Gorgeous garage doors: 10 of the best

Choosing garage doors
made simple

Our guide to buying garage doors will make your off-street parking that bit special. Just click through the gallery for advice and inspiration...

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Up and over

Most garage doors are a sturdy ‘up-and-over\' design like this one (the Windermere from B&Q). They have to pulled up and out and have a counterweight to stop them crashing down. Metal ones are very low maintenance.

Keep it simple

The traditional garage door is side hung, like the GTG timber garage door pair from B&Q. This particularly suits the style of older houses. It requires slightly more space to allow the doors to swing outwards.

Roll up, roll up

Increasingly, householders are using roller garage doors, like the RollMattic by Hormann. These are electrically operated and roll up into a box that\'s usually inside the garage. Pricey but very secure, they are the neat new option

Matching pair

Sectional garage doors, made up a series of large slats which are hung from a roller, are also increasingly popular. Garador, who make this model, also manufacture front doors designed to match the garage doors.

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Dark and chic

Manufacturers are moving away from the traditional white, flat panels that adorn most garages. This dark door option from Hormann is one such example; it has a very robust locking system to help deter thieves.

All locked up

Recent reports show that burglars often break into garages to steal cars or to gain access to homes. Modern garage doors, such as these by GaraRoll, have strong locks and are difficult to force open.

Old but not forgotten

It\'s relatively easy to buy second hand garage doors - often from those knocking down the garage to build an extension. You can buy them on Ebay or at auction quite cheaply. But do make sure they\'re the right size - pre-war cars, garages and garage doors were often smaller than modern day ones.

Warming thought

To make a garage more usable as an extra living space, an increasing number are properly insulated. Good ones, like this insulated garage door by Hormann, can effectively serve as an extra wall of the house.

Comfy garage

For planning reasons, or just to preserve the look of the house, garage doors will usually be retained even if the garage is used as an extra room in the house. Householders often put up an extra wall behind the door to secure the space more permanently.

Go with glass

An increasing number of doors are now being made of glass reinforced polyester (GRP) which is lightweight, tough and virtually maintenance-free. These stylish doors by Cardale (one of the major British manufacturers) are glass reinforced.