brochures for Traditional Raised Panel and Carriage House
Click to View PDFs
Designer Styles:
We have a multitude of additional styles to choose from! If you are looking for more of a specialty door to add tremendous beauty to your home, below are some of our additional styles.
Stamped Shaker
A timeless style that leaves a lasting impression with simple lines, and a minimalist, recessed panel design.
Recessed Panel
A flush panel door with an overlay of framework, giving a distinctive inset panel design.
Aluminum Full-view
Heavy duty aluminum framing with full-view glass. Many color and tinting options.
Sterling
Smooth, Flush Panels. Tinted Glass. Contemporary Style.
Planks
Wooden Look. Recessed Grooves. Contemporary Style.
Skyline Flush
Crisp, Clean Lines. Contemporary Style.
Carriage Collection & Aristocrat Series
Shoreline Accents Overlay: Offers the classic look of wood without the maintenance.
Overlay Carriage House: Traditional designs, available in steel, wood, and fiberglass.
Flush Carriage House: Flat smooth surface with the look of carriage house overlay.
Aristocrat Series: Overlay carriage design.
Windows or No Windows?
Adding windows to your garage door can emphasize your unique style and add beauty to the door! If you are trying to decide whether you should have windows or not, we’ve got some pointers!
Window Pros:
Windows add beauty to the door and home and come in a wide variety of options.
Windows allow you to see out and let light into the garage.
Window Cons:
If temperature control is very important to you, windows may have an effect on the efficiency of climate control. Opt for insulated glass if this is crucial.
If you are looking for privacy in your garage, you may opt for a window option that obscures the view from the outside.
Windows will be an additional cost.
Ready to Proceed or Looking to Customize?
Reach out to our door specialist today!
Step Four:
Automatic Door Opener or No?
Your next question may be whether or not you need a new garage door opener as well. The opener and the door are separate mechanisms. If your opener is not very old and you are replacing the door with a similar door, we can reconnect your existing opener, no problem! Below are some reasons you may choose to purchase a new automatic door opener:
Your opener is at or near the end of its lifecycle
You are looking to upgrade to a unit with noise reduction or advanced technological, safety, and durability features
You are purchasing a door that is much heavier than your previous door and need a stronger unit
Click here to learn more about our automatic garage door openers!
