Designing Your Garage? Here’s How to Choose Between 2 Single Garage Doors and one Double!

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.

These Princeton P-12 single overhead doors in Iron Ore Walnut and Ice White overlays give off a wonderfully modern, farmhouse appearance on this home. Garage doors can really solidify your home’s style!

When you’re choosing the garage doors for your home, there are some elements that are important to consider. In order to decide if your two-car garage needs two single doors or one double garage door is a decision, you shouldn’t take lightly! We’re here to help make the decision easier for you!

Aspects that May Help You Decide

Garage doors are a focal point to any home, so you want to make sure you choose the right ones so that they last as long as you’d like while also staying beautiful. When it comes to deciding between single or double garage doors, certain elements of your lifestyle should be considered.

Specifically, there are a couple of aspects that may make the decision between two single doors and one double garage door easier.

What vehicles need to park in your garage?

If you’re getting a two-car garage in order to park two cars inside, you need to factor that into your decision. In order to fit two cars inside, your double-door garage has to be at least 18 feet wide and 22 feet deep. If you choose single doors, your garage has to be wider to account for the wall that goes between the two doors.

What size doors are available?

When planning out your garage, check out plans with the ideal garage dimensions on the House Plans Helper's website so you can visualize your layout idea. You also need to consider the available residential garage door sizes so you can be realistic about what doors you can choose from.

What is the climate like in your area?

A double garage door may not be the best option if you live in extreme climates. Single doors will allow you to keep temperature-regulated air inside of your garage for a longer amount of time when you only open one at a time.

If you’re still unsure about which style to choose, you can speak to a professional for further information!

Pros of Two Single Garage Doors

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

The Vog contemporary garage doors in Charcoal help solidify the wooded wonderland vibe of this home. The warm tone of the color helps it blend in with the brown accents throughout the rest of the home’s exterior.

Single Garage Doors Can Be Practical

Having two garage doors gives you flexibility in your garage space. You have two doors that are operated independently from one another, so you have the ability to keep one side of your garage closed at all times if that’s what you choose! You can park two cars inside but only have to open one door at a time if you’re only leaving with one car.

Another advantage of having two doors is that you can use one side of your garage as a dedicated space for a home gym, workshop, man cave, or whatever other space you have in mind! The options are truly endless, especially when you can keep the door closed all the time if you choose!

Check out these 30 garage organization and conversion ideas from HGTV if you need some inspiration on turning half of your garage into your dream space! No matter what you need space for in your home, having two garage doors can make it easier to achieve that goal!

An inspiring picture of garage transformed into a home gym

If you’re a fitness fan, imagine having a home gym setup like this in your garage! Having two single doors can make that happen! Check out 5 simple steps to converting your garage into a fitness room from The Spruce on how to make it happen. Image from of Pexels.

Single Garage Doors Will Last Longer

Single garage doors have fewer cycles per year compared to double doors. This is because you’re normally opening the one you need, so they only get opened when necessary, versus every time someone needs in or out of the garage. The fewer cycles means less wear and tear on the mechanics behind the garage doors, which will help them last longer than their double door counterparts!

Single Garage Doors Can Help with Temperature Regulation

When you have two garage doors and only open one at a time, you won’t lose near as much climate-controlled air to the outside as you do with a double door. This slower air loss means the temperature inside of your garage will stay more regulated. Regulated temperature means your garage won’t be causing your electric bill to skyrocket, which is super important during both hot summers and frigid winters!

Regardless of the door style you choose, make sure it is well insulated. When shopping for doors, check out the R-value, or level of resistance to heat flow, for each one, to see how insulated they are. You can get an estimate of what R-value is ideal for your home here.

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

These Eastman E-21 garage doors feature the Claystone color and Ice White overlays. Lighter colors are super popular right now, and these doors blend effortlessly into the rest of the home.

Pros of a Double Garage Door

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

This Moderno Multi design garage door in Chocolate Walnut is the perfect modern garage door for any minimalist. The windows allow for ample natural light inside, and the style of the door is simple and sophisticated.

Double Garage Doors Can Mean More Storage Space

If you have a double door, you have the ability to park a car directly in the middle of your garage. Doing this gives you access to the entire perimeter of your garage for whatever storage you need. Plus, you can open your car doors all the way while parked inside if you’re in the middle, which is wonderful if you have kids!

With all the space available in for storage, you need a great storage setup! Check out HGTV’s 55 ideas for practical and aesthetically pleasing storage of your belongings. You’re sure to find a great storage solution for your garage!

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

The North Hatley LP garage door in Moka Brown is a great combination of modern and traditional styles. If you’re looking to upgrade your garage door on an older home, this style will keep the home’s charm while still making it more updated.

A Double Garage Door Means Half the Maintenance

One door means one set of cables, gears, chains, and other mechanisms that go into making your garage door work. Having only one set means you have half the regular maintenance to perform compared to those with two single doors. Choosing a double door will give you more free time when you’re doing your annual checks on your doors!

Speaking of maintenance, make sure you are applying a lubricant made for PVC parts and another one for hardware. You can find these either online or in your local hardware shop. If you’re not sure which lubricants you need for your door, talk to a professional for guidelines!

It’s also a good idea to have an annual tune-up done by a garage door technician. These checks can help fix problems before they happen and give your garage door a longer lifespan! It’s truly a win-win!

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.

This Standard+ Shaker-Modern XL double overhead door in Iron Ore Walnut showcases why gray is such a popular color right now. You can even pair it with the matching front door from Novatech's Shaker Collection for a fully cohesive look.

Choosing a Garage Door Opener

The garage door opener is what makes your garage door function how you want it to. Since it’s such an important aspect of your garage door, you need to make sure you do the right research and choose the perfect opener for your door. It’s also important to consider any extra features you may like in an opener!

LiftMaster garage door openers are some of the most popular! They come from the Chamberlain Group, a company known worldwide for their wonderful garage door openers. They also offer amazing extra features, including myQ technology that lets you control your garage door from your smartphone!

This feature lets you open or close your garage door from anywhere in the world, so you never have to worry about whether you took care of it at home. Simply check the app to confirm! Plus, you can get motion notifications if there’s movement in your garage, so you can always have an eye on your home!

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

Garage door openers have made great advances! Check out 9 uses for a smart LiftMaster garage door opener to see why myQ is worth the investment!

Choosing a Garage Door Opener

When you pick a garage door opener, consider the height and width of your garage door, your budget, and what extra features you would like. You also need to consider how often you will be using your opener, so you can make sure you’re choosing an opener that will meet your needs in that aspect.

If you’re overwhelmed by the decision, talk to a specialist who can help you understand which style or model of opener would best meet your needs.

Which Garage Door Style Should You Choose?

Your garage door style choice is as unique as you are! Only you can make the right decision, but hopefully, we’ve helped make the decision easier for you. When deciding between two single doors and one double garage door, consider your lifestyle as well as your needs and wants for your garage space. From there, it’s all about your personal preference!

Designing Your Garage Door

When it’s time to pick a garage door, check out B & M Garage Door Inc’s extensive selection of residential garage doors. You can pick from three style groups: Traditional, Carriage House, and Contemporary. From there, you can choose the door, window style, accents, and colors.

You can also check out our Design Centre to create your garage door virtually and see what it would look like. The program lets you design whatever garage styles you’re considering and compare them visually. Plus, you can request a free quote on the doors you're considering to see how the prices compare to your budget!

What to do After Picking a Garage Door

B & M Garage Door Inc can help deliver and install the garage door you choose. However, that’s not all they do! They can also do annual checks on your garage door as well as perform any repairs that may arise throughout your garage door’s lifespan. Give them a call at 905-569-9133, and they’ll have someone from their team there to help you as soon as possible!

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