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Carriage House Garage Doors

Carriage house doors give a garage the look of an old barn or stable, and they suit a lot of Durham homes. Durham Garage Door Repair Pros connects you with installers who fit them.

Here's what to know before you fall for one.

Call (919) 555-0136or use the form for a call back

Pair of single car carriage house style garage doors in a warm wood tone with black handles and strap hinges, on a craftsman style house with a gravel drive

What Makes It a Carriage House Door

Old carriage houses had two wide doors that swung out from the middle. A carriage house garage door copies that look with a center line, panels and decorative handles and hinges. It still rolls up overhead like any sectional door.

Many come with a row of windows across the top, often with arched or square divided panes.

Where They Fit

They look right on craftsman bungalows, farmhouse styles and many of the newer homes built in south and north Durham with those details. Older neighborhoods like Trinity Park and Watts-Hillandale have plenty of homes where one would look at home.

They're less natural on a very modern house, where a flat panel door usually fits better.

Real Wood or Composite

Real wood carriage doors are beautiful and expensive. They need staining or painting every few years, and our humidity is hard on them. They're also very heavy.

Composite and faux wood doors copy the grain on a steel or fiberglass door. They don't rot, warp or need refinishing, and they're much lighter. For most homeowners, this is the practical choice.

Steel carriage doors in solid colors are the budget option, often with stamped panels and add on hardware.

Weight Matters

A carriage door is heavier than a plain one. Real wood ones can be very heavy. That means bigger springs, sometimes four instead of two, and stronger hardware.

It also matters for the opener. An older opener may struggle with a heavy new door, so plan for that in the budget. See new opener installation.

If you already have a wood carriage door, don't try to downsize the springs to save money. They're sized to the door's weight. The spring page explains why.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

  • Is the wood look real wood, a composite overlay or a stamped and painted steel door?
  • Is the door insulated, and what is the whole door rating?
  • Are the handles and hinges decorative only, or real hardware?
  • How many springs will it need, and what cycle rating are they?
  • Will my current opener handle the weight?
  • What finish care does the warranty expect?

Cost

Carriage house doors usually cost more than plain doors of the same size, because of the design, hardware and weight. Real wood is at the top of the range. The new door cost guide has typical ranges.

For other styles and materials, see garage door replacement. To get a quote, request a call back or call (919) 555-0136.

Call (919) 555-0136