Finding Your Perfect Garage Door
If you’re looking for a new garage door, the whole process can seem overwhelming.
Especially when your garage door acts as an entry point, the first line of defence for your valuables, and it’s also one of the first things visitors will see when they walk up your drive.
Whether your garage is used to store your car or as a workshop or gym, the right garage door is a great step and can make a huge difference in your home’s kerb appeal and the overall comfort of your garage space.
Read on as we explore essential aspects of choosing a new garage door, including fitment, functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Finding The Right Door
A traditional timber garage door is fitted to a door frame with hinges, allowing you to open and close it by hand. You will need enough clearance in front of the doors to open them fully.
Wooden garage doors have become increasingly popular thanks to their timeless, luxurious appeal and natural appearance, which is an excellent way to boost a home’s kerb appeal and property value.
They are also favoured for their durability, insulating properties, and ability to be customised to fit your specifications for both traditional and contemporary property designs.
If you’re looking for inspiration when purchasing a wooden garage door and don’t know where to start, our garage door buying guide is a one-stop guide for everything you need to know to make the right choice.
We’ll cover everything from measuring for your garage door to choosing from the various wood types, finishes and styles available.
What Do You Use Your Garage For?
How you use your garage will determine the best garage door configuration for you. If your garage is only used to park your car, it will have different requirements than one used for storage, a home gym or workshop.
What Does Mortise and Tenon Mean?
Mortise and tenon is a highly durable method of connecting two pieces of wood at a 90-degree angle. It works like a tab and slot, consisting of two parts: the mortise, which is a precisely cut hole or slot in one piece of wood, and the tenon, a protruding tongue carved on the end of the second piece of wood, which fits snugly into the mortise.
Whilst the joint may seem simple at first, it prevents the pieces from twisting or pulling apart.
What Does Tongue and Groove Mean?
Tongue and groove is a method of joining flat wooden boards or panels together edge-to-edge. One board will have a protruding ridge, or the tongue, which fits snugly into another piece with a hollow slot, or groove. Together, they create a flat, interlocking surface. This prevents vertical movement, keeping the boards level, and provides structural support.
What Is A Visible Flush Bottom Rail?
A visible flush bottom rail is a smooth, flat horizontal panel at the bottom of a garage door. It aligns perfectly flush with the adjacent floor, offering structural strength.
What Are Weatherboards and Drip Lats?
Weatherboards and drip lats are exterior timber pieces used to protect your garage from rain and moisture. They are designed to deflect rainwater, prevent water from seeping under the door, and stop debris and draughts from entering your garage.
Opting for weatherboards and drip lats is an effective way to deter rain from blowing into your garage and can sometimes block leaves and dust from entering your garage. As they deflect water, stopping it from pooling and then soaking into the boards, they prevent rot from developing.
How Do I Choose The Master Door?
When choosing which door will be the master on your side-hinged garage doors, it’s all about deciding how you will use the space. You want to prioritise ease of use and convenience.
If you mainly use your garage for parking, make the master door the one that aligns naturally with how you approach the garage on foot or by vehicle.
You should also consider what is in your garage and choose the master door on the side with the most clearance, avoiding internal obstacles such as fuse boxes, gas meters or shelving.
Remember, the master door will house the handles and primary locking mechanism.
Choosing Your Door Style
The beauty of wooden garage doors lies in their customisability and the ability to be finished to suit virtually any property, modern and traditional alike.
Which Wood Type?
Wooden garage doors come in two types: softwood and hardwood. The choice you’ll make will largely depend on your budget and security needs; however, each wood type has its own requirements and benefits, so it’s good to make an informed decision when choosing your garage door.
Hardwood vs. Softwood
Below is a table that shows the key features of hardwood versus softwood.
Feature | Hardwood | Softwood |
|---|---|---|
Origins | Deciduous trees such as oak and iroko. | Coniferous trees like pine, cedar, and redwood. |
Durability & Security | High density, naturally oil-rich. Resistant to dents and forced entry. | Softer structure. More susceptible to dents and may require a more robust locking system. |
Maintenance | Low maintenance & stable against warping and twisting. | Requires regular painting or staining to prevent moisture ingress and rot. |
Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
Cost | Premium wood type. Likely higher initial cost. | Budget-friendly, yet still looks brilliant. |
For greater insight into the differences between hardwood and softwood, take a look at our guide here.
Security
Wooden garage doors can be highly secure, often performing just as well as their steel counterparts. Thanks to the natural thickness of timber, it has high structural integrity, protecting it against forced entry. This also gives it excellent insulation, especially compared to single-skin metal garage doors.
Solid, heavy hardwoods, such as oak and iroko, are naturally tough and highly resistant to being kicked or battered.
When you have a wooden garage door, you need to consider that wood expands, contracts and can rot if not treated properly. If your door becomes weakened and starts to rot, it can become easier to pry open.
Heavy-duty hardware is an excellent way to reinforce your garage door, especially in the corners, to stop it from being pried or kicked in.
Choosing Your Hardware
Choosing the hardware for your garage door all depends on the security and architectural style you’re looking for.
We offer garage door butt hinge iron work packs and hook and band iron work packs.
Butt hinges are a traditional choice to provide a clean, flush appearance. Having stainless steel hinges allows for durability, strength and weight distribution, and by attaching the hinges flush to the door and the frame, you can ensure a smooth, sag-free operation to maximise longevity and stability. What’s more, stainless steel hinges will resist rust and corrosion, vital for exterior structures.
Hook and band ironwork provides robust, load-bearing support. After all, wooden garage doors are notoriously heavy, depending on the wood type, so the long bands span across a large portion of the door to distribute the weight evenly, preventing sagging and warping. When installed correctly, hook-and-band ironwork can make it incredibly tough for intruders to lift the door off its pins.
The exposed, traditional black ironwork of hook and band is a great way to achieve a classic, barn-style, or rustic look, which can complement the natural timber beautifully.
Style and Aesthetics
Priming and Painting
Priming and painting your wooden garage door is an essential part of protecting the porous timber against moisture penetration, warping and rotting. A properly treated and painted garage door is an excellent choice if you’re looking to improve the overall value of your home. After all, a freshly painted and clean garage door offers a much better kerb appeal.
Essentially, a primer will act as a foundational coat that covers the porous surface of the wood, whilst also stopping the natural tannins and oils of the wood from bleeding through and discolouring your top coat. It also creates an even surface for your exterior paint to grip onto, preventing any peeling.
By using a high-quality wood paint, this will repel rainwater whilst allowing the natural timber to breathe. Blocking out water absorption will prevent the wood from swelling, cracking or developing rot, allowing your garage doors to last longer. Wood paint will also deflect sunlight and offer UV protection, which prevents the wood from drying out and fading over time.
We offer a priming and painting service, using expert spraying techniques to create a second-to-none coating that offers a practical yet beautiful, durable finish to preserve the longevity of your garage door. We apply two coats of primer, including knotting, to ensure maximum coverage and long-term durability, and we use Sikkens paints, known for their longevity.
Key Benefits Of A Wooden Garage Door
Wooden garage doors are still a very popular choice amongst homeowners, for many reasons.
One of the key reasons wooden garage doors are so popular is their durability. As long as the wood is maintained with the correct wood preserver or stain, it has the natural ability to withstand all sorts.
Wood is also an excellent natural insulator, making it a great material for garage doors, especially when you want to maintain the temperature within your garage.
Aesthetically, wood is an extremely versatile material. You can style it any way you like. Whether you want to paint it a certain colour, add decorative hardware, or even add a window, wood makes these options viable.
If you don’t want to paint your garage door, wood offers a natural, timeless appeal. By maintaining the stain or seal on a natural timber finish, it’ll look excellent for years to come.
Unlike steel or aluminium garage doors, which are prone to dents and scratches that are difficult to fix, wooden garage doors are easier to repair. Minor scratches and blemishes can be sanded down and refinished.
Do I Need A Garage Door Frame?
Your garage door’s frame provides the necessary structural support that evenly distributes your door’s weight. Therefore, if you don’t already have a garage door frame, it’s vital to have one to ensure everything keeps aligned.
If you are upgrading your existing garage door, you may not need a new frame, but it entirely depends on its condition. Older wooden frames, especially those untreated, can be prone to moisture absorption, swelling and rot.
It’s important to evaluate your existing garage door frame before buying a garage door. If you’re at all doubtful as to whether you need a new garage door frame, always speak to a professional.
Measuring For Your Garage Door
To measure for a new garage door, use a tape measure to find the width and height of the structural opening. Always record the measurements at multiple points along the opening to account for uneven floors and walls, and use the smallest measurements.
For a more detailed insight into how to measure for your garage door, take a look at our guide here.
Can I Have A Bespoke Size Made?
Yes, Juke’s Timber Solutions offers bespoke wooden garage doors, so that you receive a door that fits your home exactly. Whatever the style you’re looking for or type of wood you prefer, we can tailor the door to your exact opening measurements.
As bespoke garage doors are custom-built, they are ideal for non-standard or unusual brickwork opening sizes.
To explore your options or start discussing your project, speak to a member of our team. If you wish to order bespoke sizing on our website, simply select the standard garage door size closest to your desired size, and we’ll provide you with a price. Then, on this page, select the bespoke size option and input your desired size in the H & W box. We will refer to the notes when creating your door.
Fitting Your Garage Door
When it comes to fitting your garage door, it’s important to be careful when lifting and aligning the door to ensure smooth and level operation. As the timber is likely very heavy, it’s recommended that you tackle this as a two-person job.
Once the old garage door is removed, you’ll be left with a clean, clear brickwork opening. You should lift the frame into position first, using timber packers to lift it slightly off the floor.
Use a spirit level to ensure that the frame is perfectly level and plumb, and then secure it into place by drilling pilot holes and inserting frame fixings into the masonry, being careful not to over-tighten and distort the wood.
Next, you’ll want to mark and attach the hinges to the door leaves and frame. Hang each door leaf at an open 90-degree angle using wedges to maintain a 60 to 90 mm gap at the top, securing them with a few initial screws to test the alignment and check that the door opens and closes properly before fully fastening.
You need to ensure that there is a 5 to 7 mm gap between where the doors meet in the middle, and an even gap around the entire frame perimeter.
If you don’t feel confident, we can install garage doors, where possible, depending on the location. Getting a professional to install your garage door will ensure that it is properly installed and safe to use. As mentioned above, timber can be incredibly heavy and difficult to work with, so it’s worth getting in touch with a professional who’ll have all the right expertise and tools to complete the installation properly.
Aftercare
A wooden garage door should be routinely cleaned every 3-6 months with soapy water and a soft cloth. Whilst it may be tempting, never use a pressure washer on a wooden garage door, nor any bleach or harsh abrasives; these can all strip the finish off the wood, damaging it. Bird droppings must be cleaned off as soon as possible, as they are caustic and can damage the door’s surface.
You must also apply a high-quality sealer or stain every 1-3 years to prevent moisture ingress and UV damage, keeping your door looking great for many years to come.
You may also find that you need to lubricate moving mechanisms such as the hinges. This will maintain smooth operation. You should also periodically check for loose screws, nuts and bolts. Tighten anything loose to avoid the doors becoming unbalanced.
What’s Next?
If you’re looking for a new wooden garage door, get in touch with a member of the Juke’s Timber Solutions team today. We’ll be happy to discuss your requirements and ensure that you receive the door that best fits your needs.
