The Pros & Cons of 2 Single Doors vs 1 Double Garage Door

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.

Limit the ability for others to see inside your garage by only opening one garage door at a time! These garage doors are the Princeton P-12 design, 9’ x 8’, Iron Ore Walnut and Ice White overlays, 8 lite Panoramic windows.

Before designing your dream garage, you must first make some critical decisions. What's great about the process is that you'll not only learn more about garage doors and openers, but you'll also feel more involved.

Technical restrictions to consider before making any decisions for your garage door size

Behind the appearance of a garage door is its complete functionality. It's critical to consider this aspect because it determines whether a garage door meets your needs. A well-maintained garage door can more than 25 years. That said, when purchasing a new garage door, you should consider not only the attractive curb appeal it will add to your house but also its practicality.

It isn't every day that you buy a new garage door! It's highly recommended you take your time looking at what's available and identifying your needs before making any decisions. You'll see that having an idea of what you want and knowing what's best for you will make the process much easier.

Some technical restrictions may influence your decision regarding 2 single doors or 1 double garage door.

  • Size of your garage and types of vehicles

    The size of your garage and the type of cars you want to store in it may limit your options. Indeed, if you intend to park 2 medium size vehicles, your garage must be at least 18 feet wide by 22 feet deep. To allow access from the front of the garage, the dimensions of 2 single doors must be wider.

    NOTE: You can find plans with the ideal garage dimensions if you want a single, double, or triple garage on the House Plans Helper's website for a better visual. You can also find all of the possible residential garage door sizes, which will help you in determining what types of cars and how many of them you will be able to park in your garage.

  • Your climate

    A double garage door may not be the best option depending on your local climate because opening one wide door allows more air to enter/escape your garage. If your area is subject to very cold weather, you should think about it!

Seeking the assistance of a garage door professional for technical aspects is always recommended to ensure that what you want is feasible and tailored to your needs.

When are 2 single garage doors the best option?

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

The warm Charcoal colour of these garage doors complements well with the wood finishes and beige tone of the 2 entrances. These 1-car garage doors are the Vog design, 9' x 7', Charcoal, window layout: Left-side Harmony.

Practicality

Having 2 garage doors that operate independently is always beneficial! You never know when one of them will stop working or need to be repaired. If you are in trouble, a separate garage door system can serve as a safeguard because you still have the other one. You might be able to get one of the cars out this way if the layout of your garage allows it.

Do you find it inconvenient to park your cars one behind the other and plan who will be the first to leave the following day? You won't have to worry about that anymore because the 2 vehicles can be parked next to one another.

Another advantage of having 2 single garage doors is that you can choose what your neighbours see when only one door is open. Imagine your garage is divided into 2 distinct areas, keeping one side as a more private space, such as a home gym or a functional storage space. With one door closed, your equipment or belongings stay out of sight.

There are numerous ideas to be found in catalogues or online! Allow your imagination to flow with these 30 garage organization and conversion ideas we found on HGTV’s website.

An inspiring picture of garage transformed into a home gym

Wouldn't it be motivating to work out in this home gym? Think about doing it in the summer, with the door open and your workout playlist on! Here is our blog on simple steps to converting your garage into a fitness room Image: Pexels.

Durability

The number of openings per year will be lower because you will not be opening the same garage door every time. As a result, with fewer cycles per year, 2 single garage doors will last longer than 1 double garage door that may open twice as much.

Garage insulation

Having 2 single garage doors can be very useful if you live in an area with cold winters or heavy rain. You can keep one door closed while the other is open, limiting your outdoor exposure. As a result, less cold air enters your garage. The last thing you want is to be surprised and find that your utility bills have increased!

Remember that a 2-car garage door leaves a much larger opening for cold air or rain to enter. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you go for a double garage door, make sure it is well insulated. A garage door professional will know what R-value, or level of resistance to heat flow, you require. You can get a rough idea of what R-value you'd need here.

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

Notice how 2 garage doors balance out the overall appearance of this house's exterior? These garage doors are the Eastman E-21 design, 9’ x 7’, Claystone doors and Ice White overlays, 8 lite Panoramic windows.

When is a double garage door ideal?

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

Having a double garage door can transform the appearance of your driveway! This garage door is the Moderno Multi design, 16’ x 8’, Chocolate Walnut, window layout: Left-side Harmony.

Flexibility and additional working space

A larger garage door gives you more options for how you want to use your garage. You can park one car in the center of your garage and still have enough room to walk around and wash it. You can also park 2 vehicles in it if you know the weather will be bad.

See? You will have plenty of space to move and still have storage on the side for tools, outdoor supplies, workout equipment, etc. HGTV has 55 ideas for practical and aesthetically pleasing storage of your belongings. Check this out!

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

Even at night, a 2-car garage door looks absolutely stunning! This garage door is a North Hatley LP, 16’ x 8’, Moka Brown, 4 vertical lite Orion windows.

Easy maintenance

Because you only have one door, you only need one garage door opener to maintain. In comparison, 2 1-car garage doors have twice the number of parts that will require maintenance and repair. That entails 2 garage doors, 2 openers, other springs and cables, and so on.

You can apply lubricant made for PVC parts and another one for hardware. There are plenty of them available in retail stores and online. Request a professional or carefully look at the reviews to ensure you get the best one for your needs.

We also recommend you have a garage door technician who can come to your house once a year for a tune-up. They are qualified to inspect your entire garage door system to ensure no parts are broken. Plus, annual preventive maintenance will extend the life of your garage door parts!

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.

Consider how much more space you can have with a double garage door! That would be far more convenient! This double 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.

Let’s not forget the garage door opener

Having a powerful and durable garage door opener that is compatible with your garage door is necessary. Because it’s heavier, a 2-car garage door requires a high-quality garage door opener model to lift the door.

You must definitely take that into account before choosing. On the other hand, 2 single doors can have a basic model, and it is up to you to decide if you want more features.

LiftMaster garage door openers are among the best on the market! Why is this so? They are the high-end division of the Chamberlain Group, a global leader in garage door openers. Their most recent models include cutting-edge myQ technology, allowing you to control your garage door remotely.

You could be on vacation or going grocery shopping. It makes no difference! You'll get a notification whenever there's movement in your garage, and you'll be able to see it on your phone.

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

With the new LiftMaster garage door model's myQ technology, you can always keep an eye on your garage! Here are 9 uses for a smart LiftMaster garage door opener.

Which garage door opener is for you?

First, you must determine your budget, garage space and height, and door size. How many times do you anticipate your garage door opening and closing each day? That’s another question you should ask yourself. All these factors may influence your decision.

The thought process that goes into the choice of a garage door opener goes much further than simply having a control button that opens your door. We strongly advise you to speak with a specialist who can thoroughly explain the differences between LiftMaster opener models.

Which garage door option will you choose now that you have all this information to help you decide?

No matter which garage door option you select, the final decision is in your hands because it will be YOUR garage door that is installed at your home.

However, we do recommend that you seek the advice of a garage door specialist who will guide you through your purchasing decision to meet your specific needs.

It’s time to choose the garage door of your dreams

If you’re hesitating about the appearance, look at Garaga large selection of high-quality residential garage doors. They are categorized into 3 trendy styles: Traditional, Carriage House, and Contemporary. After that, you have the freedom to choose whatever colour, panel design, and windows you want.

You should give our Design Centre a shot!

It allows you to create your own garage door by mixing and matching all the different features until you find the perfect one for you. We can't generalize everyone's taste, so that tool gives you a one-of-a-kind experience when looking for a new garage door and aren't sure if it will match the design of your home. It's not only an online visualizer, but it's also a budget planner. You can quickly request a free quote and receive it via email!

Do you require garage door installation, repair, or maintenance?

Garaga garage door Experts can also assist you with installing or repairing your garage door. They have friendly teams of qualified and skilled technicians in all garage door services. Get in touch with them and a member of their teams will be at your door as soon as possible!

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